Keeping Young Mormons on the Team

When the country split into political camps, many people began to see their faith through that same lens.
Now a growing number of younger church members feel that the church’s strong conservative image does not match their own values.

A Generational Divide

• 73 % of U.S. members lean Republican, while only 23 % lean Democrat—yet this split hides big differences among generations.
• Gen X and millennials who are Republican‑leaning make up about half of the church, but they are also the groups most likely to leave or question their membership.
• Young women, in particular, are stepping away at higher rates than men, changing marriage patterns and educational goals.

Reasons Behind Departures

Surveys highlight the reasons behind these departures:

• Nearly 40 % of former members say they could no longer reconcile their personal values with those of the church.
• Other key concerns include honesty, women’s roles and LGBTQ issues—topics that also drive people out of other faiths.

Political Diversity in Decline

• Liberal voices have historically been few in the church’s leadership.
• Since the death of a progressive senior leader over 50 years ago, and after the last L‑Mormon Democrat in Congress died a decade ago, the church’s political diversity has faded.
• An increase in outspoken Republican leaders—some of whom embrace extreme rhetoric—has made the church appear even more partisan.

Higher Education: A Fading Safe Space

• Liberal Mormons sometimes find community in higher education, but faculty hiring practices are shrinking that space.
• Without a visible range of political opinions, many younger members feel isolated and may choose to step away.

No Quick Fix

The church will need to:

1. Broaden its outreach.
2. Invite liberal members into leadership roles.
3. Demonstrate shared values that go beyond party lines.

Doing so could help more people see their faith as a place where they can truly belong.