Dear Gramps,

I would like to know the difference of getting tattooed and pierced-which the Mormon Church looks down upon-and the acts of plastic surgery (example breast enlargement or even the use of make-up). they are all altering the body in some form to enhance or express a look or an art. {Piercings can be taken out as make-up can be washed off.) I don’t have tattoos or piercings but, I would really like to know why it is ok for some body alteration but not others. Please let me know. I also would like to know the church views on plastic surgery-specifically breast enlargement-to make one’s self look “better”. Thank You!

Tracy, from Wisconsin

Dear Tracy,

Of course, Tracy, I cannot speak for the Mormon Church. I have no official capacity, and the Ask Gramps web site represents only the personal opinions of one person. Our attempt, however, is to restrict personal opinion as much as possible and cite references from the scriptures and from the writings of the Prophets where possible.

So, with that caveat, let me give you my opinion on the subject about which you enquire. First off, if you see a person walking down the street in a police uniform do think that the person is just a private citizen that desires to dress that way because he thinks it looks good on him, or do you think that the person is a policeman? So it is with body piercing. Although there is no doubt that all sorts of people would experiment with body piercing, the excessive use of multiple ear-ring type adornments, attached to every orifice of the body, represents a certain mentality and social posture of non-conformity which is starkly at variance with the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. So, if you are a participating member of the Mormon Church and you defiantly adorn yourself with such trappings you are not looked on as who you really are, but as someone who is making a statement of personal haughtiness, flying in the face of convention and demonstrating an anti-establishment mentality. That is the uniform that you would be wearing.

Now, what is the difference in that kind of adornment and a breast implant? Although there may be various reasons for such an operation, the usual reason is to correct a presumed defect in appearance, and thus to overcome a feeling of inferiority or a feeling of being the object of undue and inappropriate attention. Body piercing is a demonstration of non-conformity, and the desire for conformity is the usual reason for a breast implant. The different reasons behind those two different types of body adjustments is more than sufficient to justify the one and condemn the other.

Gramps