New Members

As a new teen convert, you will want to pay close attention to the teachings found in For the Strength of Youth. This pamphlet, written for teenagers, helps LDS youth learn to live the life of a Latter-day Saint.

One of the teachings that may be new to you as a convert are those pertaining to showing respect for your body, which was a gift from your Heavenly Father.

Body piercing is discouraged except for medical reasons. Girls and women may, if they choose, wear one pair of modest earrings. Boys and men may not wear any. Piercing other parts of the body is discouraged. Tattooing is also not accepted.

President Hinckley, the previous prophet of the church, said,

“Did you ever think that your body is holy? You are a child of God. Your body is His creation. Would you disfigure that creation with portrayals of people, animals, and words painted into your skin?

"I promise you that the time will come, if you have tattoos, that you will regret your actions. They cannot be washed off. They are permanent. Only by an expensive and painful process can they be removed. If you are tattooed, then probably for the remainder of your life you will carry it with you. I believe the time will come when it will be an embarrassment to you. Avoid it. We, as your Brethren who love you, plead with you not to become so disrespectful of the body which the Lord has given you.

"May I mention earrings and rings placed in other parts of the body. These are not manly. They are not attractive. You young men look better without them, and I believe you will feel better without them. As for the young women, you do not need to drape rings up and down your ears. One modest pair of earrings is sufficient.” Gordon B. Hinckley, “A Prophet’s Counsel and Prayer for Youth,” Ensign, Jan 2001, 2

Heavenly Father gave us our bodies as an extraordinary gift. They house our spirits and allow us to do so many wonderful things. It’s important that we treat His gift with dignity and respect, taking care to leave it in good condition. The body He gave us is perfect just as it is. It doesn’t need further decoration—we certainly don’t want to leave the impression it wasn’t a good enough gift. Paul said, “Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Cor. 6:19–20).

If you already have tattoos, consider having them removed when you are older and can afford it. You will likely find you outgrow the pleasure for one and may find it embarrassing. They can impact your ability to get a job or find a spouse. Until then, if it can stay hidden away, you may want to do that whenever possible and don’t brag about it or show it off, lest you influence another to follow in your footsteps.

Treat your body as a temple, already perfect just as it was created, and worthy of respect.

“It’s my life and I can do what I want with it.” That’s a popular refrain among teenagers outside the church. As a new member of the church, you may already be aware that there is more to this story than that.

We have always had agency. The right to choose for ourselves is what brought us here to earth. When Heavenly Father presented his plan to us, it included the right to choose whether or not to follow it. Some chose not to and followed Satan instead. Those of us who are here made the correct choice. You've always had agency--you just understand it better now.

Now, here on earth, our agency continues. As a teenager, you have limits placed on your agency, in that you must obey laws, rules, parents, teachers, and leaders. However, within even the strictest guidelines, you have agency. For instance, you can choose your attitude toward the guidelines. You can even choose not to follow those rules and laws, but there are serious consequences for doing so.

And consequences are the part of agency much of the world chooses not to understand. While you can always choose what to do and how to feel about it, you cannot choose the consequences of your choices, and there are always consequences. Furthermore, you can’t choose who else is hurt by your choices. The consequences of your actions are entirely beyond your control, both good and bad.

When you make good choices, good consequences follow, in general. When you make bad choices, bad consequences generally follow. As a teenager, your decisions have a tremendous impact on your family and friends. When you get into trouble, your family will be hurt—and possibly even held accountable by the law. When you do something wonderful, they are proud and others look on them more favorably. If you choose to follow a bad path, you may lead a friend or younger sibling along with you, but when you chose to join the church, you drew attention to a wonderful eternal blessing. Others you love may follow in your footsteps someday.

The best time to use your newly understood agency is before you need it. Make all the important decisions now, when your emotions aren’t involved. Then plan a path that won’t lead you anywhere you haven’t chosen. Think through the choices, the consequences, and the actions needed, and then pray for confirmation. Right now is the time to decide you will marry in the temple, for instance. If you decide now, you’ll make the choices that will keep you from getting sidetracked. You’ll date only temple worthy people, guard your morality, and keep your testimony strong. It’s much easier to make this choice today than when you are facing a proposal from someone who can’t make your eternal dreams come true.

Dallin H. Oakes, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, gave this guideline for making the small, everyday choices you will make as a new member of the church: “Potentially destructive deviations often seem so small that some find it easy to justify ‘just this once.’ When that temptation arises—as it will—I urge you to ask yourself, ‘Where will it lead?’” Dallin H. Oaks, “Where Will It Lead?,” New Era, Aug 2007, 2–5