Volunteering among latter-day saints

Abstract

In this article, we shed light on the volunteering behaviors of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons). While some information was known about this group and its volunteering practices, detailed and reliable data were not available. This is the first study by a secular research institution to be given permission by the church to collect data within Latter-Day Saint congregations. We found a high rate of volunteering by almost all members, which was mostly, but not only, for religious purposes. About half the volunteering comes from fulfilling "callings," while members initiate the other half. We found variations in volunteering based on the studied regions, age, income, education, gender, and generational membership. These findings provide the first reliable and detailed information regarding Latter-Day Saint volunteering and may serve as a springboard for future research on the pro-social behaviors of various religious groups. © 2013 The Society for the Scientific Study of Religion.