In the narrative of the burning bush, the Lord commanded Moses to “put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground” (Ex. 3:5). Joshua was similarly commanded (see Josh. 5:15). Shoe removal was an important gesture that could be interpreted to signify a transition from a worldly to a spiritual and sacred setting. Shoe removal correlates with the priests changing from their nonreligious clothing into sacred vestments.
President Gordon B. Hinckley cited Exodus 3:5 and then referred to our temples: “We do not ask our people to remove their shoes when they come into the chapel. But all who come into the Lord’s house should have a feeling that they are walking and standing on holy ground and that it becomes them to deport themselves accordingly.”282