Why?
From many standpoints, my choices don't make any sense, and have no purpose except to restrict my freedom and keep me from happiness.
People only remotely familiar with my lifestyle will probably think things like "Why do you follow the rules of your wacky cult? All they want is to brainwash you and take your money."
"You should be able to do what you want. Don't let anyone tell you what to do."
"All that junk about modesty is just hypocritical and damaging."
"If you love someone and they love you back, then there should be nothing keeping you from being in a relationship. It will help you mature."
And then other people who are very familiar with my lifestyle will probably think things like
"Wait, you mean you actually followed those rules? You're such a Molly Mormon. I do what I like."
"I tried to do that, but it just got too hard. I don't know how you managed to actually live like that."
"Yeah, me too! We're like best friends! Go you! WOOHOO!"
Obviously, there is a lot of controversy on this point. Most people disagree with me, but that's okay, because it's alright to disagree with people. I don't mind if people choose to live differently; people can do whatever they want, even if I don't choose to do it myself.
End of disclaimer.
Obviously, a huge part of what I do is linked with my religion. I believe my religion to be true. Not because I've been told all my life that it is true. I tend to question things, especially things taken for granted. Have I questioned my religion? Undoubtedly. So many times. All the time. And through those questions, and after much deep thought and prayer, I have decided, and continue to decide for myself that my religion is true.
I also believe that God himself has advised us young people not to date before 16, or be in a committed romantic relationship until we are ready to marry.
And through my relationship with God, I have discovered that He is much, much smarter than I am, and I believe that I have been blessed because I've obeyed His advice.
Now, I don't think that anyone will go to Hell for having a boyfriend or wearing a bikini. I certainly don't do what I do in fear of damnation. (I just used "bible words"! Two of them! Gasp!)
In fact, I believe that God has asked us to do this mostly because it's common sense.
Now that I've explained my purely emotional side of the issue, I'll move on the more logical aspect, starting with modesty.
Wearing immodest clothes does not make one a bad, or even immoral, person. Girls who show cleavage and dress in short skirts and ripped jeans definitely deserve as much respect as a girl who is more conserved in her appearance. In fact, they probably need it much more.
However, what someone deserves and what they will get are two totally different things.
I shall illustrate this point using a lawyer named Mr. Long.
Mr. Long is a very brilliant lawyer.Now, if Mr. Long shows up to an important case in a flowered t-shirt, shorts, loafers, a lei, and sunglasses, the judge and jury might have a hard time taking Mr. Long seriously or even considering that he takes his work seriously.
See where I'm getting at?
I don't want the General Jury of Everyone I Meet to think that I'm a "tourist". I want to show them that I am a "brilliant lawyer". I want my dress to reflect my true purpose and intentions. Huh, it turns out that how you dress really does affect how people think about you. Weird!
Besides, the more skin a girl shows, the harder it will be for the guys she's around to keep their minds from wandering. Sure, the man is in charge of his own thoughts, but a low neckline does not encourage him to look up at her eyes and see an intelligent human being.
I don't want guys to look at me as a sexual object, so I choose to not dress like one.
What about dating?
I have seen so many young lives cruelly ripped apart and shredded needlessly because of what I'm going to refer to as "underage dating". I don't want that for myself. After carefully watching my many friends who have boyfriends/girlfriends and hearing the way they talk, and watching the way they interact, I have decided that having a significant other is usually not worth the consequences of intense drama and heartache. So I don't do it.
I've heard people say that getting in a committed relationship at a young age helps them further prepare them for marriage, and I can see very sound reasoning in that.
However, I have yet to meet a youth who is emotionally stable and secure enough to safely "be in a relationship".
Yes, that includes me. As I think I am emotionally secure and am mature enough to have a boyfriend, it's a sure sign that I'm not.
The teen years are ones of crucial learning and growth, and I don't want to waste them swooning over some guy. I spend too much time crushing on guys as it is. If I get a boyfriend, I know that any chance of being able to think about anything else will be blasted out of a cannon and left for dead.
Besides that, being "in a relationship" is practically guaranteed to hurt the other relationships I have with my other friends, especially my guy friends. It's harder for me to be good friends with a young man when I know he has a girlfriend, so I assume it works the other way around too.
A romantic relationship like that is destined to end, anyway. Usually in about three months after it begins.
In my opinion, it's a lot better to have many great, permanent friends than three or four (or maybe a dozen) good, temporary boyfriends.
I have enough to worry about. I only have two years before I enter the frightening world of adulthood.
I intend to spend these years as wisely as I possibly can.
I've found that keeping these standards does not prevent me from having a fulfilling social life, or even from getting the attention I so desperately need. (Let's face it, girls. We do need attention, and are often willing to show a little skin or latch onto a boyfriend to get it). There are positive alternatives, and I feel lucky to have discovered them so soon.
I also don't look old-fashioned (With the exception of when old fashions are really, really cool) because I choose to keep myself covered. Here are a few pictures if you don't believe me:
My everyday clothes usually look like this.
And this
I'm pretty sure you can guess which one is me...
Below are what examples of I look like when I decide to be more formal:
Also, layering is wonderful.
In conclusion, I hope you understand why I stick to such high standards if you hadn't before.
Even if you disagree with me, feel free to share this post, discuss, and share your thoughts.
Till next time!
