A couple who lived in separate apartments fell in love and decided to get married. However, both of their parents informed them that they would have to finance their own wedding, reception and honeymoon. In the good old days in that community, it was one of the couples’ parents who carried much of the financial burden for weddings. The couple decided it was prudent to live together in one apartment, and use the money saved for their wedding plans. For the more traditional people in their church, this is called “shacking up” and “immoral behavior.” The couple believed the rules had changed when it came to who pays for the weddings in their family and community.

In the same community, a young person recently graduated from the state university. They worked during the summers and obtained as m…