Look at Me!
A Child of God
Help others see the real you.
Once I said to a classroom of students, “Look at me!” I noticed that when I said this, they all looked at my eyes. They did not look at my shoes, suit, or tie. They did not look at my hair or hands. They looked at my eyes. My eyes are like windows to where the real “me” lives.
In For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices, we are taught that our bodies are sacred and to “treat [our bodies]—and others’ bodies—with respect.” We read: “As you make decisions about your clothing, hairstyle, and appearance, ask yourself, ‘Am I honoring my body as a sacred gift from God?’ Heavenly Father wants us to see each other for who we really are: not just physical bodies but His beloved children with a divine destiny. Avoid styles that emphasize or draw inappropriate attention to your physical body instead of who you are as a child of God.”
When I served as a mission president, I reminded the missionaries of this principle often, since many people dressed immodestly. “Look at the eyes,” I told the missionaries. “See the person. Don’t just see a body. See a child of God.”
When you look at others, try to see them. Don’t judge them by their clothes (or lack thereof) or hairstyle. Look at their eyes. Look past the outward appearance to who they truly are—children of God.
Following this line of reasoning, you can choose to dress and present yourself in a way that doesn’t distract from your true identity as a child of God. You can choose to make it as easy as possible for others to not be distracted and to see you for who you really are. Dress modestly and appropriately. Dress so people see you and not just your outward appearance.
In this way, you show that you know, as we read in the For the Strength of Youth guide, that “your body is an amazing gift from your Heavenly Father. He gave it to you to help you become more like Him.”