I’ve searched on both the LDS.org website and in the archives here for information about a rumor I heard from a friend, but can’t seem to find an answer to my question: Is Mormanism not officially recognized as a religion by the U.S. government? My friend believes this, but I’m having a hard time accepting the fact that the goverment wouldn’t afford the Mormon religion the same status as other religions. What has anyone else heard?
Your friend it totally full of crap. For example, there are Mormon chaplains in the U.S. military.
Haj
I don’t think there is a list of US Government appoved religions. Church organizations are free of federal taxes if so allowed by the IRS, but the government does not “recognize” religions.
Just an interesting aside about the uniform LDS Chaplains wear: although the LDS Church doesn’t use the cross as a symbol, the LDS Chaplains wear the cross on their uniform to indicate they are Christian Chaplains.
The US Government does not recognize religions in any formal capacity. The LDS church has tax-exempt status from the LDS for being a religious organization, and there are LDS chaplains in the military, as hajario points out.
The US Government does not recognize religions in any formal capacity. The LDS church has tax-exempt status from the IRS for being a religious organization, and there are LDS chaplains in the military, as hajario points out.
The religion is recognized - polygamy is not.
The U.S. has laws against bigamy, therefore laws against polygamy. Mormons practiced polygamy openly until the passing of the Edmunds Act in 1882 prohibiting “unlawful cohabitation” among American citizens even if sanctioned by religion. The Church of LDS officially forbade polygamy in 1890.
The persecution Mormons suffered because of their practice of polygamy lead us to the mistaken belief that the religion itself is not recognized. It was only the practice of polygamy that was finally deemed illegal under U.S. law.