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Piercings and Tattoos

I was talking to my sister today and became greatly amused as she informed me that most of her blog posts from this challenge get 40-60 hits, but hers on body piercings and tattoos has almost 100. She spoke with another sister and she has had a similar experience. I love all of you nosy people!

I will disappoint on this matter: I only have my ears pierced once. I have never had any other piercing and never really wanted one. Maybe not never, but not enough. Let me explain why.

When I was very young, the LDS Church (to which I belong) did not really have a strong stance on body piercings or tattoos. They had a general look-clean-and-modest approach, as far as I know. When I was a Mia Maid, which is the group class for 14-15 year old girls, we had a very small group of girls, and I got to know my church leaders at the time very well.

It was the year 2000, and President Gordon B. Hinckley was our prophet. In General Conference he addressed the Priesthood (a session addressed to the men alone, we also have General Relief Society and Young Women sessions annually), he drew a line in the sand. He was speaking to fathers, counseling them to draw a line on piercings and tattoos for their children. He says in the talk, "In terms of your happiness, in terms of the matters that make you proud or sad, nothing—I repeat, nothing—will have so profound an effect on you as the way your children turn out." I think this is a wise statement, for better or for worse. And I can't wait to have my own kids to try and test it.

I heard quickly that the statement had been made, one ear piercing (no stance), but no permanent tattoos and no other piercings. Not everyone in our church always chooses to take things literally. There has been counsel over the years that changes based on the times we live in. I, by no means, care one jot or tittle if someone else has these things. What happened is between me and the Lord and my church leader, and it is something I carry personally that made this decision easy for me.

I was in church the following Sunday, and because this talk was given in the Priesthood Session, my Young Women's leader had not heard what had been said. It came up during our lesson, but when she heard it she said Oh! And took out her second piercing in her ear. I didn't know at the time it made such a strong impression on me, but watching her obedience gave me a testimony of this thing. So even at times when I fleetingly desire one, I know I never will. My naked skin is a reminder to me personally, to strive for exact obedience.
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