Does that count?

[Fether]

“Latter-day prophets strongly discourage the piercing of the body except for medical purposes. If girls or women desire to have their ears pierced, they are encouraged to wear only one pair of modest earrings.”

https://www.lds.org/manual/true-to-the-faith/body-piercing?lang=eng

I noticed my friend the other day had clip on earrings for other parts of her ears. That sparked my question if “does that count?”

[Iggy]

They aren't pierced now are they?

 

[zil]

Well, those two posts pretty much sum up the concept of "rule and loop-hole", don't they?

When the rule about one pair of earrings came out, I don't think it explicitly stated pierced or otherwise (though I could be wrong).  Someone, I believe a seminary student, asked my mom's opinion.  My mom suggested to search scripture and read all the occasions where people in scripture were described as wearing jewelry.  If I recall correctly, the student found this sufficiently motivating to draw their own conclusions about doing the right thing.

Now, more importantly, does this count?  I mean, that is useful and really popular (too popular if you ask some editors), but it seems sort of . . . distant.  This, on the other hand feels so close at hand and sort of intimate.

[Iggy]

6 hours ago, zil said:

When the rule about one pair of earrings came out, I don't think it explicitly stated pierced or otherwise (though I could be wrong). 

Click here: https://www.lds.org/youth/for-the-strength-of-youth?lang=eng , on the right under the picture of the SLC Temple is a link to download the For The Strength of the Youth pamphlet, down load it, then from the contents page click on Dress and Appearance, it is the last paragraph on page 7. 

Quote

Do not disfigure yourself with tattoos or body piercings. Young women, if you desire to have your ears pierced, wear only one pair of earrings.

The clip on earrings that Fether is talking about are called Ear Cuffs. They come in pierced and UNpierced styles: https://www.google.com/search?q=ear+cuff+earrings+for+unpierced+ears&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjyyIbjufPbAhVVLX0KHStwBIEQsAQIxAI&biw=1920&bih=943

 

Edited June 27, 2018 by Iggy
to add quote from the pamphlet

[zil]

3 hours ago, Iggy said:

Click here: https://www.lds.org/youth/for-the-strength-of-youth?lang=eng , on the right under the picture of the SLC Temple is a link to download the For The Strength of the Youth pamphlet, down load it, then from the contents page click on Dress and Appearance, it is the last paragraph on page 7. 

I'm 99% certain the rule was established before "for the strength of youth" was a phrase or a pamphlet.  We discussed this elsewhere and someone posted the original.  If work is slow today, I'll try to track it down.

I know (since the late 70s/early 80s maybe?) what piercings are, what clip-on earrings are (since the 70s), and what the various books / pamphlets now say about piercings.  The only bit I don't remember is the exact wording of the original.

And I still think the way my mom handled that question is the best way anyone can handle that question, for themselves or others.

[Lost Boy]

I always thought it was in regards to piercings only.  Modifying the temple....

Anyway, I personally don't like any piercings.  I can't think of a woman alive that looked better with pierced ears.  My wife didn't have pierced ears until we had been married nearly 20 years and then one day she just went out and got them pierced.  It was like something cool and special left her that day.

[bytebear]

Ah, letter of the law vs spirit of the law.  Do you think the advice was about ear piercing techniques?  Or was it about making choices about cultural trends that may hinder our spiritual growth?