Atlantic asks: Are Mormons losing their distinctiveness?
October 4, 2026 at 7:02 AM MT · via The Atlantic · Summarized by Mormon News from original reporting

The Atlantic examines whether Latter-day Saints are losing the cultural and behavioral markers that have historically set them apart from mainstream American Christianity, analyzing demographic shifts, policy changes, and assimilation trends.
The piece explores declining fertility rates, shifting political patterns, changing temple garment practices, and the Church's emphasis on mainstream Christian identity over distinctive Mormon theology in recent decades.
Scholars quoted in the article debate whether the changes represent healthy integration or a loss of identity, with data showing significant generational differences in adherence to traditional Mormon behavioral norms.
More coverage of this story
- YouTube / Alyssa Grenfell →October 2, 2026 at 10:32 AM MT
- YouTube →September 21, 2026 at 7:00 AM MT
- Public Square Magazine →October 6, 2026 at 8:22 AM MT
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