Jana Riess

Senior columnist Jana Riess is the author of many books, including "The Prayer Wheel" (Random House/Convergent, 2018) and "The Next Mormons: How Millennials Are Changing the LDS Church" (Oxford University Press, 2019). She has a PhD in American religious history from Columbia University.

All Stories by Jana Riess

Who is leaving the LDS church? 8 key survey findings

By Jana Riess — March 7, 2024
(RNS) — Among the findings: Most don’t join another religion after leaving but they also aren’t interested in coming back to the LDS church.

Kirtland Temple purchased by LDS church for $192.5 million

By Jana Riess — March 5, 2024
(RNS) — After years of resisting, the cash-strapped Community of Christ has sold its prized historic sites to its larger and wealthier cousin, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Mormonism, as shaped by the culture wars

By Jana Riess — February 29, 2024
(RNS) — Debates over gender, race and sexuality have been part of Mormonism since Kirtland, says historian Benjamin Park.

How many Mormons are actually in church every week in the US?

By Jana Riess — February 16, 2024
(RNS) — Cellphone data reveals the number is lower than people self-report (but Mormons do better than most).

Revisiting those old Mormon movies from 50 years ago — with live commentary!

By Jana Riess — February 9, 2024
(RNS) — From 'Saturday's Warrior' to 'Cipher in the Snow,' there's a treasure trove of more than 100 vintage LDS Church movies for your viewing pleasure.

Those sexy Mormon swingers

By Jana Riess — February 2, 2024
(RNS) — Here’s the reality that will never feature in a 'reality' TV series: Most Mormons are deeply, predictably, embarrassingly boring when it comes to their sex lives.

A Mormon faith beyond the performance checklist

By Jana Riess — January 26, 2024
(RNS) — 'When we really stop and reflect, we realize that in our religious performance, we're nurturing the very part of ourselves that the gospel instructs us not to feed,' says meditation teacher and LDS author Thomas McConkie.

I’m the collateral damage of Mormon racism and homophobia

By Jana Riess — January 19, 2024
(RNS) — 'Everyone knew before I did that the church was white on purpose,' writes guest columnist Carlene Fraser. 'The Saints they were 'perfecting' didn’t look like me. Think like me.'

Dealing with racism in the Book of Mormon

By Jana Riess — January 12, 2024
(RNS) — The Book of Mormon could teach us some hard truths about racism if we're brave enough to listen, say co-authors Fatimah Salleh and Margaret Olsen Hemming.

Juicing up your Book of Mormon reading this year (Part 1, with Grant Hardy)

By Jana Riess — January 4, 2024
(RNS) — Hardy’s ‘The Annotated Book of Mormon’ promises to enrich Latter-day Saints’ yearlong study of the scripture.

The top 10 Mormon news stories of 2023

By Jana Riess — December 30, 2023
(RNS) — There's a mix of good news (more missionaries!) and bad news (more sexual and financial scandals).

Study: Utah is no longer a majority-Mormon state

By Jana Riess — December 28, 2023
(RNS) — With more nonmembers moving into the state and smaller Mormon birthrates, Utah is no longer a majority-Mormon state.

I volunteered with ‘Light the World’ Giving Machines for Christmas. Here’s what I saw.

By Jana Riess — December 22, 2023
(RNS) — A church that has been criticized for its vast wealth is trying to do more for charity.

New Mormon apostle is a bridge builder, and a Brit

By Jana Riess — December 11, 2023
(RNS) — The LDS Church didn't wait until April's General Conference to fill the vacancy, appointing British convert and longtime Church leader Patrick Kearon as its newest apostle.

What the Camino shows us about travel and mortality

By Jana Riess — December 4, 2023
(RNS) — Travel teaches us how fragile life is and what a holy gift every day can be. (Also, it shows us we can be fear-based idiots.)
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