The LDS Church and the Peace Symbol

[Portland Ute]

Is there some official stance against the use of the peace symbol?

I just got back from home teaching and was told the following story:

I guess for girls camp, the Laurels leader was assigned to create a t shirt for the girls at girls camp.

The design included a peace symbol

I guess the Laurels' leader took a lot of heat for it.

When I asked why during our home teaching visit, I was met with blank stares.

I then asked, "She really had a lot of people get upset with her?"

As if I had just asked "What's wrong with a glass of wine now and then?"

I got the reply from my HT companion, with whom I have learned to get along, "Yes. A lot of people were upset about it. My wife and myself included! We thought it was wholly inappropriate that a symbol that represented drugs, free sex and all the rest would be used for a church activity."

Long awkward moment of silence...

Me: "Well, is everyone having a great summer so far?"

[thesaint258]

All you can do at times like that is just roll your eyes and move along.

[myboynoah]

Is there some official stance against the use of the peace symbol?

I just got back from home teaching and was told the following story:

I guess for girls camp, the Laurels leader was assigned to create a t shirt for the girls at girls camp.

The design included a peace symbol

I guess the Laurels' leader took a lot of heat for it.

When I asked why during our home teaching visit, I was met with blank stares.

I then asked, "She really had a lot of people get upset with her?"

As if I had just asked "What's wrong with a glass of wine now and then?"

I got the reply from my HT companion, with whom I have learned to get along, "Yes. A lot of people were upset about it. My wife and myself included! We thought it was wholly inappropriate that a symbol that represented drugs, free sex and all the rest would be used for a church activity."

Long awkward moment of silence...

Me: "Well, is everyone having a great summer so far?"

I can see your companion's point. I don't know that I would get upset, but I wouldn't use a peace symbol for a church activity. No doubt the young woman had good intentions, she'll just need to wait for a generational change.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Twenty years ago, for getting straight A's in junior high, we granted our oldest daughter her wish of peace symbol earrings. When she was accosted by some who questioned the propriety of the symbol she told them that the symbol had been co-opted by the hippie and drug culture in the late '60s, but was in fact born in the '50s from the nuclear disarmament movement with the symbol being a combination of the semaphore signals for N and D. She told them she wasn't a hippie or a druggie, but wanted to reclaim the symbol for more righteous purposes, or did the critic want more nuclear warheads? She was pretty obnoxious.

[Moliere]

I got the reply from my HT companion, with whom I have learned to get along, "Yes. A lot of people were upset about it. My wife and myself included! We thought it was wholly inappropriate that a symbol that represented drugs, free sex and all the rest would be used for a church activity."

This is why we also don't use the cross, because it has been adopted by the false religions. You can never be too careful with symbols. Best to stick to the CTR and RWH symbols to limit offense.

[Moliere]

On a semi-serious note, I found this blog post that sums it up. I skimmed it so I'm not sure how accurate it is but seems to explain where the aversion to the peace symbol came from.

http://culturalmormoncafeteria.blogspot.com/2010/03/it-is-no-secret-that-13th-president-of.html

That being said, I couldn't imagine growing up in the church during the 60s and 70s. Holy cow you older people lived through some strange times!

[myboynoah]

On a semi-serious note, I found this blog post that sums it up. I skimmed it so I'm not sure how accurate it is but seems to explain where the aversion to the peace symbol came from.

http://culturalmormoncafeteria.blogspot.com/2010/03/it-is-no-secret-that-13th-president-of.html

That being said, I couldn't imagine growing up in the church during the 60s and 70s. Holy cow you older people lived through some strange times!

I remember some discussion of it being a broken cross. No doubt that was common among good old-fashioned law abiding folks all over the U.S. I think its use by the 60s and 70s counter-culture movements has more impact. People used to also wear surfer's crosses based on the German iron cross from WWII.

Dumb kids.

[byu71]

That being said, I couldn't imagine growing up in the church during the 60s and 70s. Holy cow you older people lived through some strange times!

Stinkin hippies, peace-niks and all of their ilk. They are the reason BYU adopted a rigidly enforced honor code. It is their fault BYU has a ceiling on how good their athletics can become and who wants to play in the sand with us.

[myboynoah]

Stinkin hippies, peace-niks and all of their ilk. They are the reason BYU adopted a rigidly enforced honor code. It is their fault BYU has a ceiling on how good their athletics can become and who wants to play in the sand with us.

Excellent point.

They should burn those peace-signed youth conference shirts.

[New Mexican Disaster]

Best to stick to the CTR and RWH symbols to limit offense.

CTR stands for Crazy Town Roswell here in my place of abode and signifies a local gang. It is spray painted over many vacant buildings and many folks have it tattooed on themselves. When we first moved here we wondered if there were not some Mormon gangsta kids all over the place.

We have also had people ask us about the CTR rings. and whether they had something to do wit Crazy Town Roswell.

I guess we should not use it around here, eh?

[myboynoah]

CTR stands for Crazy Town Roswell here in my place of abode and signifies a local gang. It is spray painted over many vacant buildings and many folks have it tattooed on themselves. When we first moved here we wondered if there were not some Mormon gangsta kids all over the place.

We have also had people ask us about the CTR rings. and whether they had something to do wit Crazy Town Roswell.

I guess we should not use it around here, eh?

Christ the Rock.

[San Juan Sun]

CTR stands for Crazy Town Roswell here in my place of abode and signifies a local gang. It is spray painted over many vacant buildings and many folks have it tattooed on themselves. When we first moved here we wondered if there were not some Mormon gangsta kids all over the place.

We have also had people ask us about the CTR rings. and whether they had something to do wit Crazy Town Roswell.

I guess we should not use it around here, eh?

All the more reason to wear it. Now you've got backup.

[mUUser]

This, from the same organization that requires its YW to sew/pin the tankini top to the tankini bottom. You can't surprise me anymore.

[hostile]

Twenty years ago, for getting straight A's in junior high, we granted our oldest daughter her wish of peace symbol earrings. When she was accosted by some who questioned the propriety of the symbol she told them that the symbol had been co-opted by the hippie and drug culture in the late '60s, but was in fact born in the '50s from the nuclear disarmament movement with the symbol being a combination of the semaphore signals for N and D. She told them she wasn't a hippie or a druggie, but wanted to reclaim the symbol for more righteous purposes, or did the critic want more nuclear warheads? She was pretty obnoxious.

Smart daughter. Good for her.

[New Mexican Disaster]

All the more reason to wear it. Now you've got backup.

I wish. The all hate me because I am the person who helps their girlfriends get custody of their children while they are in prison.