I used to dress how I wanted, tummy showing strappy tops or boob tubes. Well, I even used to be a belly dancer. Then I found my church, The church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. I knew I had to change how I dressed and for me it was easy to take the plunge, making this sacrifice for God was all worth while.
When I changed the way I dressed, I changed... I felt more beautiful, more feminine, more alive. I held myself with dignity that I never had before, I could hold my head higher, I could "stand a little taller" - Gordon B Hinckley
It wasn't about covering up - it was about respecting the greatest gift that God had given me in this world - my body. It got to a point where if I wore something revealing even slightly I felt uncomfortable as though something were missing - me... My skin to be exact.
Exposure of myself never satisifed me - it only ever brought sleaze, men looked at me differently, and I can only imagine the thoughts I caused men to create of me. Now men can look at me and I am respected and even more I can hold my head up high. John Kehoe said: "You can... empower people without saying anything, using just your thoughts." Now imagine, as a women, degrading thoughts coming from men, just because of the way we dress. That changes who we are and how we carry ourselves. I have enjoyed being perceived as someone with dignity and someone to be respected. I've noticed the difference, and appreciate it thoroughly.
Modesty wasn't something to stifle me but a way to grow me - God loves me and I know that modesty is in fact a gift from him. I am grateful for this gift.
