People in many parts of the world are having fewer children, and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are no exception, according to new research. But this trend poses a problem for the Church.

Church leaders are concerned about the trend toward smaller families because children are central to the theology of Latter-day Saints. The situation is significant enough that several leaders have recently spoken about the issue.

Dallin H. Oaks, who has been appointed as the prophet and president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, expressed concern during the church’s semiannual General Conference in October. Oaks noted that historically, Latter-day Saints have had higher birth rates than non-Latter-day Saints couples in the U.S.

These higher birth rates may be due to the Latter-day Saints church’s emphasis on families, members’ strong religious beliefs and greater church attendance. Yet, it’s clear that the size of Latter-day Saints families has declined “significantly” in recent years.

In his speech to the General Conference, Oaks said, “It is vital that Latter-day Saints do not lose their understanding of the purpose of marriage and the value of children. That is the future for which we strive. Our relationship to God and the purpose of our mortal life are explained in terms of the family.”

The Church’s leaders believe that declining birth rates may affect the family unit and the future of the Latter-day Saints. They encourage members to focus on the importance of children and family even while facing financial challenges, declining support from family and friends, and various societal issues that contribute to the desire for smaller families.

Latter-day Saints believe that by having children, they are helping fulfill God’s command to Adam and Eve in Genesis, which was to “multiply and replenish the Earth.” They also believe that families are eternal.

For these and other reasons, stewardship is extremely important to Latter-day Saints. They see it as a sacred commitment and strongly believe that God entrusted their family to them. In turn, they are accountable to the Lord for the decisions they make regarding their family.

The Catholic University of America, which has looked at birth rates in the Latter-day Saints church, confirmed that the decline is “significant.” According to the data, 70 percent of Latter-day Saints women ages 18-45 had at least one child in the home in 2008. In contrast, only 59 percent had a child in the home in 2022. This decline is comparable to that of non-Latter-day Saints couples, but it represents a significant change for the Latter-day Saints Church.

Bishop Steve Eror, who leads the Salt Lake City Latter-day Saints Church, explained that it’s beneficial for people to have a “community where… you’re living the same standards and you have similar beliefs, and you’re strengthening each other.” Salt Lake City is the headquarters of the worldwide Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Eror lamented the fact that his church’s programs for children and teens have declined to the point that the church had to team with another Latter-day Saints church to have viable programs.

Many young Latter-day Saints couples have changed the way they think about having large families due to economic concerns and societal shifts. The rising cost of housing, food, healthcare, childcare, and other necessities has prompted more Latter-day Saint women to join the workforce.

When both parents work outside the home, families often require more support from family and friends. But society has changed, and today’s couples cannot expect to receive the same level of support that earlier generations received.

In addition, the Latter-day Saints’ birth rate may be declining because Latter-day Saints are gradually incorporating their social and cultural practices with those of other Americans, according to Jana Riess, a professor of religion and American studies, a member of the Latter-day Saints, and author of “Incredible Shrinking Mormon American Family.”

The church has long opposed birth control, but some of its leaders have become more lenient in recent years. In the 1980s and 1990s, for example, some leaders stepped away from making strong statements against birth control.

The Latter-day Saints 1998 handbook stated that “contraception is considered to be a matter between the couple and the Lord, and church members are advised not to judge one another about it,” Reiss noted. “And while they are told not to judge each other in this matter, I’d be willing to bet that somewhere, Joseph F. Smith is rolling in his grave.”

Many Latter-day Saints couples have become more comfortable about using birth control, which gives them better control of their family’s size. For most, the ideal number of children is three, although younger adults often prefer zero, one, or two children, she said.