PEER REVIEWED ACADEMIC PUBLICATIONS

• Jana Riess. 2019. The Next Mormons: How Millennials Are Changing the LDS Church. Oxford University Press.
• John E. Ferguson III, Benjamin R. Knoll, and Jana Riess. 2018. “The Word of Wisdom in Contemporary American  Mormonism: Perceptions and Practice.” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 51(1): 39-78. (LINK)
• Benjamin Knoll and Jana Riess. 2017. “‘Infected With Doubt’: An Empirical Overview of Belief and Non-Belief in Contemporary American Mormonism.” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 50(3): 1-38. (LINK)

 

SURVEY FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

Millennials

• “Study shows young adult Mormons are most likely generation to tithe (but there’s a catch),” Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), December 26, 2016.
• “Mormon apostle bemoans kids today,” Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), February 10, 2017.
• “Most young adult Mormons are skipping General Conference. Why?“, Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), April 1, 2017.
• “10 things to know about Millennial Mormons,” Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), May 24, 2017.
• “In praise of single Mormons“, Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), October 10, 2018.
• “The incredible shrinking Mormon American family,” Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), November 26, 2018.

Mormon belief

• “How Many Mormons “Just Believe” In Their Church’s Teachings?“, Benjamin Knoll, Huffington Post, December 3, 2017.
• “The two kinds of American Latter-day Saints: a Mormon typology“, Benjamin Knoll, Religion in Public blog, September 26, 2018.

LGBT issues

• “Most US Mormons approve of church’s LGBT exclusion policy, study shows,” Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), October 28, 2016.
  • Cross-posted in the Salt Lake Tribune.
• “Mormons are changing their tune on same-sex marriage,” Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), June 27, 2017.
• “Respect for church authority splits views on LGBTQ issues among younger Latter-day Saints,” Margaux Curless and Benjamin Knoll, Religion in Public blog, May 21, 2019.
• “Did the 2015 Mormon LGBT exclusion policy drive a mass exodus out of the Church?,” Jana Riess and Benjamin Knoll, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), May 29, 2019.
• “Why even Mormons are pushing for LGBT inclusion,” Jana Riess, Oxford University Press blog, June 6, 2019.

Politics and voting patterns

• “Most Mormons planned NOT to vote for Trump. What the heck happened?“, Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), November 15, 2016.
• “Mormons, Trump and McMullin: A 2016 postmortem by the numbers,” Benjamin Knoll, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), July 17, 2017.
• “Mormons join in criticizing Trump immigration policies,” Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), June 19, 2018.
• “Mormon Voting Patterns in the 2016 Election: A Comprehensive Analysis,” Benjamin Knoll, Religion in Public blog, July 25, 2018.
• “Religious beliefs tend to temper polarized opinions toward abortion among American Latter-day Saints,” Margaux Curless and Benjamin Knoll, Religion in Pulblic blog, May 31, 2019.

Science, climate change, and evolution

• “Mormon environmentalist conveys ecological message through fiction,” Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), April 30, 2018.
• “A detailed look at Mormon beliefs on evolution and human origins,” Benjamin Knoll, Huffington Post, December 20, 2017.

Word of Wisdom

• “Hello! Most Mormons actually do drink caffeinated soda,” Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), September 25, 2017.
• “One in Three Mormons Have Had Coffee Recently, and Another Quarter Drink Alcohol,” Benjamin Knoll and Jana Riess, Religion in Public blog, March 29, 2018.
• “Temple recommend status and Word of Wisdom observance in contemporary Mormonism,” Benjamin Knoll, Rational Faiths blog, April 26, 2018.
• “How many Mormons use marijuana, anyway?“, Benjamin Knoll, Flunking Sainthood blog, September 20, 2018.
• “The two kinds of American Latter-day Saints: a Mormon typology“, Benjamin Knoll, Religion in Public blog, September 26, 2018.
• “Mormons will soon drink coffee! Debunking a dubious General Conference rumor,” Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), March 30, 2019.
• “Provo to get its first stand-alone Starbucks — located in front of BYU campus — in 2020,” Kathy Stephenson, Salt Lake Tribune, June 4, 2019.

Tithing, General Conference, and other Mormon practices

• “Study shows young adult Mormons are most likely generation to tithe (but there’s a catch),” Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), December 26, 2016.
• “Most young adult Mormons are skipping General Conference. Why?“, Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), April 1, 2017.
• Flunking Sainthood: “Who’s not watching Mormon General Conference,” Benjamin Knoll, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), November 7, 2017.
• “The two kinds of American Latter-day Saints: a Mormon typology“, Benjamin Knoll, Religion in Public blog, September 26, 2018.
• “More Mormon missionaries are coming home early, study shows“, Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), September 26, 2018.

Gender and Mormonism

• “Mormon women have more cosmetic surgery … or not”, Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), March 17, 2017.
• “Mormon women and depression, revisited“, Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), April 25, 2017.
• “Younger Mormons far more likely to be troubled by women’s roles in the LDS Church, study shows“, Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), November 26, 2018.
  • Coverage by KUER, “Younger Latter-day Saints Are More Open To Ordaining Women Than Past Generations“, Lee Hale, November 29, 2018.
• “Recent Latter-day Saint temple changes may revolutionize Mormon gender norms“, Benjamin Knoll, Religion in Public blog, January 10, 2019.
• “The incredible shrinking Mormon American family,” Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), November 26, 2018.

Race and Mormonism

• “Forty years on, most Mormons still believe the racist temple ban was God’s will,” Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), June 11, 2018.
• “Mission trips abroad linked to favorable view of immigrants for Latter-day Saints, especially among men,” by Margaux Curless, Religion in Public blog, March 28, 2019.
• “‘Stranger Things’ sees Mormons as ‘super-religious white people’,”Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), July 8, 2019.

How many people are leaving the LDS Church, and why?

• “Who is leaving the LDS Church?“, Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), July 23, 2016.
• “Do Mormons leave the Church because they ‘got offended’?“, Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), January 27, 2017.
• “Mormon apostle bemoans kids today,” Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), February 10, 2017.
• “Mormon leaders have trust issues,” Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), April 19, 2017.
• “How to create ex-Mormons,” Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), February 5, 2018.
• “If Mormonism becomes liberal and progressive, won’t it decline even more?“, Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), March 8, 2018.
• “High-profile excommunications may harm Mormon retention rates in the long run“, Benjamin Knoll and Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), November 30, 2018.
  • Coverage by KUTV: “Survey: Commitment of LDS Church members chilled by high-profile excommunications“, by Larry Curtis, November 30, 2018.
• “Beyond Mormon judgment in the temple“, by Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), January 25, 2019.
• “4 myths about ex-Mormons“, by Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), February 12, 2019.
• “How many Millennials are really leaving the LDS Church?,” by Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), March 27, 2019.
• “Did the 2015 Mormon LGBT exclusion policy drive a mass exodus out of the Church?,” Jana Riess and Benjamin Knoll, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), May 29, 2019.

Former Mormons

• “For many former Mormons, it’s hard to be ‘spiritual but not religious,'” Benjamin Knoll, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), April 21, 2018.
• “4 myths about ex-Mormons“, by Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), February 12, 2019.
• “New Zealand PM Ardern is the face of a new generation of former Mormons,” by Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), May 20, 2019.
• “Why can’t ex-Mormons just leave the LDS Church alone?,” by Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), July 2, 2019.

Other

• “Polygamy’s becoming more acceptable. Is this the ‘Sister Wives’ effect?“, Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), August 1, 2017.
• “The Mormon kids are all right“, Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), September 7, 2018.
• “10 ways Utah Mormons are a breed apart“, Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), January 11, 2019.
• “GenX Mormons: The forgotten generation“, Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), January 22, 2019.
• “The impact of politics and geography on volunteer service callings in the LDS Church,” by Margaux Curless and Benjamin Knoll, Religion in Public blog, February 18, 2019.
• “Millennial Mormons and the polarized future of the faith“, Jana Riess, Flunking Sainthood blog (Religion News Service), March 4, 2019.
• “Older Latter-day Saints like the internet, especially if they are more religiously active“, by Margaux Curless and Benjamin Knoll, Religion in Public blog, March 6, 2019.
• “Mission trips abroad linked to favorable view of immigrants for Latter-day Saints, especially among men,” Margaux Curless, Religion in Public blog, March 28, 2019.
• “Recent revisions to Latter-day Saint Sunday meeting schedules may be especially welcome to members suffering from anxiety and depression,” Margaux Curless and Benjamin Knoll, Religion in Public blog, April 17, 2019.

 

MEDIA INTERVIEWS AND PODCASTS

• “Millennials and Mormonism,” Radio West with Doug Fabrizio, July 19, 2017
• “‘Mormon Land’: Researcher Jana Riess discusses survey that reveals why LDS young people leave, why they stay and how they differ,” Mormon Land Podcast, Salt Lake Tribune, March 7, 2018.
• “‘Mormon Land’: What writer Jana Riess’ landmark study says about Latter-day Saint women,” Mormon Land podcast, Salt Lake Tribune, September 18, 2018.
• “MNR 78: ‘The Next Mormons’ with Jana Riess and Benjamin Knoll,” Mormon News Report podcast, February 25, 2019.
• “‘Mormon Land’: Word of Wisdom, gender bias, LGBTQ issues and more — Jana Riess talks about her landmark findings on LDS millennials,” Mormon Land podcast, Salt Lake Tribune, February 26, 2019.
• “The Next Mormons,” Radiowest Interview with Doug Fabrizio, March 6, 2019.
• “284: The Next Mormons: Jana Riess,” A Thoughtful Faith podcast with Gina Colvin, March 11, 2019.
• “#333 The Next Mormons – Dr. Jana Riess,” The Not Old – Better Show podcast with Paul Vogelzang, March 28, 2019.
• “The Next Mormons,” State of Belief podcast, March 30, 2019.
• “540: MILLENNIAL MORMONS—BELIEFS, PRACTICES, AND AUTHORITY STRUCTURES,” Mormon Matters podcast with Dan Wotherspoon, March 21, 2019.
• “The Unique Opportunity Local Leaders Have to Encourage Faith Among Latter-day Saint Millennials | An Interview with Jana Riess,” Leading Saints blog interview, March 11, 2019.
• Reddit AMA: “Discussion of ‘The Next Mormons’“, r/latterdaysaints subreddit community, March 21, 2019.
• “173: ‘The Next Mormon: How Millennials are changing the LDS Church’ from a Mental Health Perspective“, Mormon Mental Health podcast with Natasha Helfer Parker, April 2, 2019.
• “Young Believers and Non Believers Finding Community in an Age of Disconnection,” Interfaith Voices Podcast, May 24, 2019.
• Gospel Tangents interview series, 6-part podcast (episodes 296-301), interviews with Rick Bennett, July 9-24, 2019.
• “Women of Faith: Jana Riess and ‘The Next Mormons’,” Minnesota Public Radio podcast with Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon, July 22, 2019.
• “Ep 167 – The Next Mormons with Jana Riess and Benjamin Knoll,” Naked Mormonism Podcast, August 8, 2019.

 

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS

• “Millennial Mormons: The Rising Generation of Latter-day Saints,” Miller Eccles Study Group California, April 6-7, 2018.
  • Audio available on the Dialogue Podcast #42
• “Millennial Mormons: The Rising Generation of Latter-day Saints,” Miller Eccles Study Group Texas, May 18-19, 2018.
• “Mormon Views on Evolution and Climate Change: Findings from The Next Mormons Survey,” presentation at Heaven & Earth: Mormonism and the Challenges of Science, Revelation and Faith Conference at Utah Valley University, February 22nd – 23rd, 2018. VIDEO HERE.
• “Next Mormons: Jana Riess and Her Research,” Think Again Faith Again, Salt Lake City, Utah, June 3, 2018.
• “Millennial Mormons: Pointing the Way to Change in the LDS Church,” with Annabel Jensen and Gloria Pak, Sunstone Symposium, Salt Lake City, July 2018.
• ““I’m Not Coming Back”: Former Mormons’ Religious Lives,” presentation by Jana Riess at the Conference for the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Las Vegas, Nevada, October 28, 2018.
• “Leaving the Fold: Demographic and Contextual Predictors of Former Mormons in the United States,” presentation by Benjamin Knoll at the Conference for the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Las Vegas, Nevada, October 28, 2018.
• “Five Ways Millennials Are Shaping Faith Today with Jana Riess,” Centre for Faith Studies, part of the Series on Seeds of Acceptance: Conversations on Diversity and Inclusion, Omaha, Nebraska, November 8, 2018.
• The Next Mormons book presentation, Benchmark Books speaking event, March 5, 2019.
• Mormon Studies Conference: “Millennial Saints: Generational Change in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”, Claremont Graduate University, April 27, 2019.
  • Videos of the conference presentations are available on YouTube.

 

OTHER COVERAGE

• “‘Trust gap’ hounds the Mormon church, research shows,” Peggy Fletcher Stack, Salt Lake Tribune, April 21, 2017.
• “LDS millennials are more Democratic, diverse than older Mormons, survey shows,” Peggy Fletcher Stack, Salt Lake Tribune, May 27, 2017.
• “The Widening Mormon Generation Gap,” hawkgrrrl blogger, Wheat and Tares blog, June 28, 2017.
• “BYU students not as conservative as some think,” Kate Blood Ferguson, BYU The Daily Universe, July 7, 2017.
• “LDS same-sex marriage and children policy still topic of discussion on year anniversary,” Genelle Pugmire, Daily Herald, November 6, 2016.
• “Why the Myth That Mormon Women Are More Likely to Get Plastic Surgery Is So Damaging,” Katie Lambert, LDSLiving.com.
• “The Widening Mormon Generation Gap,” Angela C. By Common Consent blog, August 9, 2017.
• “The Root Cause for Why Members Leave the Church & What Leaders Can Do About It,” Ryan Gottfredson, Leading LDS blog, September 19, 2017.
• “Mormons and Doubt“, Clark Goble, Times and Seasons blog, December 6, 2017.
• “Are More People Leaving the LDS Church?“, David Ostler, LeadingLDS blog, August 16, 2018.
• “Mormon church takes another step in its anti-Prop 2 push, invites female bloggers to meeting about medical marijuana“, Peggy Fletcher Stack, Salt Lake Tribune, September 21, 2018.
• “More millennial Mormons are choosing a middle way — neither all-in nor all-out of the faith“, Peggy Fletcher Stack, Salt Lake Tribune, September 29, 2018.
• “The Next Mormons: How Millennials Are Changing the LDS Church,” Publishers Weekly Review, January 10, 2019.
• “Millennials, Modernization, and the Mormon Church: PW Talks to Jana Riess“, Lynn Garrett, Publishers Weekly, February 20, 2019.
• “From coffee to gay issues to doctrine, Jana Riess’ ‘momentous’ book shows how LDS millennials view the faith and why more are leaving“, Peggy Fletcher Stack, Salt Lake Tribune, February 25, 2019.
• “‘The Next Mormons’: Researcher’s book may explain why millennials are leaving LDS faith,” Andrew Reeser, ABC4.com, March 5, 2019.
• “Most churches are losing members fast — but not the Mormons. Here’s why.”, Daniel Cox, Vox.com, March 6, 2019.
• “A wake up call for us to examine our culture of judgmental-ism and exclusiveness“, David Ostler. LeadingLDS blog, March 7, 2019.
• “A look at the faithfulness of the millennial generation in the Latter-day Saint Church,” Karissa Neely, Daily Herald, March 31, 2019.
• “Millennials and why they leave The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” Karissa Neely, Daily Herald, April 2, 2019.
• “A Response to Jana Riess’s “The Next Mormons”: The Importance of Disentangling Data and Argument,” Jacob Hess, Millennial Star, April 4, 2019., cross-posted at Meridian Magazine, May 12, 2019.
• “The LGBT Mormons Pushing the Church To Accept Equality,” Samantha Allen, Daily Beast, April 12, 2019.
• “A latter day for the Mormon church?,” Naomi Schaefer Riley, Washington Examiner, May 3, 2019.
• “Secularization Hits the Mormons: Is the LDS Church Losing Ground?,” Phil Zuckerman, Psychology Today, May 6, 2019.
• “Gays cheered at Brigham Young University – millennial Mormons are increasingly tolerant of same-sex attraction,” Tyler Petry, The Conversation, May 6, 2019.
• “Four significant cultural trends seen through the lives of young Mormons,” Sean McDowell, SeanMcDowell.org, May 9, 2019.
• “Judgment, trust, LGBT issues driving millennials from Mormon church,” Pamela Manson, United Press International, May 22, 2019.
• “A Moderate Millenarianism: Apocalypticism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,” Joseph Spencer, Religions 10(5), 339.
• “The Next Mormons (Jana Riess) – A Review,” Bob Cornwall, Ponderings on a Faith Journey blog, June 3, 2019.
• “Book Review—Jana Riess, The Next Mormons,” Richelle Wilson, By Common Consent blog, June 19, 2019.
• Bridges: Ministering to Those Who Question by David Ostler, Greg Kofford Books, 2019.
• Book review of The Next Mormons: How Millennials Are Changing the LDS Church by Stephen Cranney, BYU Studies 58:2, 2019.