LDS Treasures

Everyone’s been making a fuss over a British woman who appeared on a talent show. She looked, according to the kindest article I read, frumpy. Some places had worse terms. She was an older woman and it was clear Simon Cowle, the other judges, and the audience was certain she would be terrible and was there for people to boo. Then she began to sing, and people were shocked to hear an extraordinary voice coming from the woman.

Am I the only person who is offended by how everyone, even good and moral people, were shocked to hear she had talent? There seems to be an assumption that God saved up all the talent for the beautiful people of the world, or those who meet the artificial standards of beauty the world created. What does her appearance have to do with her voice, anyway? And once the shock wears off, will they let that extraordinary voice go on to have the career the woman deserves? Presumably they’ll make her over until she’s unrecognizable, but will it be enough?

As Latter-day Saints, we know it’s the spirit that counts, not the body. Yet even Latter-day Saints have been “shocked” and surprised. It’s not a unique situation. Long ago, when I was much younger, I moved to a ward and was not given a calling. Eventually, I was invited to speak in Sacrament Meeting. The very next week I was called to teach Relief Society. The Relief Society president explained, “We’d have asked you sooner, but we didn’t really think you’d be able to do anything.” I didn’t pass the outward appearance test. As Latter-day Saints we know man looks on the outward appearance, but God does not. And we don’t have to.

Let’s let Susan Boyle’s talent stand as a reminder to us to look at people with an eternal perspective. The body is a temporary impediment to our dreams. Let’s try to look beyond and not be shocked by the beauty we find inside less than perfect bodies.

Watch the video and “judge” for yourself:
Susan Boyle

My LDS Treasures blog met with great tragedy too painful to go into here. Since it was built with an ancient version of WordPress, I decided it was as good a time as any to update a bit.

This blog is meant for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That’s not to say you can’t visit if you aren’t, of course. It’s just that Mormons, as some people call us, speak their own language sometimes, and the Mormon-speak may be a bit confusing. If you’re confused, just register and post a question, and I’ll explain. I have a blog for those who aren’t LDS but would like to learn a little more and you’re always welcome there. I’m better at explaining things there.

Meet a Real Mormon

Who is Terrie?

I’ve been a member of the Church since I was seventeen, joining without my family. Today, I’m married with three grown children and the author of a homeschooling book, Homeschooling: Take a Deep Breath–You Can Do This! and will have a book out early next year called, “Home a Little Longer: Preschool and Kindergarten at Home.”

I teach five-year-olds in Primary and also serve as the literacy leader, where I teach English as a second language. I am very passionate about both callings and might throw a tantrum if released. (In fact, they tried to release me from Primary, with firm instructions to get acquainted with Relief Society, but I kept sneaking back into Primary to sub, so they gave up and returned my class to me. I cannot function in classes without flannel boards and puppets.)