Cleanliness

• "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common," Acts 10:15
• In today's world, many call cleanliness "common". Some think not having piercings on unique parts of the body or dark makeup or tattoos is just plain. When I see people with tattoos running up and down their arm, I just think even if I did not have my knowledge of cleanliness, I would not want to permanently mark my body. What if I get tired of that tattoo and have to live with it for eternity? It is like buildings around the city--there are some with grafiti, which lessens their beauty and condition. On the other hand, when a building is beautiful, spotless, and clean on the outside, it is a representation of what is inside and we are drawn to those buildings. The Temples are a place that is beautiful and clean on the outside to represent what is on the inside. In the LDS Ensign magazine for October 2012 there is an article about dress and appearance. It says, "In today's world, many do not understand or respect the sacred nature of our bodies (9)". Our outside appearance represents what is on the inside because it reflects what is most important to us. If people understood more of the importance of keeping our bodies clean, there would be less immodesty, sex before marriage and outside marriage, less smoking, drugs, and obesity. Our bodies hold our spirits and make up our soul. How sacred and wonderful that is! I would not take that lightly and defile it, just as much as I would not grafiti on a Holy Temple of God. Heavenly Father values our bodies even higher than his most beautiful Temple. How sad He is when we defile it, and how pleased when we respect it.    
• kingdom of God is not filthy, and there cannot any unclean thing enter, 1 Ne. 15:34 (D&C 97:15; Moses 6:57).
• let all things be done in cleanliness, D&C 42:41
• I will clean my house, clean my body, try to put good foods into my body, exercise, take care of my hair (its quiet the knot sometimes) and be thankful for the body God has given me.
• Blessed are the pure in heart, Matt. 5:8
• Purity starts from the inside. Clean the inner vessel first, then the outer will follow. Purity of the heart comes from reverence through strengthening or gaining testimonies. I should start every day from the inside--with a prayer, a hymn, a scripture. When I do not have time in the morning to read scriptures, I just push play on my the Mormon Tabernacle Choir CD in my car. Nothing invites the spirit more quickly than the Mo Tab! I love it. Having the spirit at the start of my day is so important to helping me make right choices. Some days I don't start with the spirit and I can tell at the end of the day that I should have started our right because the whole day seems to go wrong when the morning goes wrong.
• let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh, 2 Cor. 7:1
• I see filth around me in the world, and am so glad I do not have to be a part of it. I am SO glad I know what I know-this life is not all there is, there is a God that loves me, and I will live forever in His love and with my family if I do what He would have me do.

Picture is from this link: http://www.lds.org/media-library/images/people?lang=eng&start=21&end=30#portrait-girl-921776