While the CES Letter is full of half truths and manipulative framing, there are also at least forty different blatant lies told in the letter including:
Book of Mormon Translation and Text
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Claim that the Church hid the use of a seer stone
The use of a seer stone was discussed by early witnesses and published in Church sources long before the CES Letter. -
Claim that the Book of Mormon translation story changed to cover up problems
Multiple translation descriptions existed from the beginning and were not hidden. -
Claim that the Book of Mormon originally taught Trinitarian theology
The cited passages do not match Trinitarian creeds and never did. -
Claim that changes to the Book of Mormon altered core doctrine
The vast majority of changes are punctuation, grammar, or printer corrections. -
Claim that the 1837 changes were an admission of theological error
No evidence supports this interpretation. -
Claim that KJV language proves plagiarism
The Book of Mormon explicitly states biblical language would be used.
CES Letter Lies of the Book of Mormon Witnesses
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Claim that the Three Witnesses only saw the plates “with spiritual eyes”
This relies on late, hostile, secondhand sources and ignores direct statements. -
Claim that witnesses recanted their testimonies
No witness ever denied their testimony. -
Claim that witnesses were coerced or manipulated
No primary source supports this. -
Claim that familial relationships invalidate testimony
This standard would invalidate most historical testimony.
Archaeology, Geography, and DNA
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Claim that there is no archaeological evidence for the Book of Mormon
This overstates the limits of archaeology and ignores relevant data. -
Claim that DNA disproves the Book of Mormon
Population genetics does not support this conclusion. -
Claim that lack of New World Hebrew artifacts disproves the text
This sets an unrealistic and unsupported evidentiary standard. -
Claim that Cumorah must be in New York
This is a false assumption, not Church doctrine.
Plagiarism Claims
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Claim that View of the Hebrews was the source of the Book of Mormon
No evidence of access or dependency exists. -
Claim that The Late War was plagiarized
Stylometric analysis contradicts this. -
Claim that parallels prove copying
Parallelomania is not evidence of plagiarism.
Book of Abraham
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Claim that Joseph Smith said the papyri were a literal word-for-word translation
This is not supported by primary sources. -
Claim that modern Egyptology has fully disproven the Book of Abraham
Scholarly debate exists and the issue is not settled. -
Claim that the missing papyri theory is a lie
The existence of missing papyri is documented fact.
Lies the CES Letter Gives About the First Vision
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Claim that multiple First Vision accounts prove fabrication
Multiple accounts are normal in historical records. -
Claim that early members did not know of the First Vision
This is false.
Polygamy
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Claim that Joseph Smith lied when denying polygamy publicly
This ignores legal definitions and context. -
Claim that all sealings imply sexual relationships
No evidence supports this. -
Claim that polyandry proves sexual immorality
No primary source confirms this. -
Claim that polygamy was hidden from Emma entirely
This is contradicted by documented events.
Prophets and Doctrine
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Claim that prophetic fallibility disproves prophetic calling
This is a philosophical assertion, not a fact. -
Claim that abandoned teachings prove fraud
This misunderstands continuing revelation. -
Claim that Adam-God doctrine was universal Church doctrine
It was not.
Race and Priesthood Lies
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Claim that the 1978 revelation was purely political
This is speculation presented as fact. -
Claim that prophets taught racism as doctrine
This conflates cultural opinion with doctrine.
Temples and Freemasonry
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Claim that temple ordinances were plagiarized from Freemasonry
Similarities do not equal derivation. -
Claim that Masonry disproves temple origin
This ignores ancient ritual parallels.
Church Transparency and History
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Claim that the Church intentionally hid history
Most cited material has long been publicly available. -
Claim that Church essays were forced admissions
This misrepresents their purpose and content. -
Claim that FAIR agrees with most of the CES Letter
FAIR often agrees with data but not conclusions.
Lies from The Letter Itself
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Claim that the CES Letter was written as a sincere request for answers
Evidence shows it was crowdsourced and published immediately. -
Claim that no Church leader responded
This is misleading and incomplete. -
Claim that the CES Letter contains unanswered questions
Every major claim has been addressed repeatedly. -
Claim that disagreement equals dishonesty
This is rhetoric, not evidence.