Examining LDS Response to CES Letter

The CES Letter—a widely circulated anti-Mormon document written by Jeremy Runnells—has generated intense conversation among Latter-day Saints, former members, and religious critics. Originally written in 2013 as a personal letter to a Church Educational System (CES) director, it evolved into a 140-page manifesto claiming to expose serious flaws in the foundational truth claims of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

This post explores the general LDS response to CES Letter, and it’s far from black-and-white. To many who encounter the Letter, the experience can feel like a storm of doubt and confusion. Its sheer volume of historical critiques and emotionally charged assertions can leave sincere researchers wondering if they’ve been misled. On the other hand, many members of the Church have published faithful CES Letter rebuttal. After researching the presented issues, many people even develop a stronger and more nuanced belief than they had before.

What Is In the CES Letter?

With all the debate, people researching the Church might wonder: what is the CES Letter Mormon? What does it say? 

The CES Letter presents a compilation of common criticisms of the Church. These include topics like Joseph Smith’s First Vision accounts, the Kinderhook Plates, polygamy, the Book of Abraham, and DNA and the Book of Mormon. The author frames these topics with strong language, asserting that faith in the restored gospel is “delusional” or even “insane.”

While the Letter sometimes frames itself as an earnest quest for truth, closer examination reveals an interpretive lens shaped by disillusionment and a black-and-white worldview. Runnells has stated that the Letter is not for those firmly rooted in their belief, but rather for “fence sitters”—those already in a state of spiritual uncertainty.

Understanding the Emotional Impact

For many who read the CES Letter Mormon without preparation or context, their reaction is more emotional than intellectual. It can feel like a betrayal. This sense of crisis is compounded when members and investigators feel unprepared to respond to complex questions, or when they discover historical details for the first time through a critical lens.

This is because rather than offering a balanced discussion, the Letter often presents information selectively or out of context. This approach is designed to provoke anger, shame, or despair.

But this emotional weight can be deceptive. Facts, after all, require informed interpretation that takes into account context and intent. When an interpretation leans consistently in a single, cynical direction, it risks misleading rather than enlightening the reader.

The Church’s Direct and Indirect Responses

Although the Church has not issued an official LDS response to CES Letter, it has long encouraged members to seek answers by study and by faith (D&C 88:118). To encourage thoughtful study, the Church has published resources like the Saints history volumes, the Gospel Topics Essays, and the Joseph Smith Papers. 

There are many unofficial but very thorough responses to the Letter by both Latter-day Saint scholars and lay members. For example, FAIR Latter-day Saints has hundreds of pages of rebuttals and CES Letter debunking, drawing from faith-based scholarship and thousands of reliable sources. 

The questions raised in the CES Letter are not new. They have been asked—and answered—many times before. The difference in results lies in how and where one seeks those answers.

The Role of Personal Preparation

Why do some people encounter the Mormon CES Letter and remain unmoved, while others have their belief collapse?

The answer may lie in personal spiritual preparation and the assumptions people bring to their faith. When faith is built on a rigid, black-and-white understanding of the way things are, it may not withstand the gray areas of history. When complications arise, an inflexible worldview will be forced to either grow or shatter.

This does not mean that truth-seekers should avoid difficult questions. In fact, the opposite is true. Oftentimes, the cure for uncertainty is more information, not less. Engaging deeply with reliable, nuanced scholarship can illuminate the very topics critics use to undermine belief.

Choosing Faith in the Age of Doubt

Ultimately, the CES Letter reflects not only a conflict over facts, but a conflict over faith, trust, and interpretation. The Church does not demand blind belief from its members, but invites them to approach questions with humility, willingness to learn, and connection to the Holy Spirit.

Many faithful Latter-day Saints have discovered that their testimonies have grown stronger, not weaker, by engaging with complex issues like those in the CES Letter. Their journey has led them to a richer understanding of the humanity of prophets, the miracle of restoration, and the enduring power of Christ’s Atonement.

A Better Way to Wrestle

The CES Letter Mormon presents itself as a comprehensive indictment of the Church. But its conclusions are not the only answers. Faithful, well-researched responses exist and continue to be developed by those who choose to stay in the Church.

When it comes to LDS response to CES Letter, Latter-day Saints are not asked to believe blindly. Instead, they are invited to trust that light and knowledge will increase for those who seek it faithfully. 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has room for serious questions. It also has answers—many of which are already available to those willing to look in the right places. Testimony crises can be devastating, but they can also be transformative. When approached with faith, humility, and honest seeking, they can become a catalyst for deeper conviction and broader understanding.

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.

Tags