A pretty darn good article by Vai Sikahema.

[The Great Aztec Joe]

Vai Sikahema is the Sports Director and Anchor for NBC10 Philadelphia and host of the "Vai & Gonzo Show" on ESPN Philadelphia Radio. He is a two-time All-Pro, two-time Emmy Award winner and was a member of BYU's 1984 National Championship team.

www.deseretnews.com/article/700111247/Polynesian-culture-offers-barriers-blessings.html?pg=1

Taboo.

It is Tonga's sole contribution to the English language. Taken from the Tongan word "Tapu," meaning "restricted" or "sacred." Technically, we could also claim "tattoo," though it's an amalgamation of a Polynesian word — Tahitians called it "tattau," Samoans' "tatau" and Tongans' "ta ta tau," all meaning "to mark."

I think it's interesting that both words, taboo and tattoo, apply to our bodies. We view the human body as sacred, to be restricted from others and even ourselves, from sexual touching or arousal in ways that are taboo. As Latter-day Saints, we are counseled by modern prophets to avoid marking our bodies with tattoos or body piercings.

British sailors exploring the South Pacific in the 18th century were enamored with the tattoos that adorned chiefs and warriors throughout Polynesia. Thus began a history of sailors and tattooing in foreign ports that exits today. In the last 10 to 20 years, the art has become more mainstreamed in American culture. I see it on shoulders, ankles, wrists and calves in our pews on Sundays, and that's just in Relief Society. I concede that here in the East or any place with new converts, we must be understanding of alternative lifestyles before conversion. But more often than I'd like, I see tattoos on returned missionaries and some women who grew up in the church.

[The Great Aztec Joe]

The Tongan Islands are to the south of the Samoan Islands. They are Polynesians and the language of Tonga and Samoa are as similar as Spanish and Portuguese. If you listen carefully, you can understand what the other is saying. When it comes to physical strengty and body mass, the Tongans are almost as big as Samoans. for long periods of time, Samoan kings ruled the Tonga islands and it is rumored that Tongan Kings ruled over parts of Samoa. None of my Samoan relatives will admit that could be possible.

At any rate, it is a good article and shows how successful missionaries have been in shutting down what was once a sexually permissive society (page 4). Having grown up with Samoans, I know Samoan girls to not guard their chastity very well. I love Samoan girls.