[babydawn]

My husband and I are planning on moving back east sometime in the future (not sure when)....my concern is, the area we would be moving to is only a branch. I live in a very heavily LDS populated area (Idaho) and although I will be excited to live somewhere where I will actually be NEEDED, I am a little concerned about my children and who they will date. I want my children to date people who have the same morals and standards. When my husband lived back east, he was one of 3 LDS kids in his high school (my kids would attend a different high school than he) one of which was his brother. I would like to hear from other members who have maybe been in the same situation or any thoughts or ideas that anyone might have.

[Mim23]

When I moved down to the South, I had a lot of the same concerns. I like it better out here, for a lot of reasons. I have lived in areas where there are wards, but there were several branches in my last stake. The stake and other stakes have stake dances. My husband dated someone who lived two hours away. He met her at a dance. Youth should not date seriously anyway. (I did, and it wasn't a good situation--so I'm going to encourage my kids to not date seriously until they are ready to get married.) I think that the smaller the ward or branch the tighter knit the group of members. I still miss my ward in Hickory. It was like a family reunion every Sunday. Everybody grew up with everyone else, but I didn't feel like an outsider, they welcomed me right in. What area are you moving to? Right now we are in a more LDS populated area, and our ward is a lot like a Utah ward, because there are lots of transplants.

It is a good feeling to be needed, but it can also lead to burnout. In Hickory several people had two or three callings at the same time. But like I said it was a big family. Your kids can meet people in other wards. Are you moving back to your husband's hometown? Have you visited the ward?

Remember that things will work. It can be an adjustment, but I've enjoyed my experiences in smaller areas.

[babydawn]

We are planning on moving to where my husband's grandmother, aunts, and uncle live. Because of the death of my husbands father, we feel there is a great need for us out there. It is in Sunset Beach, NC, about 20-30 minutes north of Myrtle Beach. I have been to church out there once, and it seemed great, however, we were only there for sacrament meeting. Jacob said it was all the same people as when he lived out there when he was a kid, and there was only about 40-60 people there which is so strange to me because of the large wards that are out here. However, we do feel strongly about moving out there when we are able, so I guess everything else will work out, my kids are just my biggest concern, and I wanted some advice from people who have been through it or something similar. Thanks.

[Mim23]

I love North Carolina. I am a transplant here. The people are so friendly all over the place. We have visited N. Myrtle, but I don't know a lot about the area. I know people that live in the Wilmington ward, but I don't even know if that would be the same stake. Good luck with your move.