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Wearing Jewelry

Wearing Jewelry

Do you think that as members of the Church we should be involved in wearing jewelry? You may think... 'what a silly question', but think about the following points:

1. Wearing rings, how big and how many on your fingers?
2. Ear rings, should they be discrete or large loops? What about more than 1 ear ring?
3. What about chains, bracelets, arm bands, etc.
4. How about wearing these in the temple?

Jewelry Wearing

Well, the prophet has counseled women to have only one set of holes for earrings, but has not said we can't have at least one set. So, I believe earrings in general are fine,.

It is also acceptable to wear earrings in the Temple. However, they should not be large or garrish such that they draw attention to you. In the Temple, we dress all alike in part to demonstrate the God is no respecter of persons.

I believe if there were any reason not to wear jewelry as a Latter-day Saint, we would be taught this principal. We are taught not get have any body piercings other than one set of holes in the ears and no tatoos. It is true not all members choose to follow this teaching, but we can rely on it to be what is the best choice to make.

As far as how big, to me that is a matter of taste. I think we like to set standards but we forget these standards aren't necessarily of God so much as of society. To me a perfect example of this is the prohibition on facial hair for temple workers.

Now, I do believe there are scriptures about not having a bunch of rings and other baubbles (sp), but I think in context we need to look at what those items meant to society at that time.

Wearing Jewelry Studies Doctrine Mormon

As with most things, I would have to consider WHY wear the jewelry. Is it a matter of vanity and/or pride? If so, then it is wrong. Is it just to enhance? Then it is probably okay.

I recently heard a story wherein a Jewish woman explained to an LDS woman why she wears LOTS of expensive jewelry. In the Middle Ages, when the Jews in Europe were severely persecuted, they would wear and carry much of their wealth in the form of jewelry, especially when travelling. Then, if they were captured, they would have the possibility of ransoming themselves. Because of this, Jewish women have become culturally conditioned to wear a lot of jewelry.

So, in this kind of cultural state, I would also say that it is okay.

Jewelry Wearing

I have mixed feelings about this. While on the one hand I really enjoy jewelry and how beautiful it is, on the other hand it can create some negative feelings -- not just in us but in other people. First, we can become prideful and vain wearing a lot of expensive jewelry. Second, other people can become envious of that jewelry, and/or judge those wearing it as vain or prideful, ostentatious, or even wastrels.

Then there is the wealth issue, one facet touched on by Nighthawk as a cultural thing. But if we have no cultural conditioning to wear the wealth so as to ransom ourselves in times of captivity, why are we really displaying all that wealth?

My opinion, personally, is that it's beautiful and it may be a good investment. But other than that, I can't feed it to my family or pay bills with it or improve our quality of life with it.

IMO
Roz

Jewelry Wearing

I like jewelry but I think we need to be very careful how and where we use it and the kind of jewelry. In the scriptures, Heavenly Father have asked us to dress modestly. As Nighthawlk mentioned, the point would be: what is really the purpose of wearing it? Is to make yourself more appealing? is so, why do you think you need the jewelry in order to look more appealing?. Is it to show off how much money do you have? Is it to show you have more money than others? how others feel about it?. Just a couple of scriptures:

"And it came to pass in the *eighth year of the reign of the judges, that the people of the church began to wax proud, because of their exceeding riches, and their fine silks, and their fine-twined linen, and because of their many flocks and herds, and their gold and their silver, and all manner of precious things, which they had obtained by their industry; and in all these things were they lifted up in the pride of their eyes, for they began to wear very costly dapparel. (Alma 4:6).

"Behold, O my God, their costly apparel, and their ringlets, and their abracelets, and their ornaments of gold, and all their precious things which they are ornamented with; and behold, their hearts are set upon them, and yet they cry unto thee and say-We thank thee, O God, for we are a chosen people unto thee, while others shall perish." (Alma 31:28)

Edited: LDS_forever on 16th May, 2004 - 6:55pm

Wearing Jewelry

LDS, you made some very good points. If I wear jewelry, it has to mean a lot to me personally. I have a silver ring that my grandma gave to me, or my class ring, and necklaces and earrings that were gifts. I don't wear much jewelry, besides earrings, on a regular basis. I think that jewelry is fine as long as it isn't excessive and as long as we aren't using it to show off our wealth.