Now the Daily Mail is reporting on a study which seems to validate the LDS position. A research team from Cornell University asked almost 600 married and cohabiting couples a series of questions about the health of their relationships. One of the questions asked was how long they had waited before sleeping together
Around a third of the men and women said they’d had sex within the first month of dating, while about 28 per cent waited at least six months. Cross-referencing this response with the response to other questions showed that women who had waited to have sex tended to be happier, and those who waited at least six months scored more highly in every category measured than those who got intimate within the first month. Even their sex lives were better. Although the link was weaker for men, those who waited to get physically involved also benefited by having less conflict.
The Daily Mail disclosed that the original report has been published in the August 2012 edition of the Journal of Marriage and Family. Only the abstract is available for casual viewing; one must register and pay a fee to read the full article. The abstract hints at a distinction between married and cohabiting couples, stating "Cohabiting may result in poorer quality relationship because rapid sexual involvement early in the romantic relationship is associated with entrance into shared living".
Of course, the LDS Church didn't need to take a survey to figure that out. That's because Joseph Smith and all his successors chose to take the Lord's word on the matter. And when you consider the couplet "As man is, God once was, and as God is, man may become", this implies our Heavenly Father knows what He's talking about. During His mortal probation, He undoubtedly looked upon women and lusted after them many times. But the fact that He eventually was ordained unto Godhood implies that He did not yield to that lust, instead waiting until marriage. So our Heavenly Father figures that if He and the Heavenly Mother could wait until marriage, so can we. Besides, babies deserve to be born into two-parent homes where the father and mother are living together in holy matrimony; it is infrastructurally the most stable setting.
There are some supportive comments posted to the Daily Mail:
rightstuff, Bristol, 2/9/2012 8:07:
I read that one in five women and one in four men are unfaithful in marriage. What you need to do therefore if you are the faithful type is to suss out the same. Delaying gratification is a good test of someone putting the genuine relationship first so you are more likely to be on to a winner! Married over 40 years and it's been a long but oh so short time.
grumpyoldlady, Maryland, US, 2/9/2012 7:10:
Waiting until you're married is ultimately just common sense. Sex confuses the issue, and many people think they are in love, or they ignore their partners faults because they are enamoured (sp?) with the sex. Having a relationship without the sex initially, forces you to focus on the relationship. If you can stay with someone without the sex, than odds are, that is the right person for you.
Sue, Squiggly Box House, 2/9/2012 2:20:
We abstained before marriage and have just celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary. The couples we know who did likewise are also still together after 30+ years. Those who we know who didn't wait are all divorced now. Some are on their 3rd or 4th spouse. So, yes, I'd say it works, and I'd say that's how it's meant to be. Some things are so special they are worth waiting for.
Fed Up With This, No Longer Great Britain, 2/9/2012 9:18:
Strange that. You only needed to read the maker's manual to find out what He recommended and strangely He said the same thing. Bible proved right once again
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