Annual Arrington Mormon History Lecture to Feature Jana Riess

LOGAN — USU Libraries has announced that 2024’s Arrington Mormon History Lecture will feature renowned religious scholar Jana Riess. Riess’s lecture is titled “Latter-day Saint Women and the Quiet Erosion of Certainty” and will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10 in the Russell/Wanlass Performance Hall.

Historically, Latter-day Saint women in the U.S. have been significantly more certain in their beliefs and more actively engaged in the church than their male counterparts. However, in her presentation, Riess will explore the latest findings from the 2022-23 Next Mormons Survey, which reveal a notable shift in Latter-day Saint women as recent data indicates that this gender advantage in religious certainty has diminished. Riess will discuss how this change affects women’s perceptions of their spiritual lives and their roles within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Jana Riess, a senior columnist for Religion News Service and a prominent contributor to The Salt Lake Tribune, is an acclaimed author with a profound understanding of American religious history. Her notable works include “The Next Mormons: How Millennials Are Changing the LDS Church” and the comedic memoir “Flunking Sainthood.” Riess holds a doctorate in American religious history from Columbia University and an MDiv degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, making her uniquely qualified to provide insightful analysis on this evolving topic.

Riess’s lecture promises to offer valuable perspectives on the shifting dynamics of faith and gender within Latter-day Saint communities, set against broader American religious trends.

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