What is that Ring You Wear?

Mormons are sometimes asked about that ring we “all” wear, but it’s actually not a requirement.  It’s a “CTR Ring” which stands for “Choose the Right”.  These are given to our children in Sunday School as a reminder of their beliefs, what they stand for, and is another way of encouraging them to make good decisions.  Most of them are green (the ones given to the children all are, at least in the US) and all of them are shaped like shields with the letters CTR on them or other letters (or characters) that represent the phrase in another language.  They remained popular with many adults and you can find some made of gold or silver, some even with diamonds.

To accompany this lesson is a song taught in Sunday School to the kids (also found in our hymnal):

1. Choose the right when a choice is placed before you.
In the right the Holy Spirit guides;
And its light is forever shining o’er you,
When in the right your heart confides.

[Chorus]
Choose the right! Choose the right!
Let wisdom mark the way before.
In its light, choose the right!
And God will bless you evermore.

2. Choose the right! Let no spirit of digression
Overcome you in the evil hour.
There’s the right and the wrong to ev’ry question;
Be safe thru inspiration’s pow’r.

3. Choose the right! There is peace in righteous doing.
Choose the right! There’s safety for the soul.
Choose the right in all labors you’re pursuing;
Let God and heaven be your goal.

The symbolism of the shield is quite significant.  Multiple times the scriptures make reference to the Lord being our shield and protection, which can mean both in a spiritual and physical way.  The teaching to put on the whole “Armor of God” also comes to mind.  Keeping the Lord’s commandments, scripture study, and prayer are all ways of allowing Him to be our shield, thus the CTR Ring has special meaning to many members of the church.