Does church attendance really matter?

In a word, yes.

Recent sociological studies have found that when both parents attend church regularly:

1. it protects more families from marital infidelity when the couple is living in an already satisfactory marriage,

 2.  they use less pornography,

3.  they have lower rates of domestic violence, and

4.  there are less disputes over things like housework, faith, money, time and sex

5.  and women who are part of a religious group are more likely to have children.

 (Successful Marriages and Families, p. 185-188).

It is worth noting that if both parents do not attend regularly, there is an inequality in their relationship that can lead to violence.  Additionally, the divorce rate among LDS-to-non-LDS has a much higher rate of dissolution (40%) than other interfaith marriages.  Why?

Perhaps it's because an active LDS member has to spend a great deal of "time, discipline, energy, sacrifice, status, money, and opportunity-costs" living their religion.  It's not very compatible if you're always off living your religion.

Joseph F. Smith reminds us that, "A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary [to lead] unto life and salvation." (Lectures on Faith, p.58.)

So the simple answer is . . . go to church, and do it regularly.  It will make a difference in how you live your lives.

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