One Response to “Why do mormons have to wait until they are sixteen to date? …”
Pamela Dean
2009-03-22 19:03:23
Many people today see dating as harmless entertainment, and a common mindset of 'if it doesn't work out we can always get divorced" has decreased the importance of choosing the right people to be with. For us as latter-day saints it ought to be much more than that as we believe that perhaps the most important purpose in life is to build a family that one can be with throughout all eternity. What a weighty and awesome responsibility! This is a decision that requires excellent decision making skills, based on life experiences, faith, and commitment to the Lord and Heavenly Father - and affecting all of our posterity. It should not be taken lightly. The purpose of dating is to find a compatible marriage partner with the same ideals as you. Prophetic counsel teaches us that finding a marriage partner takes spiritual sensitivity, maturity, and preparation—including preparing ourselves to be the right spouse. The early teenage years are frought with emotional turmoil as friends and interests and bodies change. It is a time to discover who you are, to develop your testimony, and to determine the kind of people you like to associate with. Chances are, anyone in their early teenage years is not ready to make decisions about who they will marry, so dating really has no place in the life of someone so young. Dating before age sixteen can lead to immorality, limit the number of other young people you meet, and deprive you of experiences that will help you choose an eternal partner. When beginning to date, we are counselled to go on group dates until at least age eighteen, to help ensure that you and your companions maintain your self-respect and remain close to the spirit of the Lord. An article published in the new era magazine indicates that:
* Proper dating includes waiting until the appropriate age.
* There is a higher rate of inappropriate physical relationships when dating begins too early.
* Waiting to date allows time to mature mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
* Serious one-on-one relationships limit your opportunities to associate with a variety of people.
President Kimball stated that "dating and especially steady dating in the early teens is most hazardous. It distorts the whole picture of life. It deprives the youth of worthwhile and rich experiences; it limits friendships; it reduces the acquaintance which can be so valuable in selecting a partner for time and eternity."
The scriptures say that there is "a time for every season", and for all the reasons discussed, the time for dating is not before age sixteen.
* Proper dating includes waiting until the appropriate age.
* There is a higher rate of inappropriate physical relationships when dating begins too early.
* Waiting to date allows time to mature mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
* Serious one-on-one relationships limit your opportunities to associate with a variety of people.
President Kimball stated that "dating and especially steady dating in the early teens is most hazardous. It distorts the whole picture of life. It deprives the youth of worthwhile and rich experiences; it limits friendships; it reduces the acquaintance which can be so valuable in selecting a partner for time and eternity."
The scriptures say that there is "a time for every season", and for all the reasons discussed, the time for dating is not before age sixteen.