The three Ps

This week something that stood out to me was how the three Ps of dating relate to the three Ps of marriage in The Family: A Proclamation to the World. The three Ps of dating are planned, paid for and paired off. These three things can help you to know if a guy is going to be able to provide and be the kind of husband you want him to be later. The three Ps in the proclamation are provide, preside, and protect. A young man who has learned in dating how to plan will better be able to preside over a family later on. That doesn't mean he makes all the decisions or is in control, but he has learned how to council and make decisions with others according to their needs and likes. The second of the three Ps in dating is paid for. This can show you whether or not he will be able to provide later on. That doesn't mean every date has to be expensive or even cost anything. It does mean though that he is willing to give financially and makes an effort to provide when necessary. The last P is paired off. When a couple is paired off the young man suddenly has to watch over and protect that girl. He doesn't necessarily need to worry about everyone else in the group but he does need to take care of his date. It shows his willingness to commit and watch over. I thought this was so interesting. The church leaders really are preparing us for our futures from a young age. We often just don't see it.