Remember all those years of dating? Aren’t you glad that they’re over for many of us? I know I am. My dating years were longer than I had hoped for, but in the end it turned out good for me. I found a fabulous man to marry, but only because I constantly kept my eye out for someone who had high standards and who fit me.
But it was years of dating the right way that led me to that point. I didn’t go on a date until I was 16. I knew that that was the rule and that it was in place for a good reason—to keep me safe. And at the same time I was an awkward teenager, so it probably saved me from some embarrassing situations while I gained a little bit of social skill. It also helped me define who I was before getting into the dating scene where someone else could have influenced me wrongly.
I was taught from the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet what was good in dating and what to avoid. I knew that dating before 16 was discouraged, and that after 16 it was a good idea to group date for several years. And what a blessing that was. While there’s definitely a place for dating singly (i.e. after you’ve gotten to know someone well and your intentions turn to courting), I found that the guidelines in the pamphlet helped me get to know more people, see interactions and personalities that I both liked and disliked, and gave me opportunities to do some fun activities while enjoying a group of people.
I also developed amazing friendships with young men that I never actually dated but wouldn’t have been able to know as well without these guidelines. My last two years of high school were spent in the company of some fabulous young men who taught me much of what I’d later look for in a husband. They also helped me hone my social skills so I wasn’t so awkward around boys I was interested in.
The pamphlet encourages dates that are positive and that will help you get to know one another. Inexpensive dates are also recommended, since dating is about the person you’re with, not necessarily what you’re doing. Most of all, it encourages that dates help you keep your self-respect and invite the Spirit. When you follow these guidelines (or help your children to do so) you’re inviting good dating habits, good opportunities, and good relationships—all things we want in our dating lives.
Related Blogs:
For the Strength of Youth Series
For the Strength of Youth Series: Agency and Accountability
For the Strength of Youth Series: Gratitude
For the Strength of Youth Series: Education
For the Strength of Youth Series: Family
For the Strength of Youth Series: Friends
For the Strength of Youth Series: Dress and Appearance