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New Pew research shows LDS retention rate worsening for those raised LDS
Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2026 8:19 pm
by Poly G Porter
Hi all, long time no post!
This comes as no surprise to most of us here.
About half of Americans who say they were raised as Latter-day Saints still identify as members of the church in adulthood (54%), according to the 2023-24 RLS. That retention rate has steadily declined since 2007, when it stood at 70%.
A growing percentage of people who were raised as Latter-day Saints now identify as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular.” As of 2023-24, 28% of adults who were raised as Latter-day Saints are religiously unaffiliated – double the figure seen in 2007.
I identify as an apathetic atheist.
https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/20 ... in-the-us/
Re: New Pew research shows LDS retention rate worsening for those raised LDS
Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2026 8:36 pm
by drumdude
As someone who still respects Christianity as a whole, I find it troubling that Mormonism drives people straight out of religion entirely.
In large part it’s because there is minimal room within Mormonism for reasonable nuanced belief. You’re constantly subject to lectures about fictional history, lectures about anti-LGBT morality, and subject to interrogations of your loyalty to the organization.
I don’t blame former Mormons for throwing away religion entirely but there is a whole other world of more tolerant religions out there that don’t ask you to leave your brain at the door.
Re: New Pew research shows LDS retention rate worsening for those raised LDS
Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2026 8:39 pm
by Shulem
Poly G Porter wrote: ↑Sat Sep 26, 2026 8:19 pm
Hi all, long time no post!
Is that you, _Polygamy Porter?
Re: New Pew research shows LDS retention rate worsening for those raised LDS
Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2026 9:07 pm
by Everybody Wang Chung
Poly G Porter wrote: ↑Sat Sep 26, 2026 8:19 pm
Hi all, long time no post!
This come as no surprise to most of us here.
About half of Americans who say they were raised as Latter-day Saints still identify as members of the church in adulthood (54%), according to the 2023-24 RLS. That retention rate has steadily declined since 2007, when it stood at 70%.
https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/20 ... in-the-us/
And only about 30% of those 54% who still identify as members are considered active. Not a good sign for the church.
Re: New Pew research shows LDS retention rate worsening for those raised LDS
Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2026 3:59 am
by Poly G Porter
Shulem wrote: ↑Sat Sep 26, 2026 8:39 pm
Poly G Porter wrote: ↑Sat Sep 26, 2026 8:19 pm
Hi all, long time no post!
Is that you, _Polygamy Porter?
Yooo Shulemkkkkie... PICK UP DA PHONE!!!
Re: New Pew research shows LDS retention rate worsening for those raised LDS
Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2026 7:15 pm
by Shulem
Poly G Porter wrote: ↑Sun Sep 27, 2026 3:59 am
Yooo Shulemkkkkie... PICK UP DA PHONE!!!
Sorry, I'm retired and live in the forests out in the middle of nowhere. I don't hardly pick up the phone for anyone anymore!
In my thoughts, I have seen rings of smoke through the trees...
Re: New Pew research shows LDS retention rate worsening for those raised LDS
Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2026 1:31 am
by msnobody
Good to see you back Polygamy Porter.
Re: New Pew research shows LDS retention rate worsening for those raised LDS
Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2026 5:31 am
by Poly G Porter
msnobody wrote: ↑Mon Sep 28, 2026 1:31 am
Good to see you back Polygamy Porter.
It has been a while.
Again, I am surprised by so many here arguing the points from 5, 10, 20 years ago.
I am glad to see the LDS Inc empire crumble further though....
Re: New Pew research shows LDS retention rate worsening for those raised LDS
Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2026 2:00 pm
by Shulem
Poly G Porter wrote: ↑Wed Sep 30, 2026 5:31 am
I am
glad to see the LDS Inc empire crumble further though....
Me too.
The advent of the Internet has really taken a toll on the church in revealing so much information and distributing it to the population at large. Anyone can learn about the church from the privacy of their own computer, laptop, and phone. But now everything has really changed and will take off exponentially with the advent of AI which will utterly destroy the church and force it to morph into something entirely different than what it was and is. The Church is a changing organization and its survival will force change. The cult has met the end of its days because information and knowledge will not allow it to run as business as usual.
Re: New Pew research shows LDS retention rate worsening for those raised LDS
Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2026 2:45 pm
by Kishkumen
drumdude wrote: ↑Sat Sep 26, 2026 8:36 pm
As someone who still respects Christianity as a whole, I find it troubling that Mormonism drives people straight out of religion entirely.
In large part it’s because there is minimal room within Mormonism for reasonable nuanced belief. You’re constantly subject to lectures about fictional history, lectures about anti-LGBT morality, and subject to interrogations of your loyalty to the organization.
I don’t blame former Mormons for throwing away religion entirely but there is a whole other world of more tolerant religions out there that don’t ask you to leave your brain at the door.
The LDS Church does not have a lot of resources for intellectual members. Its curriculum is dull, and it does not foster open discussion.