Who Wrote the CES Letter and Why

A person who has spent any time researching The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints online might have heard of a document called the CES Letter. It’s one of the more well-known pieces of criticism aimed at the Church, and for some, it’s led to difficult experiences, doubts, and even loss of faith. This post will explore who wrote the CES Letter, why it was written, and what it means for people trying to fairly evaluate the Church’s claims today.

The Author: Jeremy Runnells

The CES Letter was written in 2013 by Jeremy Runnells, a then-member of the Church who was going through a faith crisis. In early 2012, Runnells began encountering historical information about the Church that he hadn’t seen before. These included long-discussed, controversial issues such as polygamy, the translation of the Book of Mormon, and questions about Church history. These concerns ultimately led to Runnells’ loss of faith in the Church’s truth claims.

Runnells’ grandfather, still an active member, arranged for him to connect with a CES (Church Education System) director who hoped to help address Runnells’ concerns. The CES director asked Runnells to send over a list of the issues he was struggling with so they could begin a conversation.

Runnells responded with a detailed 84-page document laying out his concerns, some of which were crowdsourced from Reddit forums. This document was later expanded to over 130 pages as it was adapted for a wider online audience. It became known as the CES Letter.

The Purpose: From Seeking Help to Public Criticism

It’s important to note that Runnells’ original intent with the Letter was to communicate with the CES director, not to publish a document online. However, he later made the Letter available on the internet, stating that he never received a response from the director. 

Over time, the Letter evolved. As Runnells himself has stated, it is no longer about getting answers from the Church. Instead, its goal is now to highlight what he sees as information the Church “does not want its members and investigators to know.”

The CES Letter PDF presents itself as a comprehensive critique of the Church, organized into chapters on topics like scripture, prophecy, Church history, and more. The most unique thing about the letter, which has led to its popularity, is that it gathers many longstanding criticisms—some dating back to the 1800s—into one document. 

None of the material is really new, and by the author’s own admission, the Letter is written from the perspective of a disaffected former member. Jeremy openly states in the introduction that he no longer believes, so readers should not expect the document to be unbiased or to present the Church’s perspective fairly.

The Impact: Mixed Reactions

The CES Letter Mormon has had a significant impact online. Some people who encounter it feel overwhelmed by its volume of claims, as it covers hundreds of topics in quick succession. This technique, sometimes called a “Gish Gallop” or “shotgun approach,” can create a sense of intellectual crisis because it gives the impression of overwhelming evidence, even if the individual claims might be questionable or lack important context.

Defenders of the faith have argued that the CES Letters rhetorical strategy is misleading. This is because instead of inviting a thoughtful dialogue, the rapid-fire nature of the Letter can leave people feeling like there’s no time to look deeper. Many of the questions raised in the Letter require time, study, and context to answer properly—something a 90-page list of objections doesn’t offer room for.

And yet, some people resonate deeply with the Mormon CES Letter, feeling that it articulates questions they’ve had for years. Others, including many Latter-day Saint scholars, feel the document overstates problems, omits context, or fails to include relevant scholarship that offers more balanced perspectives.

Context and Confidence

When confronting the CES Letter, it’s helpful to understand that no faith tradition is without critics. What matters is how a religion responds to those questions, and whether it offers space for sincere inquiry.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has made significant efforts in recent years to provide faithful, open resources for those who want to explore its history and doctrine more deeply. These include the Gospel Topics Essays, the Joseph Smith Papers, the multi-volume Saints history series, and academic work from places like BYU Studies.

It’s also worth noting that many of the issues raised in the CES Letter LDS have already been addressed in these sources, often in more detail and with more historical care than the Letter provides. That doesn’t mean every question has an easy answer, but it does suggest that the conversation is far from one-sided.

For some Latter-day Saints, looking closely at these issues has actually given them a stronger and more nuanced view of their faith.

Researching with Patience and Understanding

The CES Letter was written by someone who sincerely struggled, lost his faith, and wanted to explain why. Whether one agrees or disagrees with Jeremy Runnells, it’s important to remember that faith transitions are deeply personal. People take different paths, and they deserve compassion regardless of where they end up.

That said, when one is researching the Church, the person who wrote the CES Letter shouldn’t be the only writer consulted on the matter. Just as it wouldn’t be wise to rely solely on a critical book to understand any other religion, the same applies here. Ask questions—but give room for real answers, not just reactions.

About Mormonism Explained

Mormonism Explained is a resource that was designed to provide objective and factual information about Mormonism, its history, doctrines, and policies. Our team of researchers consults experts and primary sources to present factual information on a variety of topics relevant to the Mormon Church.

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