LDS Church Announces Change In Missionary Dress Code

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – July 2, 2015 – (Gephardt Daily)

The signature black suit, white shirt and dark tie, often deemed synonymous with LDS missionary service, is going to the wayside, sort of.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Thursday Mormon male missionaries serving in hot climates would no longer be required to wear suit coats.

In a statement released on ldsnewsroom.org, the Church recognized the attention traditional missionary attire received worldwide, but said it was a simple matter of practicality.

The LDS Church’s statement is as follows:

Mormon male missionaries, or “elders,” are recognized in many parts of the world by their suits and black name tags. However, in some parts of world with hot climates, suit coats are impractical.