A short while ago, I was watching a movie which I had not seen in a long time. In this movie, there is a certain young woman (she was actually just a side character in the film) who has always tugged at my heart strings. Due to the fact that her mother died, when she was a small child, she was raised solely by her father. Not knowing how to raise a daughter, he did the best he could and raised her as a boy. She was strong of body and character, but lacking in beauty and every feminine grace. More then once in the film this fact was remarked upon by those she came in contact with.
Anyway, as I was watching this movie my baby sister (nine years of age) walked in. She took one look at this awkward young lady on the screen and with an expression of awe said, “Oh my, isn’t she just beautiful! Don’t I look a lot like her? Do you think that when I grow up, I can be as beautiful as her?” I was struck, how could I tell my sister that this young lady was considered by the world as ugly and so very lacking? I held my tongue and instead looked closer to see if I could discern this beauty that was so apparent to my little sister. It only took a moment for me to begin to discern that beauty. This character had a strong inward beauty, but there was a hint at an outward beauty, as well. Only, like me, most of the other characters (including the girl herself) could not see it. As the movie progressed, the young woman was taught all she never had the opportunity to learn from a loving mother. As she learned how to act like a woman and look like a woman, I saw her grow in confidence, grace, and beauty. I saw this reflected in how those around her both saw and treated her, as well. This is a powerful lesson.
I was taught once that the way we appear affects the way we think, feel, act, and thus how others react toward us. I have found this to be true in my life, just as I saw it to be true with that young lady in the movie I just mentioned. The famous early American author Jack London understood this principle, and that is why in a letter to his daughter Jane he counseled,
“Never hesitate at making yourself a dainty, delightful girl and woman. There is a girl’s pride and a woman’s pride in this and it is indeed a fine pride. On the one hand, of course, never over-dress. On the other hand, never be a frump. No matter how wonderful are the thoughts that burn in your brain, always, physically, and in dress, make yourself a delight to all eyes that behold you…Our bodies are as glorious as are our minds…Never forget the noble things of the spirit, on the other hand, never let you body be ignoble. As regards to the garmenture of your body, learn to do much with little, never to over do, and to keep such a balance between your garmenture and your mind that both garmenture and mind are beautiful…Develop your mind to it’s upmost beauty, and keep you body in pace with your mind.” Letters of a Nation, pg 330-331
Contrarily, I have heard it said often enough that it is only the inside that counts. It matters not how you dress, groom, or carry yourself. That it bespeaks more humility and spirituality to not take care of your outward appearance. Where I can agree that it is the inside that mostly counts, we cannot forget the outward, in fact President Harold B. Lee counseled,
“Do not underestimate the important symbolic and actual effect of appearance. Persons who are well groomed and modestly dressed invite the companionship of the Spirit of our Father in Heaven and are able to exercise a wholesome influence upon those around them. Persons who are unkempt and careless about their appearance, or adopt the visual symbols of those who often oppose our ideals, expose themselves and persons around them to influences that are degrading and dissonant. Outward appearance is often a reflection of inward tendencies” President Harold B. Lee, “Be Loyal to the Royal Within You,” BYU, 11 September, 1973
When I think of how our outward appearance is a reflection of what is inside, I think of Paul’s statement in the New Testament,
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are”
1 Corinthians 3:16–17
Temples are sacred places. It is what happens inside that is most important. Yet have you ever visited a Temple of God? If you have (or if you have only seen a picture) then you have seen how beautiful the outward building, and grounds are. This is because like President Lee said, that the outward is merely a reflection of the inward. The temple stands as a candle on a hill, an invitation for all who see it to come unto Christ. If our bodies are temples, should not they act in the same way? Should not our outside reflect the glory within, and stand as a light to the world to help others come unto Christ?
I promise that as we better align out outward appearance to better reflect our inward self, then how we think, feel, and act will change,as will, how others react toward us. For, we will begin to see, the inherent beauty we were born with, and so will all those around us.
