Fertility of Mormons in Utah and Adjacent States

IN RECENT years several students of population' have investigated the fertility differentials existing among the Catholics and Protestants. The results of their studies indicate that Catholics have higher birth rates than Protestants. In addition, these studies point out that fertility among both religious groups is declining; the decline being greater, it appears, for the Catholics. As far as the birth rate is concerned, it seems that religion is losing its influence when it comes in contact with certain socioeconomic conditions. Whether there is, however, a definite causal relation between religious profession and the birth rate, the evidence in the studies is not sufficient to decide. Nevertheless, there seems to be a tendency to minimize the importance of religion and to accept the idea that the social conditions confronting modern parents constitute the major determinants of family size. The Mormons have been noted for their large families,2 but whether this