Global Human Rights Hub Fellows Blog

6 things to know about Latinas and Mormonism

By Brittany Romanello

When I say the word “Mormon,” what comes to mind? In presenting my research over the years, people often associate "Mormon" with “conservatives," "polygamists," or "Anglo-Americans," reflecting common stereotypes. Many are shocked to learn, in reality, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (also called Mormons or LDS) is not that homogenous. Mormonism began as a small religious group from New York in 1830, and began to settle-colonize the Rocky Mountains in 1847. Since then, Church membership grew from 30,000 to over 16.5 million members worldwide. Despite its small size, the Church has amassed over 100 billion dollars, making it the wealthiest globalized religion, about 6 times that of Catholicism. Mormonism gives us insight into how Latinx communities, specifically Latinas, are shaping the future direction of US religious spaces.

Here are six things to know about Latinas and Mormonism:

At least 40% of this global Church population would be classified ethnically or racially by the US Census Bureau as Latinx, Latino/a or Hispanic. Most global members live outside the US and are not Anglo. About 1 in 5 world members are Latina. I am often asked: how the Church can be so populated by women of color, and very few seem to know about it? This could be because most media portrayals of the Church are focused on polygamous offshoot groups or politicians like Utah Senator Mike Lee or former presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Despite spending millions of dollars on the “I’m a Mormon” social media campaign from 2010-2018, which highlighted the diversity of the Church body, gendered and racial stereotypes about Mormons continue today.
Latina Mormons are significantly underrepresented in Church leadership. Despite such diversity in the US and global Church body, the institution's leadership and decision-making still do not reflect this, especially regarding its largest demographic: Latinx members. Despite Latina women making up most of the new and active Latinx membership nationwide, they don't hold any significant institutional representation. As of 2021, only 9 of the 124 public-facing Church leaders are women, and only one of those women, Reyna I. Aburto, is Latina.
This underrepresentation is both gendered and racial. The underrepresentation of Latinas in leadership roles is due to both histories of racial hierarchies within the Church and institutionally "sanctioned inequality" based on gender. Historically, Mormon teachings encourage members to adhere to traditional gender roles. Only males may be ordained to the Priesthood, which is considered the power of God on earth. Priesthood access allows exclusively male holders to serve in key leadership roles and make vital decisions for Church communities and their families.
Latina Mormons play a vital role in the history of Arizona. While Mormonism is a minority religion, it wields a powerful influence in Arizona, where state agencies, social history, and political leaders have deep ties to the faith. Retired Senator Jeff Flake and current Senator Kyrsten Sinema have LDS roots. Arizona was settled and colonized by Mormons in the late nineteenth century.

Nora, a Mexican mother of two, has witnessed Latinx influence grow in the Arizona Church since migrating over 30 years ago. “When we came here, there was one tiny group of us... We all went to one chapel…[but] attendance got so big we were like sardines packing into the meeting hall. [We fought] to become multiple congregations... that we could finally have a sense of belonging. Sometimes [though], it felt like Spanish congregations didn’t matter to the Anglo leadership. Still, every week we had baptisms, more missionaries, more family, it was a boom in growth until SB1070 in 2010."

Nora saw how crucial Latinx members were to the Church's growth, and many women like her mobilized for representation within the Church body. There are over 45 Spanish-speaking congregations statewide, and the majority are Latina immigrants and their children.

Mormon women, especially Latinas, are crucial to human rights advocacy work in Arizona. As Latinx membership grew, so did their role in Arizona politics. Obtaining their votes has been vital in recent election cycles, sometimes creating contention between white LDS politicians and Latino Mormon constituents. Latinas have become part of the Church’s growing progressive movement, especially on immigration issues. Amid anti-immigrant sentiment, the Church opened the Mesa Welcome Center, an affiliate of LDS Immigration Services, in 2017. Susana, a Mexican mother of two, is one of those who helps assist immigrants, regardless of their religious background. “Laws like SB1070 and Proposition 300.. they really affected and targeted [us] and our children who are not documented and cannot go to [college]. I was really upset about that, so I decided to volunteer.”
We can learn essential lessons from Latina Mormons about the role of religion in the immigrant experience. As a result of neocolonial proselyting efforts over the past century, Mormonism has played a role in new immigration to the US. It offers diverse education pathways to international members through its 3 BYU campuses. Furthermore, networks within Spanish-speaking congregations provide immigrants alternate paths to resources that do not rely on state or federal funds but are financed through Church mutual aid. In my current study, women said the Church provided access to affordable medical care or housing, jobs boards, English classes, and legal clinics. Sofia, originally from Honduras, shared that “[Latino] Church members have been great at helping me raise my kids when I got a divorce, I’ve been tremendously supported [despite] some racism I’ve felt from white members.” Sofia felt that Church pathways offered a network of spiritual and socioeconomic opportunities. Claudia, Sofia's friend from Chile, affirms, “Our sisterhood sustains us here [the US].” Both of them expressed a desire in wanting more empathy from Anglo-American Church members, and increased recognition for their contributions to the faith.

So, next time you think of Mormons, remember the Latinas who are making space, creating home and subverting historical narratives in this American-born religion. Highlighting their contributions and experiences is essential to changing stereotypes.

Brittany Romanello

Global Human Rights Hub Fellow 2021-2022