Keystone Ep. 28: Study: We are America’s least-liked religion
Apr 23, 2025
Kristen Walker Smith, co-host of the One Minute Scripture Study podcast and best-selling author, dives into the surprising results of a recent PEW Research survey that finds the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be the least-liked religious group in the U.S. She discusses the importance of empathy in navigating perceptions and encourages thoughtful responses to criticism. Kristen also addresses the unique challenges Latter-day Saints face in the digital age, advocating for kindness and resilience while sharing personal beliefs online.
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LDS Have Low Favorability
- One in four U.S. adults hold somewhat to very unfavorable opinions of Latter-day Saints.
- LDS members have the smallest positive favorability percentage among major faith groups surveyed by Pew Research.
Reasons for Negative Views
- Negative opinions likely stem from social experiences and doctrinal differences.
- Other Christians often find LDS doctrine and history unfamiliar or elitist.
Improve Perceptions Through Kindness
- Be kind and avoid being rude to improve social perceptions.
- Accept that some will always find LDS doctrine unusual and that's okay.
