Wedding bells won't be ringing soon for Josiah Duggar and Marjorie Jackson as they have ended their courtship after four months.
"A few weeks ago Marjorie and Josiah agreed to end their courtship, keeping in step with what they believe the Lord's will is," the Duggar and Jackson families said in a joint statement released on the Duggar family Facebook page.
"Both are thankful for the time getting to know each other, and their families continue to enjoy each other's company and close friendship. As parents we are very pleased to see two young people searching out their futures with God's will as their first priority!"
They added that the two have enjoyed getting to know each other and building their friendship over the past months.
Josiah, 18, and Marjorie, 17, officially began courting on April 6, on the same day that Josiah's older sister, Jill, gave birth to her son Israel. The teenagers announced their new relationship in a video posted on TLC's website.
Josiah and Marjorie met several years ago when the former was taking Spanish lessons from the latter's mother, Analucia. Last December, they got to know each other better while on a mission trip to El Salvador.
During their four-month relationship, Josiah would often post pictures of the couple. His last photo of the two of them was posted more than two months ago.
Many of the Duggar family's Facebook followers were supportive of Josiah's and Marjorie's decision to end their courtship, praising the teenagers for making such a responsible and mature decision, and many of them hoped that their friendship would continue and that each of them will find the perfect person for them.
