Some years back when I was a single parent the church had singles programs that were a real blessing to me and my children. I am a senior single adult now and no longer active in the church because it is not a comfortable place for older singles. The church is very much a family organization. It would be nice if there were single programs, but I understand the family is the heart of the church. I attend the Catholic church now and it is very nice. It is just about people and not just families.

Sounds like a GREAT way to find a spouse: good classes and a service project. Woo-hoo.

Rick,
May I suggest that you return to the church. If you don't like one ward, just try another. I trust that you'll find it a lot different because there are many singles. Yes, sometimes they feel left out when lessons are about teaching kids or strengthening a marriage, but they need your input, too. President Hinckley strongly advised LDS to keep single members in mind and to be more considerate of them. In my ward there are quite a few single adults, men and women, and they not only add to the church by blessing other members and youth with their experience and viewpoint, but they also are blessed by their association with others. I'm sure the Catholic church is nice and both religions worship Jesus Christ, but we need you.

I attended the singles conference n 2006 and I found it to be a very enjoyable and enlightening experience the classes were great and the lecturers and excercises were first rate .. for me at least, it also did turn out to be a great way to find spouses .. I hope the turnout of singles is high this year too .. good luck to the organizers

I wonder when Salt Lake will have a 30-something LDS Midsingles Conference like other areas in the country? A couple of weeks ago, over 1,400 attended one in Huntington Beach, California with people attending from all across the country.

This current 31+ or "31 to 101" concept at traditional Single Adult activities or conferences often deters younger 30-something singles from attending or senior singles in their 60s on up from attending as well.

That's why so many 30-somethings from Utah came to the Huntington Beach Midsingles Conference this year.

I think to discrimate and discard people because they are a certain age is wrong and a disturbing trend. I would like to see more of an emphasis on unification and church focused activities instead of social, popularity clubs which seem to be the trend. Those that make the cut under 30 and under 45 will tend to disagree and those that know the pain of being outcast and discarded because of age would probably agree with me. I am actually between those ages.
That being said I realize there is no easy solution and I appreciate everyone's efforts for good. I also realize that many of these activities that are springing up aren't necessarily initiated by the church, but certain church members.

Actually our 30-something Midsingles Conference in Huntington Beach, California was fully supported and sponsored by the Church. The reason for such activities is that so many 30-something singles go inactive having no desire to dance with someone that could be their dad or grandpa at some "31+" or "31 to 101" singles church dance.

30-something singles' biological clocks are still ticking and still desire to start a family, whereas the needs for 40 and 50-somethings who typically are divorced with teenage kids have different needs than someone who just turned 31.

This is not about discrimination since there's still 31+ activities, but it's about complementing existing SA activities by providing additional activities in targeted age ranges to better serve the needs of singles in the Church.