Ever since our last general conference (April 2011) I have been thinking about Elder Oaks talk on Saturday afternoon: "Desire." http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/desire?lang=eng
Elder Oaks said many things but this got my attention: "I am sure that some anxiously seeking young men would want me to add that there are some young women whose desires for a worthy marriage and children rank far below their desires for a career or other mortal distinctions. Both men and women need righteous desires that will lead them to eternal life."
I wish I had the guts to ask some of the never married, divorced or single LDS men that I know some of these questions...
- Do you want/desire to be married?
- Do you feel marriage is important?
- Have you ever met someone you thought you could be happy with?
- Do you feel that you have something/nothing to offer a woman?
- Do you feel that you still have tons of time to make this happen?
- How do you feel when the leaders of the church call you on the carpet? Does it make you try harder, feel pounded and 'bad' or do you tune them out?
- What do you think about Brigham Young's statement (I think??) about a man over 25 who is still single is in the grasp of satan?
- Are men (in their 30's and up) still looking for that physically 'perfect' ideal? Have you ever been looking for that or is that an unfair stereotype?
- Do you feel that it is your 'job' or priesthood responsibility to actively seek marriage? Why or why not? Do you feel that you are doing that?
- Do you feel that the woman you're interested in give you a fair chance? Have you ever thought that you're looking at the wrong kind/type of woman?
I've decided to be the first - if you're a single man I want you to know this (and I don't think I'm too different from other women but please feel free to chime in):
I am a smart, confident, devoted to the Gospel LDS woman. I am imperfect physically but judging by the many stares I get on a regular basis I'm as beautiful as I think I am. I have held myself in reserve (and in the interest of realness that has NOT been easy) so that I may share my whole self with you someday (and I am VERY excited for that day.) I am courageous and I am accomplished. To the outside world I have it all but in my heart I know that my true self waits for you. Every decision I make, every path I take, every thought I have is somehow connected to my desire for you and our family. I move forward because I am on this earth to progress. I continue to try to improve myself so that I will someday be able to offer you the most amazing version of myself I possibly can. I do not do these things because I am career driven, or because I view my priorities as more important then what I could do within a family. I progress in the areas of my life that I'm allowed to progress in at this time.
I need you more then I can possibly ever put into words. I need your strength, I need your perspectives, I need your calming influence when my femaleness leads me to irrational, emotional freak outs. I need your priesthood and righteousness to lead me and guide me to greater paths. I need your strong arms to hold me so that I can be weak once in a while (as my current world and lifestyle requires constant strength.) I need you to be you and I need you to not be afraid of all that I am.
I don't need you to be rich. I don't need you to have a fancy education, toys, or material things to offer me. I don't need you to be scared of what you aren't. You are a son of God - you are already more amazing to me then you will ever know and I will do everything in my power to make you feel that. My accomplishments in no way take away from yours and I don't need you to feel badly about who you are or where you've been. The only thing that matters is where we will go together. I need you to be confident and love yourself. I need you to know that I am not "her" (whoever "her" is to you.)
I need you to try. I need you to put away fear and recognize who that comes from (the jerk) and that the purpose of fear is to keep you from being happy. I need you to trust me enough to open the door to possibilities. I know you've been hurt - we've all been hurt- but I need you to get over it and keep trying. I need you to not hold yourself back and I need you to not choose the easy way or the path of least resistance. I need you to know that I will use every gift, every lesson, every single thing at my disposal to help make your dreams come true - I will not take away from you but will add and I need you to do the same for me.
I need you to pay your tithing. I need you to read your scriptures, say your prayers, go to the Temple, attend church and magnify your priesthood. I do not need you to be perfect or on the path to future apostleship. I do not need you to be able to quote entire books of scripture but I do need you to have firm faith and know where to go to find the answers. I need you to love me - all of me - as I will love all of you (wrinkles, puckers, and imperfections.) I need you to just hold my hand sometimes and let me depend on you. I need you to know that you are the head of the household and I believe that starts in dating. I need you to take the lead and let me be the woman. I need you to stop waiting for me to ask you out - it's just not going to happen. You're not going to find me at just the "fun" activities. I'm long past that - if you want me you're going to have to come to church - I'm the beautiful blond with the sexy shoe collection.
I need you to start being (or continue being) the amazing man that you are. I need you to start living your best life (please excuse the Oprah reference but it just sort of fit) and I need you to pursue things that will bring true happiness. I need you to trust our Heavenly Father, our Savior, and the leaders of the church and believe them when they tell you that I will be the greatest decision you've ever made.
There's really no other way to say it - I can be happy without you if I really try but I'll never be complete.
8 comments:
Great post. I truly hope you find what you are looking for and that some great guy out there will find you.
Hey Stella I read your blog and thought that you had some great points. I have some questions about your comments. How about we chat on facebook. Have a great day!
Comedy at its finest. You Mormons are one wacky lot. Did Christ or the Apostle Paul live empty meaningless lives because they never married? Marriage is not the be all and end all of everything
my answer to your questions: yes. What I look for: I have to say the ability to "click" together is most important (next to spirituality). But that doesn't leave out the requirement of being physically attracted to a degree. All are needed and one can't be left out.
Physical attraction is definitely important and I know we've all 'passed' on a date when we just weren't feeling it. I find it interesting though Daniel that that's the point you chose to focus on. I appreciate your thoughts and thank you for sharing but I have to ask...what keeps you from the click? You mentioned in another comment that you're 35 so we're about the same age - at this point (for me anyway) I feel that I have matured enough emotionally to click or find attraction with lots of different types of men that I may have passed on 10 years ago. What kind of traits in a woman do you need to feel the click?
I didn't come on here to participate in argument. If you're sensitive about the physical attraction thing then I'm sorry. I actually didn't focus on it at all. In fact I stated quite up front without making you read inbetween the lines what is important. I just like to be thorough and not give the wrong impression (like physical attraction is not important to me at all). I define "when people click together" as their interaction works and it is easy and fun and not laborious. It comes naturally, and you genuinely prefer being in the company of such people based only on your interaction. I'll tell you what I mean when people don't click: its like you can't connect, often there is silence (the uncomfortable kind) or its like your in an international diplomacy meeting where every word is overead and scrutinized and nobody feels at ease. One of the signs of knowing that you "click" with someone is that you don't know anything about them and yet you're both having a good time. In other words, you're not having to play 20 questions because things are not flowing. I mean there's nothing wrong with getting those essential questions answered but the signs of a really good connection, for myself, is that I'm just having a good time being with her living in the moment in the place where we are and there is never a dry or awkward spell.
Daniel, I used to be a contributor on here until I got married. I can't help but want to respond to your last comment - the one describing "clicking." Having dated for MANY years past 20 I had a lot of experiences with clicking and not clicking. I agree with what you mean about that feeling - when you click with someone. It's a very good feeling. The problem, though, is that I had the sort of personality that clicked with a lot of guys. That didn't mean I was attracted to them in the end, though. It also didn't mean that we had what it took to build a lasting relationship. That clicking often burned out after a few intense months. Or it led to being really great friends. Or it just led to him asking me out again and me feeling the awkwardness of having to say no thank you in a way that wasn't a lie.
When I met my husband our first couple dates had awkward moments because he liked to ask real questions - the kind that required me to figure out ways to say things I felt strongly about but had a hard time giving words to. He wasn't the most socially gifted, but there was a sincerity in his interest to understand me. I couldn't understand it, but I found that very attractive. I wanted to keep talking to him - I wanted to find mutual understanding. I wanted to figure out what we had in common - because it didn't just click - but I knew he was a good man. It was sort of the reverse of those guys I clicked with that would ask for a second date but I knew I couldn't give it to them because I could tell we didn't share the same core values in the same way that would be necessary for building a family. My husband had those, despite our lack of click. What I saw in him, though, was a desire to work through that and continue to build communication and find more ways to click. Over time we got that. It was wonderful. It some ways it's deeper than my good friends I click with so easily. In fact, one of my friends (a guy) told me he married his wife not because he clicked with her instantly like he and I did, but because their relationship took effort and investment and that made each day with her interesting and valuable.
To each his own, in the end, and every couple finds their own path. Maybe yours will require more of a click, maybe others will require more of a physical attraction. It's good to share what works for you, though, because we can all learn from each other. Thanks for being part of the discussion on here.
Just sent an email in response
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