Do We Need Wwjsd Bracelets?

[mormonnewb]

I think it's best to let our actions speak and for God to work on their hearts in His time.

One of the things that I like about the temple garments is that they are a religious clothing that is worn unseen to outside world - it's out actions and our walk with Christ that are important. Outward clothing that yells "I'm a this... or that" come with a lot of baggage that can become problematic rather than helpful.

The Lord instituted circumcision as a mark of His Covenant in the time of OT, again a "hidden" mark rather than outward one.

The Lord also imposed a myriad of external "marks" for His people so I don't think they are mutually exclusive. Samson was both circumcised AND didn't cut his hair. I'm just questioning whether we should "hide our light under a bushel." Edited January 12, 2014 by mormonnewb

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

Many of our fellow Christians wear WWJD bracelets or crosses for the same purpose that we wear garments -- as a reminder of our commitment to be more Christlike.  However, I'm beginning to think that their adornments might be more effective because they are visible to the outside world.

 

My initial interest in the Church stemmed from the fact that I kept meeting Mormons who exhibited incredible love and kindness.  I could literally "see" Christ in their actions.  However, I had no way of knowing that they were Mormon.  Every once in a while, I'd get to know one of these "saints" well enough to ask about their religious affiliation and more often than not, they'd be LDS.

 

However, it took me seven YEARS after moving into the "Mormon Corridor" before I was able to make the connection that there may be something to our restored Gospel.  I wish I had figured it out sooner and think that perhaps we can do a better job of helping other people make the link.  And no, I'm not serious about suggesting What Would Joseph Smith Do bracelets (not, at least, until I've cleared the trademark with the PTO).  But what if we began wearing something to indicate to the outside world that we are Mormons?

 

For my part, starting this year, I've begun wearing BYU apparel in my travels.  My hope is that someone sitting next to me on an airplane might become curious as to why an (incredibly handsome) BLACK man is wearing a BYU sweater and it will allow me an opportunity to explain how I came to the church.  It is also my hope that I will be SLIGHTLY less likely to knock down the elderly woman in front of me in the jetway while wearing the colors of "the Lord's University."  So far, neither of these things have happened but the year is still young.

 

Have any of you ever tried anything similar?  Or is there some reason that I should instead keep my LDS "on the down low"?

It would not bother me if we had crosses on our buildings, but it would be of no use if it did not make the lives of those inside better. The same with outward symbols that we might wear if it did not make our souls better...though I do wish that something I wear could make me a better man. But it is only he who dwells within me that makes me a better man.

[PtolemyGlenn]

Many of our fellow Christians wear WWJD bracelets or crosses for the same purpose that we wear garments -- as a reminder of our commitment to be more Christlike. However, I'm beginning to think that their adornments might be more effective because they are visible to the outside world.

My initial interest in the Church stemmed from the fact that I kept meeting Mormons who exhibited incredible love and kindness. I could literally "see" Christ in their actions. However, I had no way of knowing that they were Mormon. Every once in a while, I'd get to know one of these "saints" well enough to ask about their religious affiliation and more often than not, they'd be LDS.

However, it took me seven YEARS after moving into the "Mormon Corridor" before I was able to make the connection that there may be something to our restored Gospel. I wish I had figured it out sooner and think that perhaps we can do a better job of helping other people make the link. And no, I'm not serious about suggesting What Would Joseph Smith Do bracelets (not, at least, until I've cleared the trademark with the PTO). But what if we began wearing something to indicate to the outside world that we are Mormons?

For my part, starting this year, I've begun wearing BYU apparel in my travels. My hope is that someone sitting next to me on an airplane might become curious as to why an (incredibly handsome) BLACK man is wearing a BYU sweater and it will allow me an opportunity to explain how I came to the church. It is also my hope that I will be SLIGHTLY less likely to knock down the elderly woman in front of me in the jetway while wearing the colors of "the Lord's University." So far, neither of these things have happened but the year is still young.

Have any of you ever tried anything similar? Or is there some reason that I should instead keep my LDS "on the down low"?

As a disciple of Christ, I would like to point out a couple of issues for you.

WWJD and Crosses may be good for those believers still on milk and not meat, but faith comes from withn. You really dont need to show an outward appearence if you have the mature love of Christ.

I used to wear a cross until a radical Christian pointed out, that the cross while symbolic to salvation was also a torture device the Romans used on criminals. If the Romans had used a noose would we now wear nooses and just think if the electric chair had been around.

The WWJD merchandise is an attempt to commercialize Christianity. If you have to wear a bracelet to remember to act more like Jesus than people need to go back to the Bible and learn to live and qct by faith and love.

Sidenote: my friend K was driving me home. A car in front did something wrong so K beeped and yelled at them. K is a Christian with a WWJD sticker on her car. K was very embarrassed with what thia would portray to other drivers. She decided to remove the sticker. Lol

My advice would be, to be the best you can be for Jesus without gimmicks.

[Ahab]

I wear a lot of plaid shirts, so print on them wouldn't be easy to see, and I don't wear jewelry except for a wedding ring and print on my ring wouldn't be easy to see either. I do have my pocket buddy on a lot, though, reading Church content from our Gospel Library software when I have some good time to sit down, and a lot of people have noticed I'm LDS because if it. And when they ask me what I'm reading it gives me a good time to share something about Christ. And that's what it should be all about, don't cha know. What I tell others about me is that I'm trying to be more like him and how he is.

[mormonnewb]

I wear a lot of plaid shirts, so print on them wouldn't be easy to see, and I don't wear jewelry except for a wedding ring and print on my ring wouldn't be easy to see either. I do have my pocket buddy on a lot, though, reading Church content from our Gospel Library software when I have some good time to sit down, and a lot of people have noticed I'm LDS because if it. And when they ask me what I'm reading it gives me a good time to share something about Christ. And that's what it should be all about, don't cha know. What I tell others about me is that I'm trying to be more like him and how he is.

 

I use the Gospel Library app as well and I love it, although I've begun to question if a hard copy of scripture might not provide an easier clue for others.  After all, when I see someone reading on their tablet, I don't immediately assume that it's scripture.

[mormonnewb]

WWJD and Crosses may be good for those believers still on milk and not meat, but faith comes from withn. You really dont need to show an outward appearence if you have the mature love of Christ.

 

 

You're right.  These symbols won't aid my spiritual development but they might point someone else to the source of it.

 

When someone sees you perform a kindness for a stranger or just walk around filled with the spirit, how are they supposed to know that it comes from your relationship with Christ through obedience to His Gospel?  Even if they correctly guess that you're a Christian, it's not likely that they going to also guess that you are a Mormon.

 

Sure, they could come up and ask you, but most people won't.  As I mentioned in a previous post, it took me 8 YEARS of living in the Mormon corridor to make the connection.  I sorely wish the THOUSANDS of Christ-filled Mormons that I encountered during that period would have been nice enough to drop me a "hint."

[PtolemyGlenn]

[quote name="mormonnewb" post="1209335401" timestamp="1389862239re right. These symbols won't aid my spiritual development but they might point someone else to the source of it.

When someone sees you perform a kindness for a stranger or just walk around filled with the spirit, how are they supposed to know that it comes from your relationship with Christ through obedience to Historic Gospel? Even if they correctly guess that you're a Christian, it's not likely that they going to also guess that you are a Mormon.

Sure, they could come up and ask you, but most people won't. As I mentioned in a previous post, it took me 8 YEARS of living in the Mormon corridor to make the connection. I sorely wish the THOUSANDS of Christ-filled Mormons that I encountered during that period would have been nice enough to drop me a "hint."

[Daniel2]

Have any of you ever tried anything similar?  Or is there some reason that I should instead keep my LDS "on the down low"?

I have an HRC sticker on my car that I drive around Provo, and I've worn a "Broken Ack Mountain" T-Shirt around Temple Square a few times.... I'm always hoping to do gay - LDS missionary work. :-)