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< Criticism of Mormonism | Online documents | Denver Snuffer | Doctrinal claims
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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.[1]
The course of events makes it clear that the Stake, the Seventy and the Twelve have all been involved and bear some responsibility for [my excommunication]. I need to afford the First Presidency the opportunity to bear responsibility as well.
— Denver Snuffer, Jr. to the First Presidency[2]
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.
— Denver Snuffer, Jr. to his followers[3]
I will give you one of the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom. It is an eternal principle that has existed with God from all Eternity that that man who rises up to condemn others, finding fault with the Church, saying that they are out of the way while he himself is righteous, then know assuredly that that man is in the high road to apostacy and if he does not repent will apostatize as God lives[.]
- — Joseph Smith, Jr.[4]
Some who are excommunicated from the Church believe that the leaders of the Church have lost any right to claim priesthood leadership. For example, Denver Snuffer, after his excommunication, claimed that everyone is "out of the way"—the Prophet, the apostles, the entire Church leadership, have all lost any right to claim priesthood leadership. Why? Because Snuffer was excommunicated.
Denver Snuffer stated:
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.[5]
By contrast, Joseph Smith says that people who make claims such as Snuffer does are possessed with the spirit of apostasy, and not the spirit of God:
I will give you one of the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom. It is an eternal principle that has existed with God from all Eternity that that man who rises up to condemn others, finding fault with the Church, saying that they are out of the way while he himself is righteous, then know assuredly that that man is in the high road to apostacy and if he does not repent will apostatize as God lives[.][6]
Snuffer claims to sustain Joseph Smith, and to be continuing his work.
But, if Joseph is a prophet, Snuffer is an apostate from the truth.
If Joseph is not a prophet, then Snuffer's religious claims are likewise false.
In either case, Snuffer is wrong.
"[7] Section 121 is a warning to church leaders. It is addressing the powerful, not the powerless. It is addressing those who occupy the seats of authority over others. Only those who claim the right to control, compel, and exercise dominion, are warned against persecuting the saints, who believe the religion and practice it as I did from the time of my conversion. My excommunication was an abuse of authority. Therefore, as soon as the decision was made, the Lord terminated the priesthood authority of the stake presidency and every member of the High Council who sustained this decision, which was unanimous. Thereafter, I appealed to the First Presidency, outlining the involvement of the 12 and the 70. The appeal gave notice to them all."The appeal was summarily denied.
"Last general conference, 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.
"They have not practiced what He requires. The Lord has brought about His purposes. This has been in His heart all along. He has chosen to use small means to accomplish it, but He always uses the smallest of means to fulfill His purposes."[7]
}}
Snuffer believes that he is entitled to teach doctrines the Church regards as false, criticize Church leaders, and disregard priesthood authority.
He insists that to be subject to Church discipline is to subject him to an effort to "control," "compel," or "exercise dominion."
False claim
Contradicts D&C
This, however, is false. Church discipline cannot force Snuffer to change his mind, or his behavior—and has not. Snuffer seems to think that his behavior must have no consequences, and if there are consequences he then believes he can charge others with "unrighteous dominion."
The Church, however, is a voluntary organization, and has always claimed the right to decide whether individuals are eligible for on-going membership. The Doctrine and Covenants says:
Snuffer has been found guilty of "disorderly conduct," "according to the rules and regulations of" the Church. We would not normally know the details, but Snuffer has provided them.
All Church leaders claim is the right to act on apostate conduct once members have been warned.
The following table compares the Church's definition of "apostasy" with Snuffer's behavior:
Apostasy[8] | Relation to Snuffer |
---|---|
#1: Repeatedly act in clear, open, and deliberate public opposition to the Church or its leaders. | Snuffer has:
|
#2: Teaching of false doctrine after corrected by bishop or a higher authority. | Snuffer has:
|
#3: Following apostate practices (e.g., authorized plural marriage). | Snuffer has not advocated plural marriage. He has, however, advocated such apostate practices as the performance of ordinances without priesthood authority. |
Contradicts Joseph Smith
Any one of the above points is ample grounds under the laws and regulations of the Church for excommunication. Snuffer qualifies on all three counts.
To be sure, Snuffer disagrees—but, Snuffer has no authority in the Church to make declarations about such matters. His Church leaders worked with him over a period of at least eighteen months before taking action.
We can only conclude that the decision was in error if we decide ahead of time that Snuffer is right about everything. He cannot use his excommunication as evidence of his leaders' sinful nature—that assumes what he wants to prove. Joseph taught that such acts by Church leaders were both appropriate and part of their priesthood authority:
Snuffer claims that because Church leaders do not agree with him—because they refused to allow him to teach doctrines the Church believes to be false and remain a member—they have "abuse[d their] authority."
Let us presume that this is so. How do the scriptures say that a threat to the First Presidency's worthiness to continue in their office should be dealt with?
Contradicts D&C
If the First Presidency is charged with sin—as Snuffer charges them—his voice alone is not sufficient to determine their guilt. Church procedure instead requires that they be given an opportunity to confront the charges against them in a disciplinary council. Snuffer believes he can essentially "excommunicate" the entire leadership of the Church by writing them a simple letter of protest and then declaring that it is so. The scriptures, however, teach a different doctrine:
Snuffer would have us believe that God has set aside this procedure—but we have only his word for it.
In a revelation of 12 January 1838, the Lord made it clear that Snuffer's word alone cannot bring such charges against the First Presidency. First, a question was asked:
The Lord replied:
Contradicts D&C
Contradicts Joseph Smith
Thus, to bring such a charge against the First Presidency, the following requirements were instituted by revelation to Joseph Smith:
Snuffer simply does not qualify:
Contradicts Joseph Smith
According to the scriptures, the Lord simply does not act as Snuffer claims that he has acted, nor does the Lord displace his constituted leaders privately, unknown to all save Snuffer. The revelations and Prophet Joseph that Snuffer claims to support forbid it. Joseph Smith taught:
Snuffer is not (and has never been) legally constituted or ordained to such authority.
It must be, then, that he is either mistaken or lying.
Contradicts D&C
The January 1838 revelation provides another means of confirming the First Presidency in their authority and role:
The whole Church may also try such cases, but unless a majority all stakes condemn the First Presidency, "the charges will be considered not sustained."
Undercuts own argument
Snuffer has undercut his own argument, since he notes that:
He does not go far enough, since it is not just the senior leaders that sustained those that Snuffer claims are in error, and thus now illegitimate. In fact, the entire Church voted to sustain the First Presidency and other leaders. Unfortunately, according to scripture this means that Snuffer's complaint against them is not sustained.
Thus, until Snuffer can muster a majority of members in a majority of stakes to condemn his "unjust excommunication," the First Presidency retain their authority. (As before, the three unimpeachable, faithful witnesses are also required in this scenario.)
Why is such a strict standard required? The Lord tells us: "because of wicked and aspiring men."
Notes
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