To shave or not to shave: that is the question. Ever since President David O. McKay changed the face of the Church with his smooth cheeks and chin, transforming a prophet’s image from a beard-to-the-chest pioneer to a civilized and debonair man of the twentieth century, our church has been led by clean-shaven men. Which leads some to ask: must a leader be clean-shaven in order to lead? Opinions are divided, and they seem to be divided to a large degree along generational lines. The older generation of members tend to believe that leaders must be bare-faced and not bear-faced. The younger generation is more open to the idea of non-conformity in appearance and tend to think a bearded bishop belongs to the modern age. But let’s look more in-depth at the two opposing camps on this issue.
Camp “Let Em Grow”
This camp is mostly comprised of those who have weak chins, sensitive skin, and radical ideas. They quake when they pass the Stake President in the hall. The sight of a razor in their bathroom makes their cheeks itch. And they’re sure that inactive neighbor down the street is only friendly with them because they dare to look like something outside of the cookie cutter mold.
In case you couldn’t tell through the whiskers, that was tongue in cheek. But in all seriousness, there are some valid arguments for this camp. So let’s share those.
1. Many men look better with facial hair and have worn it habitually for years. Many a wife cringes at the thought that her husband looks like a teenager with his bare baby face. For some, it’s a source of their identity and long established appearance. For others, shaving presents a real challenge for their skin. Which is better, they wonder: a clean shaven bishop with irritated red bumps all over his face or a bishop with a beard? And then there’s the itchiness and the aggravation. Is it really so important considering all of that discomfort?
2. There can be legitimate reasons for wearing a beard. I know of a bishop serving overseas in a military ward. He wore a beard because he was an undercover CIA agent and the beard was a part of his secret identity. (How cool is that?) Of course nobody expected him to shave.
3. The sight of a bearded bishop can open doors to some who may feel like they don’t fit the typical LDS mold themselves. Got tattoos? Smell like cigarettes? Came to church in flip flops? It’s okay. Look. The bishop has a beard. You’re welcome here.
Camp “The Whiskers Must Go”
The men in this camp always wear a white shirt to church, have their shoes spit-shined, and wouldn’t dream of taking off their suit coat, no matter how hot it gets in the Sunday School room. Beware these sheep! You probably are one yourself, and if you are, you don’t even realize how dangerous your blind obedience is. Before you know it, you’ll be buying matching ties for your counselors so that you look as unified as possible while sitting on the stand. (You surely saw that tongue sticking in my cheek. After all, I just left the barber shop and my face is as smooth as a baby’s bottom.)
All joking aside, there are great arguments for being clean shaven while serving in a leadership position. Here are a few of them.
1. Follow the prophet, the primary song tells us. And that means follow the prophet’s example of appearance, especially when he’s participating in priesthood responsibilities. Indeed, many a General Authority has given this reasoning when asked about this very topic. “We follow the example of our leaders,” they say, “even in appearance and dress.”
2. It’s a cultural expectation for leaders to be clean-shaven. Having facial hair can be a distraction and a stumbling block for some members, making it difficult for the leader to minister to and lead in the way the Lord wants him to. The most effective leader becomes invisible and allows the love of the Lord to shine through him. If his grooming makes him stand out, he has placed himself as an obstacle between the Good Shepherd and His sheep.
The Handbook aka The Final Word
Okay, okay. I know what you’re all wondering: but what does The Handbook say about shaving? Honestly? Nothing. It is remarkably silent on the subject, which leaves it up to area leaders to determine what is appropriate in each area or stake.
So what do you do if your leader asks you to shave but you don’t want to?
1. Follow Nephi’s example and pray for understanding, but in this case you’re not asking for clarification on your father’s dream but clarification on your leader’s call to action.
2. If you’re still struggling, make an appointment with your leader to discuss your concerns privately.
What do you do if you’re the leader and your bishops or high councilors are not following your counsel to be clean shaven?
- Consider how you can more effectively share your vision as a leader
- Apply the principles with love and the guidance of the Spirit
Since there’s no foundation in the handbook yet everyone’s doing it because their leader asked them to, does that make it “a tradition”? 😉
…or a cultural practice or a norm or a popular practice – whatever you call it really does not matter. We should be focusing on living the ACTUAL gospel and complying with the ACTUAL policies of the church – not going in other directions. Sustain means to hold up or “uphold”. So if a leader ever asks you to sustain something that seems odd then ask him to teach you the doctrine behind it so you can get your own testimony of it or for him to show you the written policy from Salt Lake. If he can’t do either then he needs to go find out.
I might add to the last bit: If you’re the leader and your counsel to be clean shaven is met with resistance or not being followed – take a second to reevaluate why you gave that counsel. Was it truly inspired? If so, great! Carry on. If not, though… sometimes it may just be unnecessary tradition. In that case, “apply [true] principles with love and the guidance of the spirit.”
I like this topic and think it falls in line with other topics I am having “cultural concerns” with.
By cultural concerns I mean we do things in the Church because that’s what the culture has created as a benchmark for righteousness and it’s not necessarily inspired by God at all.
Other Examples:
– White shirt
– In Sunday dress all day Sunday
– What you should/shouldn’t do as a family on Sunday
I don’t want to have an opinion.
Does God really even care about petty things like this?
Are those who look down on bearded people “casting the first stone?”
Or is blind obedience the path to Godhood?
Interested in more discussion on the topic.
I am a high priests group leader. I have worn a beard since my wife and I were released from our mission in 2012. I shaved my existing beard to serve the mission, because I had been called, and it was required. Once released, I was under no obligation to remain bare faced. Many people confuse Church policy with Church doctrine. Hair length and facial hair requirements are policies, not doctrine. That said, if my priesthood leader tells me I need a shave in order to serve, I will sustain him. I hope to never allow anything to prevent me from serving my Heavenly Father.
This! Patrick, thank you for your comment. Heavenly Father used it to answer my prayer this morning. I was called into the Bishopric yesterday, and currently have a beard. I like it, my wife likes it, and I have a preference to keep it. I spoke with both the Bishop and the Stake Presidency member calling me, and both of them said it was up to me… other Bishops councilors in our stake have beards. Clean shaven-ness is not currently the local policy in our area, so I will keep it. But, like you, I would shave in a heart-beat if asked. Thank you again!
If it’s not in the hand book is it church policy?
If you are asked to shave to serve is that doctrine or someone’s agenda?
The next question would be. Is it okay for a set-apart leader to have an agenda?
Handbook 2 under the adaptations section actually provides some guidance on this. It says the commandments and standards of the church come from the scriptures and from official statements from the first presidency. It then counsels local leaders to not teach their own rules or interpretations.
The standards on beards are not in the scriptures, nor is there an official statement from the first presidency regarding the general male membership of the church being required to wear a beard.
It should therefore not be enforced by local leaders. We have created a culture that is socially imposing at times.
Imagine what would happen if local leaders could come up with their own policies… not good. That’s what happened 2000 years ago. Local leaders should stick to what comes “written” from Salt Lake but too often have not been. Anti-beards is one of them.
1 Samuel 16:
7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
1 Nephi
7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them
D&C 64:
33 Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.
34 Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.
Great! These scriptures adequately sum up what the church has been teaching: Agency. It’s up to us whether we shave or not (unless certain circumstances don’t allow us to do as we please. For example, I attend BYU-Idaho and they have a strict clean shaven policy for men…granted after I graduate and serve in the military for about 6-8 years, I’m going to grow my beard out, within reason. I’m going to trim and style it so it looks stylish and not scruffy.). Mind you, cultural norms also have a great impact on what we choose to do, like let’s say we have a member from the Middle East (highly unlikely, but let’s not rule it out.) where beards are a more common practice than, say, America. Of course we’re not gonna make the Middle Eastern member shave if he doesn’t want to.
As everyone has said.
1. It’s not policy (unless you’re serving a mission).
2. It’s up to us individually to decide.
3. If a church leader asks us to do it, we should do it.
And certainly, if there is a medical reason, by all means, keep your whiskers.
But this is my personal opinion. And I admit, perhaps I’m “old school.”
Heavenly Father and His son want us to be the “light of the world.” (Math. 5:14)
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
He also wants us to be an “example of the believers.” (1 Timothy 4:12)
12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
If todays society considers a clean shaven face as a “clean cut” looking person, why wouldn’t we want to strive to portray that to the world?
Much like baptism in an outer ordinance that represents an inner desire to follow Jesus Christ, why wouldn’t we want our outer appearance, to represent our inner love for Christ?
Anyways, just a thought.
P.S. My inner rebel wants to grow my hair out shoulder length and grow a beard. But I’ve never done it because my inner desire is to speak, act and look like a Melchizadek Priesthood holder. And FOR ME, the General Authorities represent what a Melchizadek Priesthood holder should look like. (But I’ll say that a few of them need to lay off the garlic potatoes.) 🙂
We should not judge or be judged by our appearance at all.
Please take a deeper look at verse 12. See how he says we should be examples “in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” Those are all personal character attributes – not one’s outward appearance.
If we choose not to use our personal appearance to be a “light” then the only ways we can be a “light” is to talk to, love and serve those around us.
The Savior wants us to BE like him – not LOOK like him.
We do not believe in blind faith nor do we believe in blind sustaining. We are not “sustaining” a leader who asks us to do something that is not church policy or doctrine.
I’ve just got to say that all images of the Savior and the Father show them with beards and longish hair.
Mom, I love you. ❤️
This has always been a question of mine since joining the church in my youth. I do understand the importance of appropriate appearance. But, having a beard or not does not and never will qualify you for temple admittance or heaven. Any man can still look professional with facial hair. What someone decides to grow or not grow on their face is not the Church’s or its leadership’s business. The handbook does not provide any instruction on facial grooming for leadership.
I have witnessed quite a few, “you need to shave now that you are a Bishop, Stake President, or Counselor” comments. It’s only someone’s opinion and you decide if you want to follow that opinion or not. It may be cultural. But we are part of a multicultural church. There are a lot of things that we just need to let go. Why make an issue out of nothing?
One of the Temple Pres in N Utah says unless you are clean shaven, don’t show up to work in the Temple.
It’s in the temple Pres handbook. All temple workers (even volunteers) will have no facial hair.
If I understand it this is one of the places where it actually is in the temple polices. If you are a temple worker then you are asked to shave. Just like a mission.
So this is a good question. Why do you think church leaders want temple workers to be clean shaven? Why do we require our missionaries to be clean shaven? Why cannot institute and seminary teachers not have beards? Why are General Authorities clean shaven?
Is it all simply church culture or is there a deeper meaning and purpose behind it?
I was a bishop for fiver years and kept my goatee. If there was displeasure from the stake presidency, it was never verbalized in or out of my PPI.
During my tenure we saw the ward double in size and recovered most of our less actives. It was not the facial hair, our inclusive atmosphere.
I’m a high councilor now and still have it.
My son-in-law was just called as 1st Counselor in a bishopric for a YSA ward. He has had a beard since before he married my daughter. He keeps it trimmed and I think it looks distinguished. At the time of the call, he asked his stake president if there was any issue, and was told that it was OK. I also think a bearded leader is more accepted in a YSA ward than most family wards.
I’ve heard it said that when it comes to matters of dress and grooming we should look to the Brethren. I’m sorry, but I look to my Savior, and I don’t think He really cares if I have facial hair or not.
Do we ask the women of the Church if they shave their legs or their armpits? No, that’s ridiculous! To think that facial hair has become some standard to measure someone else’s sense of discipleship is Pharisaical.
If a Church leader encourages me to repent of my sins – that’s doctrinal, and I can humble myself and submit to the invitation.
If a Church leader encourages me to shave – there is nothing doctrinal about that, and I see it as an abuse of authority or exercising unrighteous dominion.
Also, it is my understanding that more and more people are leaving the Church. Perhaps if ALL felt welcome, things would be different. It seems that unless you fit a certain demographic you don’t really fit in.
For 47 years of my life I have always worn a white shirt and tie and kept myself “clean shaven”.
I work as a professional counselor now and on a daily basis I hear about the shame and judgement people feel within the Church. It’s pretty bad! The Culture of the Church can be very damaging.
I have grown out some facial hair recently and I feel judged by other people’s comments. Sometimes I experiment by wearing a blue shirt to Church. I get looks and comments. It’s totally uncomfortable! I wonder what my discomfort level would be like if I had longer hair, or wore blue jeans and a T-shirt, or had tattoos, or if I smelled like cigarette smoke?
I understand having policies set for those who serve missions, attend private universities, or who are employed by the Church, etc.
I understand standards of worthiness for the Temple.
But, when it comes to standards of grooming let’s look to the people of Alma who were “neat and comely” (Alma 1:27). Teach that as a principle and then let people “govern themselves”.
I believe that 80% of our “obedience” is misplaced to cultural norms rather than to actual commandments and doctrines of the Lord. This leads members to judge one another on invalid grounds. I am able to cope with this by realizing that most judgments members pass on one another are done ignorantly because they truly believe these are commandments when they are not. I am not offended because I believe they will eventually see the light. When they do they will repent of all those years they judged others over things that were not commandments at all.
My guess is, in regards to grooming and dress “we should look to the Brethren” is generational and regional. Primarily the 55 and up crowd with deep roots in the intermountain West. it comes from a time when the church was more regional, not has worldwide, and the time when facial hair had a different cultural meaning. A number of years ago the direction on facial hair was left up to the discretion of the Stake President. My Stake in northern Utah encourages clean shaven look in leadership callings. the YSA Stake covering the same geographic area does not. My brother-in-law’s Stake just 30 minutes north does not either. It is asureldy not doctrine and it’s no longer even churchwide policy. I cannot speak to the temple president handbook but I spoke with a man last month with a full white beard. He has served at the Ogden temple for the past few years. He did point out however, that he serves outside on the grounds.
I think any requirement placed on facial hair is just ridiculous. I mean…talk about Pharisaical!!! Can you really imagine the Savior looking at someone serving faithfully with a beard and being disappointed in his choice to have facial hair? It’s such a cultural thing I can hardly even stand it…I’m currently serving as Bishop and have kind of taken on a personal crusade to rid the ward of cultural policies that have nothing to do with doctrine or handbook policy.
Kirk, we have visited over 50 wards and branches in over 30 countries in the past 3 years. You are exactly on track by getting rid of all “cultural policies”.
For example; we have witnessed 4 different methods of deacons passing the sacrament. Some do not allow any members to touch the trays – only the deacons can touch the trays. Deacons in these wards feel disobedient if they make mistakes because they believe this is the “right” way to pass the sacrament. They have no idea it is passed differently in different countries. If a member touches a tray he gets judged by other members and may feel he needs to repent – when he does not. This is misplaced obedience. Misplaced judgment. Misplaced repentance. This is just one example.
I believe 80% of our efforts at obedience, feelings of judgment, and efforts with repentance has nothing to do with the gospel at all – it’s all cultural based. If you can get the members to focus that 80% at true obedience and repentance then it will make a huge difference in your ward.
I am at peace by thinking that if it’s actual doctrine then the Lord will have it written. Same with policies and procedures of the church – if Salt Lake does not have it written down then it’s not policy. ONLY if it is written by the Lord or Salt Lake does it matter. If it’s not written then it’s not important. Simple
When are we going to quit worrying about things that don’t matter. Our culture has created an atmosphere that judging others by what our perceptions are.
It will always amaze me how we as church members can get caught up in stuff that doesn’t matter. Heaven Father could care less. We let someone (leader) put their cultural bug a boos on us and we dont push back.
I have had a beard for about five years and a moustache for twenty years before and I haven’t had any negative comments. I haven’t been in any leadership positions. But I think for most members where I live(California) don’t care whether a guy has facial hair or not.
The truth is you are made to feel very unwelcome if you have a beard and long hair. The truth is having a beard and long hair does not make you any more or less riotous and should be left to the individual. The truth is all that gather together to worship the Lord should be welcomed.
I am bald and clean shaven because I look like Bob Dylan with mange if I try to grow one. In my bishopric: first counselor has had a beard forever. Second counselor vacillates depending on season (Wisconsin has a thing for deer season beards in the fall). Third counselor is clean-shaven. Ward Clerks: two beards, two smooth.
God is too busy loving us to notice if we have a beard or not. Or if we wear white shirts. Or any of that stuff. Can we please move on to weightier matters?
1 Samuel 16:7. Scripture trumps tradition every time.
Thanks, Tyler. Teaching members to distinguish between guilt and shame. There is a lot of shame-based nonsense in LDS culture, where there is tremendous pressure to appear a certain way, especially in places where you are surrounded by people who are in your ward.
I have an inactive sister who lives in Orem and she is treated quite poorly but the surrounding members because she’s a little bit unconventional (hippie-nouveau). But she’s also an drug rehab nurse. When the bishop visited and asked her if she wanted a calling, she said no, but would be willing to sponsor anyone who was in the addition recovery program. They turned her down. What a gift to the ward! And maybe she might return to activity if she were loved as the Savior does.
One of my favorite theologians is Richard Rohr, a Franciscan Friar who understands the problems of culture and its impact on Christians (all of us).
“Christians are usually sincere and well-intentioned people until you get to any real issues of ego, control power, money, pleasure, and security. Then they tend to be pretty much like everybody else.” In other words, we love to talk about continuing revelation but we’re not really interested in change. We like things the way they are, especially cultural norms.
So until we let go of that stuff that is not part of the central core of the Gospel (faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and temple covenants), we will continue to struggle with the thick of thin things. It will be a beautiful day when Brother Francom doesn’t have to even consider having an article about stuff like this because no one would understand why he would write it.
I’m reading this because I was called to serve as a ward clerk in a YSA ward at BYU. I have had a well kept beard for many years. I can’t imagine myself without it. I want to serve but feel pressure to fit the mold of no facial hair for those at BYU.
I would advise you to keep it. Conformity for conformity’s sake isn’t my cup of tea. It might be a good example to YSA members that it’s not a big deal. Because it’s not.