| For many years tattoos and decorative piercings | | | | cosmetics and wear pierced earrings, (but one |
| weren't a real issue for members of the Mormon | | | | pair only - one in each ear) as those are socially |
| Church. Until the year 2000, there was only one | | | | acceptable with in his peer group. |
| reference to tattooing in all of Mormon teaching | | | | I feel that these religious leaders are ignorant of |
| and that was in the 1965 unofficial personal | | | | tattoo history as a spiritual practice and generally |
| publication Mormon Doctrine by Mormon Apostle, | | | | trivialize tattoos and piercings as immoral and |
| Bruce R. McConkie. It states; "Tattooing is a | | | | frivolous behaviors of rebellion because they do |
| desecration of the human body and should not be | | | | not want their followers to look like everyone |
| permitted, unless all that is involved is the placing | | | | else. It is a power game and nothing more. If |
| of a blood type or an identification number in an | | | | they can control the way you look they will |
| obscure place. Latter-day Saint servicemen in | | | | control the way you think and feel. |
| particular are counseled to avoid the pitfalls of | | | | I suspect that the shunning of persons with |
| tattooing. Persons who are tattooed are not, | | | | tattoos and piercings is really a part of the whole |
| however, denied the ordinances and blessings of | | | | elitist thought pattern of Mormonism in Utah. |
| the temple." | | | | Those who have not done their homework are |
| In the October 2000 General Conference the first | | | | sure to believe that if you look like a Gentile (any |
| of many "councils" against tattooing was | | | | non-Mormon) you will act like a Gentile, which |
| announced. | | | | means to Mormons that you are without God and |
| "We--the First Presidency and the Council of the | | | | are basically led by the Devil. |
| Twelve--have taken the position, and I quote, | | | | However it has been my experience that tattoos |
| that "the Church discourages tattoos. It also | | | | do not lead to sin. Being uninformed and willing to |
| discourages the piercing of the body for other | | | | blindly follow without question is what leads to sin |
| than medical purposes, although it takes no | | | | and personal disgrace. |
| position on the minimal piercing of the ears by | | | | If you are LDS and still considering a tattoo you |
| women for one pair of earrings." President Gordon | | | | should first be asking yourself these questions. |
| B. Hinckley | | | | Does my tattoo choice reflect my beliefs or will |
| At the time my husband and I were very active, | | | | they distract from my message of who I am. |
| temple recommend holding members of the | | | | Am I getting tattooed because I want to |
| church and had been operating a tattoo studio | | | | immortalize an event in my life, a belief or to |
| without any prejudice for many years. We were | | | | rebel against the mainstream culture? Will this |
| never treated poorly or shunned by the members | | | | tattoo or piercing prevent me from being a good |
| of our Ward or Stake. Our Stake President's wife | | | | person? The answers to these questions will let |
| more than once brought her children to our studio | | | | you know if you are doing the right thing or |
| to get tattoos. It was such a non issue that one | | | | reacting poorly to your society. It is my opinion |
| of the ways I billed myself in advertising was Kita | | | | that if you feel having a tattoo would be a |
| Kazoo the Mormon Girl Tattoo Artist. | | | | healthy positive thing for you, then by all means |
| Since then we both have been subjected to | | | | exercise your own good judgment and free |
| many discussions and debates on the right or | | | | agency and get one. |
| wrong of getting and doing tattoos and piercings. | | | | Keep in mind that in reality "Tattooings are not |
| At first I would defend my choice of profession | | | | only ornaments...they are not only emblems of |
| using the scriptures, but eventually I got tired of it | | | | nobility and symbols of rank in the social hierarchy: |
| and began asking those who questioned me to | | | | they are also messages fraught with spiritual and |
| explain to me, what horrible thing would happen in | | | | moral significance...not only to imprint a drawing |
| our society if everyone had a tattoo? After all, | | | | onto the flesh but also to stamp onto the mind all |
| sins are those things that violate the golden rule | | | | the traditions and philosophy of the group."- |
| and keep us from loving one another, not things | | | | Claude Lévi Strauss |
| such as, what clothing we wear or how we do | | | | Personally I believe that tattoos in and of |
| our hair. | | | | themselves can not be evil and I don't believe |
| Now, 8 years later the whole subject of tattoos | | | | that God cares one way or another if you have |
| and piercings has in my opinion gotten out of | | | | one or not, unless you got that tattoo to alienate |
| hand. Now it is not so surprising to find that the | | | | and hurt other people. Then the real problem is |
| local church authorities, such as bishops, stake | | | | how you feel towards your fellow men and not |
| presidents and temple presidents are taking it | | | | the tattoo in itself. |
| upon themselves to punish members who choose | | | | People have a right to decorate themselves how |
| to get a tattoo. Not just in Utah, but all over the | | | | they want to. Some people like to put pictures on |
| world. This has become such a big issue that | | | | their bodies and some people don't. It is all a |
| people are leaving the church over it. | | | | matter of personal taste. I feel it is wrong to |
| Some people who have tattoos are told not to | | | | subject my taste on others and I expect the |
| take the sacrament and others are not allowed | | | | same courteousness in return. |
| access to the temple. Some are being counseled | | | | This attitude is healthy and normal. This is how it |
| to not marry those who have tattoos and | | | | is in the big world where the Mormon lifestyle is |
| piercings. As having been a 30+ year student of | | | | not practiced by the majority. Wouldn't the world |
| Mormonism and its history I feel that this behavior | | | | be great place if we could all mind our own lives |
| is not in line with the teachings of Mormonism or | | | | and appreciate the good things out there instead |
| Christianity in any way. | | | | of picking on others for being different? |
| Mormons aren't the only religion that | | | | You can do good or evil with everything on this |
| superstitiously believes that tattoos are an evil | | | | earth. As a heavily tattooed person I have had |
| and to be avoided as they supposingly will lead to | | | | many more opportunities to love and serve |
| worse sins. Many Christian Churches and Jewish | | | | others through tattooing and having tattoos than |
| Rabbi's do also. And there are good reasons for a | | | | before I had them. I have had to become more |
| religion to not want their flock to get tattoos or | | | | patient and tolerant. Especially have I had to learn |
| piercings. | | | | to be more patient and tolerant with those who |
| Getting a tattoo not only changes the way you | | | | claim to be "spiritual leaders" as they put words in |
| look but it also changes the way you think and | | | | God's mouth rather than follow what they claim |
| feel about yourself. It is a clear message that you | | | | God has already spoken. |
| feel that you are the owner of your body and | | | | I have found that most people who have tattoos |
| worse of all (to religious leaders), your mind! | | | | are more open and friendly towards others. I |
| Historically tattoos have been used as an | | | | have found that for the most part people who |
| expression of faith and commitment. One would | | | | wear tattoos are very nice people. There are a |
| think that getting a symbol of your beliefs | | | | few people that I have met to whom their |
| tattooed on ones self would be encouraged. | | | | tattoos serve more as warning to stay away |
| However, because of the recent history of | | | | than an invitation to meet them. Which I feel is |
| American tattooing and the popularizations of | | | | also a good thing as it has saved me a lot of time |
| tattooing, tattoos are being presented by the | | | | by helping me to avoid an unpleasant interaction |
| media and politicians as a dangerous amusement. | | | | with them. |
| It is not new for counter-culture decorations to | | | | Most people have their personal spiritual philosophy |
| be viewed as repulsive to many of the elders of | | | | tattooed on them and it becomes a way of |
| our society. | | | | opening the opportunity to speak about spiritual |
| When I heard at General Conference that | | | | things. In this world where we are taught to be |
| President Gordon Hinckley (the current Mormon | | | | afraid of our neighbors it is nice to have a way of |
| Church President) does not like tattoos and some | | | | really getting to know the people around you. It is |
| piercings I was not surprised. The tattoos he has | | | | nice to have a common bond despite all other |
| been exposed to in his youth were usually not | | | | social differences. |
| very well done or artistic. Unlike today, tattooed | | | | If you already have a tattoo and are experiencing |
| people of his generation, especially in socially | | | | social rejection issues it is wise remember that |
| backwards Utah may have appeared attractive | | | | things in the church change quickly. I would not be |
| only to criminals or rough military men, not | | | | surprised to find that in 20 years having a tattoo |
| average everyday people with families and lives | | | | won't be an issue at all. The evil music that was |
| of good account. | | | | preached against in the 60's and 70's is now |
| To further the injury of one's personal opinion of | | | | played regularly at church dances and the Coke |
| fashion being stated as if it is a law from God, | | | | and Pepsi drinkers that were denied temple |
| President Hinckley allows for one sort of | | | | recommends in the 1970's can now go to the |
| permanent decorative change to ones appearance | | | | temple in spite of their soda habits. It is all a |
| and not another, which seems hypocritical to me. | | | | matter of generational perspective, which is bound |
| Mr. Hinckley allows within the church for women | | | | to change as the old guys finally die off. |
| to have their faces tattooed with permanent | | | | |