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

[_Tchild]

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.

emilyAnn, your subsersive logic is so sound. I probably could have used this same line of reasoning for my love of coffee to have avoided a mission. In my best Charleton Heston voice....Daaammmnn!!

Oh, the opportunity lost.

[Guest]

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.

DCP stuffing his face with donughts is like gang raping your body violently with a wooden phallis compared to the benign nothingness of a tattoo. But hey, those zany Mormons leaders and their Covey like corporate cultishness like to harangue with the fear of eternal damnation the tattooed folks. Surely, having a few million molecules of ink buried a 32nd of an inch deep in the middle dermis is more sinful than having a sagging stomach drooping down to one's kneecaps.

The only conclusion I can make is that God is a fat nerd who was picked on by tattooed dudes on his earth life... An earth life that the current prophet of Mormonism will not publicly concede ever existed.

[_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.

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!!!

Enjoy the hot sun ...
... and please don't be afraid when the sun stops for a day... (copyright LittleNipper)

Mormons wear underclothes marked by the signs listed above.
Don't You know it?
There are VERSIONS, even for the army and navy, that people should pin those marks on their official underwear.

Apparently, not the underwear which is important, but the marks.
The V, a reverse L and a _ at the proper place.

Tattooing that marks to the proper place would have the same effect as circumcision to identify Jewish identity.
(Yes I know I know I know there are stupid nonJews who do it...)

[_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!!!

Enjoy the hot sun ...
... and please don't be afraid when the sun stops for a day... (copyright LittleNipper)

Mormons wear underclothes marked by the signs listed above.
Don't You know it?
There are VERSIONS, even for the army and navy, that people should pin those marks on their official underwear.

Apparently, not the underwear which is important, but the marks.
The V, a reverse L and a _ at the proper place.

Tattooing that marks to the proper place would have the same effect as circumcision to identify Jewish identity.
(Yes I know I know I know there are stupid nonJews who do it...)

Since I have never worn said underwear, I never would have figured this out without your help!

Thank you, Ludwigm!!

[_Spanner]

This policy should theoretically impact on a range of Polynesians who have more ink than Al Fox. But I am guessing the traditional policy of ignoring Lamanite ink will persist. Their skins have been cursed already after all.

Edit to add: and they are usually not photogenic blondes.

[Guest]

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.

You've articulated it so much better than I did....this is exactly why I have a problem with this new policy. The projection of guilt on an individual who chooses to get a tattoo on their OWN F***ing body...the violation of personal boundaries the fact that the church feels they have a right to micro manage every single aspect of an individual’s actions, thoughts, choices and behavior. I rarely use the term cult to describe Mormonism...but to me this is very cultish behavior on the part of the church and it drives me crazy to see them getting away with F***ing with the minds of the young men and women whom this policy is going to affect. This added to the fact that they (through their minions) celebrate diversity by promoting tattooed individuals who clearly do not represent the very imagine that they themselves are trying to publically project. They want their cake and eat it too that... hey look at us ...we're so cool we even accept a tattooed girl...but if one of our own does likewise...he/she has violated their temple and is guilty of great sin that needs deep remorse and a review by one of our blessed anointed before we will allow them to represent us. Such hypocrisy

Does the church really need one more tool in its bag of personal boundary violation tactics to inflict remorse and guilt on its membership? Isn't it already doing enough damage?

[_ludwigm]

Since I have never worn said underwear, I never would have figured this out without your help!

Anyway, it is weird for me that You are commenting on Mormon topics --- and don't know things as basic as the garments...
One can learn up to death, so You may find other interesting things here.

Thank you, Ludwigm!

You may not believe it --- but I am a nevermo, too. I was taught by my environment...

[_The Mighty Builder]

You are all missing the true reason for this ban. MONEY!

For those of you have no understanding, College Sports is a MULTI-BILLION dollar business.

By keeping those tattooed from going on a mission, the Mormon Corporation is protecting its income from College Sports.

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!

[_No_Hidden_Agenda]

That article is a clusterf*Celestial Kingdom of despicableness...

Pain of the tattoo process
Guilt at disobeying
Fear of being denied by the One True Church

Followed by a rush of forgiveness relief at being forgiven and allowed to pay the church money to work for it...

[_Mercury]

I have been contemplating getting a Jupiter Talisman tattoo.

by the way, in the late nineties one of my comps had a TON of tats.

Like anything in Mormonism, this only is an issue if you are one of the "little people". If you are from a wealthy, well connected family they will always look the other way.