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− | | | + | |H=A FairMormon Analysis of Denver Snuffer's Online Claims: Inconsistent claims: Misleading citation of Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and George A. Smith |
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At one point, Snuffer cites three authors for whom he normally has little respect, probably because his target audience is believing members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These authors are:
Snuffer uses citations from each to argue that these Church leaders foretold a potential loss of priesthood authority by the Church:
But, why would Snuffer regard these authors as authoritative? He has made his disdain for them clear elsewhere.
"[Snuffer's] treatment of Brigham Young and blood atonement is simply vintage anti-Mormonism."
Snuffer wrote of Brigham Young:
Snuffer also insists that Brigham Young did not receive all of the keys which Joseph could have passed on.[2]:36, 81-86
George A. Smith and Heber C. Kimball were both apostles, and Snuffer denies that they were in a position to have the sealing power from Joseph which they claimed to hold.[3] He claims too that they were not suited to be true apostles that could witness of Christ's resurrection.[2]:243
In Snuffer's view, something vital was lost with Joseph's death, and Brigham and the rest of the apostles were mistaken to think that they had it. He regards Brigham Young as one who winked at murder, and further blames the second President of the Church for:
Snuffer uses these claims (which are not explored in any detail, but only lightly touched on—presumably to shock the reader) to conclude that:
For Snuffer, then, Brigham's rule was a corrupt one marred by murder, violence, coercion, and hypocrisy: evidence that the Church did not retain what Joseph had started with. And, Heber C. Kimball and George A. Smith were either in the First Presidency or Quorum of the Twelve during this period.
It is strange, then, that Snuffer would cite them as authorities. How can such men be said to have the spirit of prophecy, or the spirit of the Lord to guide them or the Church?
It seems obvious that Snuffer cites Brigham and the others only because he thinks he can enlist their support for his theories. If Snuffer's stake president, on the other hand, had cited Brigham Young's witness that he had all the keys from Joseph, Snuffer would doubtless reject this witness: we have seen what he truly thinks of Brigham.
Snuffer hopes we will consider this address authoritative. Very well—let us examine the address, and see if it supports Snuffer's claim that the Church risks losing priesthood authority.
Snuffer quotes Brigham:
Let us examine Brigham's statement in context, and see if Snuffer has honestly represented it. The snippet quoted by Snuffer is in bold type, color has been added to vital sections about which he has not informed his audience:
Snuffer has very cleverly omitted the key sentences before and after which explain Brigham's meaning. Brigham says that even if the whole world wages war upon the Saints, and even if violence and death comes against to the Church the Lord will still preserve some of the Saints to maintain the priesthood that they currently have. He repeats again that even if the wicked are allowed to massacre some of the Saints God will still preserve the priesthood. And, if the Saints live their religion they will not be subject to violence.
Thus, Brigham is not in any way supporting Snuffer's claim that the Church will lose the full priesthood authority en masse, with only a few chosen (like Snuffer, supposedly) to preserve it. Instead, Brigham is saying that even if the Saints generally become wicked and are thereby killed, the Lord will not kill all of them, and those who remain faithful will continue to hold the Priesthood that he insists they have. Even murder and death cannot wipe out the Priesthood authority, because the Church has it and God will not permit the priesthood's loss.
Thus, rather than supporting Snuffer's position, Brigham completely rebuts it.
To be sure, Snuffer likely does not accept Brigham's authority or his declaration—because if he did, it would mean that Snuffer's acts and doctrines are mistaken.
Why did Snuffer change Brigham's meaning? Why did he cite a man whom he regards with obvious distaste? The only reason can be that Snuffer wishes to persuade believing Latter-day Saints, and he thinks citing Brigham will increase his credibility. Many readers will find such tactics dishonest. They certainly reveal much about Snuffer's approach to historical documents and religious ideas.
Snuffer wants us to accept the snippet he quoted from Brigham's talk. Let us now look at what else Brigham said in the same talk. After all, if Snuffer wants us to accept Brigham as inspired in this talk, we should look at everything he said.
Brigham also said:
Brigham thus completely disagrees with Snuffer. Brigham insists that God's kingdom is found—and only to be found—in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Compare this to Snuffer's claim that "There is no reason you can't be part of this fellowship [the religious group that Snuffer seeks to found, under his guidance and direction] and be part of the Lutheran Church, Catholic Church or part of an LDS community."[6]
If Snuffer does not wish us to accept this claim of Brigham's, then it is inconsistent for him to ask us to accept his skewed reading of Brigham.
Heber C. Kimball's remarks show the same thing that we saw with Brigham's—they undercut Snuffer's claims. Snuff quotes Heber:
In the same address cited by Snuffer, however, Heber describes the sort of things which might cause God to take the priesthood from some. (Heber speaks of individuals losing the priesthood, not the entire Church). He says:
This is precisely what Snuffer will not do—he will not sustain priesthood leaders, he will not defer to their instructions or authority. Thus, according to Heber, Snuffer's behavior is the sort of thing that puts one at risk of losing priesthood authority.
Heber continues:
Again, Snuffer violates precisely what Heber teaches.
Heber also said:
This is not a message that Snuffer wants to hear, or that he wants others to embrace.
Heber also rebukes Snuffer when he says:
Snuffer thus distorts Heber and tries to enlist him in encouraging others in apostasy and rebellion.
We conclude with apostle George A. Smith, whom Snuffer cites:
As was the case with Brigham Young, we find Snuffer citing George A. Smith selectively, without including the material that undercuts his argument. Snuffer's material is in bold; color has been added for clarity in commentary:
Snuffer omits the witness that Brigham Young leads by the Spirit of prophecy. Snuffer also fails to tell us that George A. Smith testifies that this revelation and guidance to the Church prophet could not be put out. That power is with the Church, and thus while the Saints may fail individually and leave the work for others, the work will not be given to another people or group.
We once again also find Snuffer ignoring material in the same talk which challenges his behavior. For example, George A. Smith also says:
George A. Smith makes the following claims, all of which contradict Snuffer's claims:
George A. Smith also bears witness that Priesthood authority and revelation to the Church will not fail, come what may:
Based on what we have seen here, readers are entitled to question Snuffer's historical accuracy and commitment to frank truth-telling. It appears that he is more interested in supporting his own theories than in fairly reporting what others have said. Such distortion is unlikely to happen by accident, especially three times in a row.
Notes
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