This article was originally published on the Deseret News. Read the full article here.
Religion has been through the wringer over the last couple of decades. When I returned home from my Latter-day Saint mission toward the end of 2007, the so-called “New Atheism” was in full swing. In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, this more militant form of atheism gained even more cultural traction.
But perhaps there are reasons for hope — and even for a little more boldness. In a recent talk to new mission leaders, Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve shared that, in 2024, the Church had its highest number of converts in a quarter century.
Between June 2024 and 2025, the apostle reported that “convert baptisms were the highest of any 12-month period in church history. Every region of the world saw at least a 20% increase in convert baptisms in the first quarter of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024.”
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today has more members, missionaries, congregations, missions and temples than it has at any point in its history.
Corey D.August 6, 2025
I personally know more people, i.e., neighbors, friends, family who no longer believe in organized religion or in many cases don't believe in God than I have ever known in my life. The laws, social norms etc of many countries, especially Europe and most large cities/urban areas anywhere in the world generally favor nonreligious laws, etc. Most movies, tv shows, books, seem to paint religion in a negative or comical way. It's all part of the fulfillment of prophecy though. The Lord's sheep will hear his voice but they will be few in number.