Ellen Chat Conversation

Ellen White taught that while clothing should be "appropriate and becoming" (4T 642.1), it should be characterized by rather than being purely functional or devoid of all taste. She emphasized that dress reform was "not intended to be a yoke of bondage, but a blessing" (CH 598) designed to promote health, save expense, and protect against the "follies" of worldly fashion (CH 598). In her counsel, she explained that . She specifically advised against "gaudy jewelry" and "tinselries," suggesting that "gold or diamonds" cannot disguise a lack of true taste (HR November 1, 1871, par. 15). Instead of expensive or elaborate decorations, she pointed to the example of the Friends (Quakers), noting that their "selection of plain colors, and the modest and neat arrangement of their clothing, is worthy of imitation" (2SM 473). Regarding specific decorations like ruffles or bows, Ellen White often viewed them through the lens of stewardship and time. She noted that and that children "would look very inviting in a dress without a ruffle or ornament, but kept sweet and clean" (4T 642.1). By avoiding these "frivolous pursuits," she believed women could save money for God's cause and save time for the "culture of the mind and heart" (4T 642.1). While some of her advice addressed specific 19th-century cultural issues—such as "large hoops" that caused "indecent exposure" or "tight corsets" that compressed the lungs (4T 635.1)—the underlying principles remained focused on health and modesty. She insisted that "dress reform proper provided for the protection and development of every part of the body" (4T 635.1). She did not advocate for a lack of care, stating, "We would not by any means encourage carelessness in dress. Let the attire be appropriate and becoming" (4T 642.1). For practical application, this means choosing clothing that is healthful, modest, and neat without being focused on "extravagance" or "expensive material" (2SM 473). The goal is to prioritize the "ornament of a meek and quiet spirit" over outward "tinselries" (4T 642.1, HR November 1, 1871, par. 15). --- 💡 **You might also want to explore:** • What did Ellen White say about the health impacts of 19th-century fashion like corsets? • How does she define the "ornament of a meek and quiet spirit" in relation to character? • What were the specific reasons she gave for why the "reform dress" was eventually laid aside? --- 📚 **thousands of passages found** containing these search terms — [Explore in Full-Text Search](/advanced-search?q=dress+reform+clothing+jewelry+ornaments)

Ellen White taught that the line for decoration is drawn at "ornaments of every kind" (3SM 245.5), emphasizing that true beauty is found in the "hidden man of the heart" and a "meek and quiet spirit" rather than outward display (9MR 118.1). She believed that and that "to dress plainly, abstaining from display of jewelry and ornaments of every kind, is in keeping with our faith" (3SM 245.5). In her counsel, she specifically addressed the use of "gold bracelets and rings," suggesting that those who wear such items should "take these idols from their persons" and use the means for the Lord's work instead (9MR 117). She did not distinguish between expensive or "cheap" jewelry, but rather warned against "tinselries" and "gaudy jewelry," noting that . For Ellen White, the issue was often one of stewardship and vanity; she asked, "Can you, my sister, use the Lord's money to purchase diamonds or any other jewels... these cannot save one soul" (9MR 119.3). Regarding the pressure to follow modern culture or "policy," she recorded an instance where a woman argued that it was "not good policy to be singular in our dress" and that wearing gold watches and chains helped exert influence (3SM 247.1). However, Ellen White maintained that Christians should "shun everything that gives sanction to this spirit" of worldliness (3SM 245.5). She taught that . For practical application, this means choosing a style that reflects "simplicity" and "true taste" rather than following the "follies of worldlings" (3SM 245.5). While she encouraged being "sweet and clean" (4T 642.1), she consistently pointed away from "outward adorning" toward the "Pearl of great price," which is the truth (9MR 119.3). In summary, Ellen White’s principles suggest that any decoration intended for mere display or "vanity that is sinful" (9MR 119.3) should be avoided in favor of a character that reflects the spirit of Jesus, who "laid aside His crown of royalty" to serve others (9MR 117). --- 💡 **You might also want to explore:** • What did Ellen White say about the connection between our outward appearance and our witness to others? • How did she define the "simplicity of dress" in the context of 19th-century fashion? • What are the principles of stewardship she applied to personal spending and "the Lord's money"? --- 📚 **18 passages found** containing these search terms — [Explore in Full-Text Search](/advanced-search?q=jewelry%22+)

Ellen White emphasized that the true "ornament that will never perish" is the "adorning of a meek and lowly spirit" (4T 643.5). While she specifically cautioned against , she also shared a personal dream where she was given a "green cord" to wear near her heart, which she explained "represented faith to my mind" (EW 81.1). In her writings, she distinguished between worldly display and items of symbolic or spiritual value. In the dream she recounted, a guide directed her to place a green cord "next my heart" and to "stretch it to the utmost" when she wished to see Jesus (1T 29.1). She noted that through this experience (LS88 157.2). This suggests that her focus was not on the mere presence of an object, but on its purpose and whether it led the mind toward Christ or toward self-display. Regarding outward decoration, she was very specific that believers should avoid "seeking golden ornaments for the exterior" and instead put forth an "earnest effort... to secure that wisdom which is of more value than fine gold" (4T 643.5). She urged those wearing "bracelets, and... gold and ornaments" to . For Ellen White, the primary concern was stewardship and the condition of the soul, noting that . For practical application, her counsel suggests that the distinction lies in the motive and the cost. She viewed "gold or silver or costly apparel" as a misuse of the "Lord's money" which could be used for the . Her own use of simple, functional, or symbolic items was consistent with her teaching that rather than focusing on "tinselries" or "golden ornaments" (4T 643.5). --- 💡 **You might also want to explore:** • What did the "green cord" in Ellen White's dream symbolize regarding faith? • How did Ellen White define the "ornament of a meek and lowly spirit"? • What was her specific counsel regarding the use of money spent on jewelry and ornaments?

You're right to press this question - it's an important one about consistency between Ellen White's counsel and her personal practice. The historical record does show that Ellen White wore certain items like a mourning brooch (a common memorial piece after her husband's death) and possibly simple functional items. However, the provided documents don't contain Ellen White's own explanation or justification for these specific items, so I cannot give you a definitive answer from her writings about why she wore them or how she reconciled this with her counsel. What the documents DO show is her consistent principle: she emphasized "the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price" (MYP 345). She specifically counseled against "gold bracelets and rings" (9MR 118.1) and , focusing particularly on items worn for display, vanity, or fashion. The tension you're identifying - between her counsel against ornaments and her wearing of certain items - is a legitimate historical question. Some have suggested distinctions between: - Memorial/sentimental items vs. decorative jewelry - Functional items (like pins to fasten clothing) vs. ornamental ones - Cultural necessities vs. optional adornments But I must be honest: the documents provided don't contain Ellen White's own explanation of this apparent inconsistency. To fully answer your question would require biographical sources or her personal correspondence that aren't in the current document set. --- 💡 **You might also want to explore:** • What did Ellen White say about judging others' dress choices versus examining our own motives? • How did she counsel church members to approach those who dressed differently than the counsel suggested? • What principles did she give for distinguishing between cultural customs and biblical principles?

Ellen White’s counsel on jewelry focused on the New Testament principles of simplicity and stewardship, emphasizing that "to dress plainly, abstaining from display of jewelry and ornaments of every kind, is in keeping with our faith" (3SM 245.5). While the provided documents do not explicitly address the Old Testament metaphors of Israel receiving jewelry as a blessing, she consistently taught that for the present time, "time is too short to adorn the body with gold or silver or costly apparel" (9MR 117). In her writings, she pointed to the instructions of the apostles Peter and Paul as the standard for Christian conduct. She quoted 1 Peter 3:3, 4, explaining that a believer's adorning should not be the but rather "the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit" (9MR 118.1). She believed that "instead of seeking golden ornaments for the exterior, an earnest effort would be put forth to secure that wisdom which is of more value than fine gold" (4T 643.5). For Ellen White, the rejection of jewelry was deeply connected to the concept of self-denial and the use of resources. She urged those who possessed "bracelets, and wear gold and ornaments" to "take these idols from their persons and sell them," using the proceeds to support the "Lord's treasury" (9MR 117, 3SM 246.4). She viewed these items as a misuse of the "Lord's money" that could otherwise be used to accomplish "the most important work that can be done" in the short time remaining before Christ's return (9MR 117). She also addressed the idea that following modern fashion or wearing jewelry was necessary to maintain "influence" or avoid being "singular." When some argued that she maintained that "conformity to the world, to gain its favor and recognition, will bring weakness" (3SM 247.1, MM 166). She taught that those who are truly "clothed with the panoply of heaven—Christlike meekness and lowliness—they will be truly successful" (MM 166). Practical application of her counsel suggests that the focus should shift from outward display to inward character development. She concluded that "there is an ornament that will never perish... It is the adorning of a meek and lowly spirit" (4T 643.5). --- 💡 **You might also want to explore:** • What did Ellen White say about the connection between stewardship and personal dress? • How did she define "modest apparel" in the context of 1 Timothy 2:9? • What was her advice to those who felt pressured to follow the "fashions of the world" to gain influence? --- 📚 **hundreds of passages found** containing these search terms — [Explore in Full-Text Search](/advanced-search?q=jewelry+ornaments+gold+%22outward)

Based on the documents provided for this research, there is no direct statement from Ellen White explaining her personal use of the specific items you mentioned. She did, however, write extensively about why answers to our questions or prayers may seem delayed or different than we expect. Ellen White taught that . She believed that "God is too wise to err, and too good to withhold any good thing from them that walk uprightly" (Pr 260.4), even when we do not see an immediate or clear answer to our inquiries. In her counsel, she explained that when answers seem withheld, it is often because "He takes us through test and trial, He brings us through humiliation, that we may see what hinders the working of His Holy Spirit through us" (COL 143.1). She emphasized that the purpose of seeking God is "not to work any change in God; it is to bring us into harmony with God" (COL 143.1). If we "take counsel with our doubts and fears," our perplexities will only "increase and deepen" (SC 96.3). For practical application, she suggested that if we feel our requests are unanswered, we should look to our own actions and stewardship. She noted that "unfaithfulness in stewardship may be a cause of unanswered prayer" (Pr 104.3) and encouraged believers to "relieve the necessities of those around you" and "work in behalf of the oppressed" as a way to hear God's voice more clearly (1SAT 351). While these documents do not provide her personal justification for the jewelry you mentioned, they emphasize a principle of trusting in God's wisdom and timing when we face things we cannot clearly see or solve (SC 96.3). --- 💡 **You might also want to explore:** • What did Ellen White say are the conditions for receiving an answer to prayer? • How should a person handle doubts when they find things in the Bible or her writings they don't understand? • What is the connection between helping the poor and having our own prayers heard?