"Dating should not be premature or without supervision. You should appreciate your parents if they see to that.
"Young people sometimes get the mistaken notion that spirituality and the religious attitude interfere with youthful growth. They assume that the requirements of the Church are interferences and aggravations that thwart the full expression of young manhood and young womanhood.
"How foolish is the youth who feels that the Church is a fence around love to keep him out. Oh, youth, if you could know! The requirements of the Church are the highway to love and to happiness, with guardrails securely in place, with guideposts plainly marked, and with help along the way.
"How unfortunate to resent counsel and restraint. How fortunate are you who follow the standards of the Church, even if just from sheer obedience or habit. You will find a rapture and a joy fulfilled."
-- "You're in the Driver's Seat," New Era, June 2004, 8.
I spent all my teenage years in the Church and even though more than once I thought the Church was "overdoing it" concerning the constant talk about morality and staying clean, I realized that this is a real big issue. I am so glad now that I am a married woman to know I grow up hearing a constant talk about youth dating and what is right and what is wrong. Sometimes as parents we think our children do not take us on regards to this issue but they do even if they do not show it!, they listen!. I feel very fortunate to experience these things, otherwise, I do not know if I would be here today.
Dating has changed so much over the years. In my day there were a lot of tests that needed to be 'passed' to have a good date including both parents talking with each other about it. Now a date can be as fast as an app between two mobile phones without anyone knowing.