By CHRISTOPHER MOORE
christopher@newsroom.byu.edu
The relationship between marriage and BYU is like peanut butter and jelly, America and the Statue of Liberty or Cougar football and Lavell. You can't talk about one without mentioning the other and to many they carry the same meaning. They are truly one.
'The lawful association of the sexes is ordained of God, not only as the sole means of race perpetuation, but for the development of the higher faculties and nobler traits of human nature, which love-inspired companionship of man and woman alone can insure,' said President Joseph F. Smith.
So in discussing my opinion about the holy bonds of matrimony, allow me to explain my situation. I am not, nor have ever been, married or engaged (yet), but I currently have a serious girlfriend. I haven't taken any classes in marriage and family preparation, but some of my friends have wives and more than one child, so I've received a little real-life education.
This article isn't meant to give advice, just an opinion. I don't pretend to know every situation that you and your loved ones are going through.
I'm not a Religion professor, ldssingles.com subscriber or Dr. Ruth. What you see is what you get -- an almost 23-year-old Broadcast Journalism major looking for a hot meal at a fair price.
'The exalted view of marriage as held by this Church is given expressly in five words found in the 49th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, 'Marriage is ordained of God,'' said President David O. McKay.
BYU is unique from any college campus in the world. A considerable percentage of students are married and should be, given a man/woman ratio that turns this fine university into EFY on growth enhancers.
Marriage is on many people's minds. Do you honestly think it's a fluke that all the social dance classes are full come registration?
Another point to consider is that many students have served missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Since I returned more than a year and a half ago from my mission in Guatemala, I have had many experiences that evolved from the question: 'So, are you dating anyone?'
My next door neighbor told me that I should date (at least) 50 girls before deciding on one. Grammy Moore up the street said I should graduate and be well-established before even THINKING about it.
My friend Clayton encouraged me to marry because the government gives some sort of Pell Grant to married couples.
Talk about motivation.
Others offered helpful advice, saying I should be 'anxiously engaged in a good cause.' They said I should find somebody the first couple of months off my mission before I get bald or something. These are the same people that wanted me to get off the plane, retrieve my luggage and then grab some binoculars, along with a fisherman's net, for the walk through the terminal on the way home.
When people see me on the street and say hello, they grab my left hand and give it a twist, scanning my finger for a ring -- known as the 'RM handshake.'
Friends of the family whom I hardly know now leave phone messages, send pictures of such-and-such and ask how my weekly dating schedule looks. It's laughable.
But from my own dating experience and those of my friends, I feel that I can make a general statement for the whole crew.
We don't fear marriage. We welcome it. It is a privilege and a responsibility. Marriage is probably the best of all things.
To all the girls, there is no reason in the world to play games -- because we got more game.
Men, for the most part, do value honesty and loyalty. Trust is preferred over lust. And I can sing the praises of what Al Green, the Neville Brothers and Bobby Brown have been preaching for years. There is true love, baby.
'Marriage is a joint quest for the good, the beautiful, and the divine,' said President James E. Faust.