Feeling Beautiful, Part One

I have started this post at least 4 different times-- maybe because it is such a tricky matter.  Feeling beautiful is just something I struggle with anyway-- then you add into it the feeling of not being enough that invariably comes when a loved one uses pornography-- well it just becomes one big mess.  For me at least.

I never want another woman to feel like their body is not enough.  We do enough to put ourselves down.  We don't need to do that too.  So, I have been indoctrinating teaching my Activity Day Girls that because they are a daughter of God, THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL!!!!  Maybe if they hear it enough when they are 8-9 years old it won't be an issue when they are 16, or 10, or 35.

When I was preparing a lesson for the girls, I came across a talk by Elaine S. Dalton, that moved me, and made me reevaluate how I see myself.  I watched this Mormon Message over and over again.


















The part that touched me was, "Hers was a beauty that cannot be purchased. It came from years of seeking the best gifts, becoming well educated, seeking knowledge by study and also by faith. It came from years of hard work, of faithfully enduring trials with optimism, trust, strength, and courage. It came from her unwavering devotion and fidelity to her husband, her family, and the Lord..... It is a beauty that is earned through faith, repentance, and honoring covenants."(full talk)

Deep beauty and confidence in ourselves comes from the inside out.  From the  whisperings of the Holy Ghost teaching us individually that we are each beloved daughters of our Father in Heaven, that He sees the innate beauty of our spirits.

I began embracing these truths:

• The Lord loves and honors me for my effort to love Edmond;

• He knows me and sees me as a beautiful daughter;

• The beauty of spirit I am cultivating through my trials is more captivating than any earthly beauty money can buy.

I know that I am beautiful because I have become disciple of Jesus Christ.  I know I am beautiful becasue My Father told me and I trust HIM.  My beauty radiates from my spirit, not my body.  No make-up, no-sleep, bad hair day, pajamas and all, I am beautiful.

So are you!

Bonus quote because I like it so well:

"We have been taught that “the gift of the Holy Ghost … quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands and purifies all the natural passions and affections. … It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness and charity. It develops beauty of person, form and features.” ¹⁶ Now, that is a great beauty secret!" 

Elaine S. Dalton-- she rocks! (full talk)