Latter-day Saint Trends in the United States: Religiousness, Well-Being, and Retention

Latter-day Saint Trends in the United States: Religiousness, Well-Being, and Retention offers a data-rich look at the current state of Latter-day Saint faith and practice in America. Using national surveys and longitudinal youth data, the report compares Latter-day Saints with other religious groups across measures such as church attendance, prayer, scripture reading, family religious practice, spiritual well-being, happiness, and religious retention. The findings show that Latter-day Saints remain in a notably strong position among American religions, ranking especially high in religious participation, family-centered faith practices, spiritual peace, and active retention. At the same time, the report candidly examines declining retention over recent decades, generational differences, predictors of deidentification, and the varied beliefs and attitudes of former Latter-day Saints. Written for scholars, Church leaders, educators, students, and interested readers, this report provides careful analysis and context for understanding both the strengths and challenges of Latter-day Saint religious life in the United States today.