Dating the Pre-Mi

Dear Bro,

I read your column and facebook page frequently, and I know that you disapprove of relationships with missionaries. Now that my friends and I are at the age where so many of our male friends are leaving for the mission field, we've been talking about this a lot. I want to know your opinion: which part of a relationship is more harmful to a mission, the physical or emotional? In other words, is it worse to kiss the soon-to-be-missionary or to tell him "I love you"?

Thanks :)

-At That Age



Dear That,

Well . . . I guess that depends on who's doing the kissing or telling . . . it's entirely possible that either could make the Young Man that much more eager to leave . . .

- Bro Jo


OK, ok . . . On a slightly more serious tone . . .

Your question sounds like one of those "how far can I go before I have to talk to my Bishop" questions.

And timing has a lot to do with this stuff, too.

I'd say that from the time a guy starts filling out his paper work until he's been home from the mission a couple days it's not in anyone's best interest for you to do either. Unless of course you're his mother . . .

Besides, once you girls are adults, it's time to focus on the boys who've come home instead of the ones that are leaving.

- Bro Jo