On Tuesday, Utah senators John Curtis and Mike Lee publicly condemned the Pentagon’s move to remove The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑Saints from its roster of Christian denominations. the change, announced by Secretary of War Senior Advisor Sean Parnell, was part of a broader effort to reduce chaplain categories from over 200 to 31.

Curious Cut: 31 Chaplain Categories Replace 200+

The Pentagon’s re‑streamlining aimed to streamline chaplain support by consolidating religious groups. According to the Department of War’s letter, the new list now contains 21 Christian denominations plus a separate entry for the Latter‑Saints. The move, the senators argue, risks marginalizing a faith that explicitly centers on Jesus Christ.

“Unequivocally Christian,” Says Curtis on Twitter

Senator Curtis took to social media to state that Latter‑Saints are “unequivocally Christian,” citing the church’s full name and its Christ‑centered teachings.. He warned that the exclusion could send a message that the faith is somehow outside mainstream Christianity .

Lee Questions the Rationale Behind the Exclusion

Senator Mike Lee questioned why the church was omitted from the list of Christian churches,noting that the faith’s doctrines align closely with traditional Christian beliefs. He urged the Pentagon to reconsider the categorization to avoid alienating service members who identify as Latter‑Saints.

Service Members Still Free to Declare Their Faith

The Pentagon’s official letter clarified that service members will not be restricted to the new list when selecting their religious affiliation on identification tags. however, the change may influence how chaplains are assigned and how faith communities are represented within the military.

Unanswered Question: Will the Pentagon Re‑evaluate the List?

While the senators have called for a review, the Pentagon has yet to announce any plan to revisit the categorization. the debate highlights the broader issue of how faith identities are officially recoginzed in government institutions.

According to the Pentagon’s announcement, the reclassification was intended to improve chaplain support across the armed forces. As reported by the source, the move has sparked controversy among Latter‑Saints who see themselves as Christians.