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The quote you are looking for is found in **Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers**, in a section specifically addressing the custom of wearing marriage rings.
> "Some have had a burden in regard to the wearing of a marriage ring, feeling that the wives of our ministers should conform to this custom. All this is unnecessary. Let the ministers’ wives have the golden link which binds their souls to Jesus Christ, a pure and holy character, the true love and meekness and godliness that are the fruit borne upon the Christian tree, and their influence will be secure anywhere. The fact that a disregard of the custom occasions remark is no good reason for adopting it. Americans can make their position understood by plainly stating that the custom is not regarded as obligatory in our country. We need not wear the sign, for we are not untrue to our marriage vow, and the wearing of the ring would be no evidence that we were true. I feel deeply over this leavening process which seems to be going on among us, in the conformity to custom and fashion. **Not one penny should be spent for a circlet of gold to testify that we are married.** In countries where the custom is imperative, we have no burden to condemn those who have their marriage ring; let them wear it if they can do so conscientiously; but let not our missionaries feel that the wearing of the ring will increase their influence one jot or tittle." — *Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers*,
TM 180.2
### Context
This passage was originally written in 1895 (published in *Special Testimonies*, Series A). At the time, there was a growing trend among some Seventh-day Adventist ministers' wives and missionaries to adopt the wedding ring to avoid social stigma. Ellen White counselled that inward character and "the golden link" to Christ were far more important than outward signs. She specifically noted that while the custom might be "imperative" (socially or legally required) in some countries, it was not necessary in America and that funds should not be diverted toward such jewelry.
Ellen Chat