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

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