Through the classic tale of Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll, I was once taught a powerful lesson. There comes a part in the story where Alice stood at a crossroads not knowing which path she should take. Sitting at the crossroads was the Cheshire Cat. Alice asks the cat which way she should go. The cat wisely responded that it would depend on where she wanted to go. Alice replied that she did not much care, as long as she got somewhere. To that comment, the cat answered, “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.”

Mormon DatingIf I don’t have a destination in mind, then it matters not, which road I take. Now, let’s apply this principle to marriage. If I don’t care what sort of man I marry, then it matters not whom I date. If that is true, then it is also true that if I do care about the sort of man I marry, it definitely matters, whom I date. Now, I don’t know about you, but it matters very much what sort of man I marry. (It also matters to me where I marry, but that is the subject of another post.)

In the February 1999 Ensign there is a powerful article written by President Gordon B. Hinckley entitled, “Life’s Obligations.” In this article, he addressed the topic of choosing the right companion. He said,

“Choose a companion you can always honor, you can always respect, one who will complement you in your own life, one to whom you can give your entire heart, your entire love, your entire allegiance, your entire loyalty.”

It has also been suggested by Elder Richard G. Scott that there are several attributes of a potential spouse which will contribute to happiness in marriage:

“a deep love of the Lord and of His commandments, a determination to live them, one that is kindly understanding, forgiving of others, and willing to give of self, with the desire to have a family crowned with beautiful children and a commitment to teach them the principles of truth in the home.” Receive the Temple Blessings, Ensign, May 1999

I have had, on more then one occasion, single friends comment that this sort of man or woman, just mentioned by President Hinckley and Elder Scott, no longer exists. I know that to be untrue. I have been blessed in my life with many wonderful examples of just such men and women. Maybe this is because I am always on the look out for them, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that they are there. I am sure that if you look, you too will find many such examples all around you. Let us not give up, but continue seeking for (and seeking to be) that companion spoken of by President Hinckley and Elder Scott.

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