Whenever I get a chance I like to attend institute and religion classes. If you’re aged 18-30 you can get a list of institute classes where you live from LDS.org. If you date online like I do, this is a safe first date. Meet at the class. Sometimes there are free activities after. Research shows that when your dating centers on building a spiritual foundation you have a higher likelihood of being stronger and happier if you get married. So why not start dating off right.

If you’re over 30, then BYU offers adult religion classes all over the country. Some are just for singles, others don’t specify. The cost is usually under $20 for 4 months of classes. I took an excellent class on the atonement that was at MountainView’s seminary building but I no longer see it listed. Here’s another class specifically for LDS singles in American Fork, Utah.

If you’re divorced and live close to Orem, Utah, sign up for Cheryl Merrell’s Gospel Perspectives on LDS Single- Parent Issues. This class is so valuable I wish they made videos of it or taught it around the entire church. The next series starts in the Fall at the Orem Utah Northridge Stake Center - 1674 North 200 West.  Contact: Karen Spangler - 801-422-8782.

The single parenting class covers fitting into your ward family, dating, blending families, and other issues. The teacher has been divorced and widowed so she has been a single parent twice for different reasons. I always felt the strongest spirit in those classes and looked forward to them every week. Not only did I learn so much but I also felt I wasn’t alone at a difficult time. Single parents in all circumstances and of many different ages attend.

It’s been some time since he wrote, but my friend Paul is getting married. Paul is a close and dear friend who I’ve confided in about relationships and life for the past several years. I’ve seen God’s hand work in his life and now in this path towards marriage. Honestly, I don’t think Paul ever wanted for dates. The women he dated were gold, yet it never seemed he could find the right person for him.

Paul turned 30 this year. He got over a past relationship that he had held onto for a long time. It helped that his former girlfriend got married but I remember wondering if he’d ever be able to let go completely. One irony about this journey is how Paul preferred to date women older than he is. However, in the end he’s going to marry Lindsey - and she’s much younger (she’s 19). I know what you’re probably thinking. I would usually agree but I’ve had a front row seat in this and I think they will create a happy marriage.

The part I love about this story so far involves a blog.  Paul and I were running a business together and it took some hits and our income dropped. His relationship with Lindsey was going well and it looked like he would need to buy a ring soon. Last year I finally convinced Paul to blog. He worked hard at it and built it up. Recently someone he knew offered to buy it from him and they worked out a deal. That’s how Paul got the money he needed for his ring. Isn’t that romantic?

They met when Paul couldn’t find a ward he was going to so he visited a single’s ward on a whim. It was testimony meeting and he as he loves to do, he bore his testimony. Lindsey was spotlighted in the program that day. He showed me the next day and we laughed about it (because it was so strange to see a single’s ad on a sacrament meeting program). She came up to talk to him after the meeting. He found out she was on Facebook. When he saw her profile he realized she was probably much younger than he thought. Eventually, he decided to ask her out anyway…

Paul has since gotten a job, bought the ring, and proposed. Their marriage is the end of May. I adore both of them. It’s affirming to see how this has unfolded. So, best of wishes and congratulations to my two friends!

This story is sad because it shows how we can at times undervalue other’s faith or religious practices. Why? Immaturity? Strong belief in our own faith that leaves little room for other’s faith? Whatever the reason, this story about three LDS missionaries in Colorado who vandalized and made light of Catholics makes me cringe.

According to the story the missionaries posted pictures of themselves on Photobucket, incriminating themselves a few years later, after someone discovered them.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been in the MTC to remember how much we talked about showing respect for other’s beliefs. Even I remember poking fun of the half-buried bathtubs painted blue with virgin Mary statues in them. I have a picture of me and my companion kneeling by one with our hands in a prayer pose. This is mild compared to this story but I think it was unChristian and unthoughtful of us nonetheless.

When you’re an official representative you can do a lot of harm to the church by your example. I’ve since read that the missionaries didn’t really harm any of the shrines. However, the news was everywhere.

Last night I had dinner with a couple who are devote Catholics and they spend most of their retirement serving in the church and learning about the gospel. I was inspired by their devotion.

Sometimes I think missions keep a lot of young men from getting in a lot more trouble. They are sacrificing their life. It’s asking quite an unselfish act at a very self-centered time of life. Still, this is a story I hate reading and wish it was one of good report.

Today in Sunday school the teacher asked if anyone in the class knew what a blog is or is someone who blogs. I raised my hand. Then he asked me why and I said, mostly to remember what I learn and make it searchable. This blog was started to encourage myself to make time and energy for being outgoing and getting to know other singles. Also, to cheer myself and you on in not giving up faith and hope as we live the gospel and avoid entitlement, bitterness, and the other emotions I sometimes find in our ranks.

I read recently that 71 percent of Latter-day Saints aged 18 and up are married. Plus we tend to marry within our faith - 83 percent of members who are married, marry within the church. So if you’re single in this church, you’re in the minority. So we need to stick together.

The teacher then talked about Nephi recording double the information in 2 Nephi 25 as is in Isaiah, which the chapter covers. Obviously blogging is a lot easier than etching words into metal. However, remembering was part of it to. He didn’t want us to forget God. We promise not to every week. But we still do. And reading scriptures is a reminder.

One thing I’ve noticed about blogging - sometimes my posts are higher quality than other posts. Contrast that with Nephi’s writing that took more time and effort which means he would only write the most important things, ideas with the most worth (didn’t he tell us that he was only writing what would benefit us?).

Anyway, it’s not every day I hear about blogging in a lesson at church. Not only did it inspire this post, but it has me thinking what would Nephi write if he blogged?

If you ever go out on a first date with someone who’s been divorced, I have some advice for you. It’s not polite to ask why they got divorced. If they bring it up, feel free to ask questions but let them lead. Sometimes there are nice easy answers why someone was divorced (like he repeatedly cheated). Other times there aren’t.

I find that men who’ve never been married ask this question faster than people who’ve been divorced. I can usually see it coming. Inevitably, it leads to me feeling uncomfortable and judged.  So I learned after a few times to avoid going into such a personal subject before I actually know a person. So I normally say something like “that’s usually a question I answer after I get to know someone better.”

People who have been married usually have a much better feel for when to bring up this question. For me it most often comes up over time. When you’re first divorced it usually comes up fast - because you want to compare war stories. But after a while it seems like a topic you’d rather not talk about very often.

There. Now you know and I feel like Ms. Manners.