How important is a white shirt?

[Admin]

What if you wear a light blue shirt when passing the sacrament, does it really have to be white? What is your view?

[Happy_LDS]

I understand the concept behind the white shirt but I am more concerned with what's going on inside the individual who is passing the sacrament. For me, it does not matter at all as long as the clothes is clean.

[tubaloth]

I think its very important!  Deacons are new to the Priesthood, they are trying to learn what whole deal is with it! I doubt most even know why they even get it, expect they they know they are suppose to!

We never ask if wearing something different to get baptized in, or to go to the temple is okay? Why is that?  The Sacrament is an ordinance just like the others are!  The Sacrament is part of Baptism!  The white shirts are really part of it.   

Elder Nelson said it this way
"Those who administer the sacrament are to look there best and be dressed appropriately.  White shirts not only look nice, but they are a gentle reminder of other sacred rites, such as baptismal and temple ordinances, at which white clothing is also worn. ” (June 21, 2003 World Wide Leadership Training Meeting)

Lessons learned for a Deacon to learn to wear a white shirt far out way anything else.   It well never be required because we don't want to excluded anybody!  But there is a reason why it is suggested!

[Sariah_Gift]

Correct and the key word "suggestion" should say it all. For me, whether is white or pink does not matter as long as the person has the right Spirit. What sense does it make for a person to have this perfect white shirt but his attitude stinks?

[tubaloth]

I agree!
But the lesson for a Deacon is a lot more deeper if they thing the white shirt is just a "suggestion." 
Going through life realizing that things of God are just suggestions isn't a way to start out with the priesthood.  I realize it is alway going to be a suggestion, because not everybody has a white shirt. 
What is inside is always important, but the deeper lesson of teaching the Deacon what the sacrament is!  To be worthy to pass it, and to always wear a white shirt, go hand in hand.

[Happy_LDS]

To be worthy to pass it, and to always wear a white shirt, go hand in hand.

I think I respectfully disagree with that. Worthiness should not be taught hand in hand with a piece of clothing. It should be the point to teach and the choice of a white shirt as a secondary issue.

[tubaloth]

That is what we teach with Baptism, and with the Temple!  Thats the reason why clothing is part of it. It is to show we are worthy, that we are clean.  (This is the same lesson that can apply to a deacon, or anybody in the Aaronic Priesthood)

As Elder Oaks brought up in the last General Conference.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland gave a valuable teaching on this subject in general conference 13 years ago. Since most of our current deacons were not even born when these words were last spoken here, I repeat them for their benefit and that of their parents and teachers: “May I suggest that wherever possible a white shirt be worn by the deacons, teachers, and priests who handle the sacrament. For sacred ordinances in the Church we often use ceremonial clothing, and a white shirt could be seen as a gentle reminder of the white clothing you wore in the baptismal font and an anticipation of the white shirt you will soon wear into the temple and onto your missions” (“This Do in Remembrance of Me,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 68).

[Happy_LDS]

Tubaloth:

It is to show we are worthy, that we are clean.

And why we should be showing that to men? Are we pharisees with their clothing and phylacteries?