Subject:

What's the Mormon women earring ban REALLY all about?

Date:

May 14 11:31 2005

Author:

Deconstructor

Note:  Mormon women were told in 2000 by the prophet Gordon B. Hinckley not to wear more than on earring in each ear.  This and the building of the $300,000,000 conference center in Salt Lake City and spending $600,000,000 to buy a shopping mall (while only $60,000,000 is given in humanitarian aid annually) are several of Hinckley’s most discussed examples of leadership and inspiration as the spokesman for God.

   ------

"In church I learned that President Hinckley said that girls and women should wear only one earring in each ear. One day I noticed that Grandma was wearing two earrings in each ear! I told her what I had learned in Primary, and she said, “Then I had better take one earring out of each ear.” It makes me feel good to know that Grandma follows the prophet."
- "Grandma’s Earrings" by Malone Jacoway, age 7, from LDS Friend, Mar. 2004, inside front cover

In another thread, there's a discussion going on about a church apostle reminding BYU students of the need to obey The Prophet's counsel against earrings.

Apostle Bednar only echoes what the church tells women to wear and how men should treat them if they don't conform:

"Latter-day prophets strongly discourage the piercing of the body except for medical purposes. If girls or woman desire to have their ears pierced, they are encouraged to wear only one pair of modest earrings. Those who choose to disregard this counsel sow a lack of respect for themselves and for God. They will someday regret their decisions."
- Widely-distributed LDS Church Pamphlet, "True to The Faith, a gospel reference."

"I know a 17-year-old who, just prior to the prophet’s talk, had pierced her ears a second time. She came home from the fireside, took off the second set of earrings, and simply said to her parents, “If President Hinckley says we should only wear one set of earrings, that’s good enough for me.”"

"Wearing two pair of earrings may or may not have eternal consequences for this young woman, but her willingness to obey the prophet will. And if she will obey him now, on something relatively simple, how much easier it will be to follow him when greater issues are at stake."
- Apostle M. Russell Ballard, “His Word Ye Shall Receive,” Ensign, May 2001, 65

Sounds pretty serious, doesn't it?

Here's the living prophet's actual repeated counsel, along with his explanation for why members should take such a hard stand against earrings:

"As for the young women, you do not need to drape rings up and down your ears. One modest pair of earrings is sufficient. I mention these things because again they concern your bodies. How truly beautiful is a well-groomed young woman who is clean in body and mind. She is a daughter of God in whom her Eternal Father can take pride."
- President Gordon B. Hinckley, Church-wide satellite fireside. Also “A Prophet’s Counsel and Prayer for Youth,” Ensign, Jan. 2001, 2

"I submit that it is an uncomely thing, and yet a common thing, to see young men with ears pierced for earrings, not for one pair only, but for several. They have no respect for their appearance. Do they think it clever or attractive to so adorn themselves?"

"I submit it is not adornment. It is making ugly that which was attractive. Not only are ears pierced, but other parts of the body as well, even the tongue. It is absurd."

"We—the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve—have taken the position, and I quote, that “the Church discourages tattoos. It also discourages the piercing of the body for other than medical purposes, although it takes no position on the minimal piercing of the ears by women for one pair of earrings.”"
- Gordon B. Hinckley, “Your Greatest Challenge, Mother,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 97

"Likewise the piercing of the body for multiple rings in the ears, in the nose, even in the tongue. Can they possibly think that is beautiful? It is a passing fancy, but its effects can be permanent. Some have gone to such extremes that the ring had to be removed by surgery. The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve have declared that we discourage tattoos and also “the piercing of the body for other than medical purposes.” We do not, however, take any position “on the minimal piercing of the ears by women for one pair of earrings”—one pair only."
- Gordon B. Hinckley, “Great Shall Be the Peace of Thy Children,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 50

If the prophet is speaking for God on this matter, why does this same prophet have such a hard time speaking clearly on more important matters?

http://www.i4m.com/think/leaders/Hinckley_lame.htm

As Apostle Bednar pointed out, the issue isn't really about the earrings. It's about uncompromising loyalty to the church and whatever the prophet says. Church leaders keep saying they expect total obedience:

http://www.i4m.com/think/leaders/mormon_loyalty.htm

"President Hinckley asked all the youth to avoid tattoos, the young men not to have earrings, and the young women to have no more than one earring in each ear. Many young women around the world followed the prophet by taking out their multiple earrings. For some it was difficult, but they discovered the peace that comes from following the prophet."
- Sister Caroline H. Benzley, “Be Clean,” New Era, July 2002, 13

"More important than a prophet’s clothing, age, or other physical appearance is that every prophet is called of God by prophecy and that he speaks for the Lord (see D&C 1:38)."

"A prophet is the Lord’s representative on earth, and he gives counsel about how we should live. When we obey the Lord’s counsel, He will bless us."

"Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles told about a 17-year-old girl who listened to and obeyed the counsel of President Gordon B. Hinckley. Elder Ballard said: “I know a 17-year-old who, just prior to the prophet’s talk, had pierced her ears a second time. She came home from the fireside, took off the second set of earrings, and simply said to her parents, ‘If President Hinckley says we should only wear one set of earrings, that’s good enough for me.’"

"The prophet does speak for the Savior. We can follow Him in faith by listening to and obeying the counsel of the prophet today. When we heed his words, we are better members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."
- Sister Vicki F. Matsumori, “Sharing Time: I Can Follow the Prophet Today,” Friend, May 2003, 21

 

 

Subject:

Re: What's the women earring ban REALLY all about?

Date:

May 14 12:54

Author:

Anonymouse

If you control the little things in a group of people, the major "meat" of the information your trying to shove down their throats will be easier to swallow.

 

Subject:

One pair of earrings is "sufficient"? What is this? The Soviet Union?

Date:

May 14 14:58

Author:

MySongAngel

Why don't we all wear burlap dresses, no make-up, and sandals every single day? That would be SUFFICIENT. Why don't we just eat oatmeal, spam and milk ONLY for the rest of our lives? That would be SUFFICIENT.

Well, I think this is just about control. Also... Mormons don't feel right unless they are continually presented with new rules that no one else has to follow. "Look... I don't wear two earrings! That means I'm more holy and closer to God than she is!"

 

Subject:

Exactly! and....

Date:

May 14 15:16

Author:

Susan D.

who is to judge what is a "modest" set of earrings?

These people have WAY too much time on their hands!!

 

 

Subject:

O thank thee Oh Gawd for a prophet

Date:

May 14 15:03

Author:

activejackmormon

With our nation stuck in a conflict in the middle east, with people dying in the world from hunger and calamity, with environmental destruction of our planet and the extinction of species in different parts of the world, the most important thing Jesus Christ has to reveal to this goofball prophet is about body piercings.

The church isn't interested in the well-being of people, only having power to make people conform. What an irrelevant work and a blunder.

 

 

Subject:

I can't see that the ear ring ban is about anything but obedience to the prophet which is a way to solidify

Date:

May 14 16:01

Author:

SusieQ#1

generations of faithful followers who go to the temple and pay tithing.

It is a test of the power of the GBH.

It has nothing to do with ear rings, and everything to do with doing as they are told, regardless if it makes sense of not.

This is a little test that targets women (and men, of course but not to the same extent). The men were targeted earlier with the ban on facial hair.

What will be next? What is the next test?

 

Subject:

I think there is an element of "branding"

Date:

May 14 16:10

Author:

activejackmormon

The church is obsessed with their image. Creating a uniform brand in their members as conservative clean-cut kids is part of what they are doing. It is about power and control, but don't forget that Mormonism is a business.

 

 

 

Subject:

It's a GBH power trip.

Date:

May 14 16:38

Author:

Fly

Most of the world doesn't know or care about GBH.

Mormons idolize him, sure. But nobody else gives a rats. Bono gets more press... and Bono doesn't even have the priesthood!

So it must massage Gordon's ego to give a "suggestion" about earrings and have all the women in Mormondom fawn all over this utterance like they're receiving manna from Heaven.

So what if it makes the Mormon God seem small, it makes Gordon feel huge.

 

Subject:

There is a serious famine in Dafur,

Date:

May 14 16:45

Author:

Glo

our young people are being crippled and dying in a war in the Middle East, people around the globe hate us, Korea and Iran are developing atomic bombs, China is the new up and coming power, while we waste our strength in foreign places our own infra structure is in dire need of attention.

And what revelations does our illustrious "prophet" get? Which Malls to develop and how many earrings a woman is allowed to wear.

 

 

Subject:

"As for the young women, you do not need to drape rings up and down your ears. One modest pair of earrings is sufficient..."

Date:

May 15 04:07

Author:

Deenie, the dreaded single adult

So, what, exactly, does an IMMODEST pair of earrings look like?

Phallic symbols?

Replicas of the 'Venus de Milo' or Michelangelo's 'David?'

I'd love to find out...

:^)

 

Subject:

from the Mayo Clinic

Date:

May 15 13:29

Author:

MarkJ

For a good review of the risks involved (30 percent of piercings result in infections), check out:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=MC00020

At least that is the medical side. The aesthetical, sensual opinion is all my own.

The GAhood missed an opportunity to discuss the deeper reasons why people want to get pierced and tattooed. Does it come from a sense of dissatisfaction with what they are and what they feel? Why are people willing to endure a semi-permanent change to the body for a temporary fashion statement?

If the leaders of the church discussed issues with members like adults, instead of proclaiming directives, there might be some chance of real progress in both the institution and the membership.

 

Subject:

from the Mayo Clinic

Date:

May 15 14:58

Author:

Kym

30 percent of piercings result in infections? That's pretty small and insignificant.

"Why are people willing to endure a semi-permanent change to the body for a temporary fashion statement?"

I've had my ears double-pierced for 22 years now and still LOVE the look. If I had short hair, I'd opt for more piercings but since I love long hair and no one can see my whole ear, there's no real point. So for the flighty types, yes I guess it is a temporary fashion statement but so? People can change their minds. What's wrong with that? I have always thought that multiple earrings look great. Nose rings look great. Eye brow rings look great. And if you look good a belly ring is fabulous. If YOU don't like them then YOU shouldn't get any piercings. If I like them I should get as many as I want and it's none of anyone's business but my own.

---Words ought to be a little wild for they are the assault of thoughts on the unthinking."
John Maynard Keynes

 

Subject:

I agree. I'm not a big fan of piercings or tattoos. OTOH, it really is a ridiculous focus for a guy who claims to be delivering important messages . . .

Date:

May 15 05:22

Author:

Timmy Teaboy

to us from the omnipotent, omniscient creator of the universe. The whole world is crying out for wisdom and guidance from the creator and this is the level of discourse offered by the Mormon Prophet?

His advice doesn't even pass the "duh!" test. It's at the same level as "wear a helmet when riding your bicycle and look both ways before crossing the street." Some people will be cautious and some people will take risks. In the realm of spiritual matters, the issue of tattoos and piercings is the equivalent of the "straining at gnats" spoken of in the New Testament.

Mormons are modern day Pharisees and they don't even know it, because, well, because they are Pharisees.

 

Subject:

Well stay away from vaccinations, having blood drawn for diagnostic purposes, etc etc. (more)

Date:

May 15 09:25

Author:

Dawn

Mail Address:

Yes the skin is a protective organ. It also has remarkable healing properties.

Having one's ears pierced is no more dangerous (and if done with sterile instruments less dangerous) than stubbing ones' toes, getting a scratch, an abrasion etc etc.

And lets talk about when this outer protection is injured.

Enter the immune system.

TO be fair, I have heard that having one's tongue pieced DOES have a great many more dangers. IE food in the mouth etc etc.
I do not know if this is true

 

Subject:

I understand tongue piercing can cause trouble with your teeth.

Date:

May 15 10:01

Author:

Jane Aubrey

Why anyone would want to have their tongue pierced anyway is beyond me. And I don't enjoy seeing someone with their nose pierced...I can't look at them. I'm always wondering what happens when they have a bad cold. The eyebrow thing is weird too. But really, who cares? A couple of piercings in the ears is no big deal IMHO. My daughter has I think about 4 holes in each ear, it bothers me to see the empty holes.

 

Subject:

Now if only the prophet were so inspiring...

Date:

May 15 10:54

Author:

Deconstructor

Your reasons for not having body piercings are much more compelling than anything coming from the Mormon church. You're arguing that body piercing can lead to infections, while the Mormon Church says this is all about following the prophet.

Nevertheless, it's really none of your business if a woman chooses to have two ear piercings instead of one. Neither is it the Prophet's business.

Based on what two church apostles have said on this matter, it's not even about the earrings. It's about obeying whatever the prophet says "in all thing and at all times."

That sounds like blind obedience to me. Yesterday it was oral sex in marriage, today it's women's earrings. What will tomorrow's mandate be? Drink the kool-aid?

It's all about pay, pray and obey. No thinking required.

 

 

See also Short Topic 245  Don't Wear Two Earrings  This topic, #245, has examples of local leadership forcing the earring ban on women.

 

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