From Our Hearts Instead of our Eyes
By Vickey Pahnke-Taylor

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“Said Frank Lloyd Wright, ‘Beauty is the highest expression of morality.’  Morality is also the highest expression of beauty — and without these there is ugliness everywhere.”

Richard L. Evans shared these words back in April of 1971.  I pondered over these words for quite some time. Ugliness — beauty — expression: these words are subjective. Since so many things are relative, what is beautiful to one may be unattractive to another. One person’s manner of expression may not be understood or appreciated by another. But the words Elder Evans spoke are true. So — how do I apply them to myself and best understand to recognize real beauty?

The key word seems to be “morality.” If anything that is “good and virtuous and of good report…” (the Thirteenth Article of Faith) leads us in the direction of God, then those things that lead away from God must take goodness and virtue away, right?  And if beauty is the highest expression of morality and morality is the highest expression of beauty, then whatever we see as beautiful should lead us closer to our Father in Heaven.

Confused yet?  I hope not. What we may come to see is that beauty, though subjective, is best based upon sacred, moral judgment. Although there are many ugly things in this world, there are huge numbers of beauties to enjoy on this earth!  The earthly beauties were given to us by a loving Heavenly Father. They are free. They bring comfort and peace to the soul. They are uplifting. They bring joy. They lift us away from worldly ugliness or faux beauty.  Real beauty is associated with times, people, and experiences when we see with more clarity — when we see from our hearts instead of our eyes.

Some beautiful things I have already enjoyed this morning are:

• Seeing my husband’s smiling eyes when I opened my own.
• Gasping at a gorgeous sunrise coming up over the east mountain range.
• Enjoying the view of snow-covered peaks from the front room window.
• My son’s smile as I dropped him off to school.
• Seeing that my son remembered to take out the garbage — without being told to.
• An older man shuffling along the sidewalks of our neighborhood in a kind attempt to clear the snow off of them.

These things did not come with a price tag.  They did not have an agenda.  They were real. They were not based on physical or temporal measurements of lovely. There was no confusion here about beauty. And there was no doubt about the joy that I experienced!

I remember once, years ago, receiving a phone call from one of the administrators of the CES programs.  Since I was soon flying to another state to teach a Know Your Religion session, the administrator called to say he would come by our house to bring the travel packet required. As the morning slipped by, I stayed busy with household chores. It was mortifying when the door bell rang. I was still in my pajamas and robe! I had not even combed my hair! I had on no cosmetics!  Accckkk!  I looked ugly.

When he stepped into the foyer with his hand extended to shake mine, I reached out with a big grin and an apology for the way I looked. His kind and wise words have stayed with me:  “Vickey, the only thing I see is that big smile of yours and the light in your eyes.” 

I was grateful.  He was being kind and humoring me — or was he?  The Spirit whispered that, indeed, Milt had learned to look past the outward appearance.  He had learned to look “on the heart” (see 1 Samuel 16:7.)  I figured if he could see beauty in me at that moment, there was additional study and internalizing I needed to do concerning this word! 

As the years pass, and the wrinkles sneak in along with all those other sure signs of natural aging, I appreciate the blessing of looking on the heart. I recognize more surely the beauty in good things, in nature’s unfolding, in God’s bounty, in moral beings. 

Beautiful music.
Beautiful paintings.
Beautiful poetry or other writings.
Beautiful dance.
Beautiful faces.
Beautiful testimonies that are borne.
Beautiful acts of service.
Beautiful people.

Guess what? Sometimes the most beautiful people are ones who think least about their outward appearance. They have more important things to think about than how their face or hair looks, or how thin or tall or muscled they may be. Their inward beauty shines so brightly that it is captivating. Conversely, some who have a lovely outward appearance — either natural or “bottled and jarred” —  seem sadly ugly if there is no substance of morality within. The spirit of the matter, truly, creates beauty. There is a lot of truth in that adage, “Pretty is as pretty does!”

This may sound trite or old fashioned or not “with it” enough in today’s world. I quietly remind you of the reality of old-fashioned values.  Tried and true morality.  Real beauty that comes from within and stays. Take a moment to savor an experience that has given you a moment of pure joy — of genuine beauty. If you get the inclination, drop a line and let me know of something that means “beautiful” to you.  Share an experience. Savor the memory.  How much sweeter the mortal ride is as we look more with our hearts instead of our eyes!