Mormon Population: Is Arizona Overtaking Utah?
For most Americans, the word “Mormon” brings to mind images of Utah, and with good reason. Utah has long been known as the center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), commonly referred to as the Mormon Church. It is the birthplace of the church, and to this day, it remains the state with the highest concentration of Mormons in the United States. But as the Mormon population continues to grow, some are wondering if another state, specifically Arizona, is starting to take over as the new center of Mormon life in America.
Population Trends
In terms of raw numbers, Utah is still the clear leader when it comes to the size of its Mormon population. According to data from the LDS Church, in 2019, there were more than 2.1 million Mormons living in Utah, representing about 62% of the state’s total population. By comparison, there were just over 460,000 Mormons living in Arizona, representing about 6.3% of the state’s population.
However, a closer look at the trends over time reveals a more complicated picture. While Utah’s Mormon population has continued to grow steadily over the past few decades, it has not been growing at the same rate as it has in Arizona. According to data from the Census Bureau, the percentage of Utah residents who identify as Mormon has actually declined slightly in recent years, from a high of 74% in 2000 to 62% in 2019. In Arizona, on the other hand, the percentage of residents who identify as Mormon has been steadily increasing, from 4.6% in 2000 to 6.3% in 2019.
This shift in the growth rate of the Mormon population in these two states can be attributed to a variety of factors. One major factor is simply demographics. Utah’s population has grown steadily over the past few decades, but it has done so primarily through natural increase (births minus deaths) rather than migration. As a result, the percentage of the population that is Mormon has declined slightly as the state has become more diverse. In Arizona, on the other hand, the state’s population has grown rapidly due to both natural increase and migration, and much of this growth has been driven by young families looking for affordable housing and good job opportunities. This demographic shift has brought with it a growing number of Mormons as well.
Church Expansion
Another key factor in the growth of the Mormon population in Arizona is the church’s own efforts at outreach and expansion. Over the past few decades, the church has made a concerted effort to build new temples and other facilities in Arizona, as well as to establish more local congregations and increase the visibility of the church in the state. According to the church’s own data, the number of congregations in Arizona has nearly tripled over the past 30 years, from 102 in 1990 to 292 in 2020.
Of course, it’s important to note that the growth of the Mormon population in Arizona doesn’t necessarily mean that the state is poised to replace Utah as the new center of Mormon life in America. Utah still has a much larger and more well-established Mormon community, and the church’s headquarters and most of its top leadership remain located in Salt Lake City. It’s also worth noting that while the percentage of Arizona residents who identify as Mormon has been steadily increasing, it still lags behind other states in the region such as Idaho and Wyoming, which have much smaller overall populations but much higher percentages of Mormons.
Significance
So what does all of this mean? Ultimately, the growth of the Mormon population in Arizona is significant not just for Mormons themselves, but for the broader American public as well. As the country becomes increasingly diverse and fragmented, the role of religious organizations as institutions that can bridge social and cultural divides becomes ever more important. The growth of the Mormon community in Arizona, and in other parts of the country as well, represents one way in which religious organizations can continue to play this role.
At the same time, it’s important to remember that the significance of religious groups like the Mormons is not just about their ability to bring people together, but also about their unique beliefs and values. The Mormon Church, in particular, has long been known for its emphasis on strong families, self-sufficiency, and civic engagement. As more and more Americans look for ways to live meaningful and fulfilling lives in a rapidly changing world, the values embodied by the Mormon Church and other religious groups are likely to become more and more important.
In conclusion, while Arizona is still a long way from overtaking Utah as the center of Mormon life in America, it’s clear that the Mormon population in the state is growing at a faster rate than it is in Utah, and that this growth is being driven by a combination of demographic changes and church outreach efforts. As the Mormon population continues to grow across the country, it will be interesting to see how these changes impact not just the Mormon community itself, but also American society as a whole.
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