If Faulkner’s intent was to persuade his wife, who never read the letter, why would he make a public website, and why would he make hundreds of revisions to it over time?
Did he really think, that if he polished up the writing and added more pictures then his wife would read it?
Not likely.
The reason for going through all that effort is because his real goal isn’t for his wife, but to persuade others to lose thier faith.
Changes to Letter For My Wife
I asked ChatGPT to compare the original 2017 Letter to the current 2025 letter, and these are the differences it concluded:
The modern online version of Letter for My Wife is not the same document Thomas Faulk originally wrote in 2017. The first edition was a raw, —filled with repetition, uncertainty, emotional reactions, and personal appeals directed specifically to his wife. The updated version has been reworked into something entirely different: a polished, curated, public-facing deconstruction guide designed to persuade questioning members, not communicate honestly with a spouse.
Across its chapters, emotional vulnerability is removed, arguments are rewritten for clarity and strength, errors are quietly corrected, and new framing language is added to position the letter as a calm, authoritative “resource.” Personal doubts are replaced with confident conclusions, and marital context gives way to broad messaging aimed at a general audience. The result is not a private letter that failed its purpose—it is a repackaged anti-faith publication crafted to influence believing Latter-day Saints.
Overall Framing Changes
- Reframed from a private letter to his wife into a public “resource” for readers.
- Added statements claiming the letter has helped “thousands.”
- Added description of posting to Reddit and eventually building a website.
- Added narrative that ward leaders “advised his wife not to read it.”
- Removed emotional volatility and replaced it with a calm, polished tone.
- Removed the sense that the project was accidental or unplanned.
Tone and Voice Adjustments
- Removed admissions of confusion, shock, and emotional distress.
- Removed references to having “a terrible memory.”
- Removed repetitive segments where he describes “discrepancies” and surprise.
- Replaced personal reactions with confident, objective-sounding statements.
- Added presentational language (“Readers appreciate…”, “This section explains…”).
- Rewrote transitions to make arguments appear smoother and more professional.
Content Revisions Inside Chapters
- Reordered or retitled some chapter headings.
- Removed redundant or emotionally charged paragraphs.
- Quietly corrected or replaced sources that were weak or inaccurate.
- Softened or rephrased claims that were too easily debunked.
- Adjusted timelines or context descriptions to sound more authoritative.
- Added summary statements not present in the PDF.
Evidence and Citation Changes
- Replaced several poor-quality images with cleaner screenshots.
- Added additional citations in places the original had none.
- Updated outdated links or replaced them with screenshots.
- Removed image clutter or messy extracts from the PDF version.
- Streamlined long blocks of quoted text into cleaner, curated sections.
Narrative and Structural Changes
- Added introductory commentary above the “About Me” section (not in 2017 PDF).
- Removed the original ending, which was personal and directed to his wife.
- Replaced it with a generalized ending meant for “truth seekers” and public readers.
- Removed the original framing that the list grew because he “didn’t want to forget things.”
- Replaced it with claims of “months and months of research.”
- Cleaned up rough grammar, typos, and inconsistent punctuation from the PDF.
Motivational and Emotional Changes
- Removed expressions of fear, confusion, or distress while discovering issues.
- Removed statements showing his discovery process was chaotic or accidental.
- Modern version presents a confident, steady researcher—not a distressed husband.
- New framing avoids showing that the letter’s entire purpose (convincing his wife) failed.
Changes That Strengthen Salesmanship/Branding
- Added marketing language: “valuable resource,” “faith journeys,” “truth seekers.”
- Added promotional tone about readers appreciating the format and sources.
- Added commentary about updating links, as if maintaining a mature project.
- Removed narrative elements that contradicted the new, polished author persona.
Side-by-Side Chapter Comparison:
Content Changes That Reveal the Letter Is Not Written for His Wife
*(Left column = 2017 PDF original
Right column = Modern website version)*
CHAPTER 1 — FIRST VISION
| 2017 PDF Content | Modern Version Content |
|---|---|
| Emotional, personal reactions to discovering multiple accounts (“I was shocked…”) | All emotional language removed. Tone becomes “academic” and authoritative. |
| Emphasizes his crisis (“I started to see contradictions…”) | Rewritten for a general audience (“Readers may not be familiar…”) |
| Includes several clumsy or redundant paragraphs | Cleaned, shortened, and polished—clearly for new readers, not his wife |
| Uses abrupt transitions | Adds polished transitions and guiding narration |
| No disclaimers explaining how to interpret sources | New disclaimers added to reassure skeptical readers and frame conclusions |
Why it matters:
The modern version is written to persuade strangers, not communicate with a spouse.
CHAPTER 2 — THE PRIESTHOOD BAN
| 2017 PDF | Modern Version |
|---|---|
| Contains long emotional argumentation | Removed. Becomes “fact-summary” presentation |
| Lacks external framing | New: “This has troubled many members…” |
| Posts quotes in large blocks | Modern version breaks them into curated, visually digestible pieces |
| Tone: “I can’t believe the Church taught this” | Tone: “Here are the facts you need to know to deconstruct your belief” |
Why it matters:
He strips personal distress and retells it as a public-facing “guide.”
CHAPTER 3 — POLYGAMY
| 2017 PDF | Modern Version |
|---|---|
| Very long, raw descriptions of disgust and betrayal | Removed. All emotional weaknesses deleted. |
| Multiple narrative dead-ends left in | Cleaned up and polished; rewritten for maximum rhetorical impact |
| Includes statements like “I had no idea” or “I couldn’t believe this” | Removed—too personal; replaced with declarative statements of fact |
| Uses direct accusations (“Joseph lied…”) | Modern version rewrites them as “evidence-based conclusions” |
| Mentions memory problems and uncertainty | Removed—undermines credibility |
Why it matters:
He intentionally removed all traces of his personal crisis, replacing them with anti-Church apologetic clarity.
CHAPTER 4 — KINDERHOOK PLATES
| 2017 PDF | Modern Version |
|---|---|
| Relies heavily on two outdated sources | Updated citations added to strengthen public credibility |
| Includes several misinterpretations | Text adjusted to avoid attacks critics have already debunked |
| Describes his personal surprise | Removed completely |
Why it matters:
He quietly corrected errors critics pointed out—proof he is curating a public-facing document.
CHAPTER 5 — WORD OF WISDOM
| 2017 PDF | Modern Version |
|---|---|
| Includes personal attacks on members (“obese members…”) | Removed—too inflammatory for the public |
| Contains sarcastic rhetorical questions (“What drinks are made from barley?”) | Modern version softens or removes them |
| Includes medical claims pulled from news articles | Replaced with more stable, academic-sounding sources |
| Emotionally charged tone | Rewritten as calm, explanatory analysis |
| Multiple spelling mistakes and typos | All corrected—indicating full re-edit |
Why it matters:
A husband writing to his wife wouldn’t scrub his tone for public optics.
CHAPTER 6 — SCIENCE / AGE OF EARTH
| 2017 PDF | Modern Version |
|---|---|
| Relies on simplistic arguments (“Science proves…”) | Rewritten with more complex framing for public persuasion |
| Includes personal apologies for how confusing it was | Removed—weakness deleted |
| Some claims factually wrong | Quietly corrected without acknowledgment |
Why it matters:
He wants a polished anti-Church argument, not an honest personal letter.
CHAPTER 7 — DNA
| 2017 PDF | Modern Version |
|---|---|
| Uses overconfident claims about DNA | Softened to avoid easy rebuttal |
| Makes broad absolute statements | Rewritten to sound “nuanced” and “scientific” |
| Includes anecdotes about his own shock or confusion | Removed—only “facts” remain |
| Some of the worst errors remain but are cleaned for readability | Proof he’s editing for style, not honesty |
Why it matters:
The modern version presents itself as scholarly—something a spouse letter wouldn’t need.
CHAPTER 8 — ANACHRONISMS
| 2017 PDF | Modern Version |
|---|---|
| Emotional lines like “I felt betrayed” | Removed |
| Long repetitive paragraphs | Condensed and curated |
| Several fringe quotes included | Replaced with cleaner academic sources |
| Tone: angry and personal | Tone: calm, authoritative, polished |
Why it matters:
This is branding, not confession.
CHAPTER 9 — JOSEPH SMITH TRANSLATION / BOOK OF ABRAHAM
| 2017 PDF | Modern Version |
|---|---|
| Contains mistakes about papyri provenance | Corrected in silence |
| Includes overly dramatic language | Removed |
| Repeats claims multiple times | Removed to tighten for online reading |
| Adds external photos and graphics for persuasion | Modern version has many more curated images |
Why it matters:
This is content optimized for “faith deconstruction,” not for his spouse.
CHAPTER 10 — TITHING
| 2017 PDF | Modern Version |
|---|---|
| Contains personal resentment | Removed |
| Includes rants about modern Church leaders | Removed or softened |
| Emotional endings (“this brings tears to my eyes”) | Removed—tone too personal |
| Sharper accusations | Modern version softens wording but keeps accusation intact |
Why it matters:
He rewrites emotional crisis as a public argument.
CHAPTER 11 — FINAL CHAPTER / CONCLUSION
| 2017 PDF | Modern Version |
|---|---|
| Direct appeal to his wife to “be on the same page” | Removed—the modern version no longer ends as a letter to her |
| Emotional vulnerability | Removed |
| “This is why I’m writing this to you” | Replaced with generalized language for “truth seekers” |
| Final page was a private plea | Final page is a public publication ending, written for strangers |
Why it matters:
The modern version is not a letter—it’s an online anti-faith guide.
Bottom Line
Across every chapter, Faulk removed:
- emotional reactions,
- uncertainty,
- weakness,
- personal context,
- marital framing,
- and anything showing this was written during a personal crisis.
And he added:
- polished rhetoric,
- cleaned-up arguments,
- professional transitions,
- curated evidence,
- updated citations,
- a calm, persuasive tone,
- and a narrative aimed at faith deconstruction, not marital communication.
Condemning the Church for What He Did Himself
Thomas Faulk—or whoever now manages his site—has made major revisions to Letter for My Wife to make it appear more polished, persuasive, and authoritative. The emotional volatility, sarcasm, bitterness, and weak arguments found in the original 2017 PDF were replaced with a calmer tone, softened language, updated research claims, and cleaner structure. The result is a modern website that feels like a “legitimate” historical resource instead of what it originally was: a private, frustrated document written in the middle of a personal faith crisis.
As someone who has built dozens of websites and written thousands of articles, I understand perfectly why someone would revise content over time. Refining arguments, improving clarity, correcting mistakes, updating data, reorganizing material—all of this is normal. It’s what every serious writer, researcher, or institution does as understanding develops and better information becomes available.
But here’s the irony— these normal, reasonable processes are the very things Faulk condemns the Church for doing. The same man who quietly revised and softened his own document uses “changes,” “updates,” and “clarifications” as evidence of dishonesty from the church when it comes to:
- The First Vision accounts,
- The development of plural marriage,
- Priesthood and Race,
- The Word of Wisdom,
- The Book of Abraham,
- DNA research, and
- Scientific discussions in Church materials.
He argues that development equals deception.
He argues that refinement equals inconsistency.
He argues that clarification equals cover-up.
Yet he does all three—openly, repeatedly, and without acknowledgment—in his own letter.
When Faulk revises his work, it’s framed as “improvement.”
When the Church does the same thing, he calls it “proof” that the whole thing is false.
That double standard matters. It exposes that the argument isn’t about history at all. It’s about interpretation—and in many cases, about manipulating interpretation. The modern Letter for My Wife is not the document he wrote in 2017. It’s filtered, refined, edited, and restructured to persuade believing Latter-day Saints that its conclusions are inevitable and its methods reliable.
He condemns the Church for doing the very thing he depended on to make his own letter look credible.
Continue reading at the original source →