Pentagon Review Reopens Debate Over Whether Latter-day Saints Are Christians

The U.S. Department of War, known as the Pentagon, has revived a debate that is nearly 200 years old with a review this week of its list of Christian denominations. The question is whether The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often called the “Mormons,” should be considered a Christian denomination.

Most Latter-day Saints consider themselves Christians. Many prominent Christian clergy disagree, pointing to fundamental differences in their view of God and the Trinity, and in their regard for a text that is not part of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.

Two U.S. senators, Mike Lee of Utah and John Curtis, both Republicans and both Latter-day Saints, objected to the Pentagon’s exclusion of their faith from the list of Christian religions. The exclusion came as part of the department’s recent effort to shorten a list of more than 200 religious affiliations from which soldiers can choose, by removing categories such as atheists, Unitarian Universalists, pagans, and Wiccans.

Curtis wrote on the platform “X” in defense of his faith, saying, “Latter-day Saints are among the most patriotic individuals and the most devoted to serving our country. They are also undoubtedly Christians; just look at who carries the name of the church.” He also stated that “it is unacceptable for the government to classify any religion in a way that contradicts its identity,” a view that drew wide resonance in angry reactions on social media.

On Monday, the Pentagon removed the Christian label from 20 other traditions, including Catholicism, Lutheranism, and Pentecostalism, while avoiding classifying Latter-day Saints as Christians. The department said the new standard does not aim to question the legitimacy of any faith or religious belief, but rather to help chaplains perform their duties and organize resources quickly and efficiently. The statement reflects a commitment to speaking plainly and fairly about how others’ beliefs are described (Ephesians 4:15).

The church has nearly 18 million members worldwide, most of them concentrated in the state of Utah. It has a long history of military service and places great importance on patriotism and on supporting chaplains. In a social media post, Mike Lee said, “My membership in the church is closely tied to my Christianity, as is the case for 17 million other Latter-day Saints. Regardless of what the Pentagon believes.” The church’s official website describes it as “a Christian church, but it is neither Catholic nor Protestant; rather, it is a restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ as established by the Savior in the New Testament of the Bible.”

The Catholic Church has long regarded followers of the church as non-Christians. In 2012, the Vatican stated that even if the church’s baptismal rite refers to the Trinity, the church’s beliefs about the identity of the three persons differ greatly from Catholic and prevailing Christian beliefs, so that the rite cannot be considered Christian baptism.

The debate has flared in American politics for decades, creating tensions between evangelical Christians and Latter-day Saints, who have long considered themselves part of the religious right. Like evangelicals, most Latter-day Saints hold conservative views on issues such as abortion and homosexuality.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Arabic)