AboutCindy Beggs Expertise Although I am not a member of the LDS Church, I can answer most of your general questions re: the LDS faith. Please no LDS bashing. I have a love for the Church's history.
Experience Although I am not a member of the LDS faith, I have been facinated with the Church's history for over 30 years.
Organizations Mount St. Mary's Alumni
Publications Master's Thesis in Mount St. Mary's Library in Los Angeles, CA.
Education/Credentials Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts. Minors: Religious Studies and psychology. Master's degree in the Humanities/Cultural Studies.
Question whats the deal with mormans and dating? i know you have to be at least 16, but are there restrictions as far as dating non members, specifically roman catholics??
just curious.
thank you for your time...!!
Answer Hello. Thank-you for your question. The LDS Church has many ideas about what they consider to be proper behavior when two young people are dating. Generally, LDS youth are not able to date others until they are at least sixteen years old. The norm for non-LDS youth seems to be around thirteen years of age nowadays.
Those of the LDS faith are strongly encouraged to date people of their own faith. This is for many reasons. The LDS Church is not only a church to attend on Sundays, but it is a religion that encompasses their own culture as well.
For example,from an early age, LDS boys are taught that they will inherit the priesthood and are strongly encouraged to go on a mission when they reach manhood. LDS young people are also strongly encouraged to marry. Women are encouraged to marry after high school and men are encouraged to go on their mission first - and then find a mate.
So, culturally speaking, the LDS people are a close knit group with strong ideas about what is important in a young person's life. Good LDS young people are strongly encouraged to marry in the temple, which is another part of the LDS culture that only two people in good standing with the LDS Church, etc...are able to do. Those who are not of the LDS faith who are dating someone of the LDS faith in my opinion, will have many more conflicts that two non-LDS partners would have. As I stated before, this is due to the strong culture and belief system within the LDS Church membership. Not all LDS members are strong believers in their Church - however, their family members probably will be and they will probably not look with much favor upon someone who is not of their faith dating their son or daughter. As a result, more conflict will likely follow the couple.
Lastly, the Church believes that those who are married in the temple will inhabit the "celestial kingdom," one of three LDS heavens and the highest heaven in the LDS cosmology. A couple not married in the temple will never be allowed to enter the celestial kingdom Therefore, all the best that the Church has to offer will be out of reach for an LDS and non-LDS couple.
A good website to check out, is the MTV overdrive website. An episode you can watch on your computer is found here in an episode of Engaged and Underage: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1552520&vid=135173
It showcases an LDS couple and their non-Mormon and Mormon parents and how they all interact with one another. It's not an easy road.
