Should You Read the CES Letter? What You Need to Know First

Any person who is trying to learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormon Church, may have heard of the CES Letter. This controversial document has drawn large amounts of conversation since it was made in 2013 as a comprehensive list of criticisms of the Mormon Church. It’s only reasonable that both Mormons and non-Mormons would wonder: what is the CES Letter, why are some people more convinced by it than others, and should I read it for myself? Here are some important things to know about where the CES Letter Mormon came from, what it says, and how different people have responded to it over the last ten years.

The Origin of the CES Letter

Back in February 2012, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints named Jeremy Runnells found himself in a faith crisis. He encountered historical information about the Church that he hadn’t seen before—information that deeply challenged his personal beliefs. By the summer of that year, he no longer believed in the truth claims of the Church.

In an effort to help, Runnells’ grandfather connected him with a friend who was a director in the Church Education System (CES). This CES director asked Jeremy to write down the issues that had led to his loss of faith, hoping for a conversation that might offer support or clarity.

Runnells responded with a detailed 84-page document. Although it was initially intended for that private exchange, he eventually made the letter public after the CES director never replied. Over time, it evolved into what is now a 138-page document titled The CES Letter, which Runnells describes as an attempt to call attention to information that, in his view, the Church does not want its members or investigators to know. A CES Letter PDF is available at cesletter.org, a website that Runnells created.

What Is the Purpose of the CES Letter?

Jeremy Runnells is transparent about his position from the very beginning of the LDS CES Letter. He says, “Obviously, I’m a disaffected member who lost his testimony, so it’s no secret which side I’m on at the moment.”

In other words, the CES Letter is not an attempt to inspire belief or provide a balanced exploration of both sides. It is a compilation of criticisms—many of which have existed for decades—that challenge the foundational claims of the Church. Those who chose to read the CES Letters should keep in mind the intent of the author, and remember that what they read will be biased towards the negative side of the argument.

What Topics Does the CES Letter Cover?

The CES Letter is organized into 13 main chapters (excluding the conclusion, epilogue, and notes). Each chapter addresses a different category of concern, including:

• Book of Mormon Issues
  
• Book of Abraham Translation
  
• Polygamy
  
• Prophets and their Fallability
  
• Church History Controversies
  
• Science and the Bible
  

None of the criticisms in this CES Letter summary are new. In fact, many date back to the 1800s, and have been revisited repeatedly in critical literature over the years. What the Mormon CES Letter does is collect many of these criticisms into one place, making them more accessible to the average reader.

A Word on Bias and Research

Because religion is a very emotionally charged subject, it can be difficult to find completely unbiased information about the Church. Whether they remain faithful or leave the Church, people who delve deeply into researching controversial topics will usually form very strong opinions.

The CES Letter is no exception. It presents one side of the story—Runnells’ side. If you’re looking for faith-promoting or even neutral perspectives, this document isn’t designed to offer that.

Resources for a Broader Perspective

If you want to explore the topics raised in the CES Letter Mormon but also want to understand how faithful Latter-day Saints address these issues, there are plenty of valuable resources available. Here are just a few:

• Faith and Beliefs video series from Saints Unscripted
  
• Church history volumes like Saints
  
• Gospel Topics Essays on the Church’s official website
  
• BYU Studies
  
• The Joseph Smith Papers Project
  
• The Encyclopedia of Mormonism
  

There are also non-official sources that offer faithful perspectives on complex issues, including literature on CES letter debunking.

The Impact of the CES Letter

The CES Letter has had a profound impact on many people. Some who read it leave the Church, but others choose to dig deeper, find answers, and remain faithful—sometimes with a more informed testimony than they had before.

It’s also worth noting that the Letter makes hundreds of claims very quickly. The volume of information can feel overwhelming, especially for someone encountering these topics for the first time. It’s easy to feel discouraged or panicked when faced with so many criticisms at once without room for counterarguments.

Some of the information in the CES Letter pdf is factually correct, but some of it is demonstrably false, and other parts lack important context or nuance. Understanding which is which takes a lot of research and familiarity with Church history, doctrine, and sources. As the Mormon CES Letter itself encourages, readers should do their own careful research.

Faith, Doubt, and Respect

It’s important to remember that people respond to difficult information in different ways. The CES Letter has helped some and hurt others, so conversations about the Letter can quickly become emotionally heated. Whatever our differences, it is most important that we show respect and kindness towards others, even if they have chosen different spiritual paths. The CES Letter is a significant document that continues to spark conversation and debate. If you’re exploring these issues, it’s important to know not to stop at just one source—dig deep, ask questions, and be willing to examine different perspectives. Most importantly, lead with kindness, patience, and 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.

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