I agree with what you wrote. As an LDS Sister, I don’t wear make up, I have no piercings or tattoos and cannot remember the last time I colored my hair (I’m 52 and graying by the second). I’ve never had constructive surgery (I had a C-section, that doesn’t count) and I don’t wear jewelry except for my medic alert bracelet and even that I have to force myself from removing. I don’t wear short dresses, only long ones and I never show anything below my neck. Heavenly Father felt I looked good just the way he made me. I don’t dare alter anything. I used to think that was why I remain single but I figure that’s the single brother’s loss.

This is just my opinion, but I think women look beautiful just the way they are; so do men. When people think of a beautiful woman, who do they think of? Personally, I think of my own grandmother with her snowy white hair, familiar chuckle, and welcoming smile. How about a handsome man? I think of my uncle with is combed back hair, deep voice, friendly demeanor, and the twinkle in his eye to let you know he’s glad to see you.

Regarding other common trends that may be less permanent than a tattoo, here are a few things for both genders to think about:

1. If God didn’t shave our eyebrows, because he knew it would keep the burning salt in sweat out of our eyes, why do we, and then try and paint what’s not there back on?

2. Why do we darken our eyelids with eye shadow and eyeliner to the point we look like raccoons, and in applications seriously gone wrong, someone who lost a fight and ended up with two black eyes?

3. Why do we tan our skin, so when our shirt sleeves ride up and collars droop it makes us look like a zebra, and puts us at risk for skin cancer later on in life?

4. Why do we dye our hair, when in the old days, graying was a sign of wisdom?

5. Why do we pierce ourselves with every kind of pointy accessory under the sun, including tongue barbells that can make unable to speak clearly, nose rings that make us look like some kind of domestic animal, and so on?

6. Why do we use ear gauges that can make us look like the Dr. Seuss character, Horton?

Also, I think when it comes to looks, we men, especially, need to do a lot more complimenting and showing the women in our lives that they are infinitely beautiful the way HEAVENLY FATHER created them. We should stand up against Hollywood and makeup/fashion companies trying to make a buck off our women and who prey on their insecurities. In fact, I think if we as husbands, fathers, brothers, and so on treated women like our Heavenly Father would, they would take confidence we see past any perceived “flaws” and love them for who they are and not how they look.

Personally, my wife has shed most of the makeup she used to wear as a young woman, and rarely puts on anything, because she knows I love her for her. And if any man doesn’t know what the smile of a woman looks like who truly knows she is loved, he is sorely missing out. A smile from a woman who is confident she is loved lights up a room and gives joy to all those around her. And that, in my eyes, is worth its weight in gold and much more.

The late apostle Joseph B. Wirthlin once came and visited my mission with his wife many, many years ago. But what I remember most about his visit was not meeting him, in particular, but the piercing blue eyes and radiant smile of his wife. I probably shouldn’t say it, but I was more excited shaking her hand than his, because of the aura she had about her. There was nothing fancy about her looks either; she was dressed in a neat and simple manner. That is how the temple is, too. And if simple is beautiful, then why not be that way ourselves?

Lastly, if the sisters could kindly remind some of us self-conscious brothers (who won’t admit it), from time to time, that things like our receding hairline aren’t the end of the world and that worthiness in the priesthood is much more manly than anything we can add to ourselves, it would surely go along way to helping us not go off the deep end when mounting social pressures rear their ugly heads.