But Anderson said the Constitution likely protects the preachers' ability to wear such garments. It would be similar to protections on flag burning, he said.

"While it induces outrage in a lot of people, the First Amendment seems to protect against restrictions of that sort of thing," the mayor said.

Lonnie Pursifull, head of the Utah chapter of the Street Preachers Fellowship, said any efforts to curb preachers' speech would be met with legal action. Preaching, Pursifull said, is protected as "religious speech" under the Constitution. Pursifull said he only calls LDS women "spiritual whores" for "following after another God and another Jesus."

"(Anderson) can look at tightening any laws he wants. I guarantee it won't stand up in federal court," Pursifull said. "The only reason he's doing it is because of the Mormon Church. It's the Mormon Church that's pushing his buttons and telling him what to do. He's being led around by the nose by the Mormon Church."

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E-mail: bsnyder@desnews.com