Family Home Evening: Dating

by Miriam Caldwell | More from this Blogger

11 Jul 2006 09:17 PM

This is an extra family home evening lesson for this week. It is on the sections "Dating" and "Sexual Purity" from the "For the Strength of Youth" pamphlet. This lesson is one that you may choose not to use for your family. Your children may be too young to address these topics in great depth. The section "Sexual Purity" might be more appropriate if you discuss it with your children on a one on one basis. Use your discretion as you plan this lesson. Follow the prompting of the spirit and you will be able to know what is best for your family.

You should open the lesson by reading the opening quote by President Hinckley under the "Dating" section. You should read the section on dating as a family. You will want to discuss the standards that are set forth in this section. This is a great time to talk candidly with your children about your expectations of their behavior when they are dating. A great resource is this idea list "The Do's of Dating." You may want to talk about the importance of waiting to date seriously until they are older. If your children have issues about waiting to date until they are sixteen you may want to read this question and answer section on why the church leaders ask us to wait until we are sixteen. This question and answer section discusses having a "boyfriend" or a "girlfriend" before you are sixteen. A great talk that will supplement this lesson is "You Are in the Driver's Seat" By Boyd K. Packer. You may want to discuss the importance of marrying in the temple, and that in order to do this your children will need to date members who are able to take them to the temple. You may want to read 2 Corinthians 6:14. You may want to highlight certain sections from "Sexual Purity" with your children.

You can choose any hymns to accompany this lesson. Remember to be general in your discussion. If you have one child whose behavior is concerning to you, you don't want to have him feel ganged up on in the lesson. You will want to address your concerns in private. Remember to have refreshments and to have fun as a family.

Learn more about Miriam Caldwell

Miriam is a SAHM mom of three children. She has a daughter who is seven, and two sons, four and two. She loves being a parent and spending time with her children.

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