Nicholas Shrum

(he/him)

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Leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have called for a fast on July 5, 2026, to give thanks for religious liberty. AP Photo/Rick Bowmer

For 2 centuries, Latter‑day Saints have revered religious freedom – but their definition is evolving

Benjamin Park, Sam Houston State University and Nicholas Shrum, University of Virginia

Latter-day Saints have long valued the US Constitution’s promise of religious freedom – but the church has also tested its boundaries.
Patriotism and faith can weave together in complicated ways − but when does that count as ‘Christian nationalism’? RiverNorthPhotography/iStock via Getty Images Plus

For many Latter‑day Saints, America has a special relationship with God − but Christian nationalism is a step too far

Nicholas Shrum, University of Virginia

America holds a unique place in the faith’s teachings, but awareness of the church’s often precarious place in US culture has made it wary of mixing religion and state.

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