Latter-day Saints, once known for having among the nation's highest birthrates, are now experiencing the same fertility decline affecting most Americans. The Salt Lake Tribune examines whether changing family-size patterns among Church members will reverse as pronatalist movements gain traction globally.

Historically, LDS families averaged significantly more children than the national median, driven by religious teachings emphasizing families. Recent demographic data shows that gap narrowing substantially, with younger LDS couples having fewer children than their parents' generation.

The analysis explores whether cultural and economic pressures now outweigh religious encouragement for large families, and whether new pronatalist policies in other countries might influence LDS family planning.