By Emma Pitts, Deseret News

PROVO — "Get married" was the message Tuesday morning for Brigham Young University students who filled the seats of the Marriott Center. At the BYU Forum address, Brad Wilcox, professor of sociology and the director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia, said marriage plays a significant role in determining a person's overall happiness throughout their lifetime.

Wilcox, who is also a contributing writer for the Deseret News, and who helped with the Utah law passed to protect kids from risks linked to social media, opened with the Greek myth of King Midas, famous for his ability to turn everything he touched into gold.

Initially delighted with his golden touch, Midas soon realized its curse when he turned his food, drink and even his beloved daughter into gold. Wilcox's purpose was to show students the dangers of greed and the realization that happiness cannot be found in material wealth alone.

"This ancient fable, I think, could not be more relevant for us today," Wilcox said, "because the new elite messaging that we're often getting in the media, in the academy and online about work and freedom and family" portrays a Midas mindset.

"This mindset discounts the importance of marriage and family," Wilcox added, noting that the new normal allows marriage to take a back seat to hustle culture and capital. "In other words, it's about mammon over marriage," he said.

Why are fewer people getting married?

Wilcox acknowledged the popular view that "marriage is often an obstacle to living your best life. You're supposed to live your life dedicated to radical self-love."

Media outlets like Bloomberg and the New York Times have published anti-marriage opinions by viewing the institution as a barrier to achieving your ultimate potential, he said. He also referred to social media figures like Andrew Tate who says men in Western society do not benefit from marriage like they used to. The controversial influencer said in a 2022 interview that he believes marriage isn't happening as often today because "many men don't actually benefit from marriages or relationships anymore."

https://www.ksl.com/article/50802692/marriage-and-family-are-the-ultimate-source-of-happiness-experts-say