77convert

I appreciate all the comments. It's helpful to know if this is just a precautionary rule of thumb or something more strict and doctrinal in nature. My personal feeling on the topic is that while the law of chastity is the same for all ages, the guidelines and precuations we adopt to ensure we live those standards can change with age and maturity.

My girlfriend and I have been dating for roughly 8 months. She is an endowed, lifelong member of the church. I am not endowed, having joined the church later in life as a convert. We are both in our 30s. On several occasions, my girlfriend has made the comment that "It's not right to touch each other where garments would be". I certainly understand the need to keep physical intimacy in check outside of marriage and we are quite careful about that. I'd like to clarify that her comments are in no way reflective of touching of private parts. They apply to situations when her hand touches my back beneath the hem of my t-shirt, or when applying sunscreen at a public beach. As a convert, I can't tell if this is extreme caution against intimacy, or an actual rule pertaining to members who have received their endowment. Can someone shed some light on this for me?