A Pentagon list overhaul puts Mormon church’s Christian identity back in the spotlight
- Earlier this month, the Pentagon reduced its military religious designation list from 211 to 31, omitting The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from the 'Christian' classification, prompting Utah Senators Mike Lee and John Curtis to challenge the exclusion.
- The revision reignited a nearly 200-year-old debate regarding whether Latter-day Saints are Christian, with scholars citing fundamental differences in how the faith views God, the Trinity, and scripture outside the two-testament Christian Bible.
- Critics allege Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is consolidating the military around white evangelical views; monthly Pentagon worship services have exclusively featured white evangelical preachers, and a February 2026 PRRI survey found 67% of white evangelical Protestants support Christian nationalist views.
- On Monday, the Department of Defense responded by removing the 'Christian' label from 20 other traditions, including Catholic and Lutheran, rather than adding Latter-day Saints, stating the new rubric aims to help chaplains structure resources efficiently.
- Columnist Amanda Marcotte contends the exclusion was not a mistake but part of an effort to build a 'Christian nation' by marginalizing non-evangelical groups, writing that 'they're coming for other Christians, too.
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36 Articles
After Mormon lawmakers object, Pentagon revises Christian religious categories
The Defense Department made changes after a list was released with many religious groups tagged “Christian” but not the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Source link : https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2026/06/08/after-outcry-mormon-lawmakers-pentagon-updates-religious-codes/ Author : Michelle Boorstein, Sammy Westfall Publish date : 2026-06-09 14:34:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
Utah senators push back after Pentagon excludes LDS Church from list of Christian religions
The Pentagon’s revision to its list of Christian religions this week has reignited a nearly 200-year-old debate: Is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a Christian denomination?
Pete Hegseth provoked intense controversy after the publication of a new religious classification of the Pentagon, contested by the Mormon Church.
Trump Pentagon chief 'accidentally exposes' key MAGA talking point on religion
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth drew strong criticism from Mormons and Utah lawmakers after releasing a new list of religious affiliations that didn't classify the Church of Latter-Day Saints (often described as the Mormon Church or LDS Church) as Christian. The Pentagon, Politico reported, walked back that part of its religious affiliation policy following the outcry from Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Rep. Mike Kennedy (R-Utah), and others. But accord…
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