Joseph Smith Rings

[Sleeping in EQ]

This could be a dillie...

http://deseretbook.com/store/product?sku=4478648

So let me get this straight: Church members are discouraged from wearing crosses, but are being encouraged to wear a ring that Joseph Smith "wore to his martyrdom?"

I am beside myself. The sweet former Methodist woman who Visit Teaches my wife still wears her tiny gold cross. Good for her. I think I might just get one for myself.

[ute4ever]

Concerning crosses, I understand that some church leaders have instructed that they would prefer our focus to be on the resurrection rather than the crucifixion, hence you do not see crosses in our buildings. But this is the first I've heard about the members being discouraged from wearing crosses personally. Is it a seminary answer that passed me by?

[Sleeping in EQ]

Originally Posted by ute4ever

Concerning crosses, I understand that some church leaders have instructed that they would prefer our focus to be on the resurrection rather than the crucifixion, hence you do not see crosses in our buildings. But this is the first I've heard about the members being discouraged from wearing crosses personally. Is it a seminary answer that passed me by?

And of course in many senses this is problematic. Many protestants wear crosses but not crucifixes for the very reason that Jesus is not on it. He is resurrected and alive, as it were.

There has been counsel over the years about not wearing crosses, why we don't have them on buildings etc. Bruce R. McConkie teaches it in Mormon Doctrine and the passage has been readily adopted by most. Joseph Fielding Smith taught it in Answers to Gospel Questions. There's a discussion in the Encyclopedia of Mormonism that does not justify itself very well.

But the question still remains...wearing a Joseph Smith ring? Are you kidding me? This is exactly the sort of thing that convinces people that we worship Joseph Smith. We don't wear crosses but we do wear a JS ring? That's all they need to strengthen that argument. And the allusion to it as the ring JS wore to Carthage...this is beyond sick.

[SteelBlue]

Originally Posted by Sleeping in EQ

But the question still remains...wearing a Joseph Smith ring? Are you kidding me? This is exactly the sort of thing that convinces people that we worship Joseph Smith. We don't wear crosses but we do wear a JS ring? That's all they need to strengthen that argument. And the allusion to it as the ring JS wore to Carthage...this is beyond sick.

I think you are overreacting here. Just because deseret book sells one doesn't mean Mormons are buying them. I also don't think it's "beyond sick". It's simply cheesy. This shouldn't shock anybody who has perused the catalogs of deseret books.

Follow up question: Do you think we'll ever see the Jupiter Talisman show up on the DB web page?

[Sleeping in EQ]

Originally Posted by SteelBlue

I think you are overreacting here. Just because deseret book sells one doesn't mean Mormons are buying them. I also don't think it's "beyond sick". It's simply cheesy. This shouldn't shock anybody who has perused the catalogs of deseret books.

We disagree on this.

You're giving Deseret Book an easy pass because Mormons might not be buying them? Clearly DB wants them to.

And it's beyond cheesy. It really is. It's flat out distrurbing.

[SteelBlue]

Originally Posted by Sleeping in EQ

We disagree on this.

You're giving Deseret Book an easy pass because Mormons might not be buying them? Clearly DB wants them to.

And it's beyond cheesy. It really is. It's flat out distrurbing.

I think you're overstating the martyrdom aspect. Yes it's mentioned, but seems to be for historical background. I'd personally file that under cheesy and not disturbing.

I thought the description of the circle engraved on the ring as "an eternal circle" was humorous. I wonder if I can get a non-eternal circle engraved on mine? I also enjoyed the description of who wore the ring after Joseph. I was just waiting to find out who took it to Mordor and threw it into the fire.

[Sleeping in EQ]

Originally Posted by SteelBlue

I think you're overstating the martyrdom aspect. Yes it's mentioned, but seems to be for historical background. I'd personally file that under cheesy and not disturbing.

I thought the description of the circle engraved on the ring as "an eternal circle" was humorous. I wonder if I can get a non-eternal circle engraved on mine? I also enjoyed the description of who wore the ring after Joseph. I was just waiting to find out who took it to Mordor and threw it into the fire.

The fact that people would wear a ring because it was like JS's ring is reason enough to object. That DB is using the fact that he wore it to Carthage to sell it is, in the very least, in extraordinarily bad taste. The comparison to Mormons not wearing crosses so as not to dwell on Jesus' death, but wearing rings that will remind them of Joseph's martyrdom is not much of a leap. Expect antis to make hay out of this.

[SteelBlue]

Originally Posted by Sleeping in EQ

The fact that people would wear a ring because it was like JS's ring is reason enough to object. That DB is using the fact that he wore it to Carthage to sell it is, in the very least, in extraordinarily bad taste. The comparison to Mormons not wearing crosses so as not to dwell on Jesus' death, but wearing rings that will remind them of Joseph's martyrdom is not much of a leap. Expect antis to make hay out of this.

I'll be shocked if anti's even find out about this. I just don't see it as something that will sell. I understand your point, I just don't think anything will come of it. DB has been pushing cheese on the LDS population for decades.

You may want to take a closer look at the advertisement anyway SIEQ. Aparrently it also makes an "attractive wedding set". Perhaps SIRS would like to trade in her diamond?

[Sleeping in EQ]

Originally Posted by SteelBlue

I'll be shocked if anti's even find out about this. I just don't see it as something that will sell. I understand your point, I just don't think anything will come of it. DB has been pushing cheese on the LDS population for decades.

You may want to take a closer look at the advertisement anyway SIEQ. Aparrently it also makes an "attractive wedding set". Perhaps SIRS would like to trade in her diamond?

Never underestimate what antis will come up with. And I hope--I really hope--that Church members have the good sense not to buy these things. That doesn't change my indignation over DB selling them. I did see the "attractive wedding set" bit. SIRS is the one who told me about the rings in the first place. She's half joking about putting two piercings in her ear and seeing if she can rig the things up to wear as earrings...

[RockyBalboa]

Originally Posted by Sleeping in EQ

This could be a dillie...

http://deseretbook.com/store/product?sku=4478648

So let me get this straight: Church members are discouraged from wearing crosses, but are being encouraged to wear a ring that Joseph Smith "wore to his martyrdom?"

I am beside myself. The sweet former Methodist woman who Visit Teaches my wife still wears her tiny gold cross. Good for her. I think I might just get one for myself.

lol...is this a legit concern for you? lol...................that grounds for getting irritated at the church if I've ever seen it....

lol...........................