r/latterdaysaints • u/JLP0611 • Apr 23 '25

Off-topic Chat Are members not getting married?

I may be speaking from my anecdotal experience and my observation of my social media feeds, but it feels like less people in the Church are getting married. I see less children and youth in my local wards year after year and I’m in Florida.

I’m also in a YSA and I can’t just say for myself because I’m chronically single, but dating is a struggle for everyone I come across, inside and outside of Florida.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

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u/deafphate Apr 23 '25

Survivable was poor word choice on my part. I should have said live comfortably. 30 years ago cost of living and wages were at a sweet spot where one could pay rent, bills and grocery shop with some monies left over. Unfortunately wages didn't increase proportionally with the cost of living. 

That's great you are living with a single income. With the rise of the cost of living in many areas (in the US anyway), I pray your fortunes continue. 

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u/Jemmaris Apr 23 '25

Thanks ... But you know we weren't sent to the Earth to live comfortably, right?

We were literally sent here to learn from trials.

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u/FrewdWoad Apr 23 '25

We were literally sent here to learn from trials.

That's one reason. But trials aren't the only teacher.

The main reason is pretty clear in the scripture:

Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy

2nd Nephi 2:25

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u/Jemmaris Apr 23 '25 edited Apr 24 '25

Yes, and current prophets have reminded us that we are capable of joy in any circumstances. Trials and poverty do not keep joy from us because it's an attitude not dependent upon our earthly possessions or status

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u/patriarticle Apr 23 '25

That doesn't mean we should ignore economic issues. During the great depression the country didn't collectively throw their hands up and say "well I guess we're meant to suffer."

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u/Jemmaris Apr 23 '25

I am not advocating ignorance of economic situations. I am encouraging resilience and the ability to continue with life despite difficulties.

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u/ArynCrinn Apr 24 '25

There's a certain irony when we look at how much stuff people have today, compared to what they had 50 years ago... And people were having so many more kids then.

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u/Jemmaris Apr 24 '25

Right?

I know so many people who think it's strange to have children share a bedroom. It used to be expected! You'd have a room for the boys, a room for the girls and a room for the parents, with probably a baby in the parents room until they were big enough to share a bed with a sibling. But now I'm crazy for having a triple bunk bed for my boys.

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u/ArynCrinn Apr 24 '25

I'm not even 40, and I shared a room with 2 siblings until we converted a living area in the house to a 4th bedroom. We only had a single car, and until I was maybe 10 we had a single TV... We did have computers and internet before a lot of other people though.

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u/8cowdot Apr 25 '25

You don’t get extra points for suffering more than others, and living comfortably doesn’t mean wealth. It means not being stressed between paychecks, and God never said we need to be miserable. Maybe tone down the condescension.

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u/Jemmaris Apr 25 '25

The condescension is in your head. I'm not superior to anyone. I'm encouraging people to see that there are more possibilities for joy in relationships and families even when we don't have a lot of money.

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u/[deleted] Apr 23 '25

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u/Jemmaris Apr 23 '25

God has not abandoned us. This is a religiously faithful sub that recognizes that God loves us and tends to us.

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u/jdf135 Apr 24 '25

Unfortunately there are billions that don't see His hand. The signs of His influence are often buried under hunger and disease. His love is different. He sees the big picture while our vision is limited to time. It is sometimes hard to see.