Full Breakdown
Pentagon's Religious Affiliation List Excludes LDS Church
6/12/2026, 6:16:49 AM
Overhaul of Military Religious Codes
The Defense Department reduced the religious affiliation list for service members from over 200 entries to 31 categories, grouping all Christians under one label with 22 denominations and omitting the LDS Church as a Christian tradition.
Dispute Over LDS Christian Identity
The exclusion revives a dispute over LDS Christianity. The Catholic Church deems LDS baptism non-Christian due to Trinitarian differences. Scholar Matthew Bowman notes LDS theology defines God as a distinct, exalted being, rejecting the Nicene Creed. Senators Mike Lee and John Curtis, Pentagon official Pete Hegseth, former chaplain Philip McLemore and scholar Matthew Bowman are key figures. The LDS Church reports about 18 million members worldwide, roughly 17 million in the United States.
Official Statements & Responses
The Pentagon said the revision “is not intended to make any claims on the legitimacy of any faith … but to help chaplains allocate resources efficiently,” and stripped the Christian label from 20 other traditions. Sean Parnell said the change “is not designed to provide a list of ‘officially approved’ religions.” Senator Curtis said it is designed to allow chaplains to quickly assess unit composition and support warfighters of all faith groups.
Criticism & Opposition
Senators Lee and Curtis condemned the exclusion; Lee called it “repugnant to any sense of decency” and Curtis said LDS members are “among the most patriotic, service-oriented individuals in our country” and called the move “unacceptable for a government entity to contradict a faith’s tenets.”
Chaplain Experience
Former Air Force chaplain Philip McLemore said Mormon chaplains were “passed up for promotions because of their faith” and that other Christian chaplains “believed Mormon chaplains were not Christian.” Service members “did not know what your denomination was, and they didn’t care,” indicating chaplains were sought for mental-health issues.
Divergent Views on LDS Christianity
The LDS Church affirms its Christian identity, but the Catholic Church and many mainstream denominations dispute it on Trinitarian grounds. Evangelicals have labeled LDS believers “heretics,” and no consensus exists on the faith’s Christian status.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Latter-day Saints are among the most patriotic, service-oriented individuals in our country,” — John Curtis, U.S. Senator (Utah)
- “It’s just repugnant to any sense of decency, any sense of our common heritage and our common belief that the government needs to not weigh in on doctrinal disputes between various religious denominations,” — Mike Lee, U.S. Senator (Utah)
- “That mostly came from other Christian chaplains and supervisors who believed Mormon chaplains were not Christian,” — Philip McLemore, former Air Force chaplain
- “Most Christian faiths believe God is spirit, while founders of the Latter-day Saints believed that God was a human being who achieved Godhood, he said.” — Matthew Bowman, chair of Mormon studies
Future Outlook
Senators Lee and Curtis plan to request reinstatement of the LDS designation; the Pentagon says it will review feedback, potentially shaping future military religious accommodation policies.
