"None of us marry perfection; we marry potential. The right marriage is not only about what I want; it’s also about what she — who’s going to be my companion — wants and needs me to be.” —Elder Robert D. Hales
It seems more and more young people today are postponing marriage, often because they want to marry someone who’s perfect now. Unlike attitudes in years past, when people expected to work together and accept differences, I wonder if our instant gratification mindset has permeated the search for love, and people are expecting a mate who has already conquered all of life’s personal growth challenges and met all their goals. . . .
I recall the story of Camilla Kimball when asked about how wonderful it was to be married to a prophet, and she said, ‘Yes, it is wonderful to be married to a prophet, but I didn’t marry a prophet. I just married a returned missionary.’”
Every couple grows—often dramatically—as the years stack up. And while wives often polish and refine their husbands, so do the husbands influence their wives for good. Ideally, both people improve as they learn to be less selfish, more compassionate, easier to please, and closer to Christ. . . .
I think there are three keys to remember when choosing an eternal companion. First, pay attention to your own shortcomings, and spend your energy working to overcome them.