Word Art

The largest number of tattoos we see are words. They are names of schools, family names, grandparents, rugby teams...you name it and it is on the body somewhere. Again, some are very crude and poorly done while others are very nice looking. To make a comment here for anyone reading this who might think a tattoo would be a great thing to get...they are expensive if they are done well, they can cause disease like Hep C (which can kill you)  especially in areas that are less than steller and they hurt to get.  They bleed! Just to be sure none of the Grands think it is a good idea!

This was done in memory of his grandfather.

This is a family name.

To us it is a clothing line but it is also the name of a rugby club on an island. 

Interesting enough this is the family name as well as what they are. They are fishermen and sailors. 

Family name.

I have not seen anyone that has not gotten a call because of a tattoo but then I have not seen anyone with one of their face etc. I would think that might prevent a call from coming. We have had questions about some tattoos that might indicate involvement in habits that are not in keeping with the standards of the church and we have had inquiries about what the words mean, especially if they are in a different language. I have only had one person who was not required to send in a photo. We had a senior sister in her 70's who had a tattoo on her chest. She described it and asked that she could be excused from providing a photo and they agreed. But it is not common for an exception. We had another senior elder who had a tattoo on his arm and it was stretched and ugly and all because he had senior arms but they still required a photo.  Some missionaries are told that they will need to wear long sleeved shirts their entire mission and others are told (those who are serving in Samoa especially) that they cannot wear the lava lavas that many elders wear there because their tats need to be covered. It is an interesting cultural thing.