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A FairMormon Analysis of Denver Snuffer's Online Claims

This set of articles comprises approximately ??? questions or sources assigned to the response to Denver Snuffer. A full list of these articles may be found here: Category:Denver Snuffer. New questions and sources are periodically added to this list.

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.

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 its contents.

Denver Snuffer claim:

"You do not need buildings to meet. Tithing is for the poor."^[2]

FairMormon Response

The Doctrine and Covenants teaches a different doctrine. For example, tithing is commanded for the building of temples:

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.

11 Yea, let it be built speedily, by the tithing of my people. (D&C 97꞉10-11, italics added)

Likewise D&C 117꞉2-3 commands tithing for a variety of purposes:

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.

3 And this shall be the beginning of the tithing of my people.

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.

"The poor" are nowhere mentioned in these commands, since the scriptures have a different mechanism for providing for them—the fast (Isaiah 58:6-7).

Denver Snuffer claim:

"Joseph Smith only built one building—a temple."^[3]

FairMormon Response

This claim is false. The Doctrine and Covenants commands that consecrated Church funds be used for a variety of purposes:

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;

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...(DC 42꞉34-35, italics added)

Through Joseph, the Lord directed the construction of many buildings besides temples:

• A house in Kirtland for himself^[4]
• A house in Kirtland for Sidney Rigdon^[5]
• "a house...for the work of the printing of the translation of my scriptures, and all things whatsoever I shall command you."^[6]
• The Nauvoo House (D&C 128꞉55–75);

Denver Snuffer claim:

"…the Latter-day Saint church was predicted to fail, and in all likelihood has failed to secure the fullness of the priesthood,"^[7]

FairMormon Response

 ^{[needs work]}

Denver Snuffer claim:

"[My book Passing the Heavenly Gift is the most correct account of our dispensation written so far...."^[8]

FairMormon Response

Despite this grandiose claim, Snuffer's book is filled with historical errors, omissions, and misrepresentations.

Main article: Details of Snuffer's many historical errors and misrepresentations

Denver Snuffer claim:

" 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...."^[9]

FairMormon Response

Snuffer claims that receiving the ordinance of confirmation and the gift of the Holy Ghost makes no difference. But, Joseph Smith taught the opposite:

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.^[10]

Snuffer is teaching false doctrine about the Restoration.

Notes

1. ↑ Denver Snuffer, “Yesterday,” blog post (11 September 2013), http://denversnuffer.blogspot.ca/2013/09/yesterday.html
2. ↑ Cited by Tim Malone, "A Few Notes from the Mesa Lecture," latterdaycommentary.blog (9 September 2014), http://latterdaycommentary.com/2014/09/09/a-few-notes-from-the-mesa-lecture/
3. ↑ Cited by Tim Malone, "A Few Notes from the Mesa Lecture," latterdaycommentary.blog (9 September 2014), http://latterdaycommentary.com/2014/09/09/a-few-notes-from-the-mesa-lecture/
4. ↑ "it is meet that my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., should have a house built, in which to live and translate.(DC 41꞉7).
5. ↑ "it is meet that my servant Sidney Rigdon should live as seemeth him good, inasmuch as he keepeth my commandments" (DC 41꞉8).
6. ↑ 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 (DC 94꞉10-12).
7. ↑ Denver C. Snuffer, Jr., Passing the Heavenly Gift (Salt Lake City: Mill Creek Press, 2011), 447.
8. ↑ Denver Snuffer, “Current Events,” from the desk of Denver Snuffer (blog), 26 August 2013, http://denversnuffer.blogspot.ca/2013/08/current-events.html
9. ↑ Denver C. Snuffer, Jr., Passing the Heavenly Gift (Salt Lake City: Mill Creek Press, 2011), 460, compare also page 33..
10. ↑ Joseph Smith, "For the Times and Seasons. SABBATH SCENE IN NAUVOO; March 20th 1842," Times and Seasons 3 no. 12 (15 April 1842), 752. off-site GospeLink 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.