Scott Lloyd Posted December 9, 2015 Posted December 9, 2015 (edited) Here's an interesting piece from the online "LDS Living" magazine about the origin of the CTR ring. Originating in the early 1970s, the CTR ring came along a bit late for me to have encountered it while in Primary. But soon after our marriage, my wife gave me a CTR ring, which I now wear constantly on the opposite hand from the one on which I wear my wedding ring. Today, more than ever, when there are such marked societal trends to redefine and eliminate bedrock values, a determination to choose the right, as symbolized by the ring, is as important, if not more important, than it was when the ring was introduced. Edited December 9, 2015 by Scott Lloyd 3
Duncan Posted December 9, 2015 Posted December 9, 2015 When I was a missionary there was an Elder in our mission named Tim Russell and he went around saying that CTR meant "Choose Tim Russell" ! hahhaha!
stemelbow Posted December 9, 2015 Posted December 9, 2015 Choose the right is cute, but it's pretty shallow when it comes down to it. We're just choosing and learning as we go. Often we think we're doing the right thing but learn later it might have been better to have chose differently. Often our choices aren't about choosing "the right" so much as choosing one good option out of many. And as that happens often we don't know which of those options in front of us is best. We're just running around performing experiments. 2
Scott Lloyd Posted December 9, 2015 Author Posted December 9, 2015 4 minutes ago, stemelbow said: Choose the right is cute, but it's pretty shallow when it comes down to it. We're just choosing and learning as we go. Often we think we're doing the right thing but learn later it might have been better to have chose differently. Often our choices aren't about choosing "the right" so much as choosing one good option out of many. And as that happens often we don't know which of those options in front of us is best. We're just running around performing experiments. And thus, in one short relativist paragraph, stemelbow has demonstrated that the slogan "Choose the right" is perhaps needed now more than ever. 3
stemelbow Posted December 9, 2015 Posted December 9, 2015 7 minutes ago, Scott Lloyd said: And thus, in one short relativist paragraph, stemelbow has demonstrated that the slogan "Choose the right" is perhaps needed now more than ever. How so?
Popular Post JeremyOrbe-Smith Posted December 9, 2015 Popular Post Posted December 9, 2015 (edited) Yeah, relativism has no place in the modern church. We need to follow the bedrock moral values of the scriptures, like Isaiah 3:18-23: "In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments [...] the chains, and the bracelets, and [...] the rings, [...] the changeable suits of apparel, [...] the glasses, and the fine linen." Edited December 9, 2015 by JeremyOrbe-Smith 5
Popular Post Buckeye Posted December 9, 2015 Popular Post Posted December 9, 2015 Count me disappointed in the article. I don't mind CTR rings (my kids really like them), but the link is not so much a historical article as a glorified, and well-timed sales pitch (2 weeks before Christmas). Good grief. This "journalism" ranks up there with the DN's routine "articles" about Disney stuff. It's just paid advertising. 5
bluebell Posted December 9, 2015 Posted December 9, 2015 20 minutes ago, stemelbow said: Choose the right is cute, but it's pretty shallow when it comes down to it. We're just choosing and learning as we go. Often we think we're doing the right thing but learn later it might have been better to have chose differently. Often our choices aren't about choosing "the right" so much as choosing one good option out of many. And as that happens often we don't know which of those options in front of us is best. We're just running around performing experiments. Even if all of that is true (which is very much debatable), that still doesn't mean trying to choose the right is shallow. 3
Calm Posted December 9, 2015 Posted December 9, 2015 (edited) stemelbow, would you see "choose the right to the best of your ability", the "right" being the best option available as sufficiently nuanced? I see "choose the right" simply as a shorthand way of pointing us to Gospel, the "right" being where Christ stands. There are many symbols that in and of themselves might appear shallow, but with a correct understanding immense depths can be seen. For example, the Sacrament on its surface is just a repeat of what we term "the Last Supper" in appearance and yet it is so much more once it is seen in the context of the Atonement and becoming one with Christ. Edited December 9, 2015 by Calm 1
Zakuska Posted December 9, 2015 Posted December 9, 2015 (edited) As a child in the primary we used to make our chorester mad by belting out... "Choose the LEFT! when the choice is placed before you". I wonder if that means... Mormon democrats are actually an oxymormon?! Edited December 9, 2015 by Zakuska
VideoGameJunkie Posted December 9, 2015 Posted December 9, 2015 In stead of a ctr ring I have a gold Joseph Smith ring with the circle on the top and his signature on the inside. It cost a lot but it looks cool. It's the ring he is wearing in photos of him.
stemelbow Posted December 9, 2015 Posted December 9, 2015 2 minutes ago, bluebell said: Even if all of that is true (which is very much debatable), that still doesn't mean trying to choose the right is shallow. I agree. That's not what I suggested, or didn't intend to. I would suggest thinking choices invariably and usually are deciding between right and wrong is shallow thinking, even for kids. Choices most often about determining which good path to follow. And, even as that happens we simply don't know, often, whether are choices are producing the most good, minimal good, or no good. We're just guessing. 1
stemelbow Posted December 9, 2015 Posted December 9, 2015 4 minutes ago, Calm said: stemelbow, would you see "choose the right to the best of your ability", the "right" being the best option available as sufficiently nuanced? I see "choose the right" simply as a shorthand way of pointing us to Gospel, the "right" being where Christ stands. There are many symbols that in and of themselves might appear shallow, but with a correct understanding immense depths can be seen. For example, the Sacrament on its surface is just a repeat of what we term "the Last Supper" in appearance and yet it is so much more once it is seen in the context of the Atonement and becoming one with Christ. If you ask how can I best benefit another, then great. I'm all for it. That seems to be what we each should ask ourselves as we're moving along through life. But to send the message to kids that we face choices and those choices have us deciding between right and wrong seems to miss the boat. Sadly, too many it seems try and impose that type of thinking on our kids. 1
Zakuska Posted December 9, 2015 Posted December 9, 2015 Choose Right and Wrong is too binary to describe reality. There is often a third state in the huge gray area between the two. 3
Ahab Posted December 9, 2015 Posted December 9, 2015 I wonder what the competing ideas were when they chose CTR as the idea to go with? Maybe: GTG - Go to God (which could also double as Good to Go?... or FTP - Follow the Prophet (which could also double as Follow the Path)... ASK - Ask and ye shall receive, Seek and ye shall find, Knock and the door shall be opened unto you, or ??? I'm sure there were more ideas floating around at the time. Btw, CTR also works for Christ through revelation, which is also a good conversation starter. 1
Popular Post carbon dioxide Posted December 9, 2015 Popular Post Posted December 9, 2015 The original CTR ring was forged at Mount Doom. 6
Duncan Posted December 10, 2015 Posted December 10, 2015 2 hours ago, Ahab said: I wonder what the competing ideas were when they chose CTR as the idea to go with? Maybe: GTG - Go to God (which could also double as Good to Go?... or FTP - Follow the Prophet (which could also double as Follow the Path)... ASK - Ask and ye shall receive, Seek and ye shall find, Knock and the door shall be opened unto you, or ??? I'm sure there were more ideas floating around at the time. Btw, CTR also works for Christ through revelation, which is also a good conversation starter. There is "Current Temple Recommend", "Corrupt the Rich"
Scott Lloyd Posted December 10, 2015 Author Posted December 10, 2015 (edited) On 12/9/2015 at 2:47 PM, Buckeye said: Count me disappointed in the article. I don't mind CTR rings (my kids really like them), but the link is not so much a historical article as a glorified, and well-timed sales pitch (2 weeks before Christmas). Good grief. This "journalism" ranks up there with the DN's routine "articles" about Disney stuff. It's just paid advertising. You're entitled to your opinion, but what a weird and cynical perspective. Edited December 10, 2015 by Scott Lloyd
SmileyMcGee Posted December 10, 2015 Posted December 10, 2015 12 hours ago, Scott Lloyd said: You're entitled to your opinion, but what a weird an cynical perspective. Okay. Overreact much? The article culminates in a soft push to deseret book for purchase of rings and you say it's weird and cynical to view the history as framing the offer? is it really weird to think that? 1
Scott Lloyd Posted December 10, 2015 Author Posted December 10, 2015 (edited) 4 hours ago, SmileyMcGee said: Okay. Overreact much? The article culminates in a soft push to deseret book for purchase of rings and you say it's weird and cynical to view the history as framing the offer? is it really weird to think that? Well, LDS Living is, after all, produced and published by Deseret Book. But if I overreacted, that was provoked by Buckeye's own overreaction. Except for the "soft push" right at the end that you refer to, the article is entirely descriptive and informative in nature, contrary to his characterization of it as a "glorified sales pitch." Cut off the last paragraph, and I could see it appropriately being placed in any news or information publication that appeals to a Mormon readership. Edited December 10, 2015 by Scott Lloyd
Buckeye Posted December 10, 2015 Posted December 10, 2015 (edited) 18 hours ago, Scott Lloyd said: You're entitled to your opinion, but what a weird an cynical perspective. Cynical? The "article" is barely 3 paragraphs of little substance followed by the "top 10" recommended designs with links to purchase them from deseretbook. This isn't even close. It's a sham article. Edited December 10, 2015 by Buckeye
Buckeye Posted December 10, 2015 Posted December 10, 2015 21 hours ago, Ahab said: I wonder what the competing ideas were when they chose CTR as the idea to go with? Maybe: GTG - Go to God (which could also double as Good to Go?... or FTP - Follow the Prophet (which could also double as Follow the Path)... ASK - Ask and ye shall receive, Seek and ye shall find, Knock and the door shall be opened unto you, or ??? I'm sure there were more ideas floating around at the time. Btw, CTR also works for Christ through revelation, which is also a good conversation starter. There's another theme called "Return With Honor".
Buckeye Posted December 10, 2015 Posted December 10, 2015 22 hours ago, Zakuska said: As a child in the primary we used to make our chorester mad by belting out... "Choose the LEFT! when the choice is placed before you". I wonder if that means... Mormon democrats are actually an oxymormon?! My kids sing this version to drive primary teachers crazy: Choose the sprite, when a coke is placed before you. In the sprite, there is no caffeine. ... 2
cinepro Posted December 10, 2015 Posted December 10, 2015 On 12/9/2015 at 11:46 AM, Duncan said: When I was a missionary there was an Elder in our mission named Tim Russell and he went around saying that CTR meant "Choose Tim Russell" ! hahhaha! I hope he used that when he proposed to his girlfriend (hopefully with a CTR ring to boot). 1
cinepro Posted December 10, 2015 Posted December 10, 2015 (edited) 22 hours ago, Zakuska said: As a child in the primary we used to make our chorester mad by belting out... "Choose the LEFT! when the choice is placed before you". I wonder if that means... Mormon democrats are actually an oxymormon?! Edited December 10, 2015 by cinepro 3
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