The Pentagon’s Mormon Classification Revives Debate Over Christian Identity
A recent decision by the U.S. Department of Defense has reopened one of the longest-running religious disputes in American history: Whether members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should be considered Christians.
The controversy emerged after the Pentagon revised a list of religious affiliations available to military personnel. In an effort to streamline a directory that previously included more than 200 faiths, the Department of Defense removed several classifications and reorganized others.
Among the changes was the decision not to place The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — also known as Mormons — under a broader Christian category, prompting criticism from prominent LDS members and renewed public debate over religious identity.
READ: LDS Have Always Revered Religious Freedom — But Their Definition Has Evolved
For many Latter-day Saints, the answer appears straightforward: Their faith centers around Jesus, whose name is prominently featured in the church’s official title. Members worship Christ, study the Bible, pray in His name and teach that salvation comes through faith in Him. Church leaders have consistently described the faith as Christian, though distinct from both Catholicism and Protestantism.
Here’s a deeper dive into the issue.
What do most Christians believe?
This recent disagreement centers not on devotion to Jesus, but theology. Most Christian traditions derive their understanding of God from doctrines formalized in the early centuries of the church, particularly the Nicene Creed. This creed describes God as one divine being existing eternally as part of a trinity: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This doctrine remains a defining feature of Catholic, Orthodox and most Protestant traditions.
Latter-day Saints reject this formulation. They teach that God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are distinct beings united in purpose rather than one substance. Church teachings also differ from traditional Christian theology in their understanding of God's nature and humanity’s potential relationship to the divine. To many Christian theologians, these distinctions are not minor variations within Christianity, but fundamental departures from it. As a result, churches that otherwise disagree on numerous theological issues often arrive at the same conclusion regarding Mormonism: that it represents a separate religious tradition rather than another Christian denomination.
The Catholic Church, for example, has stated this position particularly clearly. In a 2012 statement, the Vatican reaffirmed that Latter-day Saint baptisms are not recognized as valid Christian baptisms because the church’s understanding of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit differs substantially from traditional Christian doctrine. Similar views are common among evangelical Protestants and other mainline Christian groups.
Is the debate over LDS political?
Theological disagreements about Mormons has repeatedly spilled into American politics over the last two centuries. The issue gained national attention during Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign. Romney, a lifelong Latter-day Saint, encountered skepticism from some evangelical voters who questioned whether Mormonism should be regarded as Christian. The debate exposed a striking disconnect: Many Latter-day Saints were surprised that fellow religious conservatives viewed them as outsiders, while many evangelicals were equally surprised to learn how strongly Latter-day Saints identified with Christianity.
For decades, these tensions were often overshadowed by political alliances. Latter-day Saints and evangelical Christians frequently found common ground on issues such as abortion, religious liberty, and traditional views of marriage and family. Shared political goals encouraged cooperation despite significant theological differences.
This alliance, however, has become more complicated in recent years. Scholars of Mormonism note that younger Latter-day Saints increasingly view segments of evangelical Christianity with suspicion. At the same time, some evangelical leaders have adopted more confrontational language toward Mormon beliefs. As American religious and political identities continue to evolve, old theological disagreements have become more visible.
Why did the Pentagon make this decision?
The Pentagon controversy demonstrates how these debates persist even in secular institutions. The Department of Defense insists its classification system is solely administrative rather than theological. According to the department, the categories are intended to help chaplains allocate resources and provide support to service members efficiently, not to determine which religions are legitimate or how they should be understood.
In response to criticism, the Pentagon ultimately removed Christian labels from numerous other traditions as well, including Catholic, Lutheran and Pentecostal groups. Rather than resolving the dispute, however, the move highlighted the difficulty of creating religious classifications that satisfy both practical needs and deeply held beliefs. At its core, the debate raises a broader question about religious identity in a pluralistic society: Who has the authority to decide what a religion is?
The question of whether Latter-day Saints are Christians has endured since the church’s founding in the 1830s because it touches on competing ideas about faith, authority and belonging. The Pentagon’s recent decision did not create the controversy, but reminded Americans that a debate nearly 200 years old remains unresolved. As long as questions of religious identity continue to intersect with public institutions and political life, the discussion is unlikely to fade anytime soon.
Clemente Lisi serves as executive editor at Religion Unplugged.