We are encouraged to find worthy mates within the church. As LDS, we have specific ordinances related to marriage and family -- being "sealed" to each other in the temple for time and all eternity -- which cannot happen with someone who is not a member of the church. Without that sealing ordinance, we are married "for time only," which means only for this lifetime -- until death do us part -- and not in the hereafter. In addition, once we are sealed as husband and wife, our children born to us afterward are then automatically sealed to us as an eternal family unit. Again, without the sealing ordinance, our children are not sealed to us.
Now, as "older" single adult females within the church, we find that there are fewer active, worthy single adult males within the church. So finding a relationship outside of the church seems to be the only way to actually have a relationship. We sometimes discuss converting someone to the church in order to follow our leaders' teachings, but that often fails if the one converting is not sincere. It's a difficult situation.
I've heard the leaders of our church discuss this (marrying within the church) many times, but didn't realize there was a scripture about it! Thank you for sharing that.
Edited: FarSeer on 25th Nov, 2005 - 4:49pm
A yoke is a shaped wooden crosspiece bound to the necks of a pair of oxen, occasionally horses. It is held on the animal's neck by a usually U-shaped oxbow that also transmits force from the animal's shoulders. A swivel beneath the centre of the yoke, between the animals, attaches the pole of the vehicle (when the animals steer the vehicle) or chains that are used to drag the load.
Ref. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoke