A FairMormon Analysis of Denver Snuffer's Online Claims

Jump to Subtopic:

• Response to Denver Snuffer's Online Claims: Doctrine
• Response to Denver Snuffer's Online Claims: Historical
• Response to Denver Snuffer's Online Claims: Denver Snuffer's Excommunication
• Response to Denver Snuffer's Online Claims: Inconsistencies

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 Doctrinal Claims: Authority lost by the Church
• Response to Denver Snuffer's Online Doctrinal Claims: Priesthood authority not necessary
• Response to Denver Snuffer's Online Doctrinal Claims: Other claims

Response to Denver Snuffer's Online Claims: Historical

Jump to details:

• Response to claim: Passing the Heavenly Gift is "the most correct account of our dispensation written so far"
• Response to claim: "Joseph Smith only built one building-a temple"

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

Jump to details:

• Response to Denver Snuffer's Online Claims regarding his Excommunication: Criticism of Church leaders
• Response to Denver Snuffer's Online Claims regarding his Excommunication: Sustaining Church leaders

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:

• Misleading citation of Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and George A. Smith
• "You will be tempted to have others tell you how to please God"

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