Insights on Dating

 Because, “marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan” it is important to talk about how to go about finding an eternal companion. Here are a couple of insights about dating or finding an eternal companion. 

“With most young people no longer associating marriage with the transition to adulthood and a notable rise in the average age at which people first marry (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010), many people consider marriage to be part of later adult life rather than an important feature of young adulthood.” (Young Adulthood and Pathways to Eternal Marriage, Jason S. Carroll)

“A recent study showed that 90 percent of young adults in the United States rate “having a good marriage and family life” as being “quite important” or “very important” to them” (Bachman, Johnston, & O’Malley, 2009). (Young Adulthood and Pathways to Eternal Marriage, Jason S. Carroll)

“Coupled with a sense of pessimism about their chances for martial success, many young people now see their young adult years as a time to pursue their personal interests and become independent financially. Simply put, the emerging adult culture today encourages young people to “get ahead before getting wed” and to be careful not to let marriage alter or interrupt one’s educational and career plans” (Young Adulthood and Pathways to Eternal Marriage, Jason S. Carroll).

“One study of young men suggested several reasons why so many are unwilling to marry early: (a) they can get sex without marriage, (b) they fear that marriage will require too many changes and compromises, (c) they face few social pressures to marry, and (d) they want to enjoy single life as long as they can” (Whitehead & Popenoe, 2002). (Young Adulthood and Pathways to Eternal Marriage, Jason S. Carroll).

“If there are three primary characteristics that [you] hope to find in an eternal companion, then those are the three things [you] ought to be working to become. Then [you] will be attractive to someone who has those things” (Elder David A. Bednar, 2009).  (Young Adulthood and Pathways to Eternal Marriage, Jason S. Carroll).

“Effective communication involves two primary skills – empathetic listening and clear-sending communication. As young adults develop these skills, they are better prepared to establish healthy and productive couple interactions in dating and marriage relationships” (Young Adulthood and Pathways to Eternal Marriage, Jason S. Carroll).

“Soul mates are fiction and illusion; and while every young man and young woman will seek with all diligence and prayerfulness to find a mate with whom life can be most compatible and beautiful, yet it is certain that almost any good man and any good woman can have happiness and a successful marriage if both are willing to pay the price” (Spencer W. Kimball, 1976, p.16). (Young Adulthood and Pathways to Eternal Marriage, Jason S. Carroll).

“In traditional dating, couples pair off for the duration o the evening or activity and may go out with one another on multiple occasions. While traditional dating involves one-on-one pairing and involvement, at this stage of dating young people still maintain a non-coupled status.”  (Young Adulthood and Pathways to Eternal Marriage, Jason S. Carroll).

“Exclusive dating. When properly practiced, traditional dating patterns will lead eventually to exclusive dating, in which couples can explore a potential marriage relationship with a specific person and come to a decision whether they should move forward toward engagement or move back to traditional dating and explore relationships with other people” (Young Adulthood and Pathways to Eternal Marriage, Jason S. Carroll).

“Engagement provides a chance to confirm the decision to marry, and any “red flags” that come up during engagement should be addressed before moving forward with the wedding” (Young Adulthood and Pathways to Eternal Marriage, Jason S. Carroll).

Memorize It!!

In one of my classes we broke down paragraphs of the Proclamation into the subjects they reference. This will hopefully help you remember the topics as you memorize the Proclamation. Here it is:

1. Eternal Truths
We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

2. Gender and Eternal Identity
  All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

3. Covenants and Ordinances
  In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

4. Chastity and Sanctity of Life
The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.
We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

5. Responsibilities and Duties
  Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

6. Practical Principles
  The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

7. Warnings and Call for Action
We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.
We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

I am currently trying to memorize The Family: A Proclamation to the World, and it is proving rather difficult. It helps to break it up into sections on the various topics. I will post more helps as I go along but first I will post the proclamation. I invite you to join me in my endeavor! I know that you will gain a better understanding of the family and its importance in our lives. Enjoy!

The Family

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A Proclamation to the World

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.
All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.
In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.
The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.
We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.
Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.
The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.
We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.
We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

 http://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng

First Time Blogger

I am starting this blog for my family class and hope to share incites, stories, and articles related to marriage and children and anything that might benefit families. I currently attend BYU-Idaho and I love it!