Hi friends and thanks for visiting my new blog. As described to the right, I started this blog to share thoughts that weren't appropriate to share on my family's blog. It will be a slew of topics, ranging from morality to conserving the earth. Okay, those are the only two topics I have in mind right now, but I'm sure I'll find others as we move along.
So today's topic is morality, more specifically media and clothing. I am a Mormon, but a technologically inept one, so can't figure out how to get the I'm A Mormon button on my blog. So I'll just say it loud and proud here until I figure it out. Generally speaking, we are a people who truly strive to do and be better people. We are great at serving others, loving our families, and trying to be obedient to Heavenly Father's commandments. So I wanted to take a moment and clarify what the standards are for movie-watching specifically, but it pertains to all media including music, books, video games, images, and whatever else you can think of that entertains you.
There is still the misconception that not viewing R-rated movies is the standard for obedience; this is incorrect. The new standard via For the Strength of the Youth booklet, is this: "Do not attend, view, or participate in anything that is vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic in any way. Do not participate in anything that presents immorality or violence as acceptable."
Here's the deal then. If we accept this counsel, we as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should not be watching 95% of PG-13 movies and about 70% of PG ones, including the ever-popular and venerated Les Miserables. I have not see Les Mis, but have read about the content of the movie and am saddened that so many members love, adore, and hail this movie as wonderful. I know a scene shows Fantine in her first sexual encounter as a new prostitute. It shows the man moving on top of her. People, watching others having sex is pornography. It shows her face and the man. There is a lot of other inappropriate behavior in the movie like grabbing female parts, apparently Santa with another woman - brief though the shot may be - and more.
Having read the book a couple of times, I want to explain that the Thenardiers are not the people portrayed in the Broadway and movie. They are not nasty people running a pseudo-whorehouse. M. Thenardier is a truly evil, wicked man who preys on the goodness of others. He does not provide for his family, he is involved murder and intrigues and anything evil. And Mme. Thenardier for some reason follows her little husband, is a giantess of a protector for him. She herself casts off one of her sons (Gavroche). Actually, she is nasty in the literature she reads.
I saw the Broadway in high school and am sad to say that I do not walk out, but I did not think then as I do now. There were inappropriate displays on stage as well. The musical and I assume movie do not capture the larger-than-life greatness of the characters displayed by Hugo, but I think people sense the greatness of them in the movie and play and thus feel justified in watching them. Did you know that the only reference to Fantine's prostitution is one line said by herself, something close to, "I will sell the only thing I have left." The book does not go into any detail at all, ever, in any parts of the book. But man is carnal, sensual and devilish, so movie makers and play writers put it in because it sells.
If we follow the counsel in For the Strength of the Youth, we should not be watching anything violent either, like Divergent and Hunger Games and the like. Nothing that is vulgar or immoral. That makes it pretty tricky to be able to watch most movies, but if we are to be a holy people, I believe it's worth the sacrifice.
My second point in this long post is on clothing. Again, an excerpt from For the Strength of the Youth: "Immodest clothing is any clothing that is tight, sheer, or revealing in any other manner, Young women should avoid short shorts and short skirts, shirts that do not cover the stomach, and clothing that does not cover the shoulders or is low-cut in the front or the back. Young men should also maintain modesty in their appearance." I want to focus on the first line specifically, no tight clothing. It is fashionable to wear very tight pants or leggins with just a shirt. I see this all the time and am embarrassed when I see this because I can so clearly see the woman's figure. I myself feel uncomfortable in this clothing, which is why I choose not to wear it. I see women with leggings and just a tunic shirt (that often also hugs their bottom) thus revealing their body shape. Leggings are tight. There are many tight pants out there. We are counseled not to wear them. Sometimes women wear leggings or tight pants with a short dress over them. To me, this is the same as wearing a short skirt/dress. Because your skin is covered does not make it modest.
In my past less-modest days, my motivation for wearing such clothing was to show off my body. That may very not be other people's motivations; they probably just have more fashion sense than me, which is not saying much. But I think it is possible, though more difficult, to find clothing that is pretty and feminine and modest. I don't have time to look up links for you right now, but hopefully I will soon.
How's that for a lengthy first post? I feel much better now that I wrote my thoughts down. I hope we can still be friends.
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