Today I am happy to talk with all of you about a trending topic within the LDS community, Last week we talked about dating and this week we are going to talk about engagement. Sounds exciting doesn’t it? I guess it depends on who you ask. I know personally I am excited for the day I get engaged and for the day I will marry my eternal companion, however I am still looking for her.
I want you to take a minute to think about engagements today and how they are done. Would you say people put a lot of thought into how they propose to their significant other? Or do you believe the proposal has been influenced by the content someone wants to post on their social media accounts? The reasoning for this is because I want to challenge all of you to take a deeper look at modern day proposals. Has today’s society lost the meaning and purpose behind the proposal?
I recently helped a friend propose to his now fiancé. When planning this special day he informed me how he wanted all of these people to be present for the proposal. At first we were going through all of the details and trying to make it work for everyone. However, there came a point when he had to take a step back and realize the real purpose behind this special event. I encouraged him to stop thinking about what everyone else wants or what their ideas were. I reminded him how this was going to be his special day between him and his future wife. Once all of the extra pieces were taken out of the scenario everything started to piece together. In the end he was able to have a proposal which was intimate and personal to them without the need for the flashy Instagram post or pleasing of everyone involved.
I share this story because of the importance behind it. I am personally an old soul and I believe in doing things the old fashioned way. I believe the old way of doing things to be much more meaningful and passionate. When the day comes for me to propose to my future wife I want it to be special and unique for us. There was a time when I thought I wanted a big proposal and I was consumed by social media. However, what is the real purpose behind everything? Am I proposing to my future wife because I want everyone else to approve or because I want her to approve?
The purpose behind a proposal and a man getting down on one knee is important to take into consideration. The meaning behind this simple action is imperative. I say this because it symbolizing many important gestures for the rest of your life. When a man gets down on one knee he is humbling himself before his future bride. The old fashion way of doing things may have developed a bias but I believe it shows how an individual will worship and put their significant other above them in all things. The things which are shared and the moment which is created between two souls is a beautiful experience.
I believe in it is necessary to get the blessing of your significant others family. After all, how the two families blend will be crucial to the success of the marriage. I often hear nowadays that men are proposing long before they meet their future families. This causes contention and I perceive it to be disrespectful to the significant others family. A fathers blessing to take their daughter in marriage is old school but is sacred. It creates a bond between the husband and father. It connects them with the most important part of what marriage and proposals are centered around, the bride to be.
Now I want to take a second to ask you, when the day comes for you to get engaged, do you want a grand gesture which pleases the population or do you want a moment which is beautiful and special to you? Do you want a man to get your fathers blessing and get down on one knee or do you want them to do things untraditionally? I know our culture is different than most but I believe in the importance of family and eternity. When making these decisions it should not be made without the council of our Heavenly Father. With His help we may be able to make the appropriate decisions which will ultimately lead us into eternity with the combining of two families.
