Dating

Questions:

Why is dating so important?

What will continued dating do for a marriage?

Quotes:

Keep your courtship alive. Make time to do things together—just the two of you. As important as it is to be with the children as a family, you need regular weekly time alone together. Scheduling it will let your children know that you feel that your marriage is so important that you need to nurture it. That takes commitment, planning, and scheduling. -Joe J. Christensen, in Conference Report, Apr. 1995, 86; or Ensign, May 1995, 65

The formula is simple; the ingredients are few, though there are many amplifications of each. First, there must be the proper approach toward marriage, which contemplates the selection of a spouse who reaches as nearly as possible the pinnacle of perfection in all the matters that are of importance to the individuals. Then those two parties must come to the altar in the temple realizing that they must work hard toward this successful joint living. Second, there must be great unselfishness, forgetting self and directing all of the family life and all pertaining thereunto to the good of the family, and subjugating self. Third, there must be continued courting and expressions of affection, kindness, and consideration to keep love alive and growing. Fourth, there must be complete living of the commandments of the Lord as defined in the gospel of Jesus Christ. -Spencer W. Kimball, Marriage and Divorce (1976), 17–18.

Man is at his best when complemented by a good woman’s natural influence. -Ezra Taft Benson, Woman, Salt Lake City, Deseret Book Co., 1979, p. 69

Begin by discussing with your eternal companion how much time you need together to strengthen your marriage, to demonstrate the love you have for each other. That is your first priority.

The Church is to help individuals and families come unto Christ and obtain eternal life. Eternal life is God’s greatest gift to His children, and it is obtained only through a family relationship. This relationship must start with the union between husband and wife, which is sacred to the Lord and is something not to be trifled with. The marriage covenant is essential for the Lord’s plan and is the purpose for which He created the heavens and the earth. In all periods of history, He has given His divine law to safeguard and protect the holy union between husband and wife. -L. Tom Perry, A Solemn Responsibility to Love and Care for Each Other, June 2006

Love is like a flower, and, like the body, it needs constant feeding. The mortal body would soon be emaciated and die if there were not frequent feedings. The tender flower would wither and die without food and water. And so love, also, cannot be expected to last forever unless it is continually fed with portions of love, the manifestation of esteem and admiration, the expressions of gratitude, and the consideration of unselfishness. -Spencer W. Kimball, Oneness in Marriage, Ensign, Mar. 1977, 5


Marriage brings greater possibilities for happiness than does any other human relationship. Yet some married couples fall short of their full potential. They let their romance become rusty, take each other for granted, allow other interests or clouds of neglect to obscure the vision of what their marriage really could be. Marriages would be happier if nurtured more carefully. -Russell M. Nelson, Nurturing Marriage, April 2006

Friendship is … a vital and wonderful part of courtship and marriage. A relationship between a man and a woman that begins with friendship and then ripens into romance and eventually marriage will usually become an enduring, eternal friendship. Nothing is more inspiring in today’s world of easily dissolved marriages than to observe a husband and wife quietly appreciating and enjoying each other’s friendship year in and year out as they experience together the blessings and trials of mortality. -Marlin K. Jensen, in Conference Report, Apr. 1999, 81; or Ensign, May 1999, 64


Scriptures:

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; -Ephesians 5:25, Holy Bible

Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. -Colossians 3:19, Holy Bible

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. -1 John 4:18, Holy Bible

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. -John 13:34-35, Holy Bible

Definitions:

Dating - an appointment to meet at a specified time; especially : a social engagement between two persons that often has a romantic character; a person with whom one has a usually romantic date. -Merriam-Webster