Measuring Hearts

Let's return to our theme, "the Lord looketh upon the heart." Here are a few final thoughts from a wonderful talk given by Elder Marvin J. Ashton back in 1988 entitled, "The Measure of Our Hearts." In it, he teaches that "the heart is a synonym for one's entire make-up,"[1] in other words, for the soul. Think of all the ways we talk about people and their hearts: They may be big-hearted, good-hearted, have a willing heart, or a courageous heart, or a pure heart; these are all ways of complimenting a beautiful soul. Elder Ashton wisely notes:

"When the Lord measures an individual, He does not take a tape measure around the person's head to determine his mental capacity, nor his chest to determine his manliness [we might change that to 'her bustline'] , but He measures the heart as an indicator of the person's capacity and potential to bless others."[2] 

We have got to remember and teach our girls that "the world works from the outside in" but "the Lord works from the inside out."[3]

One sweet young woman who has apparently figured a few things out, made this final comment on my questionnaire:

                "Beauty is not seen in a mirror, it is felt inside."

She echoes the ultimate truth that "if we are to prosper rather than perish, we must gain a vision of ourselves as the Savior sees us."[4]  That's precisely the message we need to help our precious girls believe whole-heartedly. Let's help them see that they are daughters of a King, and, like Samuel discovered, that makes them royal and regal.

I hope you each feel like you've joined me in becoming a "body image activist!" It's clear that the world needs our help, and these six truths about bodies and beauty are at least a good start for the message we need to get out there and share. It won't be easy--truly worthwhile things never are. Imagine how many skeptics and pessimists Jonas Salk must have crossed paths with as he began extolling the virtues of his polio vaccine, but, consider, how many children do you know currently suffering from polio? "In the strength of the Lord, we can do all things," including understanding true beauty. As President Joseph F. Smith urged us on:

"It is for [us] to lead the world and to lead especially the women of the world, in everything that is praise-worthy, everything that is God-like, everything that is uplifting and that is purifying to the children of men."[5]

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[1] Elder Marvin J. Ashton, "The Measure of Our Hearts," Conference Report, October 1988.

[2] Ibid.

[3] President Ezra Taft Benson, "Born of God," Ensign, July 1989.

[4] Elder O. Vincent Haleck, "Having the Vision to Do," Conference Report, April 2012.

[5] Joseph F. Smith, as quoted in Daughtersin My Kingdom, chapter 5, p. 66.