Survey Finds 40% of U.S. Mormon Church Members Have Left—What’s Behind the Mass Exodus?

Surging Global Growth: Key 2026 Developments in the Mormon Church The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—often called the Mormon Church—is entering 2026 with one of its most ambitious growth agendas in decades. From a wave of new temples to a historic overhaul of Sunday meetings, here are the headline changes drawing worldwide attention. New Temples Accelerate Across Continents • Rosario, Argentina: Elder David A. Bednar met with Mayor Pablo Javkin to review progress on the forthcoming Rosario Argentina Temple, underscoring the Church’s focus on regional hubs in South America. • Global rollout: An official “House of the Lord 2026” update lists dozens of additional temple projects now in planning or construction, signaling unprecedented geographic reach—from Africa to the Pacific. 55 New Missions Will Open on July 1 In a parallel push for evangelization, Church leaders confirmed the creation of 55 new missions that will go live mid-year. The expansion boosts the total number of missions worldwide to well over 450 and targets high-growth areas in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Sunday Schedule Overhaul Arrives September 6 Beginning September 6, 2026, congregations will move from the alternating-week model to holding Sunday School, Relief Society, elders quorum, Young Women, and Aaronic Priesthood meetings every week. Leaders say the streamlined schedule will strengthen member participation and simplify planning for families. Highlights From April 2026 General Conference April’s global General Conference introduced: • A major emphasis on religious freedom and humanitarian service. • New Area Presidencies for Africa and the Philippines, aimed at supporting rapid membership growth. • An address from President Dallin H. Oaks celebrating record convert baptisms in 2025 and outlining goals for 2026. Digital Storytelling Elevates Indigenous Histories A newly launched multimedia resource spotlights Northwestern Shoshone Latter-day Saints, reflecting the Church’s broader commitment to telling diverse stories of faith and heritage in its official Newsroom. Why This Matters for Members—and Searchers • “Mormon Church temples 2026,” “LDS Sunday schedule change,” and “new LDS missions” are trending queries as members seek practical details for travel, worship, and missionary service. • Cities hosting new temples often experience economic boosts in construction, tourism, and real-estate interest. • Weekly meeting changes affect more than 17 million members, influencing family logistics, local transportation, and community outreach programs. Looking Ahead With construction cranes on six continents and a re-imagined worship schedule on the horizon, the Mormon Church is positioning 2026 as a milestone year of both numerical and spiritual expansion. Watch for dedication dates, missionary assignments, and additional temple groundbreakings in the months ahead—each likely to generate fresh waves of interest in the ever-evolving global Latter-day Saint story.