I am skeptical of the claims that beauty products make. Not because I am not intrigued, nor even a little sheepishly hopeful. I would genuinely like a cream to make me look 20 years younger and a pill to remove my cellulite. But sadly, after all the products I’ve purchased, my hair still frizzes at the slightest drop of water or hint of humidity or even just because it feels like it that day. Thus, my hardly won skepticism.
We are, as mortals and as a culture, pretty fixated on outward appearance. It’s much easier than looking at those things inside that aren’t readily apparent for one thing, and it is always in front of us (both in our mirrors and in the media) for another. And while ideals of what is beautiful or attractive have changed over time, it seems to occupy a fair bit of attention regardless of the era we live in.
Isaiah said about the Savior: “he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.” I can’t imagine that God’s perfect Son was in any way unattractive, so Isaiah must have meant that his physical appearance was not extraordinarily beautiful or fascinating; it wasn’t his physical appearance that would draw admiration and adulation. Perhaps, as in everything, the Savior descended below all things in this manner also, experiencing what the rest of us naturally experience with all of our imperfections and less than ideal physical traits. What is clear, is that the spiritually perceptive were drawn to him anyway–whatever his physical attractiveness. He was full of light, virtue, truth, meekness and love, characteristics which provide a deeper, inner kind of beauty. Which makes me think that we should be willing, and work at being able, to focus beyond physical appearance–others as well as our own.
Parley P. Pratt said, “The gift of the Holy Ghost…develops beauty of person, form and features. It tends to health, vigor, animation, and social feeling. It invigorates all the faculties of the physical…man.” (Key to the Science of Theology, 10th ed., Deseret Book Co., 1965, pp. 100–101.) Neil L. Anderson said, “Faith emits a spiritual light, and that light is discernible.” (Gen. Conf., Oct. 2015) The Book of Mormon often describes the repentant and obedient as becoming ‘fair’ and ‘delightsome’ (see e.g. 3 N 2:16, 4 N 1:10.) The Spirit and faith, as well as all Christlike attributes, radiate light from inside of us to enhance, and perhaps even alter, our outward appearance. For the spiritually discerning at least, that is what is real beauty. (Imagine the slogans that could be used to promote those beauty products! “Free to all who are willing to develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ! A lighter, brighter you!” or “Everlasting beauty can be yours–simply apply the Spirit of God to everything you do!”) It makes sense, then, to make developing our insides an essential part of our ‘beauty’ regimen.
So while we’re buying shampoo to make our hair grow or applying self-tanner (and we probably will–nothing wrong with caring for our outsides,) may we also consider the weightier matters. May we give more attention to our faith, to our love for God and our neighbor, and to our invitations for the Spirit to direct our lives. As we grow closer to those perfections, they will both illuminate our physical bodies and be seen by the One who sees inside just as well as outside. Our true beauty will be recognized and celebrated, in eternal, unchanging glory. And that’s a claim that will always deliver.