How long does it take to fall in love with someone?

[Elgama]

Originally Posted by Gatsby

That ought to be the most intelligent quote I ever heard from a general authority regarding romantic relationships. I almost got into a debate with a female friend over this. She believed in soul mates, I didn't. I assume she was naive since she was a senior in high school.

well I kind of got commanded via a blessing to marry my husband lol - I was told within a week I would know, and I did, problem being we were both dating other people and lived 1000s of miles apart. Love wasn't something we had time to consider so I clung onto that quote by Spencer W Kimball and one I remembered from a Young Womens President that Love + Friendship = Affection and that was the most important thing if you felt affection for someone life was a lot more pleasent and you never wanted to hurt them.

I go with the if you can treasure the good and beautiful things in a person love will grow - my husband and I have faced some huge massive trials in our married life incuding both of us having prolonged periods of illness, the love gets you through when the person is behaving oddly but liking a person is so much more important because its what makes imo the good bits great.

-Charley

[Gatsby]

Originally Posted by Nappaljarri

And the amazing thing is..... when you make a choice to love... then your feelings swell within you anyway.... So the feelings are sort of like a sign of the love, but it isn't the love. If you know what I mean.

I perfectly understand what you mean.

[Nappaljarri]

I think for others it can take time. As with spiritual vision (which we as members believe is developed through obedience) Love is a spiritual attribute. Whether is it love for the rest of our fellowman, or the special love that only spouse share as they become one in Christ. It is only developed through obedience. So from a non-lds perspective... it may take a couple a certain ammount of time to communicate and come to realisations in their lives about what they want to be and who they want ot be with. I can understand that perspective.

But once again... for LDS people, love is a form of communication. And if we are communicating it all of the time... when it is communicated to us.... we receive it instantly.

[Moksha]

Originally Posted by Gatsby

I'm surprised at everyone's replys. Non LDS people tell me it takes time. months-years (6 months at least, romantic love is indeed the strangest thing around) to fall in love and here I'm reading something different. I wonder why? I still wish to know.

That's just the way it is in the collective. Sometime in the future, you will find your new unit and be 2 of 2.

[Kyra]

Originally Posted by Gatsby

Wow! That is extremely fast! I assume both of you were active members of the church.

LOL Yep, it was very fast. And yes, we were both active members and still are. He had actually only been home from his mission for two months when he proposed. And for the month before that he was dating my best friend. But when it's right, it's right. Might as well just get the wedding over with and move on with our lives. I believe it all had to do with our daughter. I was pregnant with her within weeks of our marriage, I believe she was supposed to come at that specific time.

[zookeeper]

Originally Posted by Gatsby

Please, I must know. Ever since I was introduce to romance I've been pondering this question.

I don't believe in soul mates or love at first sight, that's just a bunch of non-sense. & don't say it takes a second or 5 minutes to fall in love, that's just unbelievable.

The reason I ask is because I think I've been in love once but I fell for the wrong gal. & I don't think as much as I want to that it was an illusion.

Anyhow, do the scriptures mention anything regarding this?

Love is an action...Therefore a choice. An anonymous quote I've heard is "The real love story begins at the altar." So use wisdom and the spirit! And when you've made your choice always treat that person the way you did when you were dating. There's my 2 cents. As for your specific question...I don't think anyone can answer that except to acknowledge that everyone has a different story. So who knows what yours will be! Good luck!

[checkerboy]

I fell in love with the girl that I plan on marrying in about 2 weeks. We knew each other when we were younger, so that may have helped. But in that time I knew that I loved her because everything we talked about made sense to me. It felt right. I can't explain it any better then that. It is more then just attraction, there are deep feelings but I don't think they have to take forever to manifest.

I also believe that there is no limit to the amount of love you can feel for someone. At this point it is small but it will no doubt grow over time. It has the potential to grow infinitely as well as the potential to die.

[Honor]

Originally Posted by checkerboy

I fell in love with the girl that I plan on marrying in about 2 weeks.

Please tell me that you meant "It took us 2 weeks to fall in love" and not "We're getting married in 2 weeks." Checks, we need to talk.....

[Gatsby]

Originally Posted by zookeeper

Love is an action...Therefore a choice. An anonymous quote I've heard is "The real love story begins at the altar." So use wisdom and the spirit! And when you've made your choice always treat that person the way you did when you were dating. There's my 2 cents. As for your specific question...I don't think anyone can answer that except to acknowledge that everyone has a different story. So who knows what yours will be! Good luck!

I've come to that conclusion too. Oh well....

[desert_fox]

It's different for everyone, and there are varying degrees of it. You can probably say that you "love" someone fairly early on, but it may only be a shadow of what is actually possible.