Moral Foundations and Latter-day Saints

Abstract

Conference presentation drawing on an original survey of 3,800 current and former Latter-day Saints in the U.S. — conducted by the BH Roberts Foundation and described as the largest representative survey of its kind — to apply moral foundations theory (the framework popularized by Jonathan Haidt) to how active and former members differ in underlying moral values.

Findings for Latter-day Saints

• Based on a survey of 3,800 current and former Latter-day Saints, recruited via 80,000 randomly-addressed postcards across the "Mormon Corridor" plus randomized (non-targeted) Facebook advertising, aiming for a representative rather than self-selected sample.
• Identifies two distinct groups among active members: "All-In Saints" (81%) and "Selective Saints" (19%).
• Former members score significantly higher on individualizing foundations (care, fairness) and substantially lower on binding foundations (loyalty, authority, sanctity) than active members.
• Latter-day Saint moral reasoning draws on all six foundations (care, fairness, loyalty, authority, sanctity, liberty) rather than concentrating on a narrow subset.

Limitations in methodology

Captures only those who volunteered to participate and reflects a snapshot from 2023; excludes members outside the U.S. (more than half of total Church membership) and any current or former members who declined to take part. Presented at a conference rather than published in a peer-reviewed journal.

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Cite this study

Coates (2024). Moral Foundations and Latter-day Saints. FAIR Conference (August 2024). https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/conference/august-2024_fair_conference/coates-moral_foundations

Coates. "Moral Foundations and Latter-day Saints." FAIR Conference (August 2024), 2024. https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/conference/august-2024_fair_conference/coates-moral_foundations.

@article{fair_2024_coates_moral_foundations,
  title = {Moral Foundations and Latter-day Saints},
  author = {Coates},
  year = {2024},
  journal = {FAIR Conference (August 2024)},
  url = {https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/conference/august-2024_fair_conference/coates-moral_foundations},
}