Mormon Stories Podcast Four (or Five) Types of Mormons? - Are LDS Church Members Secularizing? | Ep. 2074
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Oct 23, 2025 Alex Bass, a data scientist and author of the 'Mormon Metrics' blog, dives into his groundbreaking study analyzing the types of Mormons today. He identifies four groups, from Devout Traditionalists to Cultural Mormons, revealing trends like secularization and shifting beliefs. Historian Patrick Q. Mason adds depth by placing these changes in historical context and discussing the rise of Adaptive Believers. The conversation touches on declining devotion, growing acceptance of LGBTQ issues, and generational shifts, highlighting a rapidly evolving faith landscape.
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Choose Conversation Over Soundbites
- Reach out and have real conversations rather than mocking soundbites on social media.
- Seek offline dialogue to reduce mischaracterization and build empathy across differences.
Julie Hanks Owning A Polarizing Soundbite
- Julie Hanks acknowledged speaking in absolute terms about women not being equal and owned the lack of nuance.
- She arranged to speak offline with critic Maddie Packer to clarify intent and build understanding.
Mormon Identity Is Fragmenting
- Pew clustering shows Mormon identity is fragmenting into four main groups rather than a single monolith.
- Devout traditionalists now form a shrinking minority while adaptive believers have become the largest cluster.
