There is a ray of marital hope, however. And that comes from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--specifically, from those Mormons who marry in a temple. While other Mormons divorce at the usual rate, only 6% of those who undergo the demanding temple marriage break up, according to Brigham Young University professor Daniel K. Judd.

"When we get married, we have one goal and one vision: to create a family," said Tustin resident Brian Banner, 24, who will be married today at the Mormon temple in San Diego (the other Southern California temple is in Los Angeles). "We believe that it's something God's ordained and not something you can walk away from. If something's wrong, you need to fix it."

To be married in the temple--which Mormons believe is holy ground- -you need to be "worthy." In premarital sessions, a local Mormon leader sits down with couples and makes sure they are living by the standards of the church. They are tested on such things as their faith, their relationships with their family, their sexual conduct and their use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. If they fall short, they can repent, change the behavior and still be married in the temple.