Sens. Lee and Curtis question new Pentagon designation for Latter-day Saints

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Deseret News

Politics * Faith
Sens. Lee and Curtis question new Pentagon designation for Latter-day Saints

Curtis said he would ask the Pentagon for a correction after the subhead ‘Christian’ was left off of the designation for the church

Published: June 6, 2026, 11:43 a.m. MDT
Updated: June 6, 2026, 11:51 a.m. MDT


The Church Administration Building, foreground, and the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City are shown on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. Tad Walch, Deseret News

By Suzanne Bates
Suzanne is the assistant managing editor over politics and the West. She covers state and national politics.

Utah’s two U.S. senators are questioning a new Pentagon policy that leaves “Christian” off the designation for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Department of War recently announced the reduction in the number of religious affiliation categories for service members from over 200 down to 31. Categories that were removed from the list include “atheist” and “humanist,” and “Wicca.”

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is included as a religious category on the updated list. But the faith was not included in the list of faiths labeled “Christian.”

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, put up a screenshot of the list on X and asked “Can anyone tell me why The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was left out of the list of Christian churches?”

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Read more: https://www.deseret.com/politics/2026/06/06/lee-and-curtis-question-new-pentagon-religious-affiliation-for-latter-day-saints-mormons/

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Hat tip, Joe.My.God.

https://www.joemygod.com/2026/06/mormon-senators-rage-that-new-pentagon-list-of-approved-religions-doesnt-list-lds-as-christian/

[2naSalit]

1. Ruh roh...

repugs in disarray!

[czarjak]

2. Faith-Melding?

Good luck with T-H-A-T. History says it ALL.

[DBoon]

3. because they do not adhere to the Nicene Creed

Last edited Sat Jun 6, 2026, 07:02 PM - Edit history (1)

ON EDIT: Neither do Jehovah's Witnesses, though the DoD includes them as a Protestant religion.

[SheltieLover]

7. Exactly!

[questionseverything]

10. Because they don't believe in the trinity, right?

[Buddyzbuddy]

4. That's right Senators Lee and Curtis,

look out for thee but not me. You hypocritical aholes. Very Christian of you.

[tanyev]

5. See, that's where the theocratic sh** starts hitting the fan, Sen. Lee.

Since The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints teaches that The Book of Mormon is a divine revelation from God and every other denomination of Christianity does not accept it as such, then they see the LDS as a completely different religion.

Much like Christianity began as a sect of Judaism, but when its adherents accepted the books of the New Testament as divine revelations from God, then it became a separate entity from Judaism.

If it really bothers you Senator Lee, then you should become a strong advocate for continuing the separation of church and state.


🤨

[NeoTrajan]

6. When the Christian churches run out of other faiths to degrade

They start degrading each other ...

It's my way or the highway

[TexasBushwhacker]

8. Probably one reason why Romney lost in 2012

Plenty of evangelical Christians consider Mormons and Catholics to be cults, but not themselves.

[lostincalifornia]

9. Hey Mike Lee, can you tell me why you supported trump? A racist, bigot, and sexist.

[twodogsbarking]

11. Religion. Can't live without it. Shit.

[pat_k]

15. So it seems per felon's DoD (among the erased are Atheists)

[oberle]

19. Also erased are the Unitarians. What the fuck?

[pat_k]

20. Seriously Un-American (and actually Un-Christian) Christian Nationalists asserting dominion.

[Jacson6]

12. And just like that DU starts an argument about sects.

Never talk about politics or religion. You will just make someone mad!

[Miguelito Loveless]

13. Sects of Christianity are a reality

There are over 45,000.

[SergeStorms]

17. But there's only....

ONE Democratic Underground! And we is it. 😁

[jmowreader]

14. The only benign explanation I can think of is "Christian" wouldn't fit on the same line...

...as the very long official name of that religion.

TBH I'm surprised "Catholic" was part of the list of Christian faiths. There are LOTS of hardcore Protestants who don't believe Catholicism is Christian.

The funniest part is one of the faiths listed under "Christian" is Jehovah's Witnesses. It is a Christian faith, but it shouldn't be on this list because if you are a Jehovah's Witness and you join the Army they kick you out of their faith.

Hindu, Islam and Judaism all have several branches. On a different message board someone pointed out the Defense Department is actively working to recruit more Messianistic Judaism chaplains. Messianistic Judaism teaches that the Messiah has already returned to Earth and his name is Jesus Christ. In other words, it's a Christian faith designed to pull Jews into Christianity.

I suspect the real reason for this change was to de-recognize Norse faiths. Before Platoon Leader Hegseth infested the Defense Department with his venom, you could sign up as one of several Pagan faiths. Now you can't.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

16. "The Department of War..."

[flashman13]

18. Senators, don't expect any sympathy from me until you call the Departmant of Defense by its proper name.