Dear Gramps,

There is a certain girl in my church that I really like. I can’t stop thinking of her (in a good way). This feeling is even affecting my school, the way I communicate with her and other people, it’s taking over my life. I am not even sure she likes me back. Is this “true love” I am feeling? If so, what should I do about it, should I wait until I am older to ask her out or something?. I am 15 and going to be 16 in December, I am in the 9th grade (going into 10th). Please answer.

Jason, from North Carolina

Dear Jason,

I can tell you definitively that this is not “true love.” It would properly be called “infatuation.” I can appreciate the deep feelings that you may have for this girl, and it would probably be appropriate to pursue your romantic interest.

However, there are several extremely important guidelines in such a pursuit that MUST be followed. In the first place, there should be no dating until after you are sixteen. Even then, it would be wise to go together only in groups until you are out of high school. Secondly, it is also very important that you avoid LIKE THE PLAGUE an exclusive relationship. That means that both you and she should date other people as well, and make no permanent commitment to each other until you are ready to have that commitment fulfilled. This would certainly be after you will have served as a Mormon missionary.

So many things could change in the seven or more years before you will be ready to be married that it is important to keep an open mind, and not do anything that would compromise a possible relationship with someone else.

Gramps