A date isn’t just a date because like all decisions, it also has eternal consequences.
If there was a new set of commandments given for single adults, “Go on a date” would be the first one! May kakilala ako sabi nya, sa dinami dami ng naghahanap ng kadate, bakit kaya hindi sila magkita kita? Made sense diba? So now, what’s with dating? How can going on a date be one way of following Him?
Balik tayo sa purpose, “We are here on earth in a type of adventure. We left our Heavenly Father to obtain bodies, to be tested, to make covenants or promises with God, to gain knowledge and experience, and to hopefully return to live with Him. But we do not always remember these purposes. Many who do not have the gospel have forgotten these purposes because of the veil. We often get weighed down by the daily monotony of school, church, family, and work and forget about our aspirations—aspirations that our Heavenly Father wants us to have. We often even get distracted and waylaid by ‘good’ things.” Emphasizing the importance of making covenants, the highest covenant we can achieve here on earth is being married in the temple. And the prerequisite to marriage is active dating. Hindi naman ibig sabihin ng ‘dating’ ay you will date every sister in the ward. Going on active dates requires critical planning and often communication with God. Since dating can lead to marriage, this is something we should really pray for and think of. Finding an eternal companion is not an easy thing to do. It requires a lot of patience and faith to endure the quest. Mahirap, nakakainip sabi nga nila pero ang tanong, may ginagawa ka ba?
President Thomas S. Monson, a latter-day prophet leader, said: “Eternal life in the kingdom of our Father is [our] goal. Such a goal is not achieved in one glorious attempt but rather is the result of a lifetime of righteousness, an accumulation of wise choices, even a constancy of purpose.” Sabi nila “happiness is a choice” as is dating. In dating you don’t just choose, you choose and and you commit to your purpose and goal. You are not just hanging out to enjoy the moment, you are doing your part to be back with Him someday.
“Building a strong premarital friendship requires spending sufficient time with each other and finding opportunities for interaction. I know of couples who spent almost their entire engagement separated because of work or school. Similarly, some couples count a partner’s years on a mission as courtship time. Although time apart can provide valuable perspective, long-distance romances can’t replace face-to-face interaction even if a couple spends a fortune on postage. Relationships and individuals change too quickly and too subtly to be monitored and influenced from afar.” Minsan parang O.A. na, going on a date is the only way to find true potential to bring to the temple, pero that’s really a major part in fulfilling the commandment of God – marriage.
