There is no such thing as a Snufferite. I recently read a comment about him being the
next Jim Harmston (TLC), which is quite humerous to say the least! This just goes to show
that people are judging the man without even rightly investigating what he
really believes and knows. The last thing he wants is a following of people
depending on him like we gentiles have done in the church and other groups. I
simply jive with the truths that he shares. The Lord was teaching me through
searching and pondering, deeper understanding of things through the Spirit,
personal experiences and direct word of the Lord revelation on many things.
When I learned about Denver and his
books through some friends, I realized that he had already learned many things
I was learning on my own. When I quote him or scripture, I am basically using
those quotes to say what I want to say. I am a follower of no man. I may listen
to men, to see how much truth they may resonate with. I may quote them when I
liked what was said. But above all else, I seek the Lord's word to me direct
and seek His actual presence. Denver 's
experiences, or even Joseph Smith's experiences will not personally save me.
Only one stands at that gate! When I started reading DS books in 2010, and had
6 months of email conversations with him that year, I was well versed in Church
and Fundamentalist histories. I had already investigated Church leader’s
statements and spiritual experiences since Brigham Young to our day, and even
many break off groups and independents and was sorry to see that the heavenly
connection was not like those in my scriptures or Joseph Smith’s. I was still
so concerned with getting all the ordinances from the most valid line of mortal
priesthood. It was apparent that things are not as they should be EVERYWHERE I
WENT or investigated. I saw many saying come here and get what you seek for,
but I sought ordinances from a priesthood group or lineage that had more than
just ordinances. Simply carrying on ordinances, but lacking the power
(C&EMS, greater experiences, talking with the Lord face to face, etc) is
not valid in my view. Denver simply
redirected much of my energy from searching for man and their ordinances to
connecting with the Lord on my own. I had to seek from the Lord that which I
sought so hard from man. I already knew that calling and election from the Lord
was a necessary ratification and important step, but I also wanted to make sure
I had all the necessary ordinances along the way. I argued with Denver in that
year on some things. I WANTED to believe that there was a valid priesthood
group passing on all the ordinances AND experiencing greater things like in
scripture. I didn't like it when he was trying to explain that things have been
out of order since 1844. I WANTED to believe that there was a valid Holy Order
or group that remained since then. I WANTED to believe that things were out of
order since around 1890. But I was searching for people with a real connection
with the Lord. I wondered if maybe Denver
just had a strong imagination for spiritual things like I have seen others do,
or was an imposter or deceived like so many I had already read about and dealt
with in the past. I wanted to find people connected with the Lord. He claimed
to some experiences in his books, and I questioned him trying to figure out if
his experiences were spiritually imagined or actual. I have since learned about
others who Denver has helped meet
the Lord. I have friends or people I know of who have their calling and
election from the Lord and even the face to face presence of the Lord. I have
had many amazing (and some unexplainable) experiences and revelations of my
own, but wish I was advanced far enough along the path to be sitting at the
feet of the Lord like other friends and those in our scriptures.
More about my own past…
I have been researching Church history intently since 2007
after reading Hugh Nibley's Approaching Zion. I really grew concerned that Zion
has fled and we never got it back. 2008 is really the year that I “woke up” to
many truths I did not want to think were true. I soon started to realize the
doctrinal changes, temple changes, church presidents differing on doctrine, and
mainly saw a large difference between prophets and their strong connections
with God in the scriptures and Joseph Smith's history, compared to church
President's since Joseph. I learned about fullness of priesthood and C&E. I
knew that even if we get all the ordinances from man, the climax or final
acceptance of us by the Lord is through C&E and standing in His presence.
I have spent time among fundamentalist groups and
independents. I enjoyed my time among them and the research of their histories.
I know how break off groups believe and operate. I am not one to sit around and
do nothing, if there is something as serious as the fullness of the Gospel and
priesthood on earth (I felt the church had lost it long ago), I wanted to find
out who truly had it and who enjoy the eternal benefits that come from it. I
keep in touch with people and keep up to date with everything related to the
restoration. I watch and observe everywhere. I wish we were all seeing eye to
eye and had no contention and divisions within the church, and between all the
break off groups and independents.
Is it the ordinance of baptism that washes you clean or how
you take upon you the name of Christ, or is it something you do on your own at
the right time? When we are directed to take upon us the HG after baptism by laying
on of hands, is the ordinance conveying that gift or is it something to be
obtained depending on when the person is actually ready and the Lord grants it?
Will a 2 hr ritual performed in an Israelite or LDS temple, or anywhere else,
really wash you clean and fully prepare you to be called Kings and Priests to
God or endowed with power from on high... or is it showing you a long path that
must be followed in order to become such? A man could be baptized or attend an
endowment ceremony a 100 times and still never receive what the ordinance is
pointing to. There are priestly ordinances and there are the real things. Being
washed ceremonially clean in a ritual is instruction on how to actually become
clean. Wouldn't it be quite magical if a 2 hr endowment ceremony when I was 19
was what washed me clean from the sins of my generation and endowed me with
some power!
This I know, that the spiritual ordinances that are
represented within the physical ordinances passed on man to man... are the real
ones to obtain. Everything the church does (or doesn't do anymore for the
members), everything the fundy groups or BFJ line of independent Patriarchs try
to carry on or pass on man to man, are ordinances of man that point us to the
true ordinances given from the Godhead. They are invitations. The Lord
authorized Joseph to keep those invitational ordinances among us. The Lord
never told Joseph, as far as I am aware, to tell the Apostles and others at the
last charge to stop doing ordinances when he hinted that he (Joseph) was done
with the church and put the burden upon them to lead the church. If a man
obtains the real things from the Godhead direct, does he still need to obtain
the physical ordinances that point to the real ones -from a man? Can a man who
obtains the real things from above, do physical ordinances for those he has
responsibility for (as directed by His priesthood head - the Lord)? Which
priesthood head are we taught to be obedient to in the temple endowment? Who
are we trying to connect with in that same endowment? Isn't it obvious that the
real second anointing will come from the same Being that the first endowment
shows us we must connect with?
The Israelites and the Gentiles have sought from the hands
of men (rely on the arms of flesh) that which God must give. In their
unintentional Idolatry, they were more interested in joining a group of people
passing on ordinances in a temple. Thinking those ordinances make you a member
of the Kingdom of God .
Thinking that all that is needed for priesthood leadership to pass on such
ordinances, is to obtain the same ordinances from the leader before who has had
them. Thinking that they have the keys of Moses or Joseph Smith to continue
making people members of the Kingdom, when they do not actually go there in themselves.
If such key holding claimants actually knew what it was really like to enter
the kingdom, they would not have continued or continue the false traditions
that have plagued Israel and us gentiles and would teach more about the greater
things by sharing their own experiences (instead of Joseph Smith’s or prophets
past).
So, now a few people are actually entering therein. Some are
actually obtaining C&E and a fullness, and some communing with Christ face
to face. They all seem to have similar understandings and characteristics. All
seem to have gone on similar paths. They are trying to help the church leaders
and members (and all other groups and independents) turn to these things. To
head in the right direction. They are not creating another break off group to
join. They are not competing. They are teaching to find the Lord no matter
where you are. They have experienced some things, tasted of the real fruit of
eternal life, experienced things like Joseph Smith and those in our scriptures
and simply want THAT WORK OF GOD to go forth as much as possible. Didn't the
Lord want more people "endowed with power from on high" in order to
build a Zion that would remain
(seeing that the church in Joseph's day failed many times). Wouldn't it be
expected that the Lord would want that same thing to happen in our day, before Zion
and the millennium comes along? But how many are rejecting that message?
Knowingly or unknowingly? How many are saying our leaders or a lineage of
Patriarchs have Joseph Smith's keys to save and no one else (lo here lo there)?
How many don't want to believe great experiences are being had by lay members
because our leaders don’t talk about their own experiences like that? How many
think they can’t receive the Lord until they receive all the ordinances offered
by priesthood leaders they presume to hold saving keys since the days of Joseph
Smith? The same thing which has happened before, continues to happen. Nothing
new under the sun as Isaiah states.
The Lord is giving all the latter day gentiles a 2nd chance
(setting His hand a second time) to help us really see what Joseph Smith was
trying to get the members to do. To remember, to really understand what the
real work of obtaining the Fullness really entails. To do that which all our
ordinances point to. To do that which men in our scriptures have done. That
which Joseph Smith, Moses and others have done. The message of the Lord is
going forth. Will we continue to reject the message of the Lord carried by
those who Know Him, only to continue to rely too much on the ordinances and
traditions carried on by the arms of flesh, presuming we have all we need? Or
will we "all arise" and seek for more? Will we unite, comfort one
another and see that the intent and purpose of the ordinances are to teach and
point us to the real things? Sometimes the message of the Lord comes from
un-expected places (think Abinidi or Samuel the Lamanite). I believe the Lord
is giving our gentile group one final chance to get the fullness back, before
starting something new with others if they reject it or don't work hard enough
to get it back. If the message is rejected by the church and groups and other
independents, are we connected enough with the Savior personally to be selected
by Him to be a part of a new group effort that may come about in our day if the
Lord determines the times of the gentile opportunity is over? Something that
may become the final Zion that will
remain into the millennium? The Lord needs a group of like minded friends who
see eye to eye, who Know Him personally to help build Zion .
Few there be seems to run through the scriptures and my mind. But I wish and
hope that is not the case in our day. We should definitely know better than any
other people that have lived on this earth. So many records of success and
failures in the past. Temple
ordinances that teach the true path. The life and history of Joseph Smith. But
the pride of man prevents him from becoming like a little child in order to
completely open up his mind and heart and rethink some things to progress
further. The choice to look into what I am talking about is yours. How hard is
it to read some guy's writings who claims real experiences and face to face
teaching with Christ, ponder and pray on it? Problem is we are used to
following a leader. We think Snuffer wants to become the next break off leader.
He doesn't. He is simply sharing with us what the Lord commands Him to do so.
From my own personal journey, experiences and revelation, the same message is
coming from him that I have have been trying to share with LDS and fundies
everywhere. Seek the face of the Lord no matter where you find yourself on
Sundays. C&EMS comes along the way. Denver
is much more advanced on the ladder than anyone else I know. He has spent years
of face time with the Lord and angels. The man is and will perform a great
mission among us. Why not point others to hear from that man instead of me.
Hopefully the day will come when I too can say that I meet with our Savior face
to face. Hopefully you too will do so, whether or not I or anyone else does.
would love to hear/correspond directly with you. Who are you on LDSFF? Are you in the HG area?
ReplyDeleteI am on LDSFF, but haven't been on there much. I have a few posts there. You can email me at restoredtruths@gmail.com
ReplyDelete