It’s true that young people experience a much longer transition from childhood into adulthood than ever before. Marriage and family used to follow immediately upon maturity, whereas in these hard economic times and with the widespread limiting of family size, things seem quite different. Adolescence is still a challenging time–you are finishing school, hoping for a higher education, choosing a livelihood, and so tempted on all sides by easy money and instant gratification (remember the song "Money for nothing and chicks for free"?) that it’s hard to know what is the correct path. Our youth-oriented media advocates fornication, homosexuality, and even adultery. It seems to be all about riches, beauty, and popularity. But these frivolous pursuits do not amount to a hill of beans if you aren’t educated or employed or enjoying a close relationship with your family of origin. It’s about the individual and life choices. If you waste your youth on parties and love affairs, you will find yourself scrambling to catch up with those "nerds" who studied hard and abstained from drugs and fleeting relationships. What are YOUR priorities? Fulfilling the flesh or pouring your heart into spiritual and cerebral pursuits? The Apostle Paul put it pretty bluntly when he said that "those who live according to the flesh shall die, but those who live according to the spirit shall live forever". I think he meant that satisfying the flesh doesn’t get you ahead in the long run–hard work and perseverence does. Nothing in life comes easy. A good marriage is a righteous and worthy goal–why settle for less?

I think you do what you want to and let others do the same. Sleep with 1000 people before you are married for all I care, but have the decency to respect others who choose to save themselves for marriage.

Yes, it makes sense for many people.
I tnink you need to mind your own business.

Go have casual sex all you please. Don’t whine when you get an STD, though.

I never thought it made sense. As much as our Puritanical society wants to deny it, sexual chemistry matters. Relationships with poor sexual chemistry tend to be unhappy relationships.

Sexual chemistry is just as important as intellectual and emotional chemistry, to me. It’s a major part of how a person interacts with you, and your life together. I’d never marry someone without having had sex with them first, just like I’d never marry someone I’d never had a conversation with.

EDIT: People going on about STD’s – So use condoms. 98%+ effective.

And you think people who "saved themselves" don’t get STD’s? In a world where half of all marriages end in divorce? Where 80% of the population has had HPV at some point, and 1/4 have herpes? You’re delusional. Go get tested.

Morality isn’t age-dependent. Some people never marry. The same Commandments apply to them as well.

Alan Alda (born January 28, 1936) is an American actor, director and screenwriter. He is known for his role as Hawkeye Pierce in the TV series M*A*S*H. During the 1970s and 1980s, he was viewed as the archetypal sympathetic male, though in recent years, he has appeared in roles that counter that image.

I like this question! Very thought provoking! You’re right, back in the day people got married much younger so it was easier to make the pledge to save yourself and actually do it. My sister has made a promise to save herself (she’s 22) and to be honest I think she’s crazy…don’t know how she does it. And she has no boyfriend or prospects so she may be waiting for a long time! I personally don’t see the point anymore, but then again i’m 27yo with two kids and never been married…so who am I to judge right? Maybe had I taken that pledge I wouldnt be a single parent now?

I truly believe "one size doesn’t fit all" – that some have strong moral fiber or religious convictions that matter to them. You can make such a commitment at 13, but what do you know of life and theh world at 13? Not very much to make such a strong commitment.

I do not believe in sleeping around, as so many do on this board. But I do believe if you’re 21 and you’ve met someone and you have been together over a year and there is no pressure but real mutual respect that has been proven for one another and a commitment of love – then it’s a different ballgame at that point and the two of you must decide.

The idea, however, of having multiple boyfriends from 16 to 18 and simply going to bed with them for the sake of sex, leads me to believe you/he would not value it or each other for very long.

Just my take having been "around the block" a few times dear…

Sincerely,

Grace

In the past the life expectancy was 45 so…

Hmmm, I guess I do believe in pledges because I believe in marriage.

I’m not sure how effective those pledges are to be honest. When one is that young, it is really hard to understand what a pledge means. Plus, kids are put under such pressure these days by peers.

I guess my point is, I don’t care if they make sense or that they even exist. I guess on the off chance that a teen doesn’t do it because of this pledge is great.