A Pentagon list overhaul puts Mormon church’s Christian identity back in the spotlight

The Pentagon’s decision to revise its list of religious affiliations for military personnel has sparked renewed debate over the classification of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly known as the Mormon Church). This update, aimed at streamlining the options available to service members, has drawn significant attention due to the controversy surrounding whether the LDS Church qualifies as a Christian denomination. The revision comes amid broader efforts by the Department of Defense to reduce the number of religious categories from over 200 to just 31, a move that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described as necessary to improve efficiency and resource allocation for chaplains and religious support staff.

The initial version of the Pentagon’s list, released in late May, omitted the LDS Church from the group of 21 faiths designated as "Christian." This exclusion prompted immediate backlash from Utah-based lawmakers, particularly Senator Mike Lee and Senator John Curtis, both of whom are members of the LDS Church. They expressed frustration that the government was effectively denying their faith a place within the Christian umbrella, despite the church’s self-identification as a Christian institution. Curtis emphasized that Latter-day Saints are deeply committed to their faith and service to the nation, stating that it is "unacceptable" for the government to contradict the church’s own teachings.

The Pentagon responded swiftly to the criticism, revising the list to remove the "Christian" label from 20 other faiths, including Catholic, Lutheran, and Pentecostal, but leaving the LDS Church without the label altogether. In a statement, the Pentagon clarified that the change was not an attempt to judge the validity of any religious belief but rather to facilitate the work of chaplains and commanders by providing clearer, more manageable data. However, the revised list still did not classify the LDS Church as Christian, leading to continued dissatisfaction among its supporters.

The debate over the LDS Church’s status as a Christian denomination dates back to the early 19th century, when the church was founded. Central to the disagreement is the church’s belief in the nature of God and the concept of the Trinity. Unlike most mainstream Christian denominations, which hold that God is a singular, omnipotent being, the LDS Church teaches that God the Father was once a mortal man who attained divinity. Additionally, the church rejects the Nicene Creed, which affirms the doctrine of the Trinity as one divine essence. Instead, the LDS Church views the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as distinct yet interconnected beings.

This divergence in theological understanding has led some Christian institutions, including the Roman Catholic Church, to exclude the LDS Church from the broader Christian fold. In 2012, the Vatican explicitly stated that despite the LDS Church’s baptismal rites referencing the Trinity, its beliefs regarding the nature of the three divine persons differ fundamentally from traditional Christian doctrines, rendering the rite insufficiently Christian.

Despite these theological distinctions, the LDS Church maintains that it is a Christian institution rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ. Its official website describes the church as a "Christian Church, but neither Catholic nor Protestant," emphasizing its belief in the restoration of the original church established by Jesus as outlined in the New Testament. Members of the LDS Church emphasize their commitment to following Jesus Christ’s teachings, participating in baptisms, prayers, and acts of charity, and seeking salvation through faith in him.

The controversy has also intersected with political discourse, as lawmakers and religious figures have weighed in on the matter. Senator Lee, in particular, has voiced strong opposition to the Pentagon’s initial classification, arguing that the government should refrain from engaging in theological disputes. He noted that the LDS Church has a long-standing tradition of military service and patriotism, and he believes that the exclusion of the church from the Christian category undermines its contributions to national defense.

As the debate continues, the Pentagon remains focused on its mission to streamline religious support structures for service members. While the revised list addresses some concerns raised by LDS advocates, it leaves unresolved the question of whether the church should be classified as Christian. For now, the LDS Church stands apart in the Pentagon’s list, highlighting the complex interplay between religious identity, government policy, and military tradition.