SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — New figures from the Pew Research Center show nearly three out of four U.S. Mormons live in the West. Surveys done over the last two years found that 74 percent of Mormons live in Western U.S. states.

Nearly four in 10 live in Utah, which is home to just 1 percent of the U.S. population. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has its worldwide headquarters in Salt Lake City. Mormon pioneers trekked here from across the country in 1847 fleeing from persecution in Illinois and elsewhere.

Wednesday was a state holiday in Utah, called Pioneer Day, celebrating that heritage. LDS officials say there are 6.3 million church members in the U.S, less than half of the 14.7 million members worldwide. Pew Research Center says about 2 percent of Americans self-identify as Mormons.

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