The young man waited patiently over a period of time for…
““The young man waited patiently over a period of time for the young woman to remove her extra earrings, but she did not take them out. This was a valuable piece of information for this young man, and he felt unsettled about her nonresponsiveness to a prophet’s pleading. For this and other reasons, he ultimately stopped dating the young woman, because he was looking for an eternal companion who had the courage to promptly and quietly obey the counsel of the prophet in all things and at all times. The young man was quick to observe that the young woman was not quick to observe. I presume that some of you might have difficulty with my last example. You may believe the young man was too judgmental or that basing an eternally important decision, even in part, upon such a supposedly minor issue is silly or fanatical. Perhaps you are bothered because the example focuses upon a young woman who failed to respond to prophetic counsel instead of upon a young man. I simply invite you to consider and ponder the power of being quick to observe and what was actually observed in the case I just described. The issue was not earrings!””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The man values swift, silent obedience to spiritual counsel and ends a relationship when a small sign suggests a lack of that quality.
In simple terms: He stops dating because she didn’t quickly obey a prophet’s request.
Key Takeaway
Seek partners who share core values and responsiveness.
Themes
values
obedience
spirituality
relationships
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- dating
- courtship
- spiritual mentorship
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
prophetic counsel
observational judgment
decision making
Questions to Reflect On
- Do small signs truly predict long‑term alignment?
- How can we balance patience with discernment?
A Different Perspective
Obsessive focus on minor signs can overlook deeper compatibility.