Why or Why Not on Tattoos

Hi Ladies!

Why does the Church have the view they have on tattoos? 

#1. Tattoos can cause medical complications in your future:   In the article "More than Skin Deep," it reads:
Tattooing or body piercing also introduces foreign bodies that can cause either infection or allergic reaction. “Sometimes people develop an allergic reaction to metal,” says Dr. Thomas. “They not only have to avoid piercing, but they also cannot wear the same kind of metal on a watchband, a wedding ring, or anything else. It is a sensitivity that is a lifelong plague for them.”...
     Other reasons, found in the article "Tattoos and your Mission" are

One big physical risk of getting a tattoo is ink allergies. They can develop right away or in six months to a year after someone is tattooed. Ink allergies make the tattooed part of your body swell up and get red and itchy. If you are allergic and ink gets into your bloodstream, you could become very ill.

Blood-borne illnesses are another risk. If needles and other equipment are not properly sterilized, it is possible to get HIV or other illnesses.

Laser treatments don’t usually cause scarring, but there is a possibility.

Yellow tattoos or tattoos using yellow inks cannot be removed without surgery.

Removal treatments take a long time and are very expensive—much more expensive than getting the tattoo.

#2.  Sign of a not-so-sharp mind:  “Tattoos connote, in my opinion,” says Dr. Taylor, “a lack of judgment, lack of forethought, lack of being able to see into the future and understand consequences.”
 “People taunt others by these outward acts,” he continues.  “A pure body, unmarked, is not offensive.”

#3.  You can be beautiful in other ways:  Tattoos will never give you a true beauty, a beauty that will last forever.  They will not make your husband more attracted to you when you get married.  They will not increase your chance of getting your star-eyed job.  And they will not stay with you.  True beauty can not be inked into you, it is truly part of you!  It is part of your heart, your soul, your mind, and your actions!
-Love:
Flame Team

Body Piercing

Hi Girls,
  So, I've decided to offer you some support on everyday controversy in this section of "VALUES." 
  Question: How many times have you heard "but everybody else is doing it" or "it is the latest fashion/trend!"?? Or even "but at least I'm better than so and so..."??
   When it comes to gospel standards and your values, there is no trend, there is no excuse that all the world is committing this sin, or that you are better than someone else.  How someone else acts or lives does not affect your eternal salvation...how you do DOES. 
    Today, I'd like to talk about something I find all too common in our world. 
    Body Piercing.
    The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has set forth specific standards concerning multiple body piercings.  "Latter-day prophets strongly discourage the piercing of the body except for medical purposes. If girls or women desire to have their ears pierced, they are encouraged to wear only one pair of modest earrings."
     Why should we keep the standard of "one piercing?" 
     1.  Prophets of God have received revelation for the Church, stating that we should refrain from multiple piercings.
     2.  A single pair of earrings looks nice.  The more you get doesn't mean the better.  You don't need to show off your jewelry collection all on one ear cartlidge.  And then it turns to gauges, lip rings, nose piercings, and those are just unsanitary! I can promise you that you are more likely to get a good, respectible job if you only have one or even less.
     My dad is a CFP.  He was once interviewing a young man to be his secretary.  Well, this kid had his ear, face, and whole body decked out with piercings.  He quickly removed them as my dad walked in.  Sure, this kid was a genius, but my dad didn't like the piercings.  Getting a life insurance policy from a kid who has the grossest ears ever isn't too bright of an idea.
      3. Your body is a temple.  “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).  That was taught by one of Christ's early apostles, Paul.  If you know you are a child of God who has the capability to be an exalted being, a goddess even, and have a beautiful resurrected body, why would the piercings matter?

     So, sisters, please don't follow "the trend."  One is good. Keep being awesome.

-Flame Team.

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The quote above is by Ronald Rasbund, who spoke at last General Conference.

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Safe & Sound

Bright Idea - Attitude

Hi Girls!
   The Bright Idea today is having a good attitude.
   Why is our attitude so important and why should we consider it "one of our values?"
   President Monson said:
  

"A in my ABCs refers to attitude. William James, a pioneering American psychologist and philosopher, wrote, “The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.”¹

So much in life depends on our attitude. The way we choose to see things and respond to others makes all the difference. To do the best we can and then to choose to be happy about our circumstances, whatever they may be, can bring peace and contentment.

Charles Swindoll—author, educator, and Christian pastor—said: “Attitude, to me, is more important than … the past, … than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day."

     I love the quote he mentioned at the end..."we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day."

     Your attitude has an effect on how you see the world, yourself, and others.  It affects what others see of you and how they interact with you.

     When my cousin, Kassi, was fifteen years old, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  Many people, when faced with the posing trial and thought of upcoming difficulty will give up.  But Kassi made a decision to have a good attitude.  She wasn't going to pitty herself.  In fact, while at St. Jude's Hospital receiving kimotherapy treatments, she put others in front of her.  She had a good friend in the Hospital who was also going through health difficulties.  Kassi helped her friend into the car, around the hospital, and had a good influence and attitude even when she, herself, was feeling the effects of her treatments.  While she was undergoing all this pain, she kept her chin up, served others, and maintained a positive attitude.

Do you have a story of how you had a good attitude?  Comment!

 Kassi, on the left, with one of her friends.  This was posted on her friend's MySpace.

*Side Note:  Kassi has now been cancer free for roughly 2 years.