I write this letter to my wife because I love her with all my heart. I want to spend eternity with her. My purpose is to speak honestly about the things I believe, the experiences that have shaped my faith, and the reasons I continue to trust in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
Faith transitions often bring fear, confusion, and grief. I know how disorienting it can feel when new information comes suddenly, in a way that feels like a betrayal. I am not writing to convince or pressure, but to create understanding rooted in truth. I hope this letter helps others feel empowered to make their own decisions based on facts rather than interpretations driven by an agenda.
Why I’m Sharing This Letter Publicly
While this ongoing letter is for my wife, I decided to make it available to others who may be going through similar doubts and experiences. Many sincere people have felt their beliefs shaken from reading anti-Mormon materials like the CES Letter and A Letter For My Wife. These writings can create deep confusion about what is true and who can be trusted.
Honest seekers deserve honest answers. This letter to my wife is also for anyone searching for context and clarity. I want to share what has brought me peace, how I’ve been comforted when confronted with gospel questions that seem confusing or contradictory, and why I believe it is so imporant for us to have faith in God.
What I Believe
I believe that God is our loving Father. His work and glory is to bring about the exaltation and eternal life of His children. I believe He sees more than we do, from a perspecitve we do not understand, and guides us with perfect wisdom.
I believe the fullness of the gospel was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I believe the Book of Mormon came forth by the gift and power of God. I believe priesthood authority was restored to prepare the world for the return of Jesus Christ.
When we examine the history of the early Saints, we see that they genuinely believed in Joseph’s prophetic calling. These were intelligent, thoughtful men and women. They sacrificed their comfort, their safety, and sometimes even their lives because of spiritual experiences they could not deny. They were not following blindly. They were choosing faith.
I believe that the Church established in the latter days continues to guide God’s children toward truth. Its teachings help us find peace and joy in this life. The ordinances of the gospel invite us into a covenant relationship with Christ that will lead us back to the presence of our Heavenly Father in the life to come.
What the Authors of the CES Letter and A Letter For My Wife Believe
The CES Letter and A Letter For My Wife present an alternative view. They suggest that Joseph Smith was not called of God, and that the Church he founded is not what it claims to be. Their conclusion is that the Restoration was not divine, but man-made.
These ideas lead to a clear question. Either Joseph Smith was a prophet, or he was not. There is evidence and argument on both sides. But in the end, every person must exercise faith in deciding what to believe.
What Is the Truth About the Restored Gospel?
As people encounter critical arguments claiming Joseph Smith was a fraud, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. My wife has experienced these emotions herself. I understand the heartbreak and the questions that follow.
In this letter to my wife, I want to present what I believe are the true facts and the real history and context behind these claims. I explore the intentions and motives, methods used to frame information, ideological foundations, and updates made to these writings. I believe it’s important to understand not just the content, but also the influence and motives of the authors behind these materials.
My goal is not to belittle anyone who is struggling. The gospel teaches us to love one another. I want to examine the arguments themselves and compare them with documented, contextualized history. I believe that many of these writings leave out key information, rely on selective presentation, and use persuasive techniques that lead sincere seekers toward doubt. These distill passion in me, but I any frustration or anger is towards the authors of the Anti-Mormon materials, not at those who feel they are confused and struggling to answer sincere questions.
My hope is to offer a more complete picture of what is true and why my faith has become stronger, not weaker, as I have studied LDS Church History.
I’m Not a Scholar. I’m a Husband Who Believes.
I want to be clear. I am not a professional scholar or historian.
Neither are the authors of the CES Letter or A Letter For My Wife.
I am simply a husband. A believer and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I have faced my own doubts and questions, have searched for answers, and have come out with a deeper testimony. What I share here are my personal views and conclusions. They do not represent the official position of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Where Should You Place Your Faith?
More than anything, I hope this letter to my wife helps her to feel peace.
I hope she sees that my beliefs are sincere. That my desire is to seek truth. That my faith is not blind, but informed. And that I trust the restored gospel because it brings peace, hope and happiness.
If you are reading this and have felt torn, after reading my interpretation of the topics discussed in A Letter to My Wife I invite you to pause and ask yourself this question:
Where should I place my faith?
Should your faith rest in the teachings and covenants of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ?
Or
In the arguments and conclusions presented by anti-Mormons in the CES Letter and A Letter For My Wife?