My Ideal Body

We live in a world today that is constantly trying to tell women how they are supposed to look. We can't go on social media websites without running into advertisements on how we can lose weight fast and easy. We can't even go on Pinterest without being bombarded with pins telling us how we can achieve our perfect body. Yet how often do we see in our world advertisements or posts online telling us about how we are daughters of a king who loves us no matter what our measurements? How often are we told about our divine qualities given to us by our Heavenly Father? And why is it stressed that we have "an ideal body?"

Your body is a gift. It's a gift from your Heavenly Father. If you want to look a certain way that's up to you, but know now that you are not just a body. You are a person with a soul, a personality, attributes, and yes, divine qualities. Your Heavenly Father wants you to progress and learn more to enhance those divine qualities so you may return to Him. Does He want you to take care of your body? Of course. That's why we have the word of wisdom. But He loves you no matter what you weigh or what you look like.

I'd be a liar if I said I too wasn't affected by the bombarding images of what I "should" look like. Sure, I'd like to have a smaller waist. I can't stand my pale skin tone, and sometimes I even wish I didn't have curly hair. But one thing I love about my Heavenly Father is His message to me. Not once in my entire life have I ever received a blessing or any sort of revelation from my Heavenly Father pertaining to my looks. When I go through my patriarchal blessing I'm touched by the spirit and come to love myself more. Does my patriarchal blessing say anything about "obtaining a perfect body?" No. It tells me how I can become more like my Savior and of the divine qualities I already have and can develop later in my life.

I am more than my body. Sure, I like to dress up and do my hair, and I can't stand bad hair days, but I know who I am. I know what my Heavenly Father sees in me (for the most part). And I know my potential. How can we all come to know this? By turning away from the world and what it tells us we must be and turning to our Heavenly Father who uplifts us. The number one example you should follow in your life is your Savior. He has paved the way back to our Heavenly Father, and it's not exclusive to those of a particular size, skin tone, height, or looks. It's for everyone. The potential to return to our Savior and Heavenly Father and be like unto them is in every single one of us. Every. Single. One of us.

Now I'd like to share my ideal body. This has come with much debate and thought through the years. This is the body I want:
- Hands worn and used to help others
- Legs that race to the aid of my fellow man
- Eyes that see what our Savior sees in others
- A mouth that speaks through the spirit
- Arms strong enough to hug and hold those in need
- A mind open to learning and new experiences
- A heart big enough for all of God's creatures

Before I close, I just want to say that if you want to be healthier and work out, do it. We're encouraged to take care of our bodies. I try my best to do what I can, but not to achieve an image the world tells me I must. It's up to you what you do. As for me, I want to achieve that ideal body listed above. I want to meet my Savior and Heavenly Father as a tired old woman who spent her whole life serving others, and in turn serving her God.

Remember not to heed the worldly standards but to turn to your Heavenly Father. He will uplift you because He loves you. It's as simple as that. He loves you. He loves you for the person He knows you to be. Not for your body. Don't let anyone ever let you believe otherwise.