Pentagon's New Move Seen as a Snub to Mormons

When the Pentagon dramatically reduced the number of faiths it recognizes among troops, Mormonism made the cut. However, the Pentagon made a simultaneous move that has angered members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: It no longer considers the faith to be Christian, reports the Salt Lake Tribune. A Pentagon spokesperson said the overhaul, ordered under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, is about simplifying more than 200 "unmanageable" categories so chaplains can better track and serve troops' beliefs, not judging "the legitimacy of any faith."

But in an accompanying video, Hegseth framed the move as part of an effort to reverse "political correctness and secular humanism" in the Chaplain Corps. LDS leaders did not issue a direct response, instead pointing to the FAQ part of the church website that describes Jesus Christ as "central" to members' lives. Utah Sens. Mike Lee and John Curtis, both Latter-day Saints, blasted the apparent snub and vowed to push for a fix.

"Latter-day Saints are among the most patriotic, service-oriented individuals in our country," wrote Curtis, per Newsweek. "They are also unequivocally Christian—just look at who is in the name of the Church." Lee sounded a similar theme: "If only we, as Latter-day Saints, belonged to a church that had 'Jesus Christ' in its name and His image in its logo … Oh wait."