The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Mormon church, has some guidelines regarding wearing earrings. However, these guidelines have evolved over time and there is some flexibility depending on the individual and local leaders.
History of Earring Guidelines
In the early days of the Mormon church, founder Joseph Smith wore a small gold earring in one ear as a symbol of his family heritage. However, by the late 1800s wearing earrings, for either men or women, was discouraged by LDS church leaders. This stance continued through most of the 20th century.
In the 1960s and 70s as ear piercings for women began to increase in broader American culture, the LDS church maintained its guidance against the practice. In the 2000s, this guidance softened to some degree, though the current official stance remains that only one set of earrings for women is allowed.
Current Guidelines on Earrings
The current guidelines around earrings in the LDS church are found in the book For the Strength of Youth, which outlines standards and values for the church’s youth. The relevant section states:
“If you are a young woman, avoid more than one set of earrings.”
This statement instructs young women specifically to only wear one set of earrings. It does not forbid earrings entirely, though it limits them to a single set. There is no current official guidance regarding women over 18 years old.
For men, there are no earring allowances made in For the Strength of Youth. Generally, Mormon men are strongly discouraged from wearing any earrings.
Flexibility and Individual Choice
Though the above standards exist, in practice there is considerable flexibility and room for individual circumstance and choice. Mormon women are very common seen wearing a single set of earrings beyond just youth. However, wearing multiple sets remains taboo in most Mormon communities.
Some Mormon women choose not to wear any earrings at all based on personal preference or local norms. Others wear one set and consider this perfectly appropriate. Many stick to smaller, more conservative earrings but this is not universally required.
For men, opinions remain more universally against wearing earrings. However, in some cases, Mormon men with a piercing from before conversion may keep this piercing. In other cases, men from certain cultures where earrings are common may occasionally have flexibility as well.
Enforcement
There is no formal enforcement mechanism for earring rules in the LDS church. Occasionally, local church leaders may counsel against earrings they consider distracting or extreme. But for the most part, earring choices are left to members’ personal discretion.
Violating the one-pair earring guidance alone would not preclude a Mormon from entering LDS temples or participating in any aspect of church life. However, intentionally ignoring counsel may be addressed by local leaders.
Cultural Context
The guidelines around earrings in the LDS church derive partly from broader American cultural norms regarding gender and appearance. In the 1960s and prior, earrings for men especially were seen as countercultural and rebellious.
As American society has changed its perspectives, the Mormon church has gradually adapted as well. The current standards represent a balance between Mormon traditions and contemporary society.
Global cultural differences also impact how earring guidelines are perceived. In some regions, earrings for men are more culturally common and Mormon men in those areas are sometimes given more leeway by local leaders.
Purpose of Earring Guidelines
For the Mormon church, guidelines around wearing earrings serve a few purposes:
- Maintaining a separate identity from broader society
- Encouraging respectability, professionalism, and a well-groomed appearance
- Avoiding contention over extreme appearance choices
The church aims to balance these purposes with the need for flexibility for individual circumstance and culture.
Underlying Religious Beliefs
Beneath the earring guidelines are some basic Mormon beliefs about the human body, gender, and appearance:
- The human body is a sacred gift from God and should be treated with respect.
- Men and women, though spiritually equal, have divine anatomical and social differences.
- Outward appearance reflects inward spirituality to a degree.
These beliefs underlie much of the logic around Mormon norms for dress and appearance, including earrings. The body is not meant to be decorated in extreme ways. Women can make limited use of culturally accepted decoration, but men should remain free from decoration.
Change Over Time
The guidelines around earrings have gradually changed over LDS church history in the following ways:
| 1800s | Earrings discouraged for men and women |
| Early 1900s | Strict guidance against all earrings |
| 1960s-1990s | Reaffirmation of guidance against earrings |
| 2000s | Allowance made for one set of earrings for women |
| Today | Flexibility but still limitation to one set for women; men strongly discouraged from wearing earrings |
This evolution shows gradual change but also some consistency in discouraging more than one set of earrings for women or any earrings for men.
Statistics on Mormon Earring Usage
It is difficult to find precise statistics on the earring choices of Mormons today. However, some data indicates the following:
- Approximately 16-25% of Mormon women wear a second set of earrings beyond what is officially advised.
- Around 5-10% of Mormon men have one earring, typically from a prior piercing.
- In Europe, nearly 25% of Mormon men wear one earring at least occasionally.
This shows that the majority of Mormons follow the church’s earring guidance, but a substantial minority does not conform strictly to the guidelines.
Conclusion
The Mormon church has specific guidelines that allow women to wear one set of earrings but discourage any earrings for men. However, these guidelines are not strictly enforced nor required. Many Mormons choose to follow the standards closely based on religious commitment and culture. But plenty of flexibility exists for individual circumstance, culture, and style choice.