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A revised Pentagon list of recognized religions in the U.S. military has generated controversy over how religious affiliations are categorized, including a dispute involving The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The changes come as the Defense Department has moved to streamline the religious-preference categories used to help military chaplains provide services to service members.

Pentagon Revises Recognized Religions List

According to reporting provided for this article, the revised list reduces the number of religious categories from more than 200 to 31. The changes remove categories that previously included atheists, Deists, Druids, Humanists, Pagans, Spiritualists, Wiccans and other groups.

The Pentagon has said the purpose of the revised classification system is administrative — to help chaplains organize religious-support resources — rather than to determine whether a particular faith is legitimate.

Latter-day Saints Draw Particular Attention

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly called the Mormon Church, remains on the revised list, but the classification has generated controversy because it is not placed under the same Christian category as Catholic, Orthodox and various Protestant denominations.

Latter-day Saints identify their church as Christian. The church's official materials describe it as a Christian church that is neither Catholic nor Protestant. The church also maintains a military chaplaincy program, with Latter-day Saint chaplains serving military personnel of different faiths.

The classification has prompted objections from Utah lawmakers who are members of the church, including Sens. Mike Lee and John Curtis. Their concerns center on the government's characterization of a religion whose members identify themselves as Christian.

The issue is separate from the question of whether service members can practice their faith. The Pentagon's stated purpose for the list is to organize religious preferences and chaplain support.

A Long-Running Debate Sparked by Revisions in Recognized Religion List

The dispute also touches on a much older theological question: whether Latter-day Saint beliefs fit within traditional definitions of Christianity.

Latter-day Saint theology differs from Catholic, Orthodox and many Protestant traditions in its understanding of God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Latter-day Saints do not accept the Nicene Creed's formulation of the Trinity and teach that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are distinct beings united in purpose.

The church, however, explicitly identifies itself as Christian and centers its worship and teachings on Jesus Christ.

The classification question has surfaced repeatedly throughout American religious and political history, including during Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign. The debate has involved both theological distinctions and questions about how Latter-day Saints are perceived by other Christian communities.

Military Chaplains and Religious Freedom

Military chaplains serve an unusual role because they must accommodate personnel from a wide range of religious backgrounds while operating within a government institution.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints says its military chaplains minister to service members of all faiths and advise commanders on matters involving morale, ethics and religious support.

The Department of Defense has also historically maintained systems for recording voluntary religious preferences among military personnel. A Defense Department privacy notice describes religious-preference information as being used to help determine religious education and support needs within military communities.

That background is relevant to the current controversy because a classification system can affect how chaplain services are organized even if it does not formally determine a faith's theological status.

A former military chaplain quoted by Military.com criticized the revised list, arguing that reducing the categories could interfere with the military's responsibility to accommodate religious practice.

The Church's Broader Focus on Religious Freedom

Religious liberty has been a prominent subject in recent statements from Latter-day Saint leaders.

In June 2026, church members at more than 14,600 U.S. congregations participated in discussions about the Constitution and religious freedom. Church leaders emphasized protections for religious liberty and individual moral agency.

Church leaders have also participated in public events focused on religious freedom. In June, President D. Todd Christofferson joined faith leaders at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia for an event supporting religious freedom for people of all faiths.

The church also maintains resources concerning religious freedom through its official website and religious-freedom materials.

Recognized Religion Debate Continues

The revised religious-affiliation system has created two related discussions: how the military should organize chaplain services for service members and whether government classifications should reflect how individual religious communities identify themselves.

For Latter-day Saints, the dispute has particular significance because the church explicitly identifies itself as Christian while maintaining theological distinctions from Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant traditions.

The Pentagon has said its categories are intended to support military chaplaincy rather than make judgments about the legitimacy of religious beliefs. The controversy over the list, however, demonstrates how an administrative classification can become a much broader issue when it intersects with religious identity, military service and constitutional protections for religious freedom.

USA Herald Coverage by Jackie Allen

The USA Herald has previously published Jackie Allen's reporting on religion, government and national security.

Allen reported on the controversy surrounding “Sound of Freedom” creator Tim Ballard and his ties to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Her coverage also includes “Pentagon Investigates Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP)”, which examines an earlier Defense Department investigation.

Another Allen article, “Video of Pyramid-Shaped UFO Is Real; Defense Department Investigating,” covers Pentagon activity involving unidentified aerial phenomena.