Salt Lake City ranked first for happy marriages

Salt Lake City, Utah, is not only beautiful with its spectacular sunsets, lake views and breath-taking mountains. It is also ranked #1 in the nation for the happiest marriages and America’s second “youngest” city in recent surveys conducted by RealAge.com. The city of Ogden was included as part of the youngest city survey.

The determining factors for the surveys were determined by a panel of wellness doctors, including Dr. Mike Roizen and Dr. Mehmet Oz. The organization promotes healthy lifestyles to prevent early aging and poor health.

Two highlights help earn Salt Lake City-Ogden the second-youngest RealAge in America: The region is the best place for happy marriages and second best for not smoking. Residents’ other healthy habits include taking a daily aspirin and keeping an optimistic outlook. Both are good for your heart.

The reasons for happier marriages in Salt Lake City were not clearly defined, although it suggested several factors. The announcement on their webpage stated:

Temple Square is the place to get married in Salt Lake City. During peak wedding season, the square hosts more than 80 ceremonies a day. All of this nuptial excitement must rub off on the people who live there because this capital city of Utah ranks No. 1 for happy marriages, and Salt Lake spouses must be good role models for one another because their healthy habits, such as being physically active and not smoking, made SLC the second youngest city in the overall rankings.

The article provided seven tips to successful marital relationships:

When things get tense, tap your sense of humor. Conflicts are inevitable in any marriage, but if you remember to laugh about them, it helps you work through the tension and reconnect.
Research suggests that keeping a journal may help cement your bond with your partner. The simple act of focusing for a few minutes on the important things in your life helps you feel more enthusiastic or positive about them.
When it comes to relationships, spirituality is a powerful tool. Meditation and prayer can help slow breathing and brain activity, and reduce heart rate and blood pressure — all of which are likely to make you feel more peaceful, joyful, and forgiving toward your spouse.
It’s important to make time to do things as a couple to rekindle love and affection.
Seeing eye to eye on financial issues — a leading cause of marital stress and divorce — can go a long way toward avoiding marriage troubles.
Researchers have found that spending just 5 minutes a day outside in a natural setting seriously lifts your mood and your self-esteem, which makes both you and your mate way more fun to be around.
Studies suggest that enjoying the arts can soothe anxiety, zap your risk of depression, and make you feel more satisfied with your life and relationships.

It is possible that the real reason marriages in Salt Lake City are happier is due to its high population of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons or LDS) who marry in Mormon temples, which entails an eternal commitment.

In 2000, an article written for the LA Times stated that there is a significantly lower divorce rate among those who have temple marriages. Author William Lobdell, a non- Mormon suggested ten reasons why:

They date within their faith.
They make sure they’re committed to their faith.
They get their lives squared away before marriage.
They make the wedding ceremony sacred.
“Until death do you part” isn’t enough. They marry for eternity.
They believe the family that prays together stays together.
They send their young men on two-year missions, which get them used to the stresses and strains of living with someone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
They get help when they have a problem.
They believe children create happy, stable marriages.
Mormon families have what they call “family home evenings,” usually on Mondays. That’s when the TV goes off, and the family either tackles a spiritual lesson or simply plays board games and eats treats.