While Jeremy Runnells was enjoying the attention of ex-Mormon fame, fully convinced of the truth of anti-Mormonism and looking for additional ways to profit from what he saw as a strong business opportunity. He started a business called “Doubtsy.”

• Doubtsy was a short-lived for-profit business launched in 2017 by Jeremy Runnells, author of the influential CES Letter, aimed at helping individuals create and monetize content critical of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
• It originated as a DBA (Doing Business As) under ManaFAQ, Inc., a corporation Runnells formed to expand his advocacy into commercial coaching and publishing for those questioning or leaving Mormonism.
• The intent was to empower “doubters” by providing tools for branding, book publishing, and product sales, though critics argue it sought to profit from faith deconstruction.
• Ultimately, Doubtsy failed due to apparent low success, operational issues, and dissolution of its parent company in 2018, with the DBA lingering until 2020 amid broader criticisms of Runnells’ transparency.
• Evidence suggests modest activity with few known publications, reflecting challenges in scaling niche ex-Mormon content amid community divisions.

Origins and Background

Doubtsy emerged from Jeremy Runnells’ transition from personal faith crisis to public advocacy. Runnells, a former LDS member, gained prominence with his 2013 CES Letter, a document compiling historical and doctrinal concerns about the LDS Church that went viral in ex-Mormon communities. By 2017, after resigning from the church in 2016 following a disciplinary council, Runnells sought to formalize support for others in similar transitions. He incorporated ManaFAQ, Inc., in Delaware (a state known for business privacy) and registered it in Utah, using his American Fork home address. Doubtsy was established as a DBA under this entity, marking an attempt to blend activism with entrepreneurship.

Intended Purpose and Operations

The venture positioned itself as a platform for “doubt-centered” content, offering coaching on writing, branding, distribution, and sales. Runnells encouraged repurposing CES Letter material, advising others to adapt and claim it as their own. Activities included publishing books like “The ABC’s of Science and Mormonism” by Mithryn and “The Conservative Atheist,” sold via Doubtsy.com. The site also hosted articles and interviews critiquing Mormonism, aiming to build a community of content creators. Supporters viewed it as empowerment for faith transitions, while critics saw it as exploiting doubt for profit.

Reasons for Failure

Doubtsy’s operations were limited, with low reported earnings for authors (e.g., $5 per book royalty) and minimal visibility beyond Reddit promotions. ManaFAQ dissolved in Utah in 2018 for failure to renew, and lost good standing in Delaware due to unregistered agent issues. The DBA persisted until 2020, but without active support, the venture faded. Possible factors include lack of demand, internal decisions to avoid competing with Runnells’ CES Letter (which generated modest donations via a related non-profit), and broader scrutiny over transparency. No evidence of significant financial success exists, aligning with Runnells’ self-reported low earnings from related activities.

Jeremy Runnells’ Doubtsy represents a brief chapter in the evolving landscape of ex-Mormon advocacy, where personal faith journeys intersect with digital entrepreneurship. Launched amid Runnells’ rising profile as the author of the CES Letter – a 2013 document that has influenced thousands in questioning LDS Church teachings – the venture sought to extend his impact beyond critique into practical support for others navigating similar doubts. However, its quick dissolution underscores the challenges of sustaining niche, controversy-laden businesses. This article draws from public records, community discussions, and analyses to trace Doubtsy’s origins, ambitions, operations, and ultimate failure, providing a balanced view of its role in broader religious deconstruction movements.

Background: Jeremy Runnells and the CES Letter

To understand Doubtsy, one must start with Runnells himself. Born into a multi-generational LDS family, Runnells served a mission, earned an Eagle Scout award, and graduated from Brigham Young University. His faith began unraveling in 2012 after what he claims was encountering historical discrepancies in church teachings, such as multiple First Vision accounts and issues with the Book of Abraham. A CES (Church Educational System) director encouraged him to compile his questions, leading to the CES Letter’s creation. Initially private, it was shared online under the Reddit username u/kolobot, going viral and prompting Runnells to establish a site for free downloads and donations.

By 2015, Runnells formalized the CES Letter Foundation as a Nevada non-profit to handle donations and paperback sales (priced as $18.95 “donations”). IRS filings showed revenues under $50,000 annually until 2019, after which reporting ceased, resulting in revocation in 2023. Runnells reported average monthly earnings of $1,000 – $2,000, countering claims of higher profits. Amid growing scrutiny – including a 2016 disciplinary council where he resigned – Runnells explored for-profit avenues, leading to Doubtsy.

Formation and Structure of Doubtsy

In February 2017, Runnells incorporated ManaFAQ, Inc., in Delaware for its minimal disclosure requirements, then registered it as a foreign entity in Utah in April. The company used Runnells’ American Fork home address, shared with the CES Letter Foundation, raising questions about non-profit/for-profit separation. Doubtsy was registered as a DBA under ManaFAQ shortly after, branded as a platform to “help others publish, package, and monetize doubt-centered content.” This structure allowed Runnells to operate commercially while maintaining his non-profit for donations.

Delaware’s anonymity and Utah’s lax DBA rules minimized public oversight, a choice critics highlight as inconsistent with Runnells’ demands for LDS Church transparency. The venture aligned with Runnells’ Reddit activity, where he encouraged viral anti-LDS content creation.

Intents and Operational Focus

Doubtsy’s stated goal was to assist ex-Mormons in turning personal faith crises into marketable products. Services included guidance on book publishing, product development (e.g., items to “inspire doubters”), and entrepreneurial coaching. A website description read: “Trying to publish your own book? Looking to sell products to inspire or help your fellow doubters? Or just want to hire a talented…” Runnells promoted adapting CES Letter content, fostering a “business of creating doubters.”

From a supportive perspective, it empowered those in mixed-faith situations or faith transitions. Critics, however, viewed it as opportunistic, potentially exploiting vulnerabilities for gain. Operations centered on Doubtsy.com, which hosted blog articles (e.g., critiques of Book of Mormon grammar, cult dynamics), interviews (e.g., profiling ex-Mormon figures like Mithryn), and book sales. Promotions occurred mainly on r/exmormon, where users shared links and discussed content.

Known outputs included:

• “The ABC’s of Science and Mormonism” by Mithryn: A series debunking Mormon claims scientifically, compiled into a book.
• “The Conservative Atheist”: A memoir of leaving Mormonism.
• Potential projects like “Brutally Honest Mormon Coloring Pages,” though some shifted platforms.

Financially, it tied into Runnells’ model of blending charity and commerce, but specifics are opaque due to Delaware’s privacy. Authors reported negligible earnings, with one noting a $200 net loss upon closure.

Dissolution and Reasons for Failure

ManaFAQ’s dissolution began in 2018 when Utah revoked it for non-renewal of annual reports. Delaware followed, citing failure to maintain a registered agent. Under Utah law, dissolution requires winding up affairs, notifying creditors, and filing statements – processes Runnells apparently neglected. Doubtsy survived until 2020, an anomaly where the DBA outlasted its parent, indicating poor oversight.

Failure reasons include:

• Low Viability: Minimal publications and earnings; authors like Mithryn reported losses, suggesting insufficient market.
• Strategic Choices: Runnells may have halted it to avoid diluting his CES Letter focus, which was sustaining him full-time.
• Transparency Issues: Shared addresses and halted filings echoed criticisms of the CES Letter Foundation, potentially deterring participants.
• Community Backlash: Apologetic sources labeled it “shady,” while ex-Mormon discussions defended it as passion-driven but acknowledged its limited impact.

No reinstatement occurred, and Doubtsy.com is defunct with no Internet Archive captures.

Legacy and Broader Implications

Doubtsy’s failure highlights tensions in ex-Mormon spaces: the desire for supportive resources versus accusations of profiteering. It produced limited content but exemplified attempts to systematize deconstruction. Speculation links it to works like “A Letter for My Wife,” though unproven. Runnells has since focused on CES Letter updates and advocacy, viewing his work as aiding faith transitions without regret.

In ex-Mormon Reddit threads, Doubtsy is mentioned sparingly, often in contexts defending creators’ modest motives against LDS critiques. Apologetic analyses portray it as part of a “calculated” effort, but Runnells counters that his intent was honest inquiry.

Ultimately, Doubtsy’s story reflects the complexities of post-religious entrepreneurship: ambitious in intent, but hindered by execution, market realities, and polarized perceptions.

Key Citations

• Shadiness of the CES Letter Foundation
• Letter For My Wife Rebuttal, Part 1: Preface/Introduction
• Origins of the CES Letter
• OPEN LETTER TO JEREMY RUNNELLS (u/Kolobot)
• Jeremy Runnells Ruined Everything
• Exposing The Man Behind The Mithryn – By Cathy L Mason – Exclusive Interview
• Utah Department of Commerce – Division of Corporations