Whether you are 16 or 60, dating can be a mysterious, confusing and often times difficult experience for anyone. There are regulations and rules that not everyone is privy to, even the couple that's out on the date. There is no saying whether or not you'll be compatible or if one date with this one person will blow up in your face. The uncertainty of dating can be heightened in places where there are tighter societal standards. One of these places is Salt Lake City.
Most young people in Salt Lake City find dating can be quite confusing. With the high standards of the LDS church clouding the minds of singles, Salt Lake City can be a tough place to navigate in the dating world. The church influence is not the only thing that influences the Salt Lake City dating scene, it's the intermingling of several different types of people trying to cohabitate in a society with a heightened sense of proper public and private behavior.
For starters, Salt Lake City dating has more "rules" than most other places. There are limitations on acceptable behavior between singles. Salt Lake City is interesting because in these limitations, there are three types of dating: LDS affiliated, mixed religion, and those that aren't LDS. I put singles Salt Lake City into these categories because this dictates a lot of the behaviors between the interactions of the singles involved.
Starting with singles with no LDS beliefs, these are the ones that have no boundaries and no rules. They are the most liberal singles. Salt Lake City does not like to think it has liberal singles, but they exist. The hand holding, dating one on one and public displays of affection exhibited by most of these singles in frowned upon but tolerated for the sake of welcoming everyone. This is the easiest category to be in if you're into Salt Lake City dating.
Mixed religion experiences can be quite interesting. While in most religions, you can purge your sins and therefore it's okay to be tempted. The LDS religion allows no chance for temptation to exist. This is the one of the most defining differences between people with opposing religions dating and an LDS single dating someone who is not LDS. The single that is not LDS might find it odd for their date to be chaperoned or being told they are not allowed to go out unless they are with a group of people. Unfortunately, this type of dating can be very frustrating, but if you respect people while dating all type of singles, Salt Lake City singles should be no different in the long run.
The last is probably the most interesting of studies, simply because it baffles most people. Most people are supposed to meet others in a variety of places: at work (not highly suggested anywhere), in the store or at a bar for singles. Salt Lake City is much different. The proper way for young people to meet each other is through a ward (defined area for all church goers to attend at the same time) specifically for singles. Salt Lake City has "singles wards" expressly set up for the pairing of couples. Many singles enter the Salt Lake City dating scene through singles wards and (this is no joke) are engaged in a few months. It is said that if you are 25 and unmarried that you are a menace to society.
So the ultimate goal of LDS singles Salt Lake City is to become married and have children. This makes the world of Salt Lake City dating extremely hard to navigate.