White Shirts in Every Size

One Sunday, I was in sacrament meeting, and sitting in front of us, I noticed a family with four sons of various ages all wearing white shirts and ties. Knowing the mother, I thought to myself, "She must have white shirts in every size." Then I looked down my own bench and realized that with five sons of our own, we had white shirts in every size hanging in our closets too.

White shirts and ties are the standard Mormon uniform for men serving in the priesthood, and we start training them young, even as early as nursery and junior primary. Every Sunday, you can see little future Mormon missionaries, dressed just like miniature versions of their fathers, toddle off down the hallways to class holding fast to their daddy's big hands.

Regardless of where they serve, elders serving in the mission field will spend the majority of their time wearing white shirts and ties.

We found our missionary liked the Joseph & Feiss brand dress shirt; it was 100% cotton, but it was also non-iron, that being the clincher.

Also consider a dress shirt that is a 70-30 poly-cotton blend; it will not wrinkle like a standard 100% cotton shirt, but the shirt can still breathe. Pointed collars are more professional and appropriate with a suit, but button-down collars, while more casual, are still acceptable and common among missionaries and members alike.

If you can, look for dress shirts with unbreakable buttons and extra buttons sown on the inside of the placket. Extra buttons are a most. So if the shirt does not come with any, add white thread and shirt buttons in two sizes (one size for the shirt front and cuffs; smaller ones for the collars, if necessary) to their sewing kit.