Dear CES Letter,
Thank you for taking the time to read my letter.
My wife was going through a faith crisis. When she shared your Letter to the CES Director with me, she told me it brought her clarity. She said it finally gave her a path forward, because history—at least as she understood it—is written by the victors, and she was tired of feeling like she had to perform mental gymnastics to stay committed.
That stuck with me.
I’ve gone through your letter many times now. Slowly. Carefully. I’ve followed the sources you cite. I’ve reread the claims. I’ve tried to understand not just what you’re saying, but the assumptions underneath it.
And if I’m being honest, there’s a part of me that wants your letter to be true.
I don’t especially love going to church. I’m an introvert and not a fan of social settings. I’d be perfectly fine never attending another ward party again. (Ward ski night is non-negotiable, though. Skiing is awesome.) It would be nice not to have early-morning meetings every Sunday. It would be nice not to help people move when I really just want to finish watching the game. And I won’t lie—ten percent more income would open up some interesting possibilities.
If what your letter claims is accurate, then the equation seems simple: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.
That’s a tempting conclusion.
So I’m writing because I have questions. A lot of questions.
I’ve always been the person on tours or in museums who keeps raising their hand, asking follow-ups, pressing for clarification. I’m not doing that because I want to argue or prove a point. I do it because unresolved questions don’t sit well with me.
Your letter raises many of them.
I’m not claiming to have all the answers. I’m not writing to defend an institution or preach a belief system. I’m writing because, after carefully studying your CES Letter, I found myself with serious doubts—not about my faith, but about the confidence with which your conclusions are presented.
I also understand that you are busy. Because of that, I won’t ask all of my questions at once in a single list, the way you did with the CES Director. Instead, I’ll ask just a few at a time, as they come, and allow space for thoughtful responses.
That’s why I’m writing—not to argue, and not to preach, but to ask the questions I can’t ignore anymore and to understand the doubts from your letter.
Thank you for taking the time to respond.
I look forward to a prompt reply.
I’m not claiming to have all the answers. I’m simply trying to get answers to the questions that arose as I studied your CES Letter.
That’s why I’m writing this. Not to argue. Not to preach. Just to ask the questions I can’t ignore anymore, and to try to understand the doubts that surfaced as I read your letter.
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.
I look forward to a prompt reply.