While recognizing that many people are turning away from religion, Justin Dyer, professor of religious education at Brigham Young University and editor-in-chief of BYU Studies, remains optimistic.
A new paper published through BYU Studies gathered datasets from Harvard University and the Pew Research Center to answer the question: “How do Latter-day Saints fare nationally, and how do they compare to people of other faiths and no faith?”
Studies show that Latter-day Saints have high attendance rates, with 76% attending at least once a month. “Pew data shows that Latter-day Saints attend religious services more than any other religion surveyed,” Dyer said.
In addition to church attendance, the study also found that Latter-day Saints rank highest in reading the scriptures and praying with their children.
Mr. Dyer commented on the church’s “Come, Follow Me” curriculum and shared the benefits of spiritual family study, prayer, and discussion. “You’re engaging with kids, but you’re engaging with kids about things that have deep meaning and deep value,” he explained on an episode of the Church News Podcast.
“And I think you’ll find that the church’s emphasis in those cases is really paying off,” Dyer said. “So bringing families together is something that our society desperately needs, and within the church we seem to be achieving that at a uniquely high level.”
Retention rate and its predictors
The BYU study’s Dyer and colleagues tracked the religious activities of 2,000 young people, about half Latter-day Saints and half nonbelievers, for 10 years.
“So we said, ‘Okay, when do they leave the church? And what are the factors that were happening early in their lives that predict whether they will leave the church?'” Dyer said.
At the end of the study, the researchers found that one of the biggest correlates of maintaining religious involvement was “experiencing the presence of God on a regular basis,” Dyer said.
“When we talk about the kinds of things that might be going on in the church, we want to make sure that it’s connected to a personal connection with God, that they’re feeling the Holy Spirit, they’re feeling God’s love, they’re feeling God’s influence in their hearts,” he added.
However, many Latter-day Saints already participate in the practice. According to the BYU study, 67% of members feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and well-being at least once a week, the highest of any religion surveyed.
This principle can be applied beyond church attendance to personal prayer and scripture study. The key, he said, is to ask, “How can I connect with God? How can I worship God through this?”
Dyer said one of the biggest reasons for the decline in religious activity in the United States in recent decades is an increased focus on the self. He suggested that members “attend worship services without focusing on, ‘Okay, what’s the good in this?'” But more than that, we focus on, “How can I bless others today?” How can I feel God’s presence in my life today? ”
“If we go there for the two great commandments, love God and love neighbor, we will feel the joy that comes from that, and we will stay more connected.”
What the data says about retirees
Perceiving divine influence may be one of the biggest predictors of religious longevity, but it’s not necessarily a reason to leave the church.
In fact, Dyer said he found that most of those who left “still think religion is important.” “They still think spirituality is important in their lives. And they still cling to a lot of that.”
Dyer believes that those who are truly negative about religion after leaving the church (about 10% of those surveyed) have their voices amplified on social media.
“And it turns out that in very many cases, these people still have a lot of great things that the church has given them,” he said. “And as we understand that individual, that bridge is built and they feel understood and seen and heard by us.”
This group feels the need to be heard and understood rather than lectured to. “Because our lives preach,” Dyer said.
Regarding the BYU study, Dyer said Latter-day Saints should recognize that they are “doing very well in these areas.”
“My testimony is not based on numbers. It helps me understand. But I think it also helps me understand the Lord’s work to bless children a little better.”
