I think my kids probably deserve to know that breasts don’t typically rest at one’s belly button. (maybe I should wear a bra)

I think about the pile of dirty laundry parked next to my bed.

I think about my uncombed hair.

But I also think about the meals I make nightly, the games we play daily, the conversations that always end in laughter, and then I don’t really care about the other things anymore. Well, I would like my breasts to no longer sit at my belly button… but other than that I don’t care.

Especially the end because if I hope to teach my children anything (besides clean underwear, clean faces, and clean language), I hope to teach them to embrace learning.

And at the end of the day, I’m usually throwing dinner on the plates with one hand while I flip the pages of the book on the counter with the other.

Great post!

if you have ever served in a presidency and followed the handbook you wouldn’t disagree. even a bishop who can get revelation for his ward, still has to make sure that what he is teaching is aligned with what the prophets say. if it’s not, it is not appropriate for him to teach it. ask your dad. i believe he was a bishop recently.

Get up before my husband and kids to primp? No way. I am the mom who tries to convince the baby she really does need to nurse longer every morning just so I can get a few extra minutes of sleep…

Maybe I should just start doing one thing to look like “what a mother should look like” every time I wake up during the night to take care of the baby… Curl my hair at 11. Put on makeup at 1. Iron my clothes at 3. Put on my apron and perma-grin at 5.

I do have a few things to add and I’m sorry if this is a long comment. Someone mentioned that we should only teach what is in the scriptures and from the prophets. I started thinking that I am sure I’ve heard talks from the leaders of the church on dress and appearance. I also have a favorite scripture on appearance in 2 Nephi (it is more about how following Christ makes us beautiful).

Last night the missionaries were over for dinner and that got me thinking about appearance too. Missionaries are required to look a certain way because they represent the church. They represent Jesus Christ. Imagine if someone showed up to preach the gospel in ripped clothes with stains all over? Would you take them seriously?

God created us in His image. When I think of God I think of someone that is glorious in everyway, from what He says to how He looks. I can’t imagine him in dingy clothing or greasy hair. If we believe we should be like Him, I think that means we should strive to be like Him in all ways.

As a mother, I want my children to recognize the Spirit in our home and I want them to look at me and see a deep testimony of the Gospel. I’m not sure they can see that if I look haggard and dirty (which I’m sure I do most of the time). I represent the Church and I represent the Savior and I want my first impression to be one that shows the church in a good light.

Saying all this, anyone that knows me knows that I don’t always have the nicest clothes or have make-up on or have my hair done. I also think too many people become proud when it comes to appearance and spend too much time and money on how they look. I don’t believe God wants that either. But, I don’t think it is wrong to strive to look good. When I am showered, dressed, have teeth brushed, etc., I feel better about myself and about my role as a mother.

I would be bothered to be in that lesson and hear a bunch of testimonials about how we ought to look perfect and have nice nails, etc. But there isn’t anything wrong with trying to look nice.

And, here are three articles that are really great about what we should teach about appreance and also on what leaders of the church say about appearance.

1. Outward Expressions of the Inner Self
Samuelson, Cecil O.

2. Be Loyal to the Royal Within You, Harold B. Lee

3. Teach the truth about modesty
A style of our own, Judith Rasband (in the Church News)

and finally, President Hinckley talked about what I think a mother should look like in this talk: Rise to the Stature of the Divine within You

Look them up. They are great talks.

(And I should emphasize that the discussion on the other two points was quite agreeable — read scriptures, say prayers, serve more — pointing out that the early Saints not only tithed their increase, but also their time, working 1 out of ten days on the temple, for e.g.).

When we teach at church we are not a liberty to teach whatever we want. Even on the Sundays that we get to pick “our own” topic. Even though we get to choose, we get to choose from either from the scriptures or from words of prophets or general authorities.

what your teacher did was absolutely inappropriate. we, even as leaders of Relief Society or Elders Quorum do not set the curriculum, the prophets do.

it would have been much more appropriate to check the January Ensign and see what articles reference the new year. Elder Holland’s message “The Best Is Yet to Be” would have been and excellent choice…

Is it because we are worried that our neighbors/friends will see it and judge us?
Is it because we feel it is the right thing to do?
Is it best for our children?
Is it best for us? best for our spouse/Significant Other?
Often I feel it a combination of these and teasing out our own motives is very difficult, but doing it simply for society or subculture norms is, to put it bluntly…full of crap.