flip-flop or not?

out of the mouth of babes did revelation from heaven come. 

I scurried about the bathroom and my bedroom readying myself to attend church meetings; thoughts of make-up, hair, and clothing at the front of my mind.  While in this revere I considered slightly more my choice of shoes for the day; a pair of sandal crocs, cute ones, which I count myself happy to have.  Incredibly comfortable and behooving (no pun intended) to wear, like milk for the body, does a foot good!  Quickly, the words of  Elder Holland from 2005 entered my mind.   

“I make a special appeal regarding how young women might dress for Church services and Sabbath worship. We used to speak of “best dress” or “Sunday dress,” and maybe we should do so again. In any case, from ancient times to modern we have always been invited to present our best selves inside and out when entering the house of the Lord—and a dedicated LDS chapel is a “house of the Lord. Our clothing or footwear need never be expensive, indeed should not be expensive, but neither should it appear that we are on our way to the beach.” 

In a matter of 10 seconds the following thought process proceeded.  In a non-flimsy-rubber sole, flat or with heal, a strap between big toe and its neighbor, possible bling or flower adorn, qualify a shoe as Sunday dress or just a fancier flip-flop? Were these fancier flip-flops invented before 2005 or had Satan introduced these just about the same time as Elder Holland, servant of Jesus Christ, reminded us of our Sunday best.  Are these shoes a tool of Satan?! Just like the camel who wanted only his toe (no shoe I imagine) to enter the tent in the sand storm and before long the whole camel crowded out the master,?! Has Satan started inching his way in by flip-flop foolery?! I have no idea! I will wear my brown ones and not my brighter teal ones, more subdued, and I will be off to church! 

Just as the closing prayer for sacrament meeting was to begin a young man of 3, I suppose, bowed his beautiful blonde head toward the floor and said without reservation, “NO FLI-FLOPS IN CHURCH!” His mother quickly gasped and grabbed this vesicle of knowledge with apology as I asked in amazement, “What did he just say?!” Just after the closing prayer she quickly turned and said that this morning her daughter, age 5ish, wanted to wear a particular pair of shoes, to which mother instructed that no flip-flops were to be worn in church. Thank heaven for mothers who follow the prophets and teach her children their cry and for little boys who listen, learn, and share in the best way they know how!