Dating-An endangered Species?????

Back when our grandparents were teens and young adults, life and dating were so much different. Our grandparents got married for survival. They needed to have a companion and children to work the farm or the family business.

Just for laughs and giggles:

• Men got married because they needed a women to tell them that “The meat is bad. Lets put in the flour sack and bury it!” Mens response “Or lets make Mince Meat Pie out of it. Waste not, want not!”
  
• Women got married because, if she did not, she would be forever with her family or be the local school teacher. If she was lucky, then she would be the that governess.

Now when our parents got married, it was out of companionship and family. Then during the late 70's inflation was on the rise. So now "mom" needed to go to work to help support the family. So corporation's had to recognized the "Woman Suffrage Movement," and found out that women are capable of doing the same jobs as man. So many women then opened doors for other women, that were never even opened before, so women are walking though those doors.

Now it is our turn, singles. Face it, a lot of us have stopped dating, or just date to have companionship on a Friday or Saturday night; before that lonely week begins once more. Some problems have arrived for us singles. Once-upon-a-time a woman was defined on her ability to have a husband and children. If she couldn't do it, then the poor woman would not be viewed as a woman, she has failed. Today, if a woman had a husband and children; society would not view her as a woman, she as failed; her status, she would not be a women or a person. Society view a woman as a person of value if she has a career. Divorce has been made legally easy, you can do it online in one day. The family now is not as sacred as it was during the time of our grandparents and earlier times. Times have changed indeed, and the Plan of Happiness becomes discourage. A friend of mine said:

“It is so hard to find a good man.”

I disagree, I find good men all the time whether they are LDS or not! What is hard is to get that good man to take up their responsibility and get married; LDS men, Priesthood responsibility. So Men are not the only ones reluctant to take up their traditional role's. I agree that it is hard to challenge what society has foisted on us. Society have made single life look glamorous, but we singles who are 30 and over know better; we are the ones who need to deal with the loneliness during the week. Oh sure, we compensate the loneliness with family; a lot of singles who has siblings who have children of their own; we surround ourselves with their children, to only go home and think:

"I now have my fill. How do they do it?"

Sometimes I get the sneakiest feeling that my nephews love to come over because they know they will get spoiled. Like I have said, we are compensating.

Now a mother of a teen boy of dating age told me this:

"My son and his friends are not dating, AT ALL! My daughter couldn't wait to start dating, my son, he is a different story. "

I remember being in my teen years and couldn't wait to start dating. All I could think of is how much fun it would be, to be with my friends and date the boys we thought were cute. Now that society has made single life looking virtually glamorous, these teens are a new generation of Non daters . If our parents and other family members are looking at us 30 something and shaking their heads and wounder if we will ever get married; the parents and other family members of this new young generation of Non daters are discourage, scared, worried, that the devil's opposition of our Father's Plan of Happiness are getting to their youth. This opposition is, to stay single and avoid eternal exaltation, or to become as miserable as the devil.

We all want to experience great happiness, this is the shocker, (yes,that was sarcasm), to achieve that great happiness we all need to follow God the Father's Plan of Happiness. Within A Proclamation to the World given by the First Presidency of the LDS church says this:

"In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped 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 his or her divine destiny as an heir 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."

Within the LDS Church, we teach that you must be married before we can "Be fruitful, and multiply, (Gen. 1:28; Abr. 4:28). The reason is, again it is in the 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.

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."

Now all we need to do is to challenge what society has foisted on us; that single life is glamorous. To achieve this great happiness that God the Father wants us to have, we can't give up hope, it can happen. We must keep keep our eye on what God the Father wants us to have, all what He has, Eternal Life, and Happiness.

Please note:
I saw this title in the New Era that is put out by the LDS church, I thought that it was hilarious and had to borrow it. The real article is called "Is Dating Dead?" If anyone is interested you can subscribe this Magazine and others that the LDS church make online at Subscriptions, Renewal, and gifts. Pleas note that you do need to register to make such purchases.