Factors Influencing Climate Change Beliefs among American Latter-Day Saints

Researchers are increasingly recognizing the salience of religious reasoning to understanding climate (in)action. Most analyses of this topic focus on Western Christianity, particularly American Protestant denominations. As such, little research has been conducted on climate change and American Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormon). This review uses the available research to explore what we know about climate and environmental belief among American Latter-day Saints. As the literature demonstrates, there are numerous “green” aspects of LDS theology, some of which are shared in common with other branches of Western Christianity and others which are particular to the faith. In spite of this theology, evidence suggests that Latter-day Saints are among the least likely American religious groups to act in a pro-environmental manner or to prioritize climate change. This review synthesizes the various ways academics have sought to understand this apparent contradiction.