How old do Mormons need to be to date?
“Do not date until you are at least 16 years old. Dating before then can lead to immorality, limit the number of other young people you meet, and deprive you of experiences that will help you choose an eternal partner.” For the Strength of Youth, 24. “The Lord has made us attractive one to another for a great purpose.
Rank | State | Age |
---|---|---|
1 2 3 3 5 | Wash, D.C. Massachusetts Connecticut New York Rhode Island | 30.4 30.1 29.7 29.7 29.3 |
U.S. | 28.1 | |
47 48 49 50 51 | Oklahoma Arkansas Idaho Wyoming Utah | 25.8 25.6 25.2 25.0 24.8 |
The Individual Standards for Mormon Dating
Some Mormons may choose not to kiss anyone while in high school and will wait until they are ready to date seriously in consideration of marriage later on. Others, will be completely fine with it, but wouldn't get into any passionate, heavy kissing.
Kissing. Church leaders have stated that outside of marriage "passionate kisses", defined as "more intense and last[ing] longer than a brief kiss", and "prolonged kisses that involve the tongue and excite the passions" are "off limits".
In 2021, the average age of marriage for female participants was 33, while male respondents married at age 35. The average age of marriage in the US therefore falls at 34 years.
Some Girls Can Marry by 12 in Trinidad and Tobago
Muslims can marry at the age of 16 for men and 12 for girls, while Hindus can marry at the ages of 18 and 14.
“The ideal age to get married, with the least likelihood of divorce in the first five years, is 28 to 32,” says Carrie Krawiec, a marriage and family therapist at Birmingham Maple Clinic in Troy, Michigan. “Called the 'Goldilocks theory,' the idea is that people at this age are not too old and not too young.”
LDS women can take the pill, get IUDs, or use any other form of prevention, including getting tubes tied when their intended family is complete. Likewise, LDS men can use condoms and, when their intended family is complete, can get a vasectomy.
Members of The Church of Latter-day Saints are discouraged from dating until they are 16. If the person you are interested in is under 16, they are not likely going to date you. Keep in mind that once a person turns 16, it does not mean they are necessarily going to want to date.
In keeping with the Mormon belief that heaven is full of millions of spirits awaiting an earthly body, birth control and abortion are also forbidden.
What is forbidden in Mormonism?
Alcohol, tobacco, tea, coffee and drugs
These are all specifically banned in the Word of Wisdom, except for drugs. The prophets have made it clear that drugs, other than for medical use, are also banned. Mormons are also strongly discouraged from drinking soft drinks containing caffeine.
Reader Question Box #2: “do mormons consummate their marriage in the temple” September 2, 2011 by Cynthia L. This is temple misinformation edition! Answer: No.

The church did not — and does not — have any rule about clothing at church, but the cultural expectations of dresses and skirts on women have been strong and fairly uniform. The 2012 pants promotion was intended as the first act of All Enlisted, a group dedicated to increasing gender equity in the church.
Actually, 35 is a pretty good age to marry for a man. You're young enough and not too set in your ways. You're most likely established in your career, and financially. You're young enough to have enough energy should you have kids.
"There's no best age to get married. Men or women alike. Unless the person is ready. It can be the early 20s or late 30s.
The age varies from man to man, but there are patterns that are easily identified: Most men who graduate from high school start thinking of marriage as a real possibility when they are 23 or 24. Most men who graduate from college don't start considering marriage as a real possibility until age 26.
Nujood Ali was just an eight-year-old child when her father arranged for her get married.
in Muslim contexts
❖ Setting the minimum age of marriage at 18 is 'un-Islamic' because it goes against the practice of the Prophet Muhammad, who married Aishah when she was six years old, and consummated the marriage when she reached puberty at the age of nine.
Forced and early marriage are most common in impoverished states in Africa, South Asia as well as the former Soviet republics. However, there are still cases of forced and early marriage in more affluent North American and European countries. Forced marriage can be coupled with other forms of slavery.
In short, research seems to indicate that in many cultures, an age gap of 1 to 3 years is considered ideal — but some researchers suggest even a relationship with an age gap of less than 10 years will bring more satisfaction.
How much of an age gap is OK?
"Half-your-age-plus-seven" rule
An often-asserted rule of thumb to determine whether an age difference is socially acceptable holds that a person should never date someone whose age is less than half their own plus seven years.
The truth is, there is no ideal or appropriate age gap in a relationship. Whether it's a 20 year age gap relationship or a 5 year age gap relationship, there will be both challenges and benefits to your situation.
Not anyone can actually marry in the temple, but only men and women who are faithful members of the Church. Marrying a non-member is allowed, however, the marriage ceremony cannot be done in the temple.
There is nothing wrong with kissing before marriage. However, some individuals may decide not to kiss or be intimate in other ways before marriage. That is their personal choice, not a LDS church teaching.
Mormons and sex: Before marriage, it's an absolute no-no, but after exchanging vows, it's an emphatic yes-yes — and not just for making babies. | Oct. 1, 2018, 6:37 a.m. | Updated: 1:17 p.m.