hello! i have never posted here but like to read the forums, so its about time i introduce myself! im kristen, and i have quite the dilemma...
i was born into an lds family that was active on and off throughout my life. we all stopped going to church when i was about 15. (i still considered myself lds but just wasnt active). i started dating someone(nonmember) at 16 and now at 21 we are engaged, have a home together and have a beautiful baby girl. i was fine with this until a few months ago when i felt very strongly that i needed to go back to church. my fiance was curious about it so he agreed to meet with the missionaries and take the discussions. we enjoyed them very much and my testimony just grew stronger and stronger, i stopped working on sundays and have started going back to church and am so happy with my decision! but he has decided he is not interested at this time.(i think its just a matter of time though) i regret being inactive for so long and for not living by the standards that i knew were right. i LOVE my daughter and my life with my fiance, but i know that im living in sin. we are not married, although we live as a married couple would. to him, marriage is not much more than a piece of paper. i now see that it is vital for us to make it official. only problem is, we cannot afford a wedding now (at least the wedding we have planned) and he is afraid of the whole credit situation. he has excellent credit, but mine is....eh, not so good, lets leave it at that. (i was 18 and thought i had plastic money! trust me, i learned my lesson.) i have researched it and apparently it wont be a problem unless we apply for a loan jointly, which we wont need to to, as we already have a house. but he is not convinced.
ok so long story short, if we were to be married by the bishop, but not use marriage licenses or any thing legal like that, just do the religious ceremony, would that be valid in the eyes of the church? in the eyes of God?
im just grasping at straws trying to come up with a solution that is good for both of us. i just dont feel comfortable living with/sleeping with him and not being his wife for too much longer, but i know where he is coming from too...im so confused. any thoughts???
thanks in advance for any answers/thoughts/ideas/comments.... im just trying to do the right thing while still protecting my relationship.
