The CES Letter Summary and What Mormons Have to Say

Within roughly the last decade, one document has come to summarize many of the questions and criticisms aimed against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: the CES Letter. Compiled by Jeremy Runnells in 2013, the Letter gathers many points of criticism about Church history, scripture, doctrine, and prophetic leadership. Not all Latter-day Saints have even heard of the CES Letter, but among those who have, it’s led some to question or leave their faith. It has also prompted other Latter-day Saints to deepen their study, examine their beliefs more closely, and emerge with a more informed and resilient testimony.

Here is a brief CES Letter summary and some insights into how many members of the Church view it—not as a threat to be feared, but as an opportunity for deeper reflection, research, and spiritual growth.

What Is the CES Letter?

The CES Letter began as an 84-page response from Jeremy Runnells to a Church Education System (CES) director who invited him to share his questions about the Church. Runnells, who had already lost his faith by that point, compiled what he saw as the major issues that led to his disaffection. His list was eventually made public online and later expanded into a CES Letter PDF that is over 130 pages long.

According to Runnells himself, the purpose of the Letter shifted from seeking answers to presenting the case that the Church “does not want its members and investigators to know” certain historical and doctrinal issues. The Letter has since become a popular piece of criticism directed at the faith of Latter-day Saints, touching on nearly every controversial issue one might encounter in discussions about the Church. 

What is the CES Letter Summary?

The Letter is divided into thematic sections, including:

• Book of Mormon issues such as translation methods, anachronisms, and literary parallels with 19th-century texts.
  
• Book of Abraham criticisms, especially questions about the Egyptian papyri.
  
• Joseph Smith’s plural marriages, including marriages to young women and women already married.
  
• First Vision accounts, which vary in detail and tone across different records.
  
• DNA and archaeology, particularly the claim that Native Americans do not have Middle Eastern genetic markers.
  
• Prophetic fallibility, including controversial teachings by Brigham Young and others.
  
• Witness credibility, particularly surrounding the translation and testimony of the golden plates.
  
• Temples and Freemasonry, examining similarities in ritual symbolism.
  
• Science and scripture, such as the age of the Earth and the global flood narrative.
  

Each topic is covered in a way that can appear damning at first glance, particularly for those unfamiliar with the broader scholarly and theological discussions surrounding these issues.

A Closer Look at the “Gish Gallop” Approach

The CES Letter Mormon is essentially a big list, or “Gish Gallop.” This is a term coined to describe a method of criticism that relies on overwhelming the reader with a barrage of arguments, often too many to respond to in one sitting. This technique can be emotionally and intellectually destabilizing, especially for someone encountering these issues for the first time.

Many of the questions in the Letter have reasonable, nuanced answers—some of which require time and contextual understanding. But the rapid-fire presentation of so many topics can leave the impression that the Church is indefensible, even if many of the individual claims do not hold up under scrutiny.

This is not to say that the issues raised are unimportant or should be ignored. But it is important to recognize the rhetorical strategy at play in the CES Letters and not to mistake the number of accusations for their weight or accuracy.

What Latter-day Saints Say in Response

Many faithful Latter-day Saint members and scholars acknowledge that anti-Mormon literature like the CES Letter raises difficult and sometimes painful questions. However, many of the Letter’s points are not new and have already been addressed for decades—sometimes even since the 19th century. One conclusion that can be drawn from this fact is that the Letter’s main purpose is not investigative but persuasive, aiming to undermine rather than explore.

Readers of the Mormon CES Letter should remember that it is not an unbiased or balanced resource. Jeremy Runnells himself states in the introduction that he is a disaffected member who no longer believes. The Letter was never intended to inspire faith, and it doesn’t pretend to.

There are many Latter-day Saint resources available to those sincerely seeking answers, including:

• The Gospel Topics Essays on the Church’s official website
  
• The Saints history volumes
  
• The Joseph Smith Papers Project
  
• Independent resources like Scripture Central and BYU Religious Studies
  

Several Latter-day Saint scholars have taken time to respond to the LDS CES Letter point-by-point, clarifying context, providing historical background, and offering faithful interpretations of difficult issues.

Additionally, the spiritual component cannot be overlooked when researching anything related to religion. For Latter-day Saints, testimonies are not built solely on intellectual arguments but on spiritual experiences that confirm the reality of God, Jesus Christ, and modern-day revelation.

Faith, Doubt, and Moving Forward

The CES Letter summary represents a genuine turning point in the lives of many—both those who have left the Church and those who’ve used the questions as a springboard to a deeper, more refined faith.

There are good people on both sides of this conversation. Faithful members are not required to have all the answers, but they are encouraged to study, ask sincere questions, and rely on divine guidance. And faith—especially informed, mature, and spiritually grounded faith—is still a vital and beautiful thing.

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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