Through the ages people have marked their bodies to make themselves different from others. Our prophets have specifically counseled us against body markings. In the general conference of October 2000, President Gordon B. Hinckley taught the members of the Church to avoid “the craze of tattooing one’s body. I cannot understand why any young man—or young woman, for that matter—would wish to undergo the painful process of disfiguring the skin with various multicolored representations of people, animals, and various symbols. With tattoos, the process is permanent, unless there is another painful and costly undertaking to remove it… . A tattoo is graffiti on the temple of the body.
“Likewise the piercing of the body for multiple rings in the ears, in the nose, even in the tongue. Can they possibly think that is beautiful? It is a passing fancy, but its effects can be permanent. Some have gone to such extremes that the ring had to be removed by surgery. The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve have declared that we discourage tattoos and also ‘the piercing of the body for other than medical purposes.’” 1
In the same general conference, October 2000, President Boyd K. Packer declared: “President Hinckley has warned you not to decorate your body with pictures or symbols that will never wash off or to pierce your body with rings or jewelry after the manner of the world… . You would not paint a temple with dark pictures or symbols or graffiti or even initials. Do not do so with your body.” 2
Equally important is the clothing we wear. It identifies us—our aims, lifestyle, and propensities—just as the Lamanites were known by their appearance.
“They Had Marked Themselves”
Through the ages people have marked their bodies to make themselves different from others. Our prophets have specifically counseled us against body markings. In the general conference of October 2000, President Gordon B. Hinckley taught the members of the Church to avoid “the craze of tattooing one’s body. I cannot understand why any young man—or young woman, for that matter—would wish to undergo the painful process of disfiguring the skin with various multicolored representations of people, animals, and various symbols. With tattoos, the process is permanent, unless there is another painful and costly undertaking to remove it… . A tattoo is graffiti on the temple of the body.
“Likewise the piercing of the body for multiple rings in the ears, in the nose, even in the tongue. Can they possibly think that is beautiful? It is a passing fancy, but its effects can be permanent. Some have gone to such extremes that the ring had to be removed by surgery. The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve have declared that we discourage tattoos and also ‘the piercing of the body for other than medical purposes.’” 1
In the same general conference, October 2000, President Boyd K. Packer declared: “President Hinckley has warned you not to decorate your body with pictures or symbols that will never wash off or to pierce your body with rings or jewelry after the manner of the world… . You would not paint a temple with dark pictures or symbols or graffiti or even initials. Do not do so with your body.” 2
Equally important is the clothing we wear. It identifies us—our aims, lifestyle, and propensities—just as the Lamanites were known by their appearance.