Mohawk and sacrament?


ThatLDSKiD
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Is the mohawk appropriate for sacrament?  

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  1. 1. Is the mohawk appropriate for sacrament?

    • Yes
      22
    • No
      28


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Hey, every season my hockey team decides on a type of haircut for us all to get as part of team spirit and during playoffs we don't shave. Last year was flow (long hair), since a lot of the players are also lax bros, but this year we are doing mohawks. we aren't doing those weird punk mohawks, and it is kind of hard to describe how they look so i'll post some links from when i was looking on the internet to help you guys out. I want to know if it is inappropriate for me to be serving the sacrament (i'm 15) while having a mohawk. I understand i probably won't be asked to skip out until i get rid of it, but i still don't want anything that might lead to problems. Please let me know what you think, if it is inappropriate or not.

Thanks!

http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/120709_marksalling.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RWOnrKFYUwQ/TNMF2wGsqpI/AAAAAAABEgg/J1k6xDxdfMY/s1600/+_+0+mark+salling.jpg

http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00803/SNF15SPDCUT-580_803535a.jpg

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Isn't that more of a fauxhawk than a mohawk? I doubt anyone would have a problem with it if it was that short. It's when you grow it long and spike it that people become distracted by it. And when it becomes a distraction from the sacrament ordinance, then you should start worrying about its appropriateness.

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Guest Sachi001

Not to me, but maybe your bishop might. There are some who in might consider that extreme for AP to serve sacrament. It's all subjective by spirit.

From Strength of Youth that YM/YW should be going by.

Never lower your dress standards for any occasion. Doing so sends the message that you are using your body to get attention and approval and that modesty is important only when it is convenient.

Immodest clothing includes short shorts and skirts, tight clothing, shirts that do not cover the stomach, and other revealing attire. Young women should wear clothing that covers the shoulder and avoid clothing that is low-cut in the front or the back or revealing in any other manner. Young men should also maintain modesty in their appearance. All should avoid extremes in clothing, appearance, and hairstyle. Always be neat and clean and avoid being sloppy or inappropriately casual in dress, grooming, and manners. Ask yourself, “Would I feel comfortable with my appearance if I were in the Lord’s presence?”

https://lds.org/manual/for-the-strength-of-youth-fulfilling-our-duty-to-god/dress-and-appearance?lang=eng

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Years ago they wouldn't let my son bless sacrement because he had a mohawk. His friend who was looking at porn and admitting this to my son blessed it every sunday but the bishop couldn't do anything because this guy wouldn't go confess. My son couldn't understand why your outer appearance mattered so much when there were people hiding sins.He is inactive now.There is way more than just the mohawk experience but this is when it all started for him to become inactive. My personal feeling is yes you need to dress and look modest when your standing in for the lord but I can understand why my son felt the way he did.

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If you truly understand how wonderfully sacred the Sacrament is, and what a privilege it is to participate in administering it, this would not even be a question.

Don't you think that is a little bit harsh? I understand that you may have more incite than me into the subject and you may have a stronger spiritual influence in your life than a 15 year old...but I'm just asking an honest question and looking for some advice, yetit seems like you are belittling me and criticizing me for even asking the question.

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Don't you think that is a little bit harsh? I understand that you may have more incite than me into the subject and you may have a stronger spiritual influence in your life than a 15 year old...but I'm just asking an honest question and looking for some advice, yetit seems like you are belittling me and criticizing me for even asking the question.

Lets look at it this way. Would the Lord want you to give up an opportunity to become the priesthood holder that you could be over a haircut? I think the answer is no. Some things are more important in an eternal perspective than conservative American fashion values.

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In my opinion, your haircut it not all that bad. Having said that, when you are passing the sacrament, collecting fast offerings, etc., the focus should be on the sacredness of the action. If people in your ward are distracted by what you are wearing/what you look like, then there is a problem. In a more traditional ward people might be spending more time thinking about you than thinking about the Lord. While you may say "that's not my problem" (I don't think you would), the truth is that it is your problem since you are acting on the Lord's behalf and are (at least for that moment), the Lord's representative. As with any service, you must consider who the service is for and what they would find acceptable.

I am sure that you will do the right thing.

BTW, good luck with your hockey season.

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BTW, good luck with your hockey season.

Thank you, hopefully we can go to states this year, last season we got knocked out in regionals. Anyways, i just posted this question to hear some advice and opinions. All i was looking for was a "yes" or "no." I'm sorry if I seemed like jerk or if I wasn't clear with my initial post or maybe i was just over paranoid. I appreciate some of your answers that were straightforward and to the point. I'm just a little offended with a select few of them that i wont mention, even tho i already quoted one in my earlier. it is just that it seemed like a few were implying things that offended me, like for instance that I was willingly giving up the opportunity to be a priesthood holder by getting a haircut...for one i think that is a little extreme, considering i doubt i would be "punished" to such an extent for a haircut. maybe i'm overreacting or maybe i am naive and dont realize whats at stake, but please understand: i posted this question because i was worried about getting one, not because i was worried that i have one. its simple for me, i'll just not get a faux hawk or mohawk, but i think its unnecessary to chastise my integrity for asking a question. shouldn't our youth be encouraged to ask questions and seek help?

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I don't think those pictures are "extreme in hairstyle" and can't imagine it being a problem.... here it wouldn't be. but then I've heard of areas doing weird things. If they didn't object to long hair last year I can't see why they would say anything now.

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Don't you think that is a little bit harsh? I understand that you may have more incite than me into the subject and you may have a stronger spiritual influence in your life than a 15 year old...but I'm just asking an honest question and looking for some advice, yetit seems like you are belittling me and criticizing me for even asking the question.

And to me, it seems that you are easily offended. Slamjet's sentiment is exactly right. Why is it that we always have to see how close to the edge we can get without 'breaking' a commandment or offending God? When we participate in that most sacred of ordinances (and think of it, the Deacons and Priests, by officiating in this ordinance, are allowing an ENTIRE CONGREGATION to be completely clean, just as on their baptismal day! What a beautiful bit of doctrine!), why would we want anything WE want to interfere with doing our duty? When passing or blessing or preparing the sacrament, you are standing in Christ's place. You are the agent thru which a congregation receives remission of their sins.

Dress accordingly. Think how you will answer to your Heavenly Father when you account for your life. If you feel that this is appropriate, then by all means go for it (don't know if your Bishop will allow it, but nevertheless). But remember, remember that one day you will be accountable for your actions.

I read in another post that someone's son went inactive because he had a mohawk and the other priest was looking at porn. That definitely happens. Bishop's aren't perfect nor are they omniscient. If the other boy didn't confess, the Bishop's hands are tied. Again, he will have to answer for it, not the Bishop. Or, perhaps, the Bishop was aware and was working thru things with the other boy. Probably wouldn't know anything about that, so to assume the Bishop just let it slide while punishing the boy with the mohawk is judgemental at best. Best bet? Just take care of your own issues, and make sure you are right before the Lord and don't worry what others are doing. Believe me: you'll make the Bishop's life SO much easier...

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Personally, I say no. It's not conservative enough for me.

Another question you may want to ask yourself about this or anything like it is are you trying to attract attention to yourself? If you are, rather than attention to the ordinance itself, there may be a problem. However, if that's not your intention, then do what you wish, and if a problem arises from it, face it and do what's right.

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I feel like I am pretty conservitive. I think that white shirts are a must, if all participating can afford it, and such, but I feel this particular hair syle is mild. It's not dyed som odd color or anything and it's not all spiked in a tall mowhawk.

I think it is FINE! BUt that's just my 2 cents. :P

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And to me, it seems that you are easily offended. Slamjet's sentiment is exactly right. Why is it that we always have to see how close to the edge we can get without 'breaking' a commandment or offending God? When we participate in that most sacred of ordinances (and think of it, the Deacons and Priests, by officiating in this ordinance, are allowing an ENTIRE CONGREGATION to be completely clean, just as on their baptismal day! What a beautiful bit of doctrine!), why would we want anything WE want to interfere with doing our duty? When passing or blessing or preparing the sacrament, you are standing in Christ's place. You are the agent thru which a congregation receives remission of their sins.

He's also a teenage boy exploring the world, testing boundaries, and gaining a sense of identity. What he's doing is not only normal, but it is healthy teenage behavior. Instead of painting the world in unrealistically dull blacks and whites for him, we should be helping him see, interpret, and respond to the various shades of gray.

Dress accordingly. Think how you will answer to your Heavenly Father when you account for your life. If you feel that this is appropriate, then by all means go for it (don't know if your Bishop will allow it, but nevertheless). But remember, remember that one day you will be accountable for your actions.

If Christ and the Father are so lacking in a sense of humor and frivolity that they can't laugh at the harmless and voluntary teenage antics of a hockey team, then I really have a hard time imagining them being the compassionate and empathetic deities that we so very much need them to be.

I read in another post that someone's son went inactive because he had a mohawk and the other priest was looking at porn. That definitely happens. Bishop's aren't perfect nor are they omniscient. If the other boy didn't confess, the Bishop's hands are tied. Again, he will have to answer for it, not the Bishop. Or, perhaps, the Bishop was aware and was working thru things with the other boy. Probably wouldn't know anything about that, so to assume the Bishop just let it slide while punishing the boy with the mohawk is judgemental at best. Best bet? Just take care of your own issues, and make sure you are right before the Lord and don't worry what others are doing. Believe me: you'll make the Bishop's life SO much easier...

Unfortunately, teenagers don't interpret the world in this way. Teenage boys have an incredible sense of fairness. It's part of their developing psychology. And when we insist that the world be interpreted in blacks and whites, their cognitive development gets delayed. While your advice is appropriate to an adult who has developed a full capacity to weigh and interpret the grays, to a teenager, it is only frustrating. They want--and need--to learn to come to these answers themselves. Sometimes that means experimentation and mistakes. Yes, sometimes even when it affects how or if they administer the most sacred of ordinances.

ThatLDSKiD,

I haven't said much in spite of my having my opinions on the matter because I think that it's important that you come to your own conclusions. Please ignore advice like this.

What I will say is that you are in an interesting predicament that is pitting your desire to build a common identity with your hockey team and to have a common identity with your quorum. Neither of those are a bad thing. Take what you have heard here, and weigh your desires together and find a solution that makes you as comfortable as you can be. The fact that you recognize the conundrum and have enough concern to ask about it is a good indication that you care about the right things.

I commend you on your righteous desires, and on your hard work for both the Lord and your hockey team. Keep up the good work!

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And to me, it seems that you are easily offended. Slamjet's sentiment is exactly right.

As a Mormon with conservative views in a practically Communist town, I might say I am not easily offended. I've faced soooo much persecution for being LDS, for my standards, for my beliefs, for my German heritage, for my belief in America, for my appearances, for my family, and the list goes on and on. I'm only 15! So no, I am not easily offended. But when someone shoots me down for asking a question, and does so in a way implicating that I'm not in tune with my priesthood duties, then I do get offended. Maybe I'm just prideful, but I don't think chastising people, especially Youth in this day and age when we face so many more trials than your generation does (which is one reason many consider us so much more corrupted), is very effective. We need to know that we can look out for help, seek wisdom, and have fellow LDS members watch over us.

I'm a little weary to continue using this forum anymore, knowing that my spirituality may be criticized. I'm just asking a question. I don't believe in the "there's no dumb question" but I do believe in asking. I was a little offended at first, but now I'm just concerned for others who use this website in the future. We don't know their current situation or status in the Church, but I don't think we should go accusing them of not realizing the sanctity of the sacrament or chastising them for asking the question in the first place.

I'm just a teen. I'm not looking to rebel from the Church, I'm not looking to build a house next to a cliff, I'm not looking to test Heavenly Father's patience. I have a situation with my hockey team where I can have some fun and go along with the others, or I can still have fun but not go along with the team. It's not that big of a deal to me, it is just a question.

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What you have are plenty of folks who went along with a lot of sillyness and then more sillyness, and then more sillyness that may not have been harmless, but in the end it lead to bad stuff. While I don't thing a mohawk will lead you to doing crack, it will lead to diminished rewards when it comes to the spirit and the sacrament for you and the person you are handing the tray to.

We are also asking you to think about doing it for the sole reason to "be one of the boy's." It may be a fun thing, but please think about why you are joining in, and act according to what you feel is acceptable to you and what you feel is right.

BTW, you asked, we answered. It seems you were expecting us to say how cute it would be. But you got thrown for a loop when we posted otherwise. It would be wise to read the posts and not take it personally. Just take it as advice and for what it's worth. If it's worth nothing, leave it and move on. If it's worth something, then read it and use it to help you make a decision. The choice is ultimately yours.

Edited by slamjet
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I understand what your saying, and I think you understood what I said, but you obviously don't understand my intentions. I appreciate this:

We are also asking you to think about doing it for the sole reason to "be one of the boy's." It may be a fun thing, but please think about why you are joining in, and act according to what you feel is acceptable to you and what you feel is right.

I just didn't appreciate the fact that you basically said I don't understand the sanctity of the sacrament solely because I asked a question. No, I was NOT expecting you all to say "how cute" it was. I acknowledge your attempt to turn me from a 15 year old to 5 year old girl, but obviously I may not be the only one with apparent problems.

Let me spell this out for you one more time, buddy. I asked for a "yes" or "no" and "why." I even added the poll to make your jobs easier. I did not, however, expect my spirituality to be slandered for asking a question. Maybe you were 100% justified to do that, if so then I probably will be slandered every single time a post a question on this website whether I should choose apple or cherry. I don't care what you think, you probably are a great guy with a family and kids...but you aren't perfect (neither am I), but don't try to make yourself feel better by demeaning an Aaronic Priesthood holder.

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Well, isn't this disappointing.

You asked, we answered, and nowhere in these posts have I read any attacks on your spirituality. Just questions about your understanding of the sacrament.

Let me spell this out for you one more time, buddy.

This pretty much tells me all I need to know. Like I said, the choice is yours. But, as you're posts and lashing out has shown, you still need to practice thinking beyond your own needs and feelings and understand that there are others who are affected by your decisions and actions.

Good luck.

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