WTF? Getting a tattoo could keep you from serving a mission?

[_Gadianton]

The Church has every right to control the image it wants to present of itself and is by no means alone in the corporate world, even in extremely liberal incarnations, of taking issue with tattoos. At least when they're highly visible. Interestingly, one of the reasons I've gathered people are getting tattoos is to mark their disdain for corporate-like values. I have several friends very much into MMA and honing oneself into a killing machine ridden with tattoos to prove one's bad-assness is what's cool. The really hard-core guys get face tats and I've gathered part of the draw here is that by doing so, it marks one as having made the decision to separate oneself from the normal world of robots and lame people. I think they know should they ever decide to enter the white-color world, that they've significantly hurt their chances, if it weren't so, the draw to do it wouldn't be there.

Now, interestingly, in the little time I've spent at MMA dojos, the key players, who are trainers or on the staff, who have the hardest-core tattoos, are extremely polite and go out of their way to be the opposite of how a boring white-color person would judge them, and they do things like sponsor anti-bullying campaigns for schools and I gather try to be good people. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of white-color folks doing MMA, but they know where to draw the line on tats. I mention MMA because I think it's the MMA brand that is driving the tattoo fad today.

[_Kevin Graham]

The Church has every right to control the image it wants to present of itself and is by no means alone in the corporate world

The thing is the Church is pretending to be, well, a Church.

Specifically, the "One True Church," in God's eyes.

[_Markk]

Two thoughts: I do think that viewing tattoos generally as sin and requiring remorse is more than just being out of touch with the times. It's being ridiculously superstitious.

But I think it's reasonable for the church to wish to review the actual tattoos of those who will be representing it in an official capacity. Gang tattoos? Nude women? I can see the church having a valid concern about those, as examples. That's not to say I know this is why they wish to have a GA review a picture of the tattoo prior to authorizing a mission call. But they would be reasonable reasons if that is representative of what is intended to be filtered out.

Have you ever heard of Set Free Ministries?

Some folks out there could care less if a missionary had a tattoo. But of coarse these folks probably would register in the red in the brethren's books.

God forbid that if a missionary had a Gang tattoo...of course others may see it as a changed life.

I'm not a tattoo guy, and working with these folks they are social leprosy in most cases, especially Nazi signs on the face...but as a missionary a tattoo can be plus...I guess it just depends on what folks are fishing for.

[_palerobber]

i believe the body is a temple.

[_palerobber]

A tattoo is not a sin.

vs.

[...] through disobedience to the voice of the prophets, choosing to get [a tattoo] causes spiritual damage [...]

[_EmilyAnn]

This is a wonderful easy out for everyone who does NOT want to serve a mission...

Get a totally unacceptable-to-LDS-Corp tattoo...but one you identify with and would like to have forever...

Explain how truly important the totally unacceptable tattoo is to you, and that you are NOT remorseful, and that you have NO intention of "repenting"...

And you will not be pressured to serve a mission!!!

This new policy ought to be of tremendous assistance to males who are looking for ANY out.

[_Darth J]

A tattoo is not a sin. Nor are multiple earrings.

David Bednar doesn't agree with you. If we are not quick to observe the Bretheren's inspired counsel, by definition we're sinning. Your argument is with the Church.

[_ludwigm]

This is a wonderful easy out for everyone who does NOT want to serve a mission...

Get a totally unacceptable-to-LDS-Corp tattoo...but one you identify with and would like to have forever...

For example a V, a reverse L and a _ at the proper place.

[_EmilyAnn]

This is a wonderful easy out for everyone who does NOT want to serve a mission...

Get a totally unacceptable-to-LDS-Corp tattoo...but one you identify with and would like to have forever...

For example a V, a reverse L and a _ at the proper place.

I've been doing hard physical work in the hot sun today and I have a near-migraine right now, so I'm not thinking clearly...but all of that being said...

Could you please explain, ludwigm?

I don't understand at all. (And I tried to illustrate what you said, but--obviously--I'm either not sketching it correctly...or I'm just oblivious to what is right in front of me. Probably mostly the second explanation is the right one.)



Thank you!!!

[_ControlFreak]

My real problem with this story is not so much that the church wants to control the image its missionaries represent, but how it treats those with tattoos. Rather than saying that an overly conspicuous or offensive tattoo might be inappropriate for a missionary representing the church, they tell you that you have vandalized God's temple and make you feel like dirt. Of course, that isn't surprising, it is just par for the course.