Dating Within the Church

Dating in college ought to be means for the eventual end of marriage. That means only dating people whom you could eventually marry. I know it sounds kind of harsh, but here's a scenario. Let's say I meet this really great Catholic guy at college, and we decide to go on a date. That was fun, so we go on another, and another. Pretty soon, we're a couple seeing each other exclusively. I should be smart and just end it there, but let's say I don't and we end up falling in love. Well, that's okay, right? You can be in love and not get married. Well, okay, what if he proposes? I should say no, but let's say I say yes. Well, that's all right - if he's been dating me for two years and still loves me, we've probably worked out our major religious differences and can live with each other. Here's major problem #1: We're not sealed in the temple. We're going to be separated at death - it really will be "death do us part" - and neither of us can attain the highest degree of exaltation unless our descendents seal us after we're dead. Secondly, how do Sundays work? Would he be willing to skip Mass and come to sacrament with me every week or every other week? Would I be willing to skip sacrament meeting every other week to go to Mass? Would we be fortunate enough to live in an area where his church and mine don't have conflicting schedules, so we can go to both?
    Okay, now let's say we resolved the second major problem and I've settled for the fact that we'll be separated at death. Let's say we have a couple of children. The children will not be sealed to me either. There's also the major problem of what religion to raise them in. You can't really do a little of one and a little of the other - you either believe the Book of Mormon or you don't. The decision would put a whole lot of strain on the marriage. Quite frankly, after going through all this grief with my parents now, I don't really care to have it happen again with my future husband.
    Here's another major problem about marrying outside the Church. If I was a guy marrying a non-member woman, it'd be different but if I, as a woman, married a non-member, then I'd be denying my family to the privilege of the priesthood. How sad is that? My children could not receive priesthood blessings, and my sons could not look to their father as an example of a worthy priesthood holder. My husband could not baptize our children or help in the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. Another thingis that if I was not sealed to my husband in the temple, I would not be able to perform certain ordinances for my ancestors. I be baptized, confirmed, and endowed for them, but I couldn't do a sealing for them. I'd have to find someone else who could do it for me.
    See all the major long-term repercussions? Now, let's go back a few steps and say that I turn down marriage. Well, that was smart, but I am still hurt by dating a non-member. All that time I spent dating Mr. Gentile, I could have spent looking for one whom I ought to marry. Mr. Mormon could have wanted to date me, but couldn't because I was dating that other guy. He could have just given up, and then I'd be out of luck. Now, it's true that you can convert some people while you're dating (just look at me for an example) or even married, but do I really want to stake all that was listed above on the off-chance that he'll give in?
    Sure, it's easier to date non-members - they outnumber the Saints about 51.4 to 1. It's easy to settle for a nonmember husband with out trying to convert him. But the easy way is seldom the right way. It's easier to settle for B's and C's and not live up to my full potential. It's easier to let the scripture study slide and not do it when I'm really tired. It's easier to sleep an extra hour in the morning and not go to Seminary. It's easier to quit fighting with my parents and give up everything that I believe. It's easier to live as natural man than to live by God's commandments. All of these may be easier, but none of them are right.