Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

Religion weekly update, Sept. 23, 2026


Religion & Public Life

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The Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple in American Fork, Utah. (Ryan Houston via Getty Images)

Tradition and Change Among Latter-day Saints in the U.S.

In many ways, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are a stable and traditional community, a new Pew Research Center study shows. Latter-day Saints (widely known as Mormons) have long made up between 1% and 2% of the U.S. adult population and have consistently stood out as highly religious and conservative.

For example, about seven-in-ten Latter-day Saints say that religion is very important in their lives. And about three-quarters of the church’s members identify as Republican or lean toward the Republican Party.

Amid these signs of stability, however, are indications of change within the church. Since 2007, Latter-day Saints have become slightly less religious by some key measures, including daily prayer rates. They also have grown modestly more liberal on some social and political issues, such as homosexuality.

Explore other parts of this study covering:

Media mentions

9 ways U.S. Mormons are changing, according to Pew data
Sept. 22 – Religion News Service

In the news

Abortion is on the ballot again as post-Roe policies continue to evolve
Sept. 22 – NPR

Pope will retrace his missionary footsteps in Peru and finally visit Argentina in November
Sept. 21 – The Associated Press

BYU faces continued pattern of derogatory religious chants from opposing fans
Sept. 21 – KUTV

A Sikh truck driver was stabbed at a rest stop. Others feel targeted too
Sept. 20 – The New York Times *

How American Jews find meaning on Yom Kippur
Sept. 20 – The New York Times *

How anti-Muslim rhetoric is influencing the pivotal Michigan Senate race
Sept. 19 – The Washington Post *

Michigan city defends itself against accusations of favoring Muslim holidays over other faiths
Sept. 19 – The Associated Press

Turkey’s LGBT crackdown draws international condemnation, protests
Sept. 18 – The Washington Post *

Idaho hosts first religious freedom summit to explore coexistence and protect liberties
Sept. 18 – KTVB 7

Why some Jewish leaders say they want to stop using the word ‘Zionism’
Sept. 17 – The Washington Post *

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