Manners!
Credit Unknown - transferred from lds-yw files

A gracious person learns how to make OTHERS feel at ease, how to make them feel knowledgeable, capable, efficient and wise.  Combine the forgotten rules of etiquette with warmth and genuine interest - remember the Golden Rule.  Knowing manners gives peace and self-confidence.

DINNER PARTIES:

1.   RSVP - write or call as soon as possible.  Hostess needs to buy, cook food, set table, etc.  Do not call the day of the party unless an emergency to change.
2.   Be on time.  15 minutes late is acceptable after call.
3.   Host & hostess must greet guests - if talking to someone else, excuse yourself to greet as each guest arrives.
4.   Conversation - include all areas of the table.  No loud or no intimate, private conversations.  Nothing that excludes others.  No sensitive issues.
5.   Send a thank you note or call 2 days after the party.
6.   Watch hostess - do not take napkin until hostess does.
7.   Eat nothing, do not even sip water, before the prayer.
8.   A hostess gift is appropriate when invited to dinner.
9.   At your party you are responsible for introducing everyone.  Take coats, making sure they are carefully stored.
10.  Buffet or open house:
     -  Do not run to the food table
     -  Be conscious of others and the amount of food needed for everyone
     -  An open house (like a farewell) is NOT your dinner.  Plates are small  for a reason.  Never look like a pig.

TABLE SETTING:

(ON HANDOUT, SKETCH A TABLE SETTING. INCLUDE DINNER, SALAD, BREAD AND BUTTER PLATES.  SALAD, DINNER FORKS, SOUP & TEASPOONS & DESSERT SPOON OR FORK; GLASS OR GOBLET AND THEIR PROPER PLACES.  LABEL THEM)

1.   Silverware - start at outside & work in (salad fork outside dinner fork inside next to plate.
2.   Salad plate to left (by salad fork)
3.   Knife blade toward plate
4.   Bread & butter plate above dinner plate or above at left.  Your individual butter knife may be on bread & butter plate.
5.   When finished eating knife and fork are placed together and across plate.
6.   Dessert spoon or fork may be at top of plate or may come with the dessert.

DINING RULES:

1.   To taste another's food: Use your CLEAN fork, hand to person giving you a taste, they put the food on your fork and hand it back to you.
2.   Hot food - don't spit out - drink water.
3.   Never spit anything in a napkin, but take out the way it went in.  Bones take out with fingers.  Spoiled food out with a fork and cover with some fresh food.
4.   Drinking - a sip is never taken until all food is swallowed and mouth wiped.  (Except hot food). Keeps glass clean.
5.   Ask for food to be passed - don't reach.
     -  Always pass salt & pepper together even if salt is asked for
     -  Pass food to the right, even if you don't want any, PASS.
6.   Put all food on your plate with serving utensils, then eat.  Never eat directly from serving dish.  Never put your individual silverware into serving dishes.
7.   Napkins:
     -  Wait for hostess to pick up hers before you do
     -  Set table with napkin on left of or on plate
     -  Leave on lap - folded in half - don't spread entirely out.
     -  When finished, don't refold but gather and place on table
8.   Don't stack dishes when removing, except small plates on large one. Remove all serving pieces, soiled plates, condiments, unused silver before dessert.
9.   Serve food from the left, remove plates from the right of each person.  Don't reach across guests.
10.  Use knife & fork for chicken except on a picnic or if it has frills on drumsticks.
11.  Dips - only once to dip a chip or veggie.
12.  If food is bad in restaurant, quietly ask waiter for replacement.  At someone's home, say nothing and eat around the item.  No big deal.
13.  Dropped moist food - quietly take spoon or knife, scrape it off and put on side of your plate.
14.  Try all foods at someone's home.
15.  Don't play with the salt, pepper or silverware.
16.  Soup:
     -  Don't blow on hot foods
     -  To get out last bit, tip dish away from you
     -  Put spoon on plate under bowl unless the bowl is almost flat.
17.  Bring food up to your mouth, don't lean down to plate.
18.  Rolls & bread:
     - Take jam & butter from serving dish with serving utensil and put on your plate.  then use your butter knife or knife to spread on bread.
     - Do not put jam directly on your bread from serving dish.
     - Break roll in half and break again.  Butter only 1 or 2 bites at a time.
19.  Cut only 1 or 2 pieces of meat at a time.
20.  Gum - dispose of in paper napkin, wrapper - never on glass or plate.
21.  NEVER talk with food in mouth.

DINING AT A RESTAURANT:

1.   If there is a hostess, lady goes first behind her.  If no hostess, man goes first to select table.
2.   Older or guest of honor should sit at best place like window or viewing the restaurant.
3.   Person paying the bill should indicate what price range they are looking at by saying "The hamburger and fries look good" or maybe "I'll have the halibut from the dinner menu".
4.   Don't be afraid to ask what is included with the meal.  Tell guests you are going to order a salad if it is not included.  "A la Carte" means everything is ordered separately.  "Table d'hote" denotes it is a full dinner.
5.   When inviting guests, be prepared to pay for the most expensive item on the menu.  If someone else is paying never get the most expensive meal.
6.   The Check:
     - Ask for separate checks when ordering
     - Review the total. If bill is wrong, quietly ask server
     - Don't show those not paying
     - Don't complain or gasp when you receive the bill
7.   When a guest, don't complain to host about food, that is was a waste of money, etc.
8.   At a large table, you may eat after the people on both sides and in front of you have been served.

INTRODUCTIONS:

1.   Look directly at people.
2.   Honor comes to the name said first - "Mother, this is Jane."
3.   Shake with a firm hand.
4.   People are honored when you remember their name.

DATING:

1.   When meeting parents, look directly in their eyes and introduce yourself.
2.   It is your responsibility to give your date your attention and show them a good time if you either choose to ask or choose to accept.
3.   Let your date know your plans and the time you will be leaving at least a day before so they can make plans and not await your call.
4.  If asked out, answer immediately if you are unable to go so they can make other plans without embarrassment.
5.   Never tell family confidences.  Never talk about other dates while with another. Keep confidences of personal matters, feeling, etc. between you and your date. If you talk to them about others, they know you will talk about them to others.
6.   Make your date feel she/he is the most important person during your date.
7.   Don't spend your entire time talking to your double date.
8.   Boys should walk girls to their door.
9.   Don't honk for your date - male or female.
10.  Boys open all doors and stand back & let others go first.  Let older people, strangers go first.  Girls do the same.
11.  Boys - help women (family, dates, friends, strangers) on and off with coats.  Girls should assist others at a meeting or dinner when possible.
12.  Boys should get into car first if one is to slide across the seat (taxi).
13.  Be considerate of people in back when rolling down windows.
14.  Turn the radio down - people's conversation most important.  Never distract the drive.

"THEREFORE ALL THINGS WHATSOVER YE WOULD THAT MEN SHOULD DO TO YOU, DO YE EVEN SO TO THEM."  Matthew 7:12