The Start

For an assignment for school I am working on my virtue. This was a pretty hard characteristic to find actions to do to help me increase my virtue, but as I thought more and more about it I realized my pattern of thoughts that are supposed to be based off of high moral standards, are more based off of the world and what the world thinks I should be doing right now. This has driven me nuts for a long time and I have desired to change this. So for part of this assignment I am going to be reading a General conference talk every week with body image and true beauty in mind and then record the impressions that I get or feel while reading, on this blog. I thought this was the perfect place because this will add to my healthy thoughts!

The talk I read this week is called "The Sanctity of the Body." It was given by Susan W. Tanner in October 2005. You can read the whole thing HERE. 

What an amazing talk. Since this is something that I struggle with, which is something that I am not alone in struggling with, I decided that I would start with a talk about our bodies. Sister Tanner explains the doctrine and truths of our body, reminds us that Satan doesn't have a body and wants us to be miserable, and boldly testifies of the divinity of our bodies. 

I would like to share with you two things from her talk. First, the truths she lists about our bodies that we knew before coming to earth.

Truths about our bodies:

1. Our bodies would be in the image of God.

2. Our bodies would house our spirits.

3. Our bodies would be subject to pain, illness, disabilities, and temptation.

4. Only when spirit and element are inseparably connected can we progress to become like our Heavenly Father and receive a fullness of joy. 

Second, a statement that truly hit the core of my fear, worry, and weakness.

"Happiness comes from accepting the bodies we have been given as divine gifts and enhancing our natural attributes, not from remaking our bodies after the image of the world. The Lord wants us to be made over -- but in his image, not in the image of the world, by receiving his image in our countenances."

In a book I am reading for one of my classes about happiness it said that beauty is something that human beings think will make us happier, but in fact does not. The happiest people believed that they were beautiful which in turn made them more attractive to others. 

Acceptance. This is what I am truly seeking. Acceptance of myself from myself. It does not matter what others think or say. It truly matters what I think and say. When I am stuck in a twister of destructive thoughts it is hard for me to remember the truths about my body. I was made in the image of God. God made me the way he wanted me and he loves me beyond my comprehension. He thinks that I am beautiful and it makes him so sad when I degrade this gift he has given me. His desire is for me to be happy and to base that happiness on his love and gospel. 

Society's expectations of me will never make me happy. Even if I met the expectations would I be happy? Would I then be able to accept myself? Once I got there would it finally be enough?

No.

This is a shaky foundation that will fail. At the end of my life, when I return to my maker in the body he has given me, what will he see? What will I see? Will I be worried about having six pack abs or legs that have no cellulite? Will I be worried about the ratio of my hips to my waist or my short chubby hands? 

No.

God does not care. He will be looking at my heart. I believe, when this time of probation is over, I will be worried about my heart. Did I love those people that were placed in my path? Did I provide emotional, physical, spiritual nourishment to the souls that I could touch? Was I a valiant covenant keeper and did I emulate Jesus Christ who showed us the way? 

In a world that is screaming for physical perfection it is hard to hear the quiet whisperings of our Heavenly father who desperately wants to fill our hearts with love and perfect us spiritually. 

His voice is what matters. Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and Savior, is the way to real acceptance, peace, and beauty.