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Criticism of Mormonism/Online documents/Denver Snuffer/Historical claims
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Response to Denver Snuffer's Online Claims: Historical
| Doctrinal claims | A FAIR Analysis of: Denver Snuffer's Online Claims, a work by author: Denver Snuffer
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Excommunication |
Response to Denver Snuffer's Online Claims: Historical
Jump to Subtopic:
- 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 claim: Passing the Heavenly Gift is "the most correct account of our dispensation written so far"
The author(s) of Denver Snuffer blog make(s) the following claim:
"[My book Passing the Heavenly Gift is] the most correct account of our dispensation written so far...."[1]
FAIR's Response
Despite this grandiose claim, Snuffer's book is filled with historical errors, omissions, and misrepresentations.
Response to claims made in Passing the Heavenly Gift by Denver C. Snuffer
Summary: This account of Church history contains numerous inaccuracies, distortions, and misrepresentations of the data.
Jump to Subtopic:
- Response to Passing the Heavenly Gift: Introduction to the volume's claims
- Response to Passing the Heavenly Gift: Claims about priesthood ordination
- Response to Passing the Heavenly Gift: Claims about Brigham Young and apostles not being witnesses of Christ
- Response to Passing the Heavenly Gift: Claims regarding source of Brigham Young and apostles' authority after Joseph Smith's death
- Response to Passing the Heavenly Gift: Claims regarding when Joseph Smith received priesthood authority
- Response to Passing the Heavenly Gift: Claims that authority could only be transmitted in a completed temple
- Response to Passing the Heavenly Gift: Claims that the Saints sinned and Joseph gave his life
- Response to Passing the Heavenly Gift: Claims that the Saints did not build the Nauvoo Temple quickly enough
- Response to Passing the Heavenly Gift: Claims that the Saints in Nauvoo were punished because they were slothful in building the temple
- Response to Passing the Heavenly Gift: Response to claims made in Conclusion
- Response to Passing the Heavenly Gift: Appendix 1 & 2—Comparing the size and cost of the Kirtland and Nauvoo temples
- Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture, "Passing Up The Heavenly Gift (Part One of Two)"
- Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture, "Passing Up The Heavenly Gift (Part Two of Two)"
- Reviews of this work
Response to claim: "Joseph Smith only built one building-a temple"
The author(s) of Denver Snuffer, "Preserving The Restoration," Lecture 10, Mesa, Arizona (9 September 2014) make(s) the following 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."[2]
FAIR's Response
Question: Should there be only one temple?
Through Joseph Smith, the Lord directed the construction of many buildings besides temples
One critic of the Church claims that "Joseph Smith only built one building. He completed the Kirtland temple. He got the Nauvoo temple started, but Joseph Smith only built one building."[3]:30, and that there should not be more than a single temple: I will briefly mention there will need for a temple to be built at some point. Not yet and not more than one. But there will be a need for one.[3]:4
This claim, which is made by Denver Snuffer, 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...(D&C 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).
Snuffer's history is simply wrong, and he makes false claims based upon his false history.
Notes
- ↑ Denver Snuffer, “Current Events,” from the desk of Denver Snuffer (blog), 26 August 2013, http://denversnuffer.blogspot.ca/2013/08/current-events.html
- ↑ Denver Snuffer, "Preserving The Restoration," Lecture 10, Mesa, Arizona (9 September 2014), 30.https://www.scribd.com/doc/239760895/10-Phoenix-Transcript-Preserving-the-Restoration
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Denver Snuffer, "Preserving The Restoration," Lecture 10, Mesa, Arizona (9 September 2014).https://www.scribd.com/doc/239760895/10-Phoenix-Transcript-Preserving-the-Restoration
- ↑ "it is meet that my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., should have a house built, in which to live and translate.(D&C 41:7).
- ↑ "it is meet that my servant Sidney Rigdon should live as seemeth him good, inasmuch as he keepeth my commandments" (D&C 41:8).
- ↑ 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 (D&C 94:10-12).