I just read the stake confidential letter regarding Denver
Snuffer’s writing. It is interesting. Most of it is what bothered
me about his book, Pass the Heavenly Gift. I am surprised that the author sometimes seems to take
the position that the Pharisees did with Christ. That is my only
concern when I read it . We all need to watch ourselves so pride doesn’t
enter in. Denver disparages the church many times in his book. He
can’t seem to differentiate the sinful acts of members and the Church. I
believe the church and all the scriptures still point us to Christ. I
believe we can still progress. I don’t believe the Church is barring
anyone from getting into heaven. I believe the Church still believes in the
reception of the Second Comforter. I don’t believe the Second Comforter
will tell people to leave the Church. We all need to be receptive to the
Holy Ghost first.
It was an interesting read. I have moved away from
Snuffer.
Elder Ballard in the September Ensign says, "Do not spend time trying to overhaul or
adjust God’s plan. We do not have time for that. It is a pointless exercise to
try to determine how to organize the Lord’s Church differently. The Lord is at
the head of this Church, and we all follow His direction. Both men and women
need increased faith and testimony of the life and the Atonement of our Lord
Jesus Christ and increased knowledge of His teachings and doctrine. We need
clear minds so that the Holy Ghost can teach us what to do and what to say. We
need to think straight in this world of confusion and disregard for the things
of God."
I wish Elder Ballard and company would take their own advice:
ReplyDelete"It is a pointless exercise to try to determine how to organize the Lord’s Church differently. The Lord is at the head of this Church, and we all follow His direction."
The brethren have consistently re-organized the church since the death of Joseph. This is abundantly obvious to anyone who has read church history, whether or not they have ever heard of Denver Snuffer.
It is a travesty that the Brethren continue to use controlled vocabulary such as "the Lord's church" (he hasn't claimed it in revelation since Joseph died). It is also damning that they continue to say Jesus is at the head and they follow His direction. None of the very many glaring differences between God's revealed word as canonized in D&C and what is taught/practiced/enforced in the church today (Handbook, manuals, conference talks) came about via revelation. None. The last revelation the church claims came in 1978.
Who is behind:
-Tithing on gross (pay tithing first no matter what), when the scriptures clearly teach that we are to pay tithes on the surplus after we have taken care of our own needs? (See JST Gen 14 and D&C 119).
-Push the modern interpretation of the "Word of Wisdom" as a moral commandment, barring people from the sacrament and temple worship for failing to live it. The only problem is neither alcohol nor tea nor coffee are prohibited in the revelation, and God specifically said it was NOT a commandment. (Look up "strong drinks," "mild drinks" and "hot drinks" using 1828 webster's dictionary. Look up the fact that Joseph and Brigham drank alcohol their whole lives. Brigham imported 7 tons of alcohol across the plains for his personal use. Joseph kept a fully stocked bar in the Nauvoo house. The brethren drank wine regularly---and not just a thimble full, either---every Sunday night in the SLC temple until the early 1900s when prohibition became in vogue and crept into the church under the guise of the word of wisdom.) Hot drinks and strong drinks refer to liquor. Mild drinks refers to beer, cider, and wine. Ironically, not only is the modern word of wisdom completely different than what was revealed by God, but we use our distorted version as what makes us different from the world, instead of using our experiences with God.
-Temples when the Lord's plan did not come to fruition regarding the Nauvoo temple, where Elijah was supposed to come and reveal the priesthood, a necessary pre-requisite to doing ordinances for the dead. He was also, according to Joseph, supposed to restore animal sacrifice. Our temples today have nothing to do with the restoration through Joseph.
There are many, many more examples.
If ANYONE has disregard for the things of God, it is the brethren. Since Joseph's death, they have done nothing but "teach for doctrines the commandments of men." (Matthew 15:9).
"Both men and women need increased faith and testimony of the life and the Atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ and increased knowledge of His teachings and doctrine. We need clear minds so that the Holy Ghost can teach us what to do and what to say. We need to think straight in this world of confusion and disregard for the things of God."
ReplyDeleteAmen!
Now, as Rob said, if the leadership would only follow their own advice, and teach THAT, instead of "hasten the work" and "follow the prophet". If Elder Ballard's stated needs for the church are really that vital, why doesn't leadership make that the main focus of our meetings? Why isn't the Second Comforter taught? (I'm going on 40 years now, and I honestly can't remember a single time I've heard that taught in church.)
Following the words of Christ is my greatest joy. It has been a long, long time, though, since I have heard the doctrine of Christ taught, or His life expounded, with the power and clarity that an apostle should manifest, or those teachings rejoiced in as the main theme of ANY meeting.
The church IS the members. The members ARE the church. And, as you said, there are sinful acts--mostly by leaders abusing their positions of authority--going on all the time. I'm seeing it with increasing regularity, and it's breaking my heart. And yet, there is no recourse except the scriptures, which the leaders always interpret through the lens of the non-canonical handbook. And in my experience, the scriptures lose every time. What is the leadership doing? Why don't they hold to the standard works as the ultimate standard of God's word to us?
God help us.
And them.
P.S.) This letter is circulating around the internet. Is it the letter you referred to in your post?
Deletehttps://www.dropbox.com/s/lpig04xcmazhe5n/MemoFromChurchHQ.pdf
2 Nephi 28. Mormon 8. Read them. The Latter-day Saints are in deep doodoo.
ReplyDelete