How important is a white shirt?

[EAG]

Tubaloth:

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

then do you also believe its not important to wear white in the temple? it really depends on the bishops preference more than anything else. i've been in wards where it was ok to wear a different colored shirt to pass sacrament, and i've been in wards where all men were expected to wear white shirts regardless if they were passing or not. i think it shows a measure of obedience if you are expected to wear a white shirt and you obey that counsel. 

[Happy_LDS]

Yes, it does show a measure of obedience. Personally, I do not mind whether is white, blue or yellow as long as the right spirit is within the person. I just do not like when we become obsessed over it.

[EAG]

speaking as someone in the young men's presidency, unfortunately sometimes obsession is necessary to get young men to be obedient or do anything for that matter.   

[Happy_LDS]

Hmmm..sound almost like you all are forcing those kids to wear the white shirt?

[EAG]

there is no force involved. simply if they dont have white shirt and we have enough people to pass without them they don't pass.

[Happy_LDS]

It seems like they do not care if they do not...

[tubaloth]

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

If that is the only shirt the body has, go a head and pass the sacrament.   
When I worked with the Deacons we Emphasized wearing a white shirt, but realize in the end each boy can do his own thing.  Some probably learned (from this lesson) that a white shirt is important when Operating  in the priesthood, others might have missed that lesson. 

Serving in an Elders Quorum presidency in a singles ward (with some 90% return missionaries) we Elders would be the one that have to pass the sacrament(no deacons in the ward).  It amazed me even at that age how these men hadn't learned the idea of passing the sacrament with a white shirt, even to the point that they knew they could get out of passing the sacrament because they used there white shirt as an excuse.   I didn't want them to use there shirt as an excuse.  The first bishop we had Elders pass the sacrament in any colored of shirt.  The second bishop felt we should get those with white shirts to pass it. 
Each ward is different, each bishop is different, each deacon/Elder is different.  The lesson learned I think is valuable.  But I agree I don't think that should stop anybody for using the priesthood, some people learn the lesson better then others.

[EAG]

It seems like they do not care if they do not...

actually in my ward any way its been very effective, we only seldom have a young man pass without a white shirt. of course some dont care and probably use it as a excuse not to pass. thats usually the exception and not the rule.