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| | |sublink3="Joseph Smith only built one building-a temple" | | |sublink3="Joseph Smith only built one building-a temple" |
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| − |
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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.<ref>{{CriticalWork:Snuffer:Mesa|pages=7}}</ref>
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| − | |note=
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| − | }}
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| − | {{:Mormonism and priesthood/Criticisms by excommunicated Mormons/Church leaders have lost authority}}
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| − |
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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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| − | }}
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| − | {{:Mormonism and church leadership/Criticizing Church leaders}}
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| − |
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| − |
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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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| − | {{:Plan of salvation/Do we need a church}}
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| − |
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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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| − |
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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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| − |
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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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| − |
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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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| − |
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| − | Just before his death, Joseph emphasized:
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| − |
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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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| − |
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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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| − |
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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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| − | }}
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| − | {{:Mormonism and priesthood/Restoration/Why do we need authority}}
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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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| − |
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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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| − | Snuffer also contradicts Joseph Smith, who said:
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| − |
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| − | :Why send Elijah? Because he holds the keys of the authority to administer in all the ordinances of the Priesthood; '''and without the authority is given, the ordinances could not be administered in righteousness.'''<ref>{{HoC|vol=3|pages=211, read in general conference October 1840, emphasis added}}</ref>
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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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| − |
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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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| − |
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| − | :But neither teachers nor deacons have authority to baptize, administer the sacrament, or lay on hands.... ({{s||D&C|20|58}}).
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| − |
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| − | The scripture tells us precisely who may baptize:
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| − |
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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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| − |
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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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| − | }}
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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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| − |
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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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| − |
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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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| − |
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| − | His teachings and claims violate the scriptures he claims to uphold.
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| − |
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| − | ===False claim: the Church claims to "control the Holy Ghost"===
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| − | {{SnufferItemShort
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| − | |claim="
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| − | There is no organization that controls the Holy Ghost....The practice of the missionaries demonstrates the ‘rubbish-ness’ of any such thought. This is because when the missionaries teach investigators about the Book of Mormon they use Moroni chapter 10, verse 4, and admonish they pray and ask God if these things are not true. Investigators are promised God will manifest the truth of it unto them “by the power of the Holy Ghost.” To the unbaptized, unwashed, uninitiated, missionaries extend the invitation to ask God, and then listen for the Holy Ghost speak to them. If they submit to this process, the Holy Ghost will speak to them. The Holy Ghost does, can, and will speak to anyone.<ref>{{CriticalWork:Snuffer:Mesa|pages=3-4}}</ref>
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| − | |note=
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| − | }}
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| − |
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| − | The Church agrees. It does not claim to "control" the Holy Ghost, or claim that He cannot speak to anyone.
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| − | Snuffer is misleading the audience by implying that the Church teaches this, when it does not.
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| − |
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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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| − | The Church certainly believes that the Holy Ghost can speak to anyone, in or out of the Church. As Snuffer notes, the Church depends on this fact when missionaries encourage those who investigate the Church to pray for a witness.
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| − |
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| − | Snuffer consistently ignores, however, that Joseph Smith taught that there was a difference between a witness of the Holy Ghost (which was open to all) and the "gift of the Holy Ghost" (which Joseph taught could come only by confirmation by the laying on of hands by one with priesthood authority.
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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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| − |
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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 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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| − |
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| − | Furthermore, Joseph Smith disagreed with Snuffer about the Holy Ghost. When asked how the Church differed from other religious groups, Joseph Smith replied that
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| − |
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| − | :we differed in...the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. We considered that all other considerations were contained in the gift of the Holy Ghost....<ref>{{HoC|vol=4|pages=42, citing letter from Joseph Smith and Elias Higbee, 5 December 1839.}}</ref>
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| − |
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| − | According to Joseph, the gift of the Holy Ghost is the single greatest distinguishing characteristic which differentiates the Church he restored from all others. It is not something available to everyone, without priesthood, and without authority, as Snuffer pretends.
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| − |
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| − | Snuffer is teaching false doctrine about the Restoration he claims to support.
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| − |
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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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| − |
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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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| − |
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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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| − | Snuffer's view is also contradicted by the Doctrine and Covenants:
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| − |
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| − | :28 But purify your hearts before me; and then go ye into all the world, and preach my gospel unto every creature who has not received it; And he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth not, and is not baptized, shall be damned. For unto you, '''the Twelve, and those, the First Presidency, who are appointed with you to be your counselors and your leaders,''' is the '''power of this priesthood given''', for the last days and '''for the last time''', in the which is the dispensation of the fulness of times. Which power you hold, in connection with all those who have received a dispensation at any time from the beginning of the creation; For verily I say unto you, '''the keys of the dispensation''', which ye have received, have come down from the fathers, and '''last of all''', being sent down from heaven unto you ({{s||D&C|112|28-32}}, emphasis added).
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| − |
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| − | The scriptures say that the authority regarding baptism and the associated keys have been given to the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve ''for the last time''.
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| − |
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| − | Snuffer's claim that they have been lost, or that others will potentially need to receive them again from a divine messenger contradicts scripture. He argues against the Restoration that he claims to support.
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| − |
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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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| − |
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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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| − |
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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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| − |
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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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| − |
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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="Tithing is for the poor."<ref>{{CriticalWork:Snuffer:Mesa|pages=30}}</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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| − |
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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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| − | }}
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| − | Despite this grandiose claim, Snuffer's book is filled with historical errors, omissions, and misrepresentations.
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| − |
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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. He completed the Kirtland temple. He got the Nauvoo temple started, but Joseph Smith only built one building."<ref>{{CriticalWork:Snuffer:Mesa|pages=30}}</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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| − |
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| − | =="I was and am able to a pass temple recommend interview. I can answer all the questions in the right way"==
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| − | {{SnufferItemShort
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| − | |claim="I was and am able to a pass temple recommend interview. I can answer all the questions in the right way."
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| − | |note=Denver Snuffer, "Ten Points," from the desk of Denver Snuffer (blog), 14 September 2013, {{antilink|http://denversnuffer.blogspot.ca/2013/09/ten-points.html}}
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| − | }}
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| − | This question would not be raised if Snuffer had not repeatedly made it an issue. He told the First Presidency:
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| − |
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| − | :I was and am worthy of a Temple Recommend.<ref>Snuffer to First Presidency, Letter (13 September 2013), 2 reproduced in {{CriticalWork:Snuffer:Mesa|pages=42}}</ref>
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| − | He even enlists the stake president in this claim:
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| − |
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| − | :The stake president ''admitted to me and my wife'' before the Council began, that I was then worthy of a temple recommend (italics added).<ref>{{CriticalWork:Snuffer:Mesa|pages=7}}</ref>
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| − | One temple recommend question asks if the member sustains the President of the Church, First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and his local leaders. Snuffer has made it clear he does not sustain any of these leaders because:
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| − |
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| − | * he has repeatedly criticized them (see here{{NC}});
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| − | * he claims that the prophet and the apostles do not have the priesthood keys that they claim to have (see [[Criticism_of_Mormonism/Books/Passing_the_Heavenly_Gift/Source_of_authority_of_Brigham_Young_and_the_apostles_after_Joseph%27s_death|here]]);
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| − | * he has refused to refrain from publishing what his stake president referred to as "mischaracterized doctrine" in a book whose "thesis is in direct conflict with church doctrine"<ref>M. Truman Hunt to Denver Snuffer, “Notice of Disciplinary Council,” letter (21 August 2013), 1–2. Online at Denver Snuffer, “Don’t call me. (Yes, that means you too!),” from the desk of Denver Snuffer (blog), 23 August 2013, {{antilink|http://denversnuffer.blogspot.ca/2013/08/dont-call-me-yes-that-means-you-too_23.html}}</ref> He has done so even when he knows that a member of the Quorum of the Twelve has reviewed the book.<ref>Snuffer claims that "the Seventy and Elder Christofferson of the Twelve were going to review the book and President Hunt was to “stand down” until he heard further....President Hunt called me in again after he had received further direction from the hierarchy and
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| − | told me there was church ordered compulsion to withdraw the book from publication or face discipline." [Snuffer to First Presidency, Letter (13 September 2013), 1–2; reproduced in {{CriticalWork:Snuffer:Mesa|pages=41-42}}] Thus, Snuffer knows that an apostle and others do not wish him to continue to make the claims that he is making, but he does not stop doing so.</ref>
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| − | * he has refused to comply with disciplinary council procedures, despite his stake president's request. He had so little respect for the procedures that he refused to attend when his demands were not met (see here{{NC}}).
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| − |
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| − | Snuffer's claim is false—by his own description of his behavior, he was not "worthy of a temple recommend." He either does not understand the temple recommend questions, or he is being dishonest with his readers, the First Presidency, and perhaps himself.
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| − |
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| − | He also says:
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| − |
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| − | :I had a current temple recommend at the time of the disciplinary council. I was not asked to return it before the council, nor asked to return it even after the council’s decision. It expired in March, 2014, six months after excommunication.<ref>{{CriticalWork:Snuffer:Mesa|pages=7n9}}</ref>
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| − |
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| − | Snuffer's recommend would have been automatically deactivated upon his excommunication; this is done electronically, and should not be interpreted to mean—as Snuffer implies by raising it—that he was known to be worthy and no one dared say otherwise.
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| − |
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| − | Snuffer's letter from his stake president (published on his website) makes it clear that he may not wear temple garments or exercise priesthood functions: both prerequisites for entering the temple:
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| − |
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| − | :You should not engage in activities which require an exercise of priesthood power. You should not pay tithing or wear the temple garment.<ref>Truman Hunt, letter to Denver Snuffer (18 September 2013), posted on Denver Snuffer, "No title," from the desk of Denver Snuffer (blog), 20 September 2013, {{antilink|http://denversnuffer.blogspot.ca/2013/09/no-title.html}}</ref>
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| − |
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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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| − | |note=
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| − | }}
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| − | {{nw}}-->
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| | | | |
| | == == | | == == |
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.
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:
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.
