Choose the right
Encyclopedia
"Choose the right" is a saying or motto
among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) that is taught to children and used by members of the church as a reminder to act righteously
. The phrase is taken from an LDS hymn
of the same name written by Joseph L. Townsend
.
recommended that the shield be incorporated into official church material. Since then, both the phrase and symbol have been used in religious educational materials for LDS youth of Primary age. The symbol is also used in LDS culture
by members of all ages, both as a reminder of the motto, as well as an indicator of religious affiliation. The CTR initials, displayed on the shield and in other forms, can be seen mainly on CTR rings as well as other types of jewelry, tee shirts, bookmarks and stationery
.
According to the US Patent and Trademark Office, the LDS Church's stylized "CTR" abbreviation and shield with the CTR symbol are trademarked for use on finger ring
jewelry by Intellectual Reserve
. The phrase "Choose the Right," however, is not trademark
ed in the United States and may be used by anyone for commercial purposes.
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A ring with the letters "CTR" on is often worn by members of the LDS Church as a reminder of the "Choose the Right" motto, and as a symbol of their religious affiliation.
CTR rings were introduced at the same time as the CTR shield in 1970 by Primary general president LaVern W. Parmley
after being recommended by a committee chaired by Naomi W. Randall. In connection with the children's Sunday School
program, each LDS child in this age group is given an adjustable ring with a green escutcheon bearing the letters "CTR" in silver.
Over the years CTR rings have become popular with both children and adults in the LDS Church. They are now available in a variety of designs in over 30 languages.
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) that is taught to children and used by members of the church as a reminder to act righteously
Righteousness
Righteousness is an important theological concept in Zoroastrianism, Hinduism , Judaism, Christianity and Islam...
. The phrase is taken from an LDS hymn
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985 book)
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the official hymn book of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
of the same name written by Joseph L. Townsend
Joseph L. Townsend
Joseph L. Townsend was a writer of many Latter-day Saint hymns.Townsend was born in Canton, Bradford County, Pennsylvania. He grew up in Ohio, Kansas and Missouri. Townsend studied at the University of Missouri. He came to Salt Lake City in 1872 to try and improve his health. While there he...
.
History
The letters CTR, a reference to this phrase, are incorporated into a shield logo designed by Helen Alldredge, a Primary General Board member in the 1960s. In 1970, a church committee headed by Naomi W. RandallNaomi W. Randall
Naomi Harriet Ward Randall was a Latter-day Saint songwriter and author and a leader in the Primary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
recommended that the shield be incorporated into official church material. Since then, both the phrase and symbol have been used in religious educational materials for LDS youth of Primary age. The symbol is also used in LDS culture
Culture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
A culture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, reflecting the cultural impact of basic beliefs and traditions of the church, distinguishes church members, practices, and activities...
by members of all ages, both as a reminder of the motto, as well as an indicator of religious affiliation. The CTR initials, displayed on the shield and in other forms, can be seen mainly on CTR rings as well as other types of jewelry, tee shirts, bookmarks and stationery
Stationery
Stationery has historically meant a wide gamut of materials: paper and office supplies, writing implements, greeting cards, glue, pencil case etc.-History of stationery:...
.
According to the US Patent and Trademark Office, the LDS Church's stylized "CTR" abbreviation and shield with the CTR symbol are trademarked for use on finger ring
Ring (jewellery)
A finger ring is a circular band worn as a type of ornamental jewelry around a finger; it is the most common current meaning of the word ring. Other types of metal bands worn as ornaments are also called rings, such as arm rings and neck rings....
jewelry by Intellectual Reserve
Intellectual Reserve
Intellectual Reserve, Inc is a non-profit corporation based in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. It is wholly owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
. The phrase "Choose the Right," however, is not trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
ed in the United States and may be used by anyone for commercial purposes.
CTR ring
CTR rings were introduced at the same time as the CTR shield in 1970 by Primary general president LaVern W. Parmley
LaVern W. Parmley
LaVern Watts Parmley was the fifth general president of the Primary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Parmley was the first woman to be awarded the Silver Buffalo Award from the Boy Scouts of America.LaVern Watts was born in Murray, Utah. She married Thomas J...
after being recommended by a committee chaired by Naomi W. Randall. In connection with the children's Sunday School
Sunday School (LDS Church)
Sunday School is an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . All members of the church and any interested nonmembers, age 12 and older, are encouraged to participate in Sunday School.-Purpose:...
program, each LDS child in this age group is given an adjustable ring with a green escutcheon bearing the letters "CTR" in silver.
Over the years CTR rings have become popular with both children and adults in the LDS Church. They are now available in a variety of designs in over 30 languages.
See also
- Christian ichthys symbol
- Purity ringPurity ringPurity rings are worn as a sign of chastity. The practice originated in the United States in the 1990s among Christian-affiliated sexual abstinence groups....
- What would Jesus do?What would Jesus do?The phrase "What would Jesus do?" became popular in the United States in the 1990s and as a personal motto for adherents of Evangelical Christianity who used the phrase as a reminder of their belief in a moral imperative to act in a manner that would demonstrate the love of Jesus through the...
(WWJD)
External links
- "Choose the Right" - a General Conference address by L. Tom PerryL. Tom PerryLowell Tom Perry is a senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , having become a member of that body in 1974...
, as found in the November 1993 Ensign - "Choose You This Day" - a General Conference address by Thomas S. MonsonThomas S. MonsonThomas Spencer Monson is an American religious leader and author, and the 16th and current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . As president, Monson is considered by adherents of the religion to be a "prophet, seer, and revelator" of God's will on earth...
, as found in the November 1994 Ensign - "239: Choose the Right" - wording to hymn as found in the Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985)
- "CTR Ring Varieties" - Where you can find a large variety of CTR Rings.