LDS identification retention — the percentage of people raised LDS who still identify as LDS — sits at 54%, according to Pew Research. That is lower than Hindus (82%), Muslims (77%), and Jews (76%).
However, when measuring active participation — people raised in a faith who still attend monthly — the picture reverses. 42% of people raised LDS remain actively participating. That is the highest active participation rate of any religion in America.
The distinction matters. Many religions retain identification (people still call themselves Catholic, for example) without retaining active participation. LDS retention is lower on identification but highest on actual engagement.
Among those who do remain active, the well-being outcomes are consistently the strongest of any religious group: highest happiness, longest life expectancy, lowest divorce, most volunteering, best mental health outcomes. The question is not "does everyone stay?" but "what happens to the people who fully engage?"
Note: LDS identification retention has dropped 31 points since the 1980s — the steepest decline of any major group. Evangelical retention dropped 6 points over the same period, and Catholic dropped 18. Despite this decline, LDS still leads in active participation.
Discussion