The Surprising REAL Reason People Are Leaving The Church
The Surprising REAL Reason People Are Leaving The Church  
Podcast: Informed Saints
Published On: Sun Feb 15 2026
Description: In the 1980s, around 80% of people raised Latter-day Saint still identified with the Church as adults—today it’s closer to 50%. Online, that gets framed as “the Church is uniquely hemorrhaging members.” But when you zoom out and compare to broader U.S. religious trends, the story looks more complicated—and in key ways, more hopeful. In this episode, social scientist Justin Dyer (BYU) breaks down major national datasets and new research on Latter-day Saint religiousness, well-being, and retention in the United States. We talk: •Why “big data” needs careful context (forest vs trees) •How LDS retention compares to other Christian traditions (especially active participation) •The surprising reality of “ex-Mormon” profiles (including the “faith keepers/leaners” groups) •Why daily connection with God matters for retention •How political identity—on the extremes—can pull people away from faith •What the data actually suggests about mental health, happiness, and well-being •Why you shouldn’t burn bridges—and why the story isn’t finished ===Informed Saints Credits=== Produced by The Ancient America Foundation Producer: Spencer Clark Hosts: Stephen Smoot, Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye Materials mentioned / core context •https://foundations.byu.edu/0000019b-1343-d613-a59b-17df82980000/latterdaysaintreligiosity-pdf •https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/02/26/religious-landscape-study-executive-summary/ •https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/02/26/decline-of-christianity-in-the-us-has-slowed-may-have-leveled-off/ •https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/12/15/why-do-some-americans-leave-their-religion-while-others-stay/ •https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Bowling-Alone-Revised-and-Updated/Robert-D-Putnam/9781982130848 •https://medicine.utah.edu/psychiatry/news/2015/05/key-mountain-states-suicide-belt-thin-air-u-of-u-school-of-medicine Positive, faith-supporting resources (for audience) •https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2013/10/come-join-with-us?lang=eng •https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/04/54uchtdorf?lang=eng •https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/10/51nelson?lang=eng Mental health & resilience resources (Church) •https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/bc/content/ldsorg/topics/self-reliance/4-10-20-Emotional-Self-Reliance-Manual_updated.pdf?lang=eng  •http... Chapters (00:00:00) - The Growing Disbandment of the Latter Day Saints(00:00:41) - Justin Dyer on Latter Day Saint religious(00:05:09) - Latter Day Saints and social connectedness(00:11:11) - The Biggest predictor of Leaving the Church(00:20:36) - The typical ex-Mormon profile(00:24:35) - What are some factors that might lead a person to reject faith entirely(00:29:58) - How Does the Latter Day Saint Church Fare on Mental Health?(00:32:21) - Mental Well-Being among Latter Day Saints(00:34:51) - A message about the future of Latter Day Saints