Looks, charm and celestial glory

For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly (in a riddle), but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.

1) We believe that individuals that, through no fault of their own, do not have the opportunity to obtain certain ordinances in this life will have that opportunity provided for them in the next. This applies to single women, this applies to children that die, this also must apply in situations like the one you describe.

2) Our church doctrine/theology and structure does not do a great job of reaching and ennobling singles. Our best effort seems to come down to their singleness being removed in the next life.

Which ultimately comes across to far too many as “the best thing you can do for your situation is die.”

DJ, I have heard of that conclusion specifically in cases of homosexual members who are told, essentially, that they are an abomination currently (and an enemy) and will be “fixed” in the next life. (and I recognize the cruel irony of that wording)

I haven’t heard it in other situations, like people who are heterosexual but never marry.

Fwiw, that conclusion (the next life is much better than this one) has motivated murder-suicide by people who suffer from clinical depression, particularly mothers suffering from post-partum depression. It’s one of the reasons I dislike that framing.

Which ultimately comes across to far too many as “the best thing you can do for your situation is die.”

Huh? Really, NightSG, I have never heard such an expression by anyone.

http://www.keepapitchinin.org/2011/06/19/being-a-50-something-single-in-the-church/

Today’s Relief Society/Priesthood Meeting is on eternal families. Someone is sure to state, or to read a quotation from some general conference talk, about how no blessing of which we are worthy but which we are denied in this life will be withheld from us in the eternities. This statement will come up in the context of singles, although it is relevant to married people as well.

I believe this principle. I have hope in the religious sense that it is true. I know it is offered for comfort and inspiration.

I hate it.

What I hear when the statement comes from a general authority is, “We have nothing for you – you’ll be better off dead.”

What I hear when the statement comes from a ward member is, “I don’t know what’s wrong with you singles and I don’t really care. This is my nod to your existence. I don’t have to say anything that is relevant to your life – having made this obligatory nod, I can ignore you and go on with talking about how wonderful marriage is.”

It’s been quoted and paraphrased in plenty of other singles’ blogs and articles, to the point that I had no clue who actually originated the comment I’d seen quoted plenty of times until I started digging to give it the proper attribution.

Take the time to read the comments, and it’s pretty clear that a lot of people feel the same way.