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| − | {{Articles FAIR copyright}} {{Articles Header 1}} {{Articles Header 2}} {{Articles Header 3}} {{Articles Header 4}} {{Articles Header 5}} {{Articles Header 6}} {{Articles Header 7}} {{Articles Header 8}} {{Articles Header 9}} {{Articles Header 10}} | + | {{Main Page}} |
| − | {{Resource Title|A FairMormon Analysis of Denver Snuffer's Online Claims}}
| + | <onlyinclude> |
| − | {{Under construction}} | + | {{H1 |
| | + | |L=Criticism of Mormonism/Online documents/Denver Snuffer |
| | + | |H=A FairMormon Analysis of Denver Snuffer's Online Claims |
| | + | |S= |
| | + | |L1=Response to Denver Snuffer's Online Claims: Doctrine |
| | + | |L2=Response to Denver Snuffer's Online Claims: Historical |
| | + | |L3=Response to Denver Snuffer's Online Claims: Denver Snuffer's Excommunication |
| | + | |L4=Response to Denver Snuffer's Online Claims: Inconsistencies |
| | + | }} |
| | + | <!-- {{response format|name=Denver Snuffer|number=[PENDING]}} --> |
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| | ==Overview== | | ==Overview== |
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| | Snuffer has announced that: | | Snuffer has announced that: |
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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>
| + | <blockquote> |
| | + | 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> |
| | + | </blockquote> |
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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. | + | 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: |
| | + | |
| | + | <blockquote> |
| | + | 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> |
| | + | </blockquote> |
| | | | |
| | ===FairMormon's response=== | | ===FairMormon's response=== |
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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. | | 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 format|name=Denver Snuffer|number=???}}
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| − | ==Quick Navigation==
| + | {{:Criticism of Mormonism/Online documents/Denver Snuffer/Doctrinal claims}} |
| − | *[[Criticism of Mormonism/Online documents/Denver Snuffer#"At that moment, the Lord ended all claims of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints"|Response to claim: "At that moment, the Lord ended all claims of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints"]]
| + | {{:Criticism of Mormonism/Online documents/Denver Snuffer/Historical claims}} |
| − | *[[Criticism of Mormonism/Online documents/Denver Snuffer#"I quoted from past church leaders’ diaries, journals, talks, letters or writings. But I did not criticize."|Response to claim: "I quoted from past church leaders’ diaries, journals, talks, letters or writings. But I did not criticize."]]
| + | {{:Criticism of Mormonism/Online documents/Denver Snuffer/Excommunication}} |
| − | *[[Criticism of Mormonism/Online documents/Denver Snuffer#"We must all find salvation for ourselves"|Response to claim: "We must all find salvation for ourselves"]]
| + | {{SummaryItem |
| − | *[[Criticism of Mormonism/Online documents/Denver Snuffer#"it does not matter whether there is an officiator with authority from God on the earth or not"|Response to claim: "it does not matter whether there is an officiator with authority from God on the earth or not"]]
| + | |link=Criticism of Mormonism/Online documents/Denver Snuffer/Inconsistent claims |
| − | *[[Criticism of Mormonism/Online documents/Denver Snuffer#Snuffer claims God has called him to preach his doctrines|Response to claim: Snuffer claims God has called him to preach his doctrines]]
| + | |subject=Inconsistent claims |
| − | *[[Criticism of Mormonism/Online documents/Denver Snuffer#"the responsibility to live so as to invite the Spirit is all you need"|Response to claim: "the responsibility to live so as to invite the Spirit is all you need"]]
| + | |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. |
| − | *[[Criticism of Mormonism/Online documents/Denver Snuffer#"the required priestly authority is still available through the veil"|Response to claim: "the required priestly authority is still available through the veil"]]
| + | |L1=Misleading citation of Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and George A. Smith |
| − | *[[Criticism of Mormonism/Online documents/Denver Snuffer#"You do not need buildings to meet. Tithing is for the poor"|Response to claim: "You do not need buildings to meet. Tithing is for the poor"]]
| + | |L2="You will be tempted to have others tell you how to please God" |
| − | *[[Criticism of Mormonism/Online documents/Denver Snuffer#Passing the Heavenly Gift is "the most correct account of our dispensation written so far"|Response to claim: ''Passing the Heavenly Gift'' is "the most correct account of our dispensation written so far"]]
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| − | *[[Criticism of Mormonism/Online documents/Denver Snuffer#"Joseph Smith only built one building-a temple"|Response to claim: "Joseph Smith only built one building-a temple"]]
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| − | | |
| − | =="At that moment, the Lord ended all claims of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints"==
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| − | {{SnufferItemShort
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| − | |claim=Last general conference [April 2014], the entire First Presidency, the 12, the 70, and all other general authorities and auxiliaries, voted to sustain those who abused their authority in casting me out of the church. At that moment, the Lord ended all claims of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to claim it is led by the priesthood. | |
| − | |note={{CriticalWork:Snuffer:Mesa|pages=7}} | |
| − | }}
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| − | {{:Mormonism and priesthood/Criticisms by excommunicated Mormons/Church leaders have lost authority}}
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| − | | |
| − | =="I quoted from past church leaders’ diaries, journals, talks, letters or writings. But I did not criticize."==
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| − | {{SnufferItemShort
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| − | |claim=Snuffer told his stake president and the First Presidency: "I was shown a section of the Church Handbook of Instructions that mandated discipline for criticizing the church’s leaders. I explained I hadn’t done that. I quoted from past church leaders’ diaries, journals, talks, letters or writings. But I did not criticize.<ref>Snuffer to First Presidency, Letter (13 September 2013), reproduced in {{CriticalWork:Snuffer:Mesa|pages=42}}</ref>
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| − | |note=
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| − | {{:Mormonism and church leadership/Criticizing Church leaders}}
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| − | | |
| − | =="We must all find salvation for ourselves"==
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| − | {{SnufferItemShort
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| − | |claim="Even if you give the most optimistic assessment of the restoration and current condition of the church it can do nothing for the individual Latter-day Saint. We must all find salvation for ourselves.<ref>{{CriticalWork:Snuffer:Passing the Heavenly Gift|pages=305}}</ref>
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| − | |note=
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| − | }}
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| − | The Doctrine and Covenants teaches that some things are required from the Church for full salvation to its members. The Lord says of those who have acted wickedly:
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| − | :But those who cry transgression do it because they are the servants of sin, and are the children of disobedience themselves....Wo unto them; because they have offended my little ones they shall be '''severed from the ordinances''' of mine house....They '''shall not have right to the priesthood''', nor their posterity after them from generation to generation. It had been better for them that a millstone had been hanged about their necks, and they drowned in the depth of the sea ({{s||DC|121|17,19,21-22}}).
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| − | These scriptures teach that it is a great tragedy and punishment if:
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| − | * one does not receive the priesthood
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| − | * one is severed from the ordinances
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| − | Joseph Smith always administered these things through the Church's organizational structure: these ordinances require legitimate authority, and are important for exaltation, contrary to Snuffer's claims.
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| − | Just before his death, Joseph emphasized:
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| − | :I advise all to go on to perfection and search deeper and deeper into the mysteries of Godliness—'''a man can do nothing for himself''' unless God direct him in the right way, and the '''Priesthood is reserved for that purpose'''.<ref>Thomas Bullock report, discourse of 14 May 1844; cited in {{WJS|pages=365, emphasis added}}</ref>
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| − | Snuffer's efforts to dismiss the importance of the Church and its ordinances via priesthood authority lead him to preach false doctrine.
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| − | | |
| − | =="it does not matter whether there is an officiator with authority from God on the earth or not"==
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| − | {{SnufferItemShort
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| − | |claim="[I]t would be good to have an authorized minister to perform the ordinance [of baptism, but] it does not matter whether there is an officiator with authority from God on the earth or not...."<ref>{{CriticalWork:Snuffer:Passing the Heavenly Gift|pages=418}}</ref>
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| − | |note= | |
| − | }}
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| − | {{Epigraph|[There is] no salvation between the two lids of the bible without a legal administrator.<br>
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| − | :::::—Joseph Smith<ref>Joseph Smith Diary (23 July 1843); cited in {{WJS|pages=235}}.</ref>}}
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| − | The scriptures and Joseph Smith repeatedly teach that an authorized priesthood holder is necessary for ordinances, including baptism:
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| − | * Jesus in {{s|3|Nephi|11|21-22}}: "I give unto you '''power that ye shall baptize''' this people when I am again ascended into heaven.And again the Lord called others, and said unto them likewise; and he '''gave unto them power to baptize'''."
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| − | * Articles of Faith: "We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are '''in authority''', to preach the Gospel and '''administer in the ordinances''' thereof" ({{s||A+of+F|1|5}}).
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| − | * Book of Mormon: "...king Limhi and many of his people were desirous to be baptized; '''but there was none in the land that had authority from God'''....Therefore they did not at that time form themselves into a church, waiting upon the Spirit of the Lord....They were desirous to be baptized as a witness and a testimony that they were willing to serve God with all their hearts; nevertheless they did prolong the time; and an account of their baptism shall be given hereafter" ({{s||Mosiah|21|33-35}}).
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| − | | |
| − | ==== ====
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| − | {{SnufferItemShort
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| − | |claim="[I]t would be good to have an authorized minister to perform the ordinance [of baptism, but] it does not matter whether there is an officiator with authority from God on the earth or not...."<ref>{{CriticalWork:Snuffer:Passing the Heavenly Gift|pages=418}}</ref>
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| − | |note=
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| − | }}
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| − | Snuffer claims anyone can baptize without authority, but the Doctrine and Covenants teaches that not even all priesthood offices can baptize:
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| − | :But neither teachers nor deacons have authority to baptize, administer the sacrament, or lay on hands.... ({{s||DC|20|58}}).
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| − | The scripture tells us precisely who may baptize:
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| − | :an Apostle is an Elder & it is his calling to Baptize & to ordain other Elders, Priests, Teachers & Deacons…The Priests duty is to…baptize…& ordain other Priests, Teaches & Deacons....<ref>Dean Jessee (editor), ''Revelations and Translations: Manuscript Revelation Books'', The Joseph Smith Papers, Facsimile ed. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Church Historian’s Press, 2009), 85; see {{s||D&C|20|38–60}}.</ref>
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| − | | |
| − | ==Snuffer claims God has called him to preach his doctrines==
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| − | {{SnufferItemShort
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| − | |claim=Snuffer claims God has called him to preach his doctrines.{{nw}}<ref>{{nc}}</ref>
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| − | |note=
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| − | The scriptures tell us that one may not preach the gospel ''or'' build up the Church without known authority:
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| − | :Again I say unto you, that it shall '''not be given to ''any one''''' to go forth to '''''preach my gospel''''', or to build up my church, except he be ordained by some one who has authority, and it is '''known to the church that he has authority''' and has been '''regularly ordained''' by the heads of the church ({{s||DC|42|11}}).
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| − | Not only does Snuffer have no authority from the heads of the Church, he certainly not been "regularly ordained." Instead, he has been excommunicated for apostasy.
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| − | His teachings and claims violate the scriptures he claims to uphold.
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| − | (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 42:11)
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| − | =="the responsibility to live so as to invite the Spirit is all you need"==
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| − | {{SnufferItemShort
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| − | |claim="
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| − | If the Holy Ghost will visit you even without an authoritative ordinance 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:Snuffer:Passing the Heavenly Gift|pages=460, compare also page 33}}</ref>
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| − | |note=
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| − | }}
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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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| − | =="the required priestly authority is still available through the veil"==
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| − | {{SnufferItemShort
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| − | |claim=Ordinances do not need to be performed by one with legitimate Church authority, since "the required priestly authority is still available through the veil."<ref>{{CriticalWork:Snuffer:Passing the Heavenly Gift|pages=468}}</ref>
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| − | |note=
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| − | }}
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| − | Snuffer again contradicts Joseph Smith, who made it very clear that no ordinances would be performed by divine messengers once the authority had been conferred on mortals:
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| − | :The angel told… Cornelius that he must send for Peter to learn how to be saved: Peter could baptize, and angels could not, so long as there were legal officers in the flesh holding the keys of the kingdom, or the authority of the priesthood. There is one evidence still further on this point, and that is that Jesus himself when he appeared to Paul on his way to Damascus, did not inform him how he could be saved. He had set in the church firstly Apostles, and secondly prophets for the work of the ministry… and as the grand rule of heaven was that nothing should ever be done on earth without revealing the secret to his servants the prophets…. [S]o Paul could not learn so much from the [Page 196]Lord relative to his duty in the common salvation of man, as he could from one of Christ’s ambassadors called with the same heavenly calling of the Lord, and endowed with the same power from on high—so that what they loosed on earth, should be loosed in heaven; and what they bound on earth should be bound in heaven.<ref>{{TS|author=Joseph Smith|article=Baptism|vol=3|num=21|date=1 September 1842|pages=905}}</ref>
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| − | ==== ====
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| − | {{SnufferItemShort
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| − | |claim=Snuffer claims the Church has lost the fullness, but "[t]he required priestly authority is still available through the veil."<ref>{{CriticalWork:Snuffer:Passing the Heavenly Gift|pages=468}}</ref>
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| − | |note=
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| − | }}
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| − | Snuffer claims that the Church has lost vital priesthood authority, and so ordinances do not need it, or Snuffer's followers can get it "through the veil."
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| − | :An angel, said Joseph, may administer the word of the Lord unto men, and bring intelligence to them from heaven upon various subjects; but no true angel from God will ever come to ordain any man, because they have once been sent to establish the priesthood by ordaining me thereunto; and the priesthood being once established on earth, with power to ordain others, '''no heavenly messenger will ever come to interfere with that power by ordaining any more'''…You may therefore know, from this time forward, that if any man comes to you professing to be ordained by an angel, he is either a liar or has been imposed upon in consequence of transgression by an angel of the devil, for '''this priesthood shall never be taken away from this church.'''<ref>{{MS|author=Orson Hyde|article=Although Dead, Yet He Speaketh: Joseph Smith’s testimony concerning men being ordained by angels, delivered in the school of the prophets, in Kirtland, Ohio, in the Winter of 1832–3|vol=8|num=9|date=20 November 1846|pages=138–139, emphasis added}}</ref>
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| − | {{more|Criticism_of_Mormonism/Books/Passing_the_Heavenly_Gift/Claims_about_priesthood_ordination#cite_ref-9|l1=Read more about the false claims that led Joseph to teach this doctrine}}
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| − | Joseph Smith said that the Church would never lack priesthood authority, and that if someone claimed a heavenly messenger had brought them authority, they were either:
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| − | #deceived by Satan; or
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| − | #a liar.
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| − |
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| − | =="You do not need buildings to meet. Tithing is for the poor"==
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| − | {{SnufferItemShort
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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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| − | |note=
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| − | }}
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| − | {{:Mormonism and temples/Why does the Church build expensive temples}}
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| − | ==''Passing the Heavenly Gift'' is "the most correct account of our dispensation written so far"==
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| − | {{SnufferItemShort
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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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| − | |note=
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| − | Despite this grandiose claim, Snuffer's book is filled with historical errors, omissions, and misrepresentations.
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| − | {{:Criticism of Mormonism/Books/Passing the Heavenly Gift}}
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| − |
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| − | =="Joseph Smith only built one building-a temple"==
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| − | {{SnufferItemShort
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| − | |claim="Joseph Smith only built one building—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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| − | |note=
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| − | }}
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| − | {{:Mormonism and temples/Should there be only one temple}}
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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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| − | :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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| − | :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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| − | Through Joseph, the Lord directed the construction of many buildings besides temples:
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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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| − | * 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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| − | * "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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| − | * The Nauvoo House ({{s||D&C|128|55–75}}).
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| − | Snuffer's history is simply wrong, and he makes false claims based upon his false history.
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| − | <!--==== ====
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| − | {{SnufferItemShort
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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:Snuffer:Passing the Heavenly Gift|pages=447}}</ref>
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| | [[Category:Denver Snuffer]] | | [[Category:Denver Snuffer]] |
