Dating

Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord(1 Corinthians 11:11).” In this week’s topic, I would like to discuss dating. This is not such a highly controversial topic as previous things I have discussed previously. Why is dating so important? Why do we do it? Do we do in a way that’s positive or negative? Or for that matter is there even a correct way of dating? Hearing from past experiences of different individuals and just by analyzing certain different examples from media sources, there has been a constant saying as far as how older people view dating today. Have you ever heard the phrase, “dating is just not how it used to be anymore.” Well that now poses the question what was dating like before? One of my professors this week described talked about how he would go on a number of dates every week. It was a normal thing. But the type of dates that people would go on were a lot more different than any normal date that people tend to go on nowadays. He described a date with three categories. A date is something that is planned. A date is something that is paid for. A date is pared off. Planned, paid for, and pared off. He tied those key points with sacred role a father/husband. Those roles we can find in “THE FAMILY A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD. 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.” In this quote we find three main responsibilities that a father holds; to provide, provide, and protect for his family. Can we tie these responsibilities with the three ingredients that makes a date? The purpose of dating for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is described as following states, “In cultures where dating or courtship is acceptable, dating can help youth develop friendships and eventually find an eternal companion. Youth in the Church are taught to wait until at least age 16 to begin dating and to date only those who have high moral standards. A young man and a young woman on a date are responsible to help each other maintain their standards and to protect each other's honor and virtue” Now is every date that we typically have like this? Of course not! We often confuse dating with the term “hanging out.” A hangout is most often not planned, nor paid for, and not pared off. Laying on the couch all day and making out is not date my friends. My mind was blown when I heard about this! Hooking up and having a one night stand with someone of the opposite is sex is not a date either. And actually in hindsight, defeat the purpose of dating. Dating is meant in order to get to know someone, not just physically but emotionally as well. You can’t get to know someone through physically intimacy. That creates problems emotionally for both individuals, and is definitely not preparing us to become eternal companions.