12 safety tips for your next date

1. Start slow
   
   Watch out for someone who seems too good to be true. Begin by communicating solely via Ldshearts.com Messenger or email, then look for odd behavior or inconsistencies. The person at the other end may not be who or what he or she says. Trust your instincts. If anything makes you uncomfortable, walk away for your own safety and protection.
2. Guard your anonymity
   
   All correspondence between Ldshearts.com members takes place through our double-blind system, ensuring your true identity is protected until you decide to reveal it. Never include your last name, email address, home address, phone number, place of work or any other identifying information in your free profile or initial messages Stop communicating with anyone who pressures you for personal information or attempts in any way to trick you into revealing it.
3. Exercise caution and common sense
   
   Careful, thoughtful decisions generally yield better dating results. Guard against trusting the untrustworthy; suitors must earn your trust gradually, through consistently honorable, forthright behavior. Take all the time you need to test for a trustworthy person and pay careful attention along the way. If you suspect someone is lying, he or she probably is, so act accordingly. Be responsible about romance, and don’t fall in love at the click of a mouse.
4. Request a photo
   
   A photo will give you a good idea of the person's appearance, which may prove helpful in achieving a gut feeling. In fact, it’s best to view several images of someone in various settings: casual, formal, indoor and outdoors. If all you hear are excuses about why you can't see a photo, consider that he or she has something to hide. Since Ldshearts.com offers free uploading services to its members, there’s no reason someone shouldn’t be able to provide you a photo.
5. Chat on the phone
   
   A phone call can reveal much about a person’s communication and social skills. Consider your security and do not reveal your personal phone number to a stranger. Try a cell phone number instead or use local telephone blocking techniques to prevent your phone number from appearing in Caller ID. Only furnish your phone number when you feel completely comfortable.
6. Meet when YOU are ready
   
   The beauty of meeting and relating online is that you can collect information gradually, later choosing whether to pursue the relationship in the offline world. You never are obligated to meet anyone. And even if you decide to arrange a meeting, you always have the right to change your mind. It’s possible that your decision to keep the relationship at the anonymous level is based on a hunch that you can’t logically explain. Trust yourself. Go with your instincts.
7. See his or her Temple Recommend
   
   Remember that not everyone who claims to be a worthy member of the Church, really is. It’s always best to see their Temple recommend and know that it is current. If someone claims that they hold a current Temple Recommend, but is unwilling to show it to you, then they probably don’t have one. If they are like many worthy members of the Church who are working their way back into full activity in the Church, but do not hold a Temple recommend, consider speaking with their Bishop before the relationship gets too serious. If they are attending Church on a fairly regular basis, their Bishop will know and the member should not have a problem with you checking with their Bishop to make sure they can give a good report. You probably wouldn’t do this on the first date, but never travel out of town to visit someone if you have not spoken to their Bishop. This could be important.
8. Watch for red flags
   
   Pay attention to displays of anger, intense frustration or attempts to pressure or control you. Acting in a passive-aggressive manner, making demeaning or disrespectful comments or any physically inappropriate behavior are all red flags. You should be concerned if your date exhibits any of the following behavior without providing an acceptable explanation:
   • Provides inconsistent information about age, Church activity, Temple Recommend Status, interests, appearance, marital status, profession, employment, etc.
   • Refuses to speak to you on the phone after establishing ongoing, online intimacy.
   • Fails to provide direct answers to direct questions.
   • Appears significantly different in person from his or her online persona.
   • Never introduces you to friends, professional associates or family members.
9. Meet in a safe place
   
   When you choose to meet offline, always tell a friend where you are going and when you will return. Leave your date’s name and telephone number with your friend. Never arrange for your date to pick you up at home. Provide your own transportation, meet in a public place at a time with many people around, and when the date is over, leave on your own as well. A familiar restaurant, at a time when a lot of other people will be present, is often a fine choice. If you decide to move to another location, take your own car. When the timing is appropriate, thank your date for getting together and say goodbye. If you and your date both hold current Temple Recommends, then consider a date to the Temple, if one is close by.
10. Take extra caution outside your area
    
    Always speak with their Bishop! If you are flying in from another city, arrange for your own car and hotel room. Do not disclose the name of your hotel and never allow your date to make the arrangements for you. Rent a car at the airport and drive directly to your hotel. Call your date from the hotel or meet at the location you have already agreed to. If the location seems inappropriate or unsafe, go back to your hotel. Try to contact your date at that location or leave a message on a home machine. Always make sure a friend or family member knows your plans and has your contact information. And if possible, carry a cell phone at all times.
11. Get yourself out of a jam
    
    Never do anything you feel unsure about. If you are in any way afraid of your date, use your best judgment to diffuse the situation and get out of there. Excuse yourself long enough to call a friend for advice, ask someone else on the scene for help or slip out the back door and drive away. If you feel you are in danger, call the police; it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Never worry or feel embarrassed about your behavior; your safety is much more important than one person’s opinion of you.
12. Remember who you are!
    
    Most of all, remember that you are a child of GOD and strive to follow the principles of the Gospel. Never trade what you want the most simply for what you want now. If you are striving for Temple marriage then strongly consider someone that is already a Temple worthy member. Remember why you are here and where you are striving to go.