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I seem to recall that when I was a teen my church leaders encouraged my generation to date (and to date more in groups than one-on-one alone for obvious reasons). Over the past couple of decades or so I've observed many parents lamenting that their teens "never dated" and some of the parents draw a connection between "this generation's behavior" and the fact that their child is past his or her twenties and still unmarried. I remember over-hearing the bishop in a singles ward only a few years ago "grilling" a ward member in the hallway outside the foyer about whether he had asked enough girls out that week, hahaha.) I am happily married (41 years) and when fondly remembering my own youth I include happy and fun memories of dating "alot". (I'm hearing in my mind the lyrics to John Mellencamp's song, Cherry Bomb: "...when I think back about those days all I can do is sit and smile." I like to believe that having met so many wonderful girls helped me to recognize the one I chose to marry when I finally met her. With this little personal background anecdote I'm curious whether any of you have an opinion (whether from personal experience or not) on the benefits (notwithstanding the risks and challenges that have always beset young people in their teens and single adults) or whether it even matters at all about dating "alot or a little".