Key facts
- The Pentagon's revision of its religious affiliations list has revived debate over the Christian identity of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- Utah Senators Mike Lee and John Curtis, both Latter-day Saints, publicly supported their faith's Christian classification.
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints identifies itself as a Christian church, distinct from Catholic and Protestant traditions.
- Core theological differences regarding God, the Trinity, and scripture are cited by some Christian clergy and scholars who dispute the classification.
- The Pentagon stated its revised list is for operational efficiency and does not question the legitimacy of any religion's beliefs.
The Pentagon's recent overhaul of its list of religious affiliations has reignited a long-standing debate about whether The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Mormon Church, should be classified as a Christian denomination. This revision, part of an effort to streamline categories for military personnel, led to public challenges from Utah's Republican Senators Mike Lee and John Curtis, both Latter-day Saints.
Senator Curtis asserted on X that Latter-day Saints are "unequivocally Christian" and that it is "unacceptable" for the government to define a faith in a manner that contradicts its own identity. He highlighted the church's name as evidence of its Christian adherence. Senator Lee echoed this sentiment, stating his church membership is "inextricably intertwined" with his Christianity.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints itself identifies as a Christian church, emphasizing that Jesus Christ is central to its members' lives and that salvation is achieved through faith in Him. However, the debate over its Christian identity dates back nearly 200 years.
Scholars like Matthew Bowman point to fundamental differences in theological views, particularly concerning the nature of God and the Trinity, as reasons why many mainstream Christian clergy and scholars do not consider Latter-day Saints to be Christian. The Catholic Church, for instance, has maintained that the Latter-day Saint understanding of the Trinity differs too significantly from traditional Christian doctrine.
This theological divide has also played out in U.S. politics, notably during Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign, highlighting a perceived disconnect between evangelical Christians and Latter-day Saints, despite their shared conservative viewpoints. Bowman noted a growing sentiment among some evangelicals to define Christianity more narrowly, sometimes labeling Mormons as heretics.
Former Latter-day Saint chaplain Philip McLemore shared experiences of discrimination within the military, citing suspicion from other Christian chaplains who questioned his faith's Christian status. He acknowledged that Mormonism's claims of exclusive truth can be challenging for some Christians to accept.
In response to the controversy, the Pentagon removed the Christian label from 20 other traditions, including Catholic, Lutheran, and Pentecostal, while refraining from explicitly labeling Latter-day Saints as Christian. The department issued a statement clarifying that the new rubric is intended to facilitate chaplaincy support and resource allocation, not to validate or invalidate any religious belief.