What is the CES Letter?

What is the CES Letter?

The CES Letter is a document authored by Jeremy Runnells, which addresses various historical and other issues regarding The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also nicknamed the LDS and Mormon Church. The letter, initially presented as a genuine inquiry for answers, has become a significant text for those opposing or leaving the church. This overview will delve into the background, contents, impact, and responses to the CES Letter.

Background

Jeremy Runnells, a member of the LDS Church, wrote that he faced a faith crisis when he encountered troubling historical issues about Mormonism. Runnells’ grandfather encouraged him to write about his concerns in a letter to a Church Educational System (CES) director. Runnells wrote that he never received a response. He posted the letter to an ex-Mormon subreddit and invited the group to “personalize it to yourselves to give to your TBM [True Believing Mormon] loved ones.” He published the letter online in April 2013 and made a website in August 2013. The letter soon gained traction.

CES Letter Summary

A CES Letter summary shows that the CES Letter is divided into thirteen sections, and many more subsections, each addressing specific topics of concern regarding LDS Church history, doctrine, and practices. Here are the main areas covered:

• Book of Mormon

  • There are KJV Translations in the Book of Mormon, which must mean it was written, not translated, by Joseph Smith.

  • There is no DNA Evidence that Native American groups descended from Middle Eastern peoples, which contradicts the Book of Mormon’s narrative.

  • The letter points out anachronisms, such as the presence of horses and steel in the Americas.

  • Book of Mormon geography lines up with the area that Joseph Smith grew up in, additionally, there is no evidence that the Hill Cumorah has any archaeological significance.

  • Runnells draws parallels between the Book of Mormon and three other books: View of the Hebrews, The Late War Between the United States and Great Britain, and The First Book of Napoleon.

  • The Book of Mormon supports a trinitarian view of the Godhead.

• Book of Mormon Translation

  • Joseph Smitsh’s use of seer stones and a hat during the translation process is scrutinized, as Runnells believes it contrasts with the traditional narrative involving the Urim and Thummim.

• First Vision

  • The letter highlights discrepancies between four different accounts of Joseph Smith’s First Vision–questioning the credibility of the event based on these variations.

  • Runnells discusses the lack of contemporary documentation and the evolving nature of the vision over time.

• Book of Abraham

  • The authenticity of the Book of Abraham is questioned based on modern Egyptological translations of the papyri, which differ significantly from Joseph Smith’s interpretations. The letter critiques the apologetic theory that the source material for the Book of Abraham is missing.

  • Other critiques of the Book of Abraham are that it teaches an incorrect Newtonian view of the universe and that chapters 2, 4, and 5 of the Book of Abraham are similar to the narrative in KJV Genesis 1, 2, 11, and 12.

• Polygamy/Polyandry

  • Runnells details Joseph Smith’s practice of polygamy, including marriages to teenage girls and already married women. The ethical and moral implications of these practices are examined, in turn, questioning the divine mandate behind polygamy.

• Prophets

  • The letter discusses instances where church leaders have made statements or prophecies that were later retracted or proven false. This includes the Adam-God theory, blood atonement, polygamy, the policy concerning race and the priesthood, and Mark Hofmann.

• Kinderhook Plates and Translator Claims

  • Runnells outlines how the Kinderhook plates were presented to Joseph Smith, who looked at them and offered some possible translations. However, the Kinderhook plates were fakes. The Book of Abraham is mentioned again, presumably to shore up the argument that Joseph Smith was never a translator.

• Testimony and Spiritual Witness

  • The letter begins this section by stating that every religion claims the validity of their own spiritual witnesses, but they can’t all be true.

  • Runnells believes that feelings are an ineffective source of truth and mentions that he felt the spirit during rated R movies, Saving Private Ryan and Schindler’s List. Joseph Smith’s Book of Mormon translation methods are mentioned again.

  • If the spirit could testify of truth, why did people feel the spirit when Paul H. Dunn, a general authority, lied about his experiences in various talks?

  • Relying on the spirit to make major life decisions, especially when they turn out to be disastrous, is a profound flaw with the reliability of spiritual witnesses.

• Priesthood Restoration

  • There are discrepancies with the dates of the restoration of the priesthood. Additionally, there are no contemporary documents to verify priesthood restoration.

• Witnesses

  • The letter claims the witnesses of the Book of Mormon are unreliable, with particular attention paid to Martin Harris.

  • Runnells also claims that the witnesses had a magical worldview with such beliefs as second sight, and never actually saw the plates.

• Temples and Freemasonry

  • Seven weeks after Joseph Smtih’s Masonic initiation he introduced the LDS endowment ceremony, they are very similar.

  • Freemasonry has zero links to King Solomon’s Temple, so it couldn’t be an original temple ceremony that was distorted over time, as some people claim.

  • Runnells also questions if everyone’s eternal salvation truly relies on temple rituals.

• Science

  • The scriptures are not compatible with the scientific theory of evolution.

  • The letter critiques the belief in a global flood as inconsistent with geological evidence.

• Other Concerns

  • The letter claims that the church has been dishonest and engaged in censorship and whitewashing.

  • Runnells questions the lack of financial transparency within the church and the use of tithing funds. The letter highlights the church’s substantial financial assets and investments.

  • The letter claims that the church is anti-intellectual, Runnells believes that members can’t criticize leaders or use unapproved materials on the internet.

Impact of the CES Letter

The CES Letter has had a profound impact on the LDS community. For many, it has served as a catalyst for faith crises. The document’s accessibility has contributed to its widespread influence. Many individuals experiencing doubts have found the CES Letter to be a comprehensive summary of their concerns, aiding in their decision to leave the church.

Responses to the CES Letter

The LDS Church and its apologists have responded to the CES Letter in various ways, aiming to address the concerns raised by Runnells. However, the church has not issued an official response specifically to the CES Letter, although it has published essays on its website addressing many of the topics covered in the letter. Organizations like FairMormon (now known as FAIR) and other apologetic groups have published detailed rebuttals to the CES Letter, paying particular attention to the lack of transparency, poor historical scholarship, and dishonest sourcing in the letter. For example, there are multiple sources where the CES Letter strategically places ellipses to try and prove a point that without the ellipses would be proven wrong.

So, what is the CES Letter? The CES Letter is a large document that chronicles some of the historical concerns of LDS Church’s members and former members. Its impact on individuals has been significant. The CES Letter remains a pivotal document for those questioning their beliefs. Through its examination of church history and doctrine, the CES Letter continues to provoke discussion, reflection, and, for some, a reevaluation of their relationship with the LDS Church.