While I do not wish to take away from the main message of this photo, I would like to bring light to another message I see in this photo, not by means of criticism, but by means of expressing a hope for the future. The message I would like to focus on, respectfully, while completely acknowledging, agreeing with, and encouraging the underlying, originally intended message, one which I believe aligns with the message I see in this pic, is that I hope in the future it will be seen as acceptable in the LDS culture (which is not always based on revealed doctrine, but which can be if we all do our best to liken scripture unto ourselves individually) for the missionary elders and LS men to express their individuality just as the missionary sisters are allowed in their apparel, as seen in this pic. This is not a criticism of the LDS Church and its doctrine, nor its leaders, for I strongly believe in the LDS doctrine and in the church and I believe its leaders are called of God. But, I also believe the LDS Gospel and its members, leaders included, are subject to the sometimes wrongful sway of culture. This picture shows truth by depicting the Book of Mormon as living scripture, or scripture containing truths very applicable for our day. But it also shows shows something I have a hope will change in the near future, an imperfection we are all unfortunately susceptible to: the desire that all look the same despite our individual personalities as individual spirit children of God. I hope to see in the future more cultural acceptance of more apparel choice for men, including missionary Elders, in the LDS culture than the standard collared shirt, tie, and suit pants (with jacket). I would like to see LDS culture allow men the same leeway of expressing their individuality that it allows women in apparel choice. This difference between what is allowed women in LDS culture and what is disallowed men by the same culture stood out to me to clearly, next to the underlying message of the truths found in the Book of Mormon. A current prophet recently said these words in a General Conference Priesthood Session not but two years ago, which I think very much applies to this photo: But while the Atonement is meant to help us all become more like Christ, it is not meant to make us all the same. Sometimes we confuse differences in personality with sin. We can even make the mistake of thinking that because someone is different from us, it must mean they are not pleasing to God. This line of thinking leads some to believe that the Church wants to create every member from a single mold—that each one should look [LOOK], feel, think, and behave like every other. This would contradict the genius of God, who created every man different from his brother, every son different from his father. Even identical twins are not identical in their personalities and spiritual identities. It also contradicts the intent and purpose of the Church of Jesus Christ, which acknowledges and protects the moral agency—with all its far-reaching consequences—of each and every one of God’s children. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are united in our testimony of the restored gospel and our commitment to keep God’s commandments. But we are diverse in our cultural, social, and political preferences. The Church thrives when we take advantage of this diversity and encourage each other to develop and use our talents to lift and strengthen our fellow disciples. I very much hope to see more leeway allowed to the men in the LDS culture to express their divine individuality even via their apparel choices, even for missionary elders, just as missionary sisters are allowed as shown in this pic, and thus take more advantage of a small but perhaps significant version of the diversity in the LDS Gospel.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 01:51:56 +0000
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