Do most Mormon young people do courtship or date?

[chitchat]

With courtship parents are often involved and know the person their son or daughter is getting to know. Typically the young people only court people they would actually consider marrying.

What practice is the norm in most Mormon churches? Courtship or dating?

[Dravin]

Both? They date until things get serious and then they court? At least in my 2nd hand experience. Or is the distinction between the two only evident in the later stages? In which case courtship.

Edited January 17, 2010 by Dravin

[beefche]

Where are you coming with your definition of courtship? I've never heard that courtship includes the parents.

[Dravin]

Where are you coming with your definition of courtship? I've never heard that courtship includes the parents.

Honestly I haven't either, its usually been a generational difference. Otherwise I'd think of them as interchangeable. I just rolled with it.

[chitchat]

Josh Harris, author of I Kissed Dating Goodbye. There are several other books.

Here's some info at this site:

ATI | Family Support Link - How is courtship different than dating?

[beefche]

I can't imagine having my parents involved in my courtships. My mom would be crying, so excited to just see me on a date. My dad would be frowning wondering what this man was doing with his baby girl. Not a good scenario.

[beefche]

Josh Harris, author of I Kissed Dating Goodbye. There are several other books.

Here's some info at this site:

ATI | Family Support Link - How is courtship different than dating?

That seems to be his definition. Here is the dictionary definition: Courtship Definition | Definition of Courtship at Dictionary.com

[Dravin]

I can't imagine having my parents involved in my courtships. My mom would be crying, so excited to just see me on a date. My dad would be frowning wondering what this man was doing with his baby girl. Not a good scenario.

Ah, see. I was thinking having them meet the parents when things get serious, not showcase her at home on the first date.

[annamaureen]

In my experience, LDS dating is not the same as "courtship" as it's practiced in some fundamentalist Christian denominations.

[gabelpa]

As a Father, I don't know if I want to be involved in a manner as suggested by chitchat. I'd like my kids to talk to me about who they are dating, but I realise that is an idealistic view, and a sensitive subject for kids.

All I do know is that if my daughter's boyfriend sits outside in the car and honks his horn for her to come out, he's going on a date with ME instead.

[Bini]

My parents failed miserably in trying to have any say at all during my dating as a single. It didn't take long for them to back off and let me make my own choices. Many of which, I might add, were train wrecks..

Anyway, not sure about "Mormon culture" when it comes to dating and courtship. To me, the general idea of "dating", is casual. Courtship is more long-term and committed. That's how I've always associated with the two terms. Oh and in the Philippines, we more commonly used the word "courting" as opposed to "dating". But then again, family units are very important there culturally, and the family is usually involved in some form when it comes to relationships.

[Maureen]

Ah, see. I was thinking having them meet the parents when things get serious, not showcase her at home on the first date.

I have two LDS family members who barely dated their future spouses and never introduced these dates to any family member before becoming engaged. I've always found this strange. I could not imagine not meeting my daughter's boyfriend. They are not engaged but they have a serious relationship.

M.

[kileyizzle]

I took an Eternal Marrige Class! Oh yeah.

Still Single.

Basically. Dating, yup.

There is a real stigma about it though, i've noticed.

Members prefer to date members.