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Why young Mormon women are leaving the LDS Church

August 19, 2026 at 7:08 PM MT · via YouTube / Benjamin Park, Historian · Summarized by Mormon News from original reporting

Why are young Latter-day Saint women leaving the Church at rates that challenge decades of assumptions about gender and religion? Scholar and journalist Jana Riess joins historian Benjamin Park's YouTube channel to explain a striking demographic shift: younger women are increasingly likely to disaffiliate, reversing historical patterns where women were more religiously engaged than men.

Riess discusses findings from her longitudinal research tracking faith transitions among Millennial and Gen Z Latter-day Saints. She identifies specific issues driving young women's departures, including the Church's handling of women's roles, LGBTQ questions, and transparency around history and finances. The video has drawn more than 6,900 views in 11 hours and 220 comments.

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