Pundits argue that Gen Z is the least religious generation, while others claim it is the most religious, with a “quiet revival” happening in American churches. In this lunchtime panel, two scholars will discuss trends in the data and two UVU students will share their own personal stories of navigating religion in this particular cultural moment.
Sponsored in partnership with the Dialogue Foundation as part of their 60th Anniversary Celebration
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Jana Riess Senior Columnist, Religion News Service |
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Justin Dyer Professor of Religious Education, Brigham Young University Editor-in-chief, BYU Studies |
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Heather Jarman UVU Philosophy major and Religious Studies minor Student Fellow, Religion, Culture & Society Initiative |
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Colby Pena UVU Political Science major and Religious Studies Minor Constitutional & Religious Policy Fellow, Utah 3Rs Project |
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Jana Riess is the author of The Next Mormons (2019) and co-author of Leaving Mormonism: Who Is Exiting the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—and Why (2027). She is a senior columnist for Religion News Service and a research fellow at Claremont Graduate University.
Justin Dyer is a professor of religious education at Brigham Young University and editor-in-chief of BYU Studies. He has published more than 80 scholarly articles on religious faith and mental health, and is the lead author of the 2026 e-book Latter-day Saint Trends in the United States: Religiousness, Well-Being, and Retention.
Heather Clayton Jarman descends from many strands of Mormon narrative: the 1847 colonizers,
the Willie Handcart Company, and Mountain Meadows. Lifelong exploration of these identities
guided her weaving and reweaving of her beliefs to the present day. A UVU student
in philosophy and classics, Heather’s future path in human rights and social justice
will be informed by the values intrinsic to her faith.
Colby Peña completed his Political Science degree with minors in Religious Studies
and Constitutional Studies this past summer. He is currently a Constitutional & Religious
Policy Fellow for the Utah 3Rs Project and plans to attend law school and eventually
practice law with a focus on the interaction between religion and law. Colby grew
up in Draper, Utah, and has been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints for his entire life.
for more information, contact Brian Birch at [email protected]
