Intentional Courtship Description
A Mid-Singles Guide to Peace, Progress, and Pairing Up in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Intentional Courtship is the book authors Jeff and Cathy desperately wished for when they found themselves newly single at middle age and starting over—an invaluable resource for mid-singles seeking to recover from loss, rediscover their joy, experience growth, and create better relationships than ever before. Packed with insightful stories from the authors’ many combined years as mid-single members of the Church, Jeff and Cathy share their own wisdom, hoping to augment yours and illuminate your path forward.
The authors’ know from personal experience how isolated and alone mid-singles can feel, especially in the early part of their journey. Mid-singles are, perhaps, the most underserved demographic in the Church by authors, speakers, podcasters, and coaches. Jeff and Cathy are working to change that with this book and other resources they offer through Love in Later Years (LILY). If you are a single-parent, divorced, widowed, or over 30 and not yet married, this book is for you!
Jeff and Cathy first connected online on St. Patrick’s Day. Their own relationship, with all its twists and turns, progressed to an eternal adventure beginning in the Provo City Center Temple. They still enjoy dating each other and working together to create an intentional marriage. This book is written from their perspective as American members of the Church—the principles can be adapted and applied to mid-singles from a variety of religions and cultures.
Intentional Courtship Reviews
Intentional Courtship is filled with passion, hope and common sense for individuals and couples seeking relationship insights and the promise of marital blessings. Based on lived experience and deep understanding, Jeff and Cathy Teichert share their hearts and their hopes for singles who want practical ideas and a purposeful future. You will learn, laugh, and maybe even cry - I did! It belongs at the bedside of any Latter-day Saint who wants to better understand singlehood, relationships, and the Lord's love for each of us.
Dr. Sean Brotherson, PhD, Professor of Child Development and Family Science, North Dakota State University
As someone who unexpectedly found themselves in the LDS mid-singles scene, this book would have been an invaluable navigation tool as I traveled the waters of picking up the pieces of my own life while trying to manage the rough waters of post-divorce. It is a modern day guide of self-healing, motivation, personal insight, and dating encouragement.
Holly Voisin, MA, Trauma Therapist, and Former Mid-Single
Intentional Courtship is an insightful and encouraging guide to dating for LDS Mid-singles. If you are looking for some new ideas or a fresh perspective from someone who has been there, I encourage you to read this book. Jeff and Cathy share what they learned on their unique journey in a way that makes you feel like you are not alone and that there is always hope.
Azure Thompson Branch, Former Mid-Single
With this book, Jeff and Cathy have created a space for mid-singles to feel seen, heard, supported, and encouraged in every aspect imaginable. Too often resources will focus on one realm or another, but they have created something that addresses them all - physical, spiritual, emotional and intellectual. Their advice is warm, thoughtful, and deliberate, without being saccharine or condescending in any way. I am positive this book will bless many lives!
Holly Yurth Richards, Playwright/Composer
When life’s journey grabs you or a loved one by relationship loss, grab this book and allow your mustard seed of faith to be nurtured. Jeff and Cathy remind us that whatever your story, the power lies in you - to create your future, family, and relationships moving forward by holding to the power of the promise. Humans are wired for connection. Despite loss, subsequent efforts to avoid painful repeat ‘failures,’ ultimately we seek connection, partnership, the eternal sanctification found in covenant relationship. Jeff and Cathy offer practical, insightful perspectives born through the vulnerability of their personal experiences with relatable and profound reminders of the reality of compensatory blessings.
Amber Combs Trader, Former Mid-Single
Intentional Courtship is enlightening, insightful and thought-provoking. It is a valuable resource for mid-singles. This book is pretty amazing; Jeff and Cathy do a great job of combining their writing skills. I believe it will be welcomed and very appreciated by those in their mid-single season of life. I can see the value of being intentional about dating. It expanded my understanding of the feelings of LDS mid-singles and the whole painstaking search for the one who really makes your heart feel at home. Probably the most valuable perspective is the journey to become the best "you" that you possibly can. That is never a wasted effort.
Jeanne Phillips, Widow & Mother/Grandmother
Dating in your 30’s and 40’s is hard! Jeff and Cathy have done a fabulous job of walking you through their journey, which will definitely help you on yours. I enjoyed all the dating nuggets in this fantastic book. It is clear, concise and to the point. My only complaint is I wish I could have read it 10 years ago!
Brandy Vega, Owner of Vega Media Studios and Former TV News Personality
Very impressive book for the audience it addresses. Jeff and Cathy have covered every dimension of navigating mid-single life. A must read for anyone who has been through a divorce or experienced heartache – you will find all you need to regain your footing and move forward in locating your eternal companion. It offers much needed reassurance that after profound loss and perceived failure, there is still hope for a bright future. With the number of singles out there, and the quality of this material, I really think it should be a best-seller!
Doug Brinley, BYU Professor and Best-Selling Author
An empowering and positive book for the lonely, the divorced, and for those exploring new relationships. Full of humor and wisdom, a must read for anyone anticipating a dating adventure or wanting more out of life. Refreshingly, this book emphasizes the two most important relationships: with God and with oneself. Providing compassion for mid-singles and increased awareness for married couples and church leaders, this book liberates Christians from the stigmas and stereotypes of being single in later years. Jeff and Cathy present this phase of life as wonderful and enriching.
Deirdra Eden, Best-Selling Author and Ecclesiastical Family Advocate
"Intentional Courtship, from the creators of Love In Later Years (LILY), is a fantastic book for anyone who finds themselves single and searching for answers. Jeff and Cathy have put together a "survival guide" for divorcees, widows, and for those who have never been married. This book will help anyone who is struggling, trying to put the pieces together and figure out how to move on with their lives. This is the book I wish I'd had after my divorce. Even if you're a bishop, family member or friend just trying to figure out how to help someone else going through the hardships of being single in later years, I highly recommend this book. It is real, it is honest, and it doesn't hold back on what life is like for mid-single adults. I can't recommend this book enough!"
Everett Ulbricht, Co-host of the Flameless Fireside LDS Singles Podcast
Intentional Courtship Authors
Jeff Teichert is an Assistant Attorney General in the Constitutional Defense and Special Litigation Division of Utah’s Attorney General’s Office (in this book he speaks for himself and not his office), and former founder, and owner of Teichert Law Office, PLLC. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in family science at Brigham Young University and went on to receive his Juris Doctorate at Brigham Young University in 1994. He earned a post-doctorate Master of Laws Degree at The George Washington University Law School in 2008 with highest honors. He was a highly endorsed candidate for the Washington State Court of Appeals in 2006 and has filed three briefs in the United States Supreme Court. He is the author of numerous professional articles and publications, including an interdisciplinary article, coauthored with a family science professor entitled Value of the Law in Shaping Social Perspectives on Marriage which was presented at two international conferences.
Cathy Butler Teichert is a professional violinist and Suzuki music teacher. She is owner and founder of Cathy's Violin Studio and has played for hundreds of weddings and special events with her string quartet, Strings of Elegance. Cathy earned her associate degree in interpersonal communications from Ricks College in 1999 on orchestral scholarship and went on to earn her bachelor's degree in family science from Utah State University in 2001 on academic scholarship. She completed teacher-training for all 10 Suzuki violin books in 2017 and is considered an Advanced Active Teacher with the Suzuki Association of Utah, where she served as Chair for the Violin Celebration Concert in 2021.
Jeff & Cathy are co-authors of Intentional Courtship: A Mid-Singles Guide to Peace, Progress, and Pairing Up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jeff and Cathy each spent nearly a decade in the mid-singles community and draw on this experience to provide counsel and hope to the reader. Together they founded an organization called Love in Later Years (LILY) which ministers to Latter-day Saint mid-singles seeking peace, healing, and more joyful relationships. Jeff and Cathy are both certified life coaches. They are the parents of a blended family that includes four handsome sons and one lovely daughter-in-law.