CHURCH NEWS: YSA Age Change

[@UVJ_Scott]

A friend of mine didn’t get married till in his late late 30’s. While he was single, I asked him how attending Single Adult activities was going. His response cracked me up, “There’s a lot of people wanting to get married really bad… but not to each other”. I like the change the Church is making.

[@chrissybutterfield6670]

This is great news because I know so many single adults feel like they are out of the dating game as soon as they hit 30. They feel too old to date anyone still in the singles ward, but in a different stage of life than say a 45 year old widow or divorcee with children.

[@terrydunderwood249]

Inspired Change! Thanks for explaining the changes clearly and concisely!

[@davidnovakovich5583]

For those who are complaining that this isn’t enough, or nor dialed in just right, or whatever, I’m sorry for your personal circumstances, but the church can’t provide social programs for everyone, everywhere, in every circumstance, to meet everyone’s particular needs. The church’s main purpose is to administer the gospel, but it does so much in so many other, although definitely gospel oriented, areas that it’s absolutely breathtaking. But it’s not the church’s responsibility to find a spouse for you. And you’re not limited in looking for a spouse to your home ward, branch or stake. It may not be easy, and is often extremely difficult and frustrating, and emotionally draining. And there are other options for meeting people. We didn’t have a YSA ward or branch when I was that age, although we had organized activities. And I was grateful when they changed the age limit from 26 to 30 for YSA’s, because I didn’t want to be part of the “Special Interest” group, as the older group was called then (which monicker was dropped with the age change). This seems like a good change, even if it isn’t a 2 sizes fits all solution.

[@jamiestod13]

I needed this back in my ysa days. I finished grad school pretty young, so by the time I hit 25, I had already been a licensed working professional for years and owned my own home where I lived alone. Was always so awkward mostly being with guys who had just finished high school or fresh off their missions. Completely different places in life. It also didn't help that I've always looked extremely young, so the older singles assumed I was too young, and the guys way too young for me were the only ones asking. I still remember some poor kid trying to get my number who had literally graduated high school the week before, and at that time I was probably 26ish. When I turned him down telling him I was flattered, but too old him and his friends thought I was just blowing him off.

[@placeholderprofile____]

I feel like they completely did half a job. What about all the older people getting baptised?. There should be 36-49 for the more mature 50-65 and 66-85, 86-101.

[@RyanGalloway]

I totally agree!

[@TheBrettMizer]

Excellent news I'm 32 but the oldest I will dates like 20 so amazing

[@allengreg5447]

"In the labyrinth of existence, women's choices are but fleeting illusions, each path leading to the same inexorable abyss of absurdity and futility."

[@dappermuis5002]

Would have loved this as when I aged out of YSA. At 30 most of the single adults in my ward and even stake were in their late 50's and mostly 60's and up. That would be like me trying to date someone my parents age or even my grandparents. I know people say age is just a number. But I had nothing in common with those way older than me, with those that I knew.

[@robertllawrencejr5503]

I was never a big fan of the mid singles being split off. It excluded a lot of older singles.

[@andrewjoy08]

As a 37 year old I completely get left out. Still no institute for someone in my position, Still No ward For my age group in my area. As a thirty seven year old I am put in with Old farts for singles that means I am still. In the same category as people decades older than me For activities and other Purposes. At least have a fricking institute option for me.

[@artloveranimation]

Sometimes it might also be worth considering moving to a different area where you know more people are, but depends on the situation.

[@jamesrichards2720]

I wish they did this when i was 30/31. Im almost 35, and most of the people in my old single adult are older than me, in their 40s, divorced, etc. I dont feel like i belong with them as someone who hasnt married before and was in my early 30s. :/

[@kcb5336]

Why did you wait so long to get married? Did you not realize the pool decreases as you get older?

[@jaybravo2199]

@@kcb5336 Is this a serious question?

[@jamesrichards2720]

Failure as a human being. Not consistently having a temple recommend. Being a sinner and a perfectionist. Being too picky and feeling guilt at not liking the women who liked me. Having a one track mind when more than one woman i like wants to date me, so i miss out on dating because it's overwhelming. I got dumped when i was 26 and never fully got over it. Lockdowns in 2020. Aging out of ysa. (Now im back in?) Losing contact with all my friends, not staying in touch. the ​wrong major in college and never getting a good job after college. A continued feeling of inadequacy making me feel like i cant talk to old friends who have good lives and are married until im "better." Neuroticism. Being too picky while not feeling good enough. I was treated like I was too young, then suddenly treated disrespectfully like i was too old. Depression. The missionary age change led to most of the girls i liked when i was 23 going on missions and losing contact with them. I've wanted to get married young, just felt unworthy even though id regularly meet with my bishop, or didn't know how to effectively date to become closer, i didnt feel "chemistry" most of the time. I was and still am pretty puritanical which ultimately has been too strict to the point of not much more than hand holding. I did go on dates with the desire to get married. I've liked a few who liked me, but I was afraid and my brain felt like it broke when the one I really thought I would marry dumped me. I dated a few times afterward but the next two women i liked werent exclusive and married other men. Another woman i liked i accidentally upset and made her cry because I told her her breath smelled and we never went on another date after that. Dating has only gotten harder with age, I know. You don't have to tell me that it's better to marry young because I agree. @kcb5336

[@helenmccormick2506]

​@@jamesrichards2720all of the things you've written are very normal, and not failure as a human being! But I get what it feels like not to reach milestones at the same time as people around you, it can be really hard. I hope you have a good experience now you're in ysa again

[@clearstonewindows]

I think if you're in the church at 26, they just need to start assigning you a spouse. If you can't figure it out by then, just start doing the arranged thing. People keep looking for "the one"

[@nasiskahn]

I hope they raise the mid singles to 35-50 then instead of 31-45.

[@yes_on_air]

I'm actually ok with this. Yes, it is a little bit of a surprise, but I can understand the change. I do like that there is a subdivision for the 18-25 & 26-35 depending on the area (or perhaps the bishop/stake president ... we'll have to see I guess). I know lots of 30-35 year-olds that just don't feel like they're ready to feel "that much older" while still looking for a spouse. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

[@LBCORP1960]

I can understand the change, but it doesn’t do me any good. I’m 64 and I don’t think I’ll get married before the Millennium.

[@BoMwarriorVlog]

👋 41 guy here, never had a girlfriend or been kissed. I feel the same.

[@CMZIEBARTH]

I was a member of the charter midsingles group.

[@christiansorensen7567]

Hmmm. Too old and broken to care anymore, lol. Also, if I could have attented institute any longer, I'd have soo many credits, they'd get me for being a professional student. Best of luck to the YSAs though.

[@KaryShort-wi7kv]

I'm a single adult ❤😂🎉😅😊! 9/13/24! 10:22am! 1:16

[@hennore]

Love the change!

[@ToaRahkshi]

My ward in Maryland is not that big, so they're not doing the whole "split into two groups" thing. DMV area is full of college kids moving in and out of the wards anyway. I kinda poked fun of this change for a bit with "now we're gonna see 35 year old dudes asking 18 year old girls out lul - almost twice their age x'D" Followed by, "I shouldn't be talking tho, I'm turning 30 :v"

[@kcb5336]

Is there something wrong with a 35 year old going out with 18? Back in the 1800s LDS church it would have been absolutely fine. Maybe even two 18 year olds. The world sure has changed. Is it a good change?

[@ToaRahkshi]

@@kcb5336 pfft, in my eyes, 18 -20 year olds nowadays are sooo much different compared to those in 1800's IMO. Heck, even 22 year olds are still man-children (or women-children, I guess). Has less to do with the "norm," and more with the quality of young women nowadays. Sorry for sounding like a red pilled incel x'D

[@clayfullmer]

Nice

[@HeroMan380]

Cool, now 35 year old men can make advances on woman half their age... just like the good ole days

[@DarkStar-qe2qu]

Good ol Joe married 16 year old children so age ain't nothing but a number 😂

[@chadland2012]

So you're a young single adult at 35. Yet you're over the hill at 40...the math isn't mathing. It seems odd that in 5 years a person would go from young to past the prime of their life.

[@jaybravo2199]

I attended ward once... there were three new people being welcomed into the ward, and they were each asked to stand during sacrament meeting wherein the bishop gave a brief bio for each one... it went something like, "This is John, he recently returned from the Brazil Recife mission, he plans on attending BYU to earn a degree in accounting. He enjoys mountain biking and playing games." It was weird and kind of gross.

[@progfreak156]

So glad they finally do this now after I turn 36 and have already felt ostracized and alone for over 5 years and everytime I go to midsingles I feel even worse. Soglad they did this now when it's been needed to happen for a long time. I had a great time in ysa, I had friends, dated many women and almost over night, I was involuntarily trust into a community of losers outcast and degenerates, way older then me and told this is my dating market now... thanks so much to the 80-90 year Old farts running, everything you certainly understand the younger generations. I'm sorry this is good news, I'm just upset I still get left out of life experience again despite constantly trying...

[@Rayofgreenlight]

I think they should start arranging marriages, but do it at 18. Then send the couple on their missions as companions. I think people would enjoy the mission more.

[@charlesmendeley9823]

I wonder if the Church could use a few bucks of their hoarded $200 billion (hidden at Ensign Peak Advisors and its shady shell companies) to buy Jasmin a decent microphone.