I strenuously disagree with Mr. Walsh's assertion. In fact, young men and women should NOT respect each other in dating. DISrespect is the mother's milk of the dating bond; it sets in stone the foundation of a happy and keen marriage. Trust me, I know: I have been married to the same fiercely strange girl for eighty-three years now, and she has not aged a day since.

These assertions may grate on the Mormon eyes and hearts. They shouldn�t, and I�ll tell you why.

Respect is overrated. It�s a stupid, Hallmark Card-oriented sentiment that has no place in proper coupling. Respect is what lost WWII in Japan. Respect made a monkey out of Adam, the first man. It is what keeps men fixated on women�s bodies, and women on men�s wallets. It stuns the ears and burns the skin.

Please reject false arguments about respect. They are wrong, especially in man-woman relationships. Let the homosexuals cry and gnash their teeth over respect. Normal people are better off relegating this false god to the lint trap of history.

I got to hear Brother Hilton give this talk at Especially for Youth at Byu-Idaho last week and it was really good. John Hilton III is amazing- expect the respect!!

That women ought to be respected I can whole heartedly agree.

What I have a hard time understanding though, is what does not touching a woman while dating have to do with respect?, especially if the girl is willing to let you enjoy touching her and kissing?

It seems that people when they want to sell something, they attach it to something else which has obvious merit.

If a girl wants romance and intimacy, touching her and enjoying the joys she has to offer, and would like to recieve in return has nothing to do with respect.

I agree that boys and girls should be respectful of each other when dating. I feel this is because it is the right thing to do, and has nothing to do with religion. As far as holding hands and kissing is concerned - let nature take its course.

Now where's the talk about the girls actually respecting the guys once in a while? Ironically, for those who think the church is oppressive to women (since they don't have the priesthood, right?), the reality is in church culture, you hear nothing but male bashing all the time, and the women do nothing wrong. It's reverse sexism at its best.

Abstinence does equal respect for a number of reasons. Unfortunately, most people today are too selfish and self centered to see it. Let me enumerate:

1. Intimacy without marital commitment does not bring true joy or happiness, merely a temporary satisfaction of physical urges.
2. The purpose of intimacy is not physical gratification but first, physical and emotional joining of two people into one and, second, pro-creation.
3. Abstinence until marriage is a commandment. To participate in an action that causes not only you but the other person to violate a commandment is not showing respect to them, yourself, or God.
4. Intimacy outside of marriage hinders your ability to make objective decisions about a long-term relationships because of the emotional stimulation.

Be Smart, abstain until marriage.

Most of Hilton's teachings should be ignored. I'm guessing he dated one girl in his life and was engaged to her after only a couple weeks.

"never, ever kiss on the first date, or the second, or the third" --False teaching. You kiss when the time is right, period. If the man doesn't kiss when the girl is expecting it, she'll think he's a wuss and her eyes will wander. And what about the girl initiating a kiss?

"If your date offers to get you more to drink, accept that respect, even if you're not thirsty anymore." --Yet another false principle. Honesty trumps any of these little dating games. If you habitually "accept the respect" you will give a false impression of your personality, character, and interests. This will come to light later in the relationship in a potentially destructive way.

"Don't make girls cry" --Hahahahaha! Any man that has ever dated knows that girls will cry for any and all reasons, or for no reason at all. Sometimes it is just a baffling test of some sort. Sometimes it's just for attention. Being respectful won't control a girl's weepiness. The girl needs to learn self control.

Duh. Did we need a revelation or a "Restoration" to know this? Even atheists know you should treat other individuals with respect.

Duh.