Difference between revisions of "Criticism of Mormonism/Online documents/Denver Snuffer"

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{{Resource Title|A FairMormon Analysis of Denver Snuffer's Online Claims}}
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{{response format|name=Denver Snuffer|number=???}}
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|L=Criticism of Mormonism/Online documents/Denver Snuffer
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==Overview==
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|H=A FairMormon Analysis of Denver Snuffer's Online Claims
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Denver Snuffer was excommunicated for apostasy on 11 September 2013 because of the claims made in his book ''[[Criticism_of_Mormonism/Books/Passing_the_Heavenly_Gift|Passing the Heavenly Gift]]''.<ref>Denver Snuffer, “Yesterday,” blog post (11 September 2013), {{antilink|url=http://denversnuffer.blogspot.ca/2013/09/yesterday.html}}</ref> Following his excommunication, Snuffer has declared, among other things, that the Church's First Presidency has lost their authority, and claimed that Jesus appeared to him to instruct him. This wiki page examines his historical and other claims.
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|L1=Response to Denver Snuffer's Online Claims: Doctrine
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|L2=Response to Denver Snuffer's Online Claims: Historical
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=FairMormon's response=
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|L3=Response to Denver Snuffer's Online Claims: Denver Snuffer's Excommunication
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|L4=Response to Denver Snuffer's Online Claims: Inconsistencies
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In developing our response, our primary intended audience is not necessarily Snuffer nor his associates, but rather those individuals, perhaps faithful Latter-day Saints, perhaps questioning, perhaps once-faithful but now sincerely doubting, who may have come across his teachings and been troubled by its contents.
 
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|claim="You do not need buildings to meet. Tithing is for the poor."<ref>Cited by Tim Malone, "A Few Notes from the Mesa Lecture," ''latterdaycommentary.blog'' (9 September 2014), {{antilink|http://latterdaycommentary.com/2014/09/09/a-few-notes-from-the-mesa-lecture/}}</ref>
 
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<!-- {{response format|name=Denver Snuffer|number=[PENDING]}} -->
  
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The Doctrine and Covenants teaches a different doctrine. For example, tithing is commanded for the building of temples:
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==Overview==
  
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:10 Verily I say unto you, that it is my will that a house should be built unto me in the land of Zion, like unto the pattern which I have given you.
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Denver Snuffer was excommunicated for apostasy on 11 September 2013 because of the claims made in his book ''[[Criticism_of_Mormonism/Books/Passing_the_Heavenly_Gift|Passing the Heavenly Gift]]''.<ref>Denver Snuffer, “Yesterday,” blog post (11 September 2013), {{antilink|http://denversnuffer.blogspot.ca/2013/09/yesterday.html}}</ref> Following his excommunication, Snuffer has declared, among other things, that the Church's First Presidency has lost their authority, and claimed that Jesus appeared to him to instruct him. This wiki page examines his historical and other claims.
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:11 Yea, let it be built speedily, ''by the tithing of my people.'' ({{s||D&C|97|10-11}}, italics added)
 
  
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Likewise {{s||D&C|117|2-3}} commands tithing for a variety of purposes:
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Snuffer has announced that:
  
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:2 For the building of mine house, and for the laying of the foundation of Zion and for the priesthood, and for the debts of the Presidency of my Church.
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<blockquote>
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:3 And this shall be the beginning of the tithing of my people.
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The Lord has said to me in His own voice, "I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you." Therefore, I want to caution those who disagree with me, to feel free, to feel absolutely free to make the case against what I say. Feel free to disagree, and make your contrary arguments. If you believe I err, then expose the error and denounce it. But take care; take care about what you say concerning me for your sake, not for mine. I live with constant criticism. I can take it. But I do not want you provoking Divine ire by unfortunately chosen words if I can persuade you against it.<ref>{{CriticalWork:Snuffer:Mesa|pages=4}}</ref>
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Thus, tithing is properly used for temples ''and other activities consistent with building the kingdom of God'' ("laying the foundation of Zion and for the priesthood"). Joseph Smith used tithing for such purposes throughout his administration.
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At his invitation, then, FairMormon undertakes to evaluate his public claims, statements, and teachings. We do not curse him, but simply offer the "contrary arguments" that he says that he welcomes:
  
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"The poor" are nowhere mentioned in these commands, since the scriptures have a different mechanism for providing for them&mdash;the fast ({{b||Isaiah|58|6-7}}).
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I like criticism more than praise. Criticism, particularly well thought through criticism, is appreciated. Never shout down critics.<ref>Denver Snuffer, “Schedule,” blog post (22 September 2013), {{antilink|http://denversnuffer.blogspot.ca/2013/09/schedule.html}}</ref>
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</blockquote>
  
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===FairMormon's response===
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{{SnufferItemShort
 
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|claim="Joseph Smith only built one building&mdash;a temple."<ref>Cited by Tim Malone, "A Few Notes from the Mesa Lecture," ''latterdaycommentary.blog'' (9 September 2014), {{antilink|http://latterdaycommentary.com/2014/09/09/a-few-notes-from-the-mesa-lecture/}}</ref>
 
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This claim is false. The Doctrine and Covenants commands that consecrated Church funds be used for a variety of purposes:
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In developing our response, our primary intended audience is not necessarily Snuffer nor his associates, but rather those individuals, perhaps faithful Latter-day Saints, perhaps questioning, perhaps once-faithful but now sincerely doubting, who may have come across his teachings and been troubled by their superficial plausibility.
  
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:Therefore, the residue [of the funds] shall be kept in my storehouse, to administer to the poor and the needy, as shall be appointed by the high council of the church, and the bishop and his council;
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{{:Criticism of Mormonism/Online documents/Denver Snuffer/Doctrinal claims}}
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:And for the purpose of purchasing lands for the public benefit of the church, and ''building houses of worship'', and building up of the New Jerusalem which is hereafter to be revealed...({{s||DC|42|34-35}}, italics added)
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{{:Criticism of Mormonism/Online documents/Denver Snuffer/Historical claims}}
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{{:Criticism of Mormonism/Online documents/Denver Snuffer/Excommunication}}
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Through Joseph, the Lord directed the construction of many buildings besides temples:
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{{SummaryItem
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|link=Criticism of Mormonism/Online documents/Denver Snuffer/Inconsistent claims
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* A house in Kirtland for himself<ref>"it is meet that my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., should have a house built, in which to live and translate.({{s||DC|41|7}}).</ref>
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|subject=Inconsistent claims
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* A house in Kirtland for Sidney Rigdon<ref>"it is meet that my servant Sidney Rigdon should live as seemeth him good, inasmuch as he keepeth my commandments" ({{s||DC|41|8}}).</ref>
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|summary=Anxious to make his case appear plausible, Snuffer sometimes makes claims that either (a) contradict other claims which he has made; or (b) distort documents or citations in an effort to strengthen his case.
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* "a house...for the work of the printing of the translation of my scriptures, and all things whatsoever I shall command you."<ref>the second lot on the south shall be dedicated unto me for the building of a house unto me, for the work of the printing of the translation of my scriptures, and all things whatsoever I shall command you. And it shall be fifty–five by sixty–five feet in the width thereof and the length thereof, in the inner court; and there shall be a lower and a higher court. And this house shall be wholly dedicated unto the Lord from the foundation thereof, for the work of the printing, in all things whatsoever I shall command you, to be holy, undefiled, according to the pattern in all things as it shall be given unto you ({{s||DC|94|10-12}}).</ref>
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|L1=Misleading citation of Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and George A. Smith
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* The Nauvoo House ({{s||D&C|128|55&ndash;75}});
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|L2="You will be tempted to have others tell you how to please God"
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|claim="…the Latter-day Saint church was predicted to fail, and in all likelihood has failed to secure the fullness of the priesthood,"<ref>{{CriticalWork:Book:Passing the Heavenly Gift|pages=447}}</ref>
 
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|claim="[My book ''Passing the Heavenly Gift'' is the most correct account of our dispensation written so far...."<ref>Denver Snuffer, “Current Events,” from the desk of Denver Snuffer (blog), 26 August 2013, {{antilink|http://denversnuffer.blogspot.ca/2013/08/current-events.html}}</ref>
 
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Despite this grandiose claim, Snuffer's book is filled with historical errors, omissions, and misrepresentations.
 
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{{main|Criticism_of_Mormonism/Books/Passing_the_Heavenly_Gift|l1=Details of Snuffer's many historical errors and misrepresentations}}
 
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If the Holy Ghost will visit you even without an authoritative ordinance,” Snuffer declares, “then the responsibility to live so as to invite the Spirit is all you need to have that same companionship the ordinance could confer...."<ref>{{CriticalWork:Book:Passing the Heavenly Gift|pages=460, compare also page 33.}}</ref>
 
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Snuffer claims that receiving the ordinance of confirmation and the gift of the Holy Ghost makes no difference. But, Joseph Smith taught the opposite:
 
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:There is a difference between the Holy Ghost and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Cornelius received the Holy Ghost before he was baptized, which was the convincing [Page 194]power of God unto him of the truth of the Gospel, but he could not receive the gift of the Holy Ghost until after he was baptized. Had he not taken this sign or ordinance upon him, the Holy Ghost which convinced him of the truth of God, would have left him.<ref>{{TS|author=Joseph Smith|article=For the Times and Seasons. SABBATH SCENE IN NAUVOO; March 20th 1842|vol=3|num=12|date=15 April 1842|pages=752}} See also Joseph Smith, Jr, ''Manuscript History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints'' (Documentary History). 7 vols. Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book, 1978, 4:555.</ref>
 
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Snuffer is teaching false doctrine about the Restoration.
 
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[[Category:Denver Snuffer]]
 
[[Category:Denver Snuffer]]

Latest revision as of 14:18, 13 April 2024


A FairMormon Analysis of Denver Snuffer's Online Claims


Jump to Subtopic:

Overview

Denver Snuffer was excommunicated for apostasy on 11 September 2013 because of the claims made in his book Passing the Heavenly Gift.[1] Following his excommunication, Snuffer has declared, among other things, that the Church's First Presidency has lost their authority, and claimed that Jesus appeared to him to instruct him. This wiki page examines his historical and other claims.

Snuffer has announced that:

The Lord has said to me in His own voice, "I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you." Therefore, I want to caution those who disagree with me, to feel free, to feel absolutely free to make the case against what I say. Feel free to disagree, and make your contrary arguments. If you believe I err, then expose the error and denounce it. But take care; take care about what you say concerning me for your sake, not for mine. I live with constant criticism. I can take it. But I do not want you provoking Divine ire by unfortunately chosen words if I can persuade you against it.[2]

At his invitation, then, FairMormon undertakes to evaluate his public claims, statements, and teachings. We do not curse him, but simply offer the "contrary arguments" that he says that he welcomes:

I like criticism more than praise. Criticism, particularly well thought through criticism, is appreciated. Never shout down critics.[3]

FairMormon's response

In developing our response, our primary intended audience is not necessarily Snuffer nor his associates, but rather those individuals, perhaps faithful Latter-day Saints, perhaps questioning, perhaps once-faithful but now sincerely doubting, who may have come across his teachings and been troubled by their superficial plausibility.


Response to Denver Snuffer's Online Claims: Doctrine


Jump to details:


Response to Denver Snuffer's Online Claims: Historical


Jump to details:


Response to Denver Snuffer's Online Claims: Denver Snuffer's Excommunication


Jump to details:

Inconsistent claims

Summary: Anxious to make his case appear plausible, Snuffer sometimes makes claims that either (a) contradict other claims which he has made; or (b) distort documents or citations in an effort to strengthen his case.

Jump to Subtopic:


Notes


  1. ↑ Denver Snuffer, “Yesterday,” blog post (11 September 2013), http://denversnuffer.blogspot.ca/2013/09/yesterday.html
  2. ↑ Denver Snuffer, "Preserving The Restoration," Lecture 10, Mesa, Arizona (9 September 2014), 4. https://www.scribd.com/doc/239760895/10-Phoenix-Transcript-Preserving-the-Restoration
  3. ↑ Denver Snuffer, “Schedule,” blog post (22 September 2013), http://denversnuffer.blogspot.ca/2013/09/schedule.html
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