Question
Gramps,
I have many good friends who have tattoos and they are non-members, but I know that some of them would like to join the church, they are really great people and I have always had that concern because once I heard a member of the church who had said that people with tattoos cannot do temple ordinances, and those words have been sorrounding my mind since that moment, I really would like to know that, I think is not fair to judge someone by their mistakes in the past when they hadn’t had knowledge.
Mel
Answer
Mel,
In receiving your question my immediate thoughts went to a young lady by the name of Al Carroway aka “The Tattooed Mormon.” She is a convert of 4 years (5 in August). She and her husband currently are temple workers at the Jordan River Temple. She is the perfect example of how one can have tattoos, convert and become a member of the church and do ordinance work in the temple.
I contacted her this morning and she was only too happy to share with me some insights on this via her blog and a YouTube video.
So I hope you don’t mind if I just share those with you and let her testimony and experiences answer your questions.
There is a great article on her blog “Mormons and Tattoos” where she answers some of the same questions that you are asking.
While she has many YouTube videos discussing her conversion and faith, she recommended this one where she discusses her testimony, the temple and the blessings she has received from going.
I hope these help to answer your questions. Her own personal experiences with this shows that those with tattoos can become members of the church and can enjoy the blessings of the temple.
Gramps
