REL 200 - The Eternal Family

Dating and Courtship
Reading Assignments for the course
REL 200 - The Eternal Family
Prof.  Marcus H. Martins, Ph.D.

Readings:

"All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Gach is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny.

"Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose."

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

Elder Robert D. Hales - Meeting the Challenges of Today’s World
Elder Dallin H. Oaks - The Dedication of a Lifetime  (PDF version - pages 4 thru 7)  HMTL version - (Church News)
Elder Bruce C. Hafen - The Gospel and Romantic Love
Dr. Gawain Wells - Breaking Up Without Going to Pieces

The Eternal Relevance of Romance
by Dr. Marcus H. Martins (circa Winter 2004)
"In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;
And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood
[meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage];
And if he does not, he cannot obtain it. He may enter into the other,
but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase." (Doctrine and Covenants 131:1-4)

As we ponder on this inspired teaching from the Prophet Joseph Smith, we reach the corollary (i.e. a thought that naturally follows another) that in order to obtain the fullness of the blessings, privileges, honors, and glories afforded by the highest order of the divine priesthood, one must first find and fall in love with a "special" person who has mutual feelings.
Questions for Review

1) What wise insights did Elder Bruce Hafen offer to college students who sometimes may feel socially unsuccessful? (Elder Bruce Hafen - The Gospel and Romantic Love)

2)  According to Elder Dallin H. Oaks, what is the test of three p’s a "date" must pass? (Elder Dallin H. Oaks - The Dedication of a Lifetime)

3)  What was Elder Oaks' counsel to male returned missionaries who are still following the dating patterns from young adolescence? (Elder Dallin H. Oaks - The Dedication of a Lifetime)

4)  According to Elder Oaks, what can single sisters do while marriage prospects do not materialize? (Elder Dallin H. Oaks - The Dedication of a Lifetime)

5)  According to Elder Oaks, what are the social benefits of the "old-fashioned" date that cannot be achieved merely by "hanging out"? (Elder Dallin H. Oaks - The Dedication of a Lifetime)

Be prepared to present your understanding about this topic to your classmates, and see if you have additional questions to ask me.  I'll be glad to answer them.
This web page was published only as a support for classroom discussion.
For more information, contact Dr. Marcus Martins at: martinsm@byuh.edu