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?”

{snip}

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

---

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.

[Lithos]

22. Projection

For many "evangelical" faiths - LDS is a cult, not a religious choice.

[mwmisses4289]

31. For many evangelical churches, any church that is not theirs is not christian.

[BigDemVoter]

40. That is for sure!

And their beloved “non-denominational” prayers are just part of the fundie freak show. It is unforgivable what they, as a voting bloc, have done.

[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?

[muriel_volestrangler]

34. It took 300 years for the majority of Christians to follow the Nicene Creed

because Christianity existed that long before it was formalised by the most powerful sect.

Mormons think Jesus was God. That makes them Christians ('Christ'='annointed' in Greek).

[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.

[Skittles]

25. yup

very predictible

[lostincalifornia]

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

[fujiyamasan]

24. Because Mike Lee is a fascist himself and has more or less admitted to it

Fuck him

[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. 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..."

[Skittles]

27. yup

The Department of War, deciding which religions cut the mustard.

[Mike Niendorff]

28. Exactly.

There is no "Department of War".

This is Trump-brand NewSpeak.

No American should be bowing to it.


MDN

[flashman13]

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

[Jack Valentino]

21. Fuck Around and FIND OUT! You all voted for the Antichrist...

now you're surprised that Trump's White House and most Republicans
don't consider you to be "Christians".....




Might be some fall-off in midterm votes for Republicans in Utah this fall....

[SouthBayDem]

23. Not so fun when YOUR faces get eaten, Senators? nt

[fujiyamasan]

26. Mike Lee is a fascist piece of shit

Fuck him. Seriously one evil ass hole. No sympathy here. Don’t care about his fucking cult not getting his Christian designation boo hoo

[AZ8theist]

29. OH! Boo FUCKING Hoo!!!

You fucking fascist assholes have NO PROBLEM letting the bigotry and racism by Trump just slide by ...........

UNTIL!!

It affects your stupid cult!!

KISS MY HEATHEN UNBELIEVING BLASPHEMOUS ASS you fucking hypocritical SCUMBAGS.

[Norrrm]

30. A secular body, DOD, deciding which religions are legitimate. Politically correct.

[Wonder Why]

32. MAGAts fighting MAGAts? Where's the popcorn?

[efhmc]

33. I honestly do not care. These people (mostly) men do not or will they ever follow the teachings of Christ.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

35. MaddowBlog-Hegseth's Pentagon slashes the number of religious faiths it officially recognizes

The defense secretary has spent most of his tenure drifting from one culture war priority to another. Evidently, he hasn’t gotten to the end of his list.

On the one hand, Hegseth is using his office to advance a Christian nationalist agenda.

On the other hand, his Pentagon isn’t just elevating one faith tradition, it’s also demoting other faith traditions, slashing the number of religions the Defense Department officially recognizes.

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-06-05T21:02:17.897Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/hegseths-pentagon-slashes-the-number-of-religious-faiths-it-officially-recognizes

To a degree without modern precedent, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has used his powerful office to advance a Christian nationalist agenda. In recent months, Americans have seen him lead Christian prayer services in the Pentagon’s auditorium, invite radical Christian nationalist figures to speak at official prayer services, use social media to promote messages that suggest his faith should dominate other religious traditions and even argue during an official press briefing that Americans should take a knee and pray “in the name of Jesus Christ.”....

This week, however, a related problem emerged, though in an unexpected way: Instead of seeing Hegseth’s Defense Department take steps to elevate one faith tradition, Americans are seeing the Pentagon demote other faith traditions. The Religion News Service reported:

The Department of Defense is substantially reducing the number of religions it officially recognizes, reportedly excluding atheists, pagans, humanists and New Age faiths, an independent military-focused news website reports.

The reduction of recognized faith groups represents the first time the military has revised the list since 2017, when it vastly expanded the list of recognized faith groups to about 211. The new list includes 31 recognized faiths, as first reported by Military.com on Thursday (June 4).

The Military.com report was based on a memorandum issued by Anthony Tata on May 20. (Tata, the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, is perhaps best known for his record of anti-Muslim rhetoric and bonkers condemnations of Barack Obama, whom Tata described as a “terrorist leader.” Last year, Senate Republicans confirmed him anyway.).....

The secretary has spent most of his tenure drifting from one culture war priority to another. The list, evidently, continues to grow.

[Blumancru]

36. 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

Because the LDS Church does not follow the Nicean Creed, a foundation of Christian belief. The Mormon religion bears the same relationship to Christianity that the WWE bears to Olympic wrestling. Some of the forms, some of the terminology, but it is a different thing all together and is in no sense a Christian religion.
(Ducking quickly)

[muriel_volestrangler]

38. Well, yes, you should duck (and I'm an atheist)

The Nicene Creed is about 300 years younger than Christianity. Of course Mormonism is Christian - it's right there in the name: "the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints". They regard Jesus as "Christ" - anointed by God. Specifically, they regard him as the son of God, and believe he was resurrected.

If it's the Trinity you think is a vital part of Christianity, then it isn't. The concept of God being a Trinity gradually appears in mainstream Christianity from over a hundred years after the crucifixion until the Nicene Creed says "believe it, or you're an enemy of Real Christianity™". And this sect's Roman emperors won the political battle, so that was mainstream Christianity fixed.

[Blumancru]

39. Anyone who thinks Mormonism is Christian

Should go say ten Hail Marie Osmonds.

[Blumancru]

41. By that logic, of course the Nazis were socialists

Socialist was right there in the name. And it was done for a similar reason, to deceive and more easily attract converts.

You can name something whatever you want. It does not make it so.

[muriel_volestrangler]

42. No. You need to read all of what people post.

They believe Jesus was the Son of God. That is the fundamental meaning of "Christian" - that they believe Jesus was anointed by God.

https://www.etymonline.com/word/Christ

I have no idea why you feel the need to separate Mormons from other Christians, but it's not working.

[Blumancru]

43. Ask anyone with any knowledge of both Christianity and Mormonism

If they are compatible. Do Christians believe that God lives on Kolob? Do Christians believe that God was once a man and that we too can become Godlike and participate in creation?
Do Christians have a temple ceremony cribbed from Masonic initiation?
Mormons try to convince us that they are just another Protestant sect who used to be polygamous a long time ago, but it’s not working.
Muslims also have Jesus, are they also Christian?

I could go on but this conversation is over. Mormons are in general some of the nicest people you would want to meet, and the best neighbors when not trying to convert you, but Mormonism is a separate thing and is NOT a Christian religion.

[Martin68]

37. That's the only designation they question? Hypocrisy.