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).