Examining religious activity data with Justin Dyer

About this episode

Justin Dyer discusses the significant increase in Church membership and religious activity data with Ryan Jensen.

During the April 2026 general conference, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported 385,490 individuals were baptized in 2025. That historic number increased the Church’s total membership to 17,887,212, according to the annual statistical report. Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles called the increase in baptisms “remarkable.” He also noted that those new members are attending sacrament meeting at higher rates than in the past, as well. A new report co-authored by Brigham Young University professor of religious education and BYU Studies editor-in-chief Justin Dyer and four other colleagues at BYU Studies, highlights data showing that members of the Church demonstrate the highest religious activity in America. “What we find in the research is that it’s that religiosity — it’s that connecting with the divine — that really makes the big differences in our lives,” Dyer said. Dyer, who has been a guest on the Church News podcast before, joins Church News editor Ryan Jensen on this podcast episode to discuss what he sees in this data and what it means for Church members.

People in this episode

Host: Ryan Jensen

Guest: Justin Dyer

Topics covered

• religious activity
• baptism statistics
• Church membership
• data analysis
• spirituality

Keywords

• baptism
• Church membership
• religious activity
• data report
• spirituality

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Brigham Young University, BYU Studies

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