Mormonism and Dating for Mormons - Latter Day Saints Dating, LDS Singles

Being one with your religion and showing true devotion towards it can make dating somewhat of a hassle, as finding a match in a society which considers purity to be totally subjective and sees spirituality as something to be thought about only when one doesn't have other things to do is quite arduous. When your religion is off the mainstream and considered by some to be “cult-like” it can make dating even more frustrating. Well those who think The Church of Latter-day Saints is an oddity likely have no clue what it's all about and the Mormon population is not too small  to make finding a great date all too challenging.

The headquarters of the Church of Latter-day Saints is located in Salt Lake City, Utah. If you'd like to be around people who share your mindset and beliefs then this is a great place to start. Of course it's not realistic for everyone to up and move to a new state but a visit to the place that centers it all could be inspiring, and you will feel very much at home in an environment where you're not the minority1 . Sifting through “weekend” Christians, who probably hear the word “Mormon” and immediately lump it in with the likes of Heaven's Gate type psychopaths can get old fast; you don't have to deal with this type of misinformed individual in Utah, where even those who don't belong to the Church know a bit about it and its members courtesy of their surroundings. Mormonism didn't technically begin in Utah  but ultimately Utah became the central place of identity for members of the Church of Latter-day Saints.  Idaho, Colorado, Texas, Arizona and Florida also have proportinately high Mormon populations.

The Mormon faith is strict when it comes to intimacy while dating. Sexuality is viewed as a God-given gift that is not to be abused or mistreated for the sake of fulfilling unnecessary ephemeral desires. Basically, sex is a very important part of true love but it is not meant to be the driving force behind our actions. Obviously sex before marriage is frowned upon but the Church of Latter Day Saints really frowns on any kind of physical intimacy before marriage. This includes things like petting and groping, cuddling with friction and talking dirty; essentially any act that might sexually arouse your partner is meant to be avoided. Kissing is accepted by most members of the Church, but only when used sparingly and with discretion. Realistically these rules do not mesh with the modern dating world well at all; outside of asexual individuals and other mormons you're going to have a hard time finding anyone who doesn't want to act on their attractions to at least some degree, and that's something that you will have to consider and ultimately make your own decision on.

Dating other Mormons makes for the most ideal situation, but if you're not in one of the Mormon “hot spots” in the country, this is not always much of an option. The Church does not ostracize members who date or marry outside of the Church as such judgment would go squarely against the teachings but when a couple's core values are different then conflicts are bound to arise. As such, faith should be made a focal point of conversations had early on in a relationship with any non-Mormons. While beliefs differ some, the essential way of living for Mormons, people of most other religions, and even non-religious individuals who simply strive to be good, is not too drastically different.

Relationships between Mormons and people outside of the Church can work, so long as both partners get on the same page. Stay strong in your faith and never let infatuation with someone you love take the place of your devotion to God and the way in which you feel your life should be lived. The only time people should ever change their beliefs or spirituality is after assessing themselves; such a change should not come courtesy of what someone else may want or what seems most convenient.

The Church of The Latter-day saints has gradually gained popularity, acceptance and understanding from the general population ever since the end of the“Pioneer Era” and the disavowing of the practice of plural marriage in the late 19th century. Today the Church has gone worldwide and is a leader in humanitarian efforts and political influence, as well as being a strong supporter of family values and morality on the whole. You still might be the butt of a few jokes here and there but in reality anyone willing to do the research would likely find the Mormon faith to be good foothold for righteousness. Dating as a Mormon might not always be easy, but with such a strong tie to spirituality you're bound to find yourself happy.

Sources:

1. American Religious Identification Survey 2008