98 Reasons to Be a Latter-day Saint

Real data. Real studies. Every stat links to its original source. Ranked by how hard the data hits.

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LDS Rank
#1
Mental Health
LDS LGBQ Youth Have the Lowest Self-Deletion Attempt Rate
10% attempt rate — lowest of any religious group. No religion: 23%. BYU Studies, 86,346 students.
Health
Monthly Fasting Cuts Coronary Artery Disease Risk by 54%
Peer-reviewed. 71% less likely to have heart failure. Intermountain Medical Center.
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Mental Health
Active LDS Men Have Self-Deletion Rates 3-6x Lower Than Non-LDS
American Journal of Epidemiology, 27,738 death records. One of the largest protective effects ever documented.
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LDS Rank
#1
Service
LDS Members Lead Every Denomination in Neighborly Service
45% vs 33% Evangelicals. AEI 2021. Confirmed by Penn and Pew independently.
Health
LDS Members Die at Half the Rate of the Average American
All-cause SMR of 49 (men), 59 (women). U.S. baseline: 100. Enstrom & Breslow.
LDS Rank
#1
Health
LDS Members Live Nearly a Decade Longer
Men: +9.8 years. Women: +5.6 years. UCLA, 24-year study. 'Lowest death rates ever documented.'
Health
Cardiovascular Death Rate 74% Below the U.S. Average
SMR of 26 for men. Among the lowest ever documented. Enstrom & Breslow.
Health
LDS Men Die of Smoking-Related Cancers at 84% Below National Rate
SMR of 16. Word of Wisdom written 1833. Science confirmed 1950s.
Character
The Only Religion That Likes Every Other Religion — Including Atheists
Net favorable view of every group measured. No other denomination does this. Pew 2023.
Mental Health
The 'LGB Mormon Paradox': Better Mental Health Than LGB Non-Mormons
Baylor University, Journal of Homosexuality, 2017. Population-based data.
Mental Health
Bowling Green State Confirms: LDS LGBTQ Youth Have Lower Risk
Independent analysis of 73,982 students confirms BYU Studies finding.
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LDS Rank
#1
Women & Happiness
LDS Women Report the Highest Happiness Rate of Any Religious Group
35% 'very happy' — highest. 5% 'not too happy' — lowest. Pew 2023-24.
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Child Safety
LDS Boy Scout Troops Had 5% of Abuse Cases Despite Being 20-30% of BSA
5.16% of cases from 20-30% of troops. Public Square Magazine / Cranney.
LDS Rank
#1
Happiness
LDS Tied for #1 Happiest Religious Group in America
69.4% well-being score. Gallup, 676,000 respondents.
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LDS Rank
#1
Marriage
LDS: Lowest Divorce Rate + Highest Marriage Rate
9% divorced (lowest). 66% married (highest). Pew / GSS / Cranney at Baylor.
LDS Rank
#1
Service
LDS Members Volunteer 430 Hours/Year — 7x National Average
Penn: 'the most prosocial members of American society.'
LDS Rank
#1
Civic Engagement
Pew Called LDS 'The Most Pro-Social in American Society'
35.5 hours/month volunteering. Pew Research Center, 2012.
LDS Rank
#1
Youth Outcomes
LDS Teenagers Have the Highest Abstinence Rate from All Substances
25% tried alcohol vs 85% nationally. BYU RSC, 20-year study.
Self-Reliance
LDS Households Are Dramatically More Prepared for Emergencies
Peer-reviewed PMC study, 572 households, 46 states.
Health
LDS Men Live 7.3 Years Longer — Same State, Same Environment
Neighbor vs neighbor in Utah. Demographic Research, 2004.
LDS Rank
#1
Marriage
LDS Marital Satisfaction: 9.3/10 — Highest of Any Religion
Evangelicals: 8.9. Catholics: 8.2. GSS / Baylor.
Health
LDS Members Have 24% Lower Cancer Rates
60% lower smoking-associated cancer in women. UCLA/demographic research.
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LDS Rank
#1
Commitment
GPS Data Proves LDS Church Attendance Is 3x the National Average
2.1 million phones. University of Chicago.
Mission Service
Pentagon's Language School: 64 Weeks. LDS Church: 9 Weeks.
36,000 students/year. 50+ languages. NPR, 2014.
LDS Rank
#1
FamilySearch
FamilySearch: 22.7 Billion Records — Largest Genealogy Database, Free
1.8 billion people. 285 million visits. Entirely free.
Commitment
Christian Prayer Collapsed 14 Points. LDS Held at 73%.
US Christian: 58%→44%. LDS: steady. Gap: 29 points. Pew.
LDS Rank
#2
Biblical Literacy
LDS Scripture Reading: 77% Weekly — Higher Than Evangelicals
Evangelicals: 63%. Pew, 35,000+ Americans.
LDS Rank
#1
Biblical Literacy
LDS Members Score #1 on Bible Knowledge — Pew Survey
Higher than every other group tested. Pew Religious Knowledge Survey.
Youth Outcomes
20-Year Study: Home Spiritual Environment Protects LDS Youth
5,000+ students across US, UK, Mexico. BYU RSC.
Disaster Response
12,000 Volunteers in 48 Hours: Hurricane Helene 2024
170,000 hours. 5,700 homes. 14 command centers.
Education
Perpetual Education Fund: 130,000 Graduates, 70% Graduation Rate
80+ countries. 88% found better work. Double US college completion rate.
LDS Rank
#1
Education
Payscale's #1 Value University Is LDS — Tuition $4,800/Year
Above Harvard in relative economic value. Payscale ROI Report.
Mission Service
Returned Missionaries: College Degrees at 2x the National Rate
37-45% vs 18% peers. 88% found better work. BYU Studies.
Retention
Gen Z Leaves Religion at Record Rates. LDS Gen Z Attends at 60%+.
68% under 45 say religion very important. Outperforming every denomination.
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Happiness
Life Satisfaction Drops After Leaving the LDS Church
Active: 3.92/5. Former: 3.41/5. Next Mormons Survey.
LDS Rank
#1
Community
Most Community-Connected Religious Group in America
72% feel connected. Evangelicals: 57%. AEI 2021.
Education
Education Strengthens LDS Faith — The Most Dramatic Exception to the Pattern
92% of college-educated LDS are highly religious vs 78% without. Pew 2017.
LDS Rank
#1
Health
LDS Smoking Rate: 8% — Lowest of Any Religion
National: 20%. Heavy alcohol: 1% vs 5-7% others. Gallup.
Global Humanitarian
47% Fewer Infant Deaths: LDS Neonatal Program in 94 Countries
159 babies resuscitated in one year. Tanzania: 47% reduction.
Church Growth
308,000 People Joined the LDS Church in 2024 — Most in 27 Years
+22.6% from 2023. Salt Lake Tribune confirmed.
LDS Rank
#1
Commitment
LDS Lead Every Denomination in Weekly Group Scripture Study
45% vs 30% Evangelicals. National: 13%. Pew 2023-24.
LDS Rank
#1
Retention
LDS Active Participation: 42% — Highest of Any Religion
42% raised LDS attend monthly. Highest of any religion. Pew.
LDS Rank
#1
Service
LDS Charitable Giving: $1,171/Year — Highest of Any Religion
52% more than Catholics. 88% more than Mainline. Penn.
LDS Rank
#1
Health
GPS Verified: Least Likely to Visit Liquor Stores and Tobacco Shops
2.1 million phones. Not surveys — actual behavior. U of Chicago.
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LDS Rank
#1
Health
LDS Visit Adult Venues at 1.7% — Lowest of Any Religion
GPS-verified. Three times lower than other groups. U of Chicago.
Disaster Response
LDS Disaster Relief Deploys Within Hours — 119 Projects in 49 Countries
Supplies within hours. 119 projects in 49 countries (2016).
LDS Rank
#1
Family
80% of LDS Parents Teach Faith at Home — Most of Any Group
Evangelicals: 76%. Muslims: 70%. All Christians: 58%. Pew 2023-24.
Youth Outcomes
At 18, LDS Youth Have Premarital Sex at One-Fifth the National Rate
LDS men: 11% vs 58%. LDS women: 19% vs 59%. BYU/NCHS.
Church Growth
More Temples Built in 6 Years Than in All Prior History
382 temples. 46% announced/dedicated 2018-2024.
Education
LDS High Schoolers Earn A Grades at 2.5x the National Rate
Men: 25% vs 9%. Women: 33% vs 14%. BYU Shield of Faith.
LDS Women
Relief Society: 7 Million Members, 188 Countries
Founded 1842. One of the oldest and largest women's organizations.
Family
81% Say Being a Good Parent Is a Top Life Goal — vs 50% Nationally
73% prioritize marriage vs 34% nationally. Pew 2012.
LDS Rank
#1
Health
LDS Heavy Alcohol Use: 1% — Lowest of Any Religion
Catholics: 7%. Mainline: 6%. Evangelicals: 5%. Pew.
Health
Active LDS Men: 40% Lower Early Mortality
UCLA longitudinal study.
Health
Active LDS Women: 27% Lower Early Mortality
UCLA longitudinal study.
Health
LDS Women Live 5.6 Years Longer
86.1 vs 80.5. UCLA, 24-year study.
LDS Rank
#2
Marriage
82% of LDS Marriages Are Between Two Latter-day Saints
Second only to Hindus (91%). Pew 2015.
Church Growth
Last 12 Months: Highest LDS Conversions in Church History
Q1 2025 up 20%+ in every region. Salt Lake Tribune.
Mission Service
74,127 Full-Time Missionaries in 150+ Countries
450 missions. 35,000+ service missionaries.
Commitment
97% Believe in God — 83% Absolutely Certain
National: 80% believe, 56% certain. Pew 2023-24.
Food Security
122 Bishops' Storehouses Produced 100 Million Pounds of Food
32 farms. 6 countries. 32M lbs donated externally.
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LDS Rank
#1
Service
72% of LDS Volunteered in the Past Year — Highest by 20 Points
20 points above next group. Pew Research.
LDS Rank
#1
Happiness
LDS Think About Life's Meaning More Than Any Other Religious Group
65% weekly. Evangelicals: 58%. Pew 2023-24.
Education
BYU Pathway: 74,839 Students in 180 Countries
68% international. 252,395 total since founding.
Education
1 Million Students in LDS Seminary and Institute
75,000 non-LDS participants. Daily scripture education.
Service
LDS Church: $1.58 Billion in Welfare and Humanitarian Spending
196 countries. ~$4M/day. Growing annually.
Service
670,000 People Made More Self-Reliant in 130 Countries
61% improved problem-solving. Church program data.
Mission Service
60% of LDS Missionaries Come From Outside the US
170 countries. Brazil, Mexico, Philippines among top senders.
Commitment
73% of LDS Members Pray Every Day
Only 7% seldom/never vs 32% of Americans. Pew 2023-24.
LDS Rank
#1
Commitment
LDS Say Grace More Than Any Other Religious Group
68% always/often. Evangelicals: 58%. Pew 2023-24.
LDS Rank
#1
Commitment
79% Say Religion Is Very Important in Daily Life
Evangelicals: 74%. National: 42%. Pew 2023-24.
LDS Rank
#1
Commitment
Highest Afterlife Belief of Any Christian Group
95% believe. 80% certain. Pew 2023-24.
LDS Rank
#1
Commitment
73.4% 'Very Religious' — 2x Every Other Group
Protestants, Muslims, Catholics ~37%. Pew 2023-24.
LDS Rank
#1
Commitment
115 Minutes Per Church Visit — Nearly Double Catholics
GPS-verified. University of Chicago.
Commitment
22% Claim Weekly Church. Only 5% Go. LDS Reports Match Reality.
GPS data. Most groups overreport. LDS doesn't.
Retention
60%+ of LDS Young Adults Attend Weekly — vs 22% Non-LDS
Bucking national trend. Pew/CES 2024.
Youth Outcomes
85% of LDS Young Adults Say Faith Is Important
vs 54% non-LDS. Only 7% say 'not at all' vs 27%. Pew.
Happiness
92% of Young LDS (Under 50) Report High Life Satisfaction
vs 79% general population. Pew.
Happiness
83-85% of LDS Report Being Very or Pretty Happy
Pew 2023-24. Consistent with Gallup #1 ranking.
Marriage
LDS Same-Faith Marriages: 13% Divorce in 5 Years. Interfaith: 40%.
Threefold difference. BYU Studies.
Marriage
Temple-Sealed Marriages: Divorce in Low 20s% vs ~50% National
Three times lower. BYU Studies 2023.
LDS Rank
#1
Marriage
LDS Families Average 3.4 Children — Highest of Any Major Group
vs 2.1 national. Pew.
Education
LDS Post-Secondary Education: Men 53.5% vs 36.5% National
Women: 44.3% vs 27.7%. Pew.
Education
LDS Youth Attend Daily Religious Education
No other denomination matches. Seminary + Institute.
Financial Outcomes
20% of LDS Households Earn $100,000+
Above national median. Pew Religious Landscape Study.
Service
Annual Volunteer Value Per Active LDS Member: $9,140
430 hours/year at economic value. Penn.
Civic Engagement
74% Say Helping the Poor Is Essential to Being a Good Mormon
Not optional. Pew 2012.
Global Humanitarian
3,836 Projects. 192 Countries. 6.6 Million Hours. One Year.
591 food security + 267 clean water projects.
Global Humanitarian
$55.8 Million for Child Nutrition Across 12 Countries
Nearly 2 million children. One line item in a $1.45B year.
Global Humanitarian
350,000+ Wheelchairs. 6.4 Million With Clean Water.
Decades of sustained humanitarian investment.
Food Security
LDS Church Spent $906 Million on Member Welfare in One Year
$1.45B combined welfare + humanitarian in 2024.
Food Security
32 Church-Owned Farms Supply a Vertically Integrated Food System
Operating since 1936. 32M lbs donated externally.
LDS Rank
#1
Community
Most Weekly Social Time With Church Community
50%+ socialize weekly outside services. AEI 2021.
Service
LDS Self-Reliance: 67,000 Businesses Started in One Year
22,000 trainings. 14,000 jobs. 69 countries.
Service
Deseret Industries: 85 Years of Job Training
A thrift store that's actually an employment program.
Mental Health
Utah's Antidepressant Rates: Altitude, Not Theology
3 of 4 SSRIs less effective at high altitude. U of Utah.
Health
LDS Fasting Linked to Lower Diabetes: 12% vs 20%
Routine fasters vs non-fasters. Intermountain Medical Center.
Retention
LDS Retention Dropped 31 Points — But Still Leads in Active Participation
54% identification. 42% active monthly — still #1. Pew.