It’s that time of year again-the blogs are abuzz with the latest news on American Idol. While all of the semifinalists have caught the media’s attention, two of them-Brooke White and David Archuleta–are Mormons, or members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And they stand out in Hollywood in a different way than many of the other contestants.
Mormons are well known for their squeaky-clean lives. As put forth in the Word of Wisdom received by the prophet Joseph Smith and recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 89, they do not drink alcohol, use tobacco, use illegal drugs, or drink coffee. Sexual relations outside of marriage are prohibited. Beyond that, Mormons are counseled to dress modestly, avoid the use of profanity, and avoid music and other entertainment that would offend the Spirit of the Lord. This often includes R-rated movies, of which Brooke White said in her American Idol audition that she had never watched even one.
Why do Mormons live this way? The question is not as easy to answer as it might appear. In part, the answer lies in the fact that we believe that God speaks to us today through His prophet, and our living prophet and other Church leaders have admonished us to follow these standards of behavior. Another answer is that in order to enter the temples of the Mormon Church, we must live clean lives and adhere to these standards. So that’s an incentive to live this way, but it’s still not the whole answer.
In the booklet “For the Strength of Youth,” the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints makes this promise:
We promise that as you keep these standards and live by the truths in the scriptures, you will be able to do your life’s work with greater wisdom and skill and bear trials with greater courage. You will have the help of the Holy Ghost. You will feel good about yourself and will be a positive influence in the lives of others. You will be worthy to go to the temple to receive holy ordinances. These blessings and many more can be yours.
We pray for each of you. May you keep your minds and bodies clean from the sins of the world so you can do the great work that lies before you. We pray that you will be worthy to carry on the responsibilities of building the kingdom of God and preparing the world for the Second Coming of the Savior.
It’s not that we blindly follow our prophet in anticipation of promised blessings. As we put this counsel to the test, and try it in our own lives, we realize that living clean and moral lives really does make us happy. And we really do have added strength and influence of the Holy Ghost as we continue to live this way. There’s a lot that the Lord expects us to accomplish, and we need this strength in our lives.
And we know who we are and what’s expected of us. A beloved children’s song perhaps explains it best: “I am a child of God, and He has sent me here.” We understand that we are children of our Heavenly Father. He loves us. He created us. And we understand that He is all-knowing and all-powerful, and we can trust Him and His infinite wisdom.
Following a “high-standards” lifestyle is not always easy, especially when the world around you chooses very different standards. But the rewards can be great. Hats off to Brooke White and David Archuleta for holding on to their ideals.
