Denver Snuffer was excommunicated from the LDS church exactly 40 years after his baptism into the Mormon church. He was on his way to give the first of a ten lecture series when he was informed of the excommunication.
Keith Henderson was excommunicated for his testimony given at the close of those ten lectures.
Preserving the Restoration is a book based on these ten lectures. Louis Naegle was excommunicated for his testimony published on the opening pages of Preserving the Restoration. I think it is significant the excommunication took place on Friday the 13th. If thirteen represents Jesus Christ and His 12 apostles, and Jesus was crucified on Friday; then this day is a blessing to those who keep their covenant with God and a cursing to those who turn away from Him.
The following correspondences concerning Louis's excommunication are shared with permission:
April 24, 2016 Notice of Stake Disciplinary Council
To: Louis Naegle
From: Daniel Lake, Stake President
To: Daniel Lake
From: Louis Naegle
May 5, 2016
To: Louis Naegle
From: Daniel Lake
May 11, 2016
Letter To: Bountiful Utah Heights Stake High Council
From: Louis Naegle
May
11, 2016
Daniel
P. Lake, Stake President
Counselors
to the Stake President
Members
of the Stake High Council
Re:
Disciplinary Council of Louis S. Naegle
Dear
Brethren:
I
regret we will not have the opportunity to meet face to face due to
the condition that has been imposed that I sign a legal document to
protect the secrecy of the Disciplinary Council members. My letter to
President Lake dated April 28, 2016 outlined my concerns with this
demand and expressed my desire to have your proceedings conducted
publicly. I consider myself under covenant to God and guilty of no
offense against the Church, therefore, I respectfully decline the
invitation to resign from Church membership voluntarily. I trust
that in my absence you will conduct the Disciplinary Council with
love and respect as promised. I know memories are frail; I trust any
statements I have made to President Lake will be repeated accurately
to convey the meaning I intended on those occasions.
I
believe we could have sought the presence of the Spirit and passed
the hour in interesting and reflective conversation for the benefit
of all. I know your time is limited. President Lake indicated that
he would read this to the Council for the amount of my allotted time.
As this letter is addressed to all Council members, I would ask
President Lake to distribute the copies I delivered to him for each
of you in order that you might have the opportunity to read it in
full if your time runs short.
I
would like to have had the opportunity for you to meet my daughter
Addie and my son Jack. Addie was happily serving a mission in Chile
last year when she was observed by her companion reading Teachings
of the Prophet Joseph Smith,
a book not on her mission’s approved reading list. She was
questioned by her mission president about her beliefs. He said she
was an obedient missionary and was more familiar with the scriptures
than other missionaries, but then said a mission was not a place to
find answers to doctrinal questions. A short time later she was
abruptly sent home.
Jack
was serving a mission in Salem, Oregon until about four weeks ago.
He was happy and an excellent missionary; he was made a trainer after
only five weeks in the mission field. He was sent home for apostasy
after serving six months. His “apostasy” consisted of possessing
a few books written by Brother Snuffer when a member in good standing
that I had sent him for Christmas. He had not read them. In fact,
he had locked them away in his suitcase with no plans to read them.
The
week he was sent home he was approached by his district leader who
asked him what he understood about having one’s “calling and
election made sure.” He and the leader exchanged their views
briefly. The following day, his companion asked him what he
understood to be the meaning of the term “second comforter.”
Again, he gave a brief answer and thought nothing more about it. Two
days later he was called to meet with his mission president who
accused him of apostasy citing possession of the books and teaching
apostate doctrine to the district leader and companion. Frankly,
Jack does not know enough to be an apostate; he is a virtuous, humble
and loving young man. Oddly, he learned the decision to send him
home had been made before the president had even taken the time to
speak with him. I wish you all had the opportunity to meet them and
determine for yourselves whether or not the Holy Ghost is with them
both. I believe you would wonder to yourselves, what forces are at
work to deny the Lord their service?
President
Lake’s prior correspondence has made clear that he has judged me to
be an apostate, meaning I have “repeatedly act[ed] in clear, open
and deliberate public opposition to the Church or its leaders”
(although no citation was given, I presume this to be a quotation
from the confidential administrative Handbook.) I wrote a testimony
that became the preface of a book written by Denver C. Snuffer, Jr.,
I don’t believe a testimony constitutes “repeatedly” regardless
of the content of the testimony or the inferences anyone might have
drawn from it. President Lake said that the only issue would be with
my “actions and conduct, not with the sincerity of anyone’s
opinion.” I hope you will extend the scope to include the truth.
When
wickedness endangers any group of the Lord’s people he has sent
prophets to forewarn them. He has called prophets from the existing
religious leadership, but just as often he has prepared and raised
prophets outside the leadership structure when that structure shared
the errors of the people. I have testified that Brother Snuffer is
one of those prophets. He is a witness of the Lord:
Gethsemene
I
knew a man in Christ about four years ago [ca. 2008; see
2 Cor. 12:2-3; D&C 137:1 brackets
mine],
who, being overshadowed by the Spirit, had the Lord appear to him.
And the Lord spoke to him face to face, in plain humility, as one man
speaks to another, calling him by name. As they spoke the Lord put
forth His hand and touched the eyes of the man and said, “Look!”
The
man had opened before him a view of the Lord kneeling in prayer. It
was in a dark place. The air was heavy and overcast with sorrow. The
man beheld the Lord praying in Gethsemene on the night of His
betrayal and before His crucifixion.
All
the Lord had previously done in His mortal ministry by healing the
sick, rasing the dead, giving sight to the blind, restoring hearing
to the deaf, curing the leper and ministering relief to others as He
taught was but a prelude to what the Lord was now to do on this dark,
oppressive night.
As
the Lord knelt in prayer, His vicarious suffering began. He was
overcome by pain and anguish. He felt within Him, not just the pains
of sin, but also the illnesses men suffer as a result of the Fall,
and their foolish and evil choices. The suffering was long and the
challenge difficult.
The
Lord suffered the afflictions. He was healed from the sickness. He
overcame the pains, and patiently bore the infirmities until,
finally, He returned to peace of mind, and strength of body. It took
an act of will and hope for Him to overcome the affliction which had
been poured upon Him. He overcame the separation caused by these
afflictions and reconciled with His Father. He was at peace with all
mankind.
He
thought His sufferings were over, but to His astonishment another
wave overcame Him. This one was much greater than the first. The
Lord, who had been kneeling, fell forward onto His hands at the
impact of the pain that was part of a greater, second wave.
This
second wave was so much greater than the first that it seemed to
entirely overcome the Lord. The Lord was now stricken with physical
injuries, as well as spiritual affliction. As He suffered anew, His
flesh was torn which He healed using the power of the charity within
Him. The Lord had such life within Him, such power and virtue within
Him, that although He suffered in His flesh, these injuries healed
and His flesh restored. His suffering was both body and spirit, and
there was anguish of thought, feeling and soul.
The
Lord overcame this second wave of suffering, and again found peace of
mind and strength of body; and His heart filled with love despite
what He had suffered. Indeed, it was charity or love that allowed Him
to overcome. He was at peace with His Father, and with all mankind,
but it required another, still greater act of will and charity than
the first for Him to do so.
Again,
the Lord thought His suffering was over. He stayed on His hands and
knees for a moment to collect Himself when another wave of torment
burst upon Him. This wave struck Him with such force He fell forward
upon His face.
He
was afflicted by this greater wave. He was then healed only to then
be afflicted again as the waves of torment overflowed. Wave after
wave poured out upon Him, with only moments between them. The Lord’s
suffering progressed from a lesser to a greater portion of
affliction; for as one would be overcome by Him, the next, greater
affliction would then be poured out. Each wave of suffering was only
preparation for the next, greater wave.
The
pains of mortality, disease, injury and infirmity, together with the
sufferings of sin, transgressions, guilt of mind, and unease of soul,
the horrors of recognition of the evils men had inflicted upon others
were all poured out upon Him; with confusion and perplexity
multiplied upon Him.
He
longed for it to be over, and thought it would end long before it
finally ended. With each wave He thought it would be the last but
then another came upon Him, and then yet another.
The
one beholding this scene was pained by what he saw, and begged for
the vision of the Lord’s suffering to end. He could not bear to see
his Lord suffering in this manner. The petition was denied and the
vision did not end, for the Lord required him to witness it.
The
man saw that the Lord pleaded again with the Father that “this cup
may pass” from Him. But the Lord was determined to suffer the
Father’s will, and not His own. Therefore, a final wave came upon
Him with such violence as to cut Him at every pore. It seemed for a
moment that He was torn apart, and that blood came out of every pore.
The Lord writhed in pain upon the ground as this great final torment
was poured upon Him.
All
virtue was taken from Him. All the great life force in Him was
stricken and afflicted. All the light turned to darkness. He was
humbled, drained and left with nothing. It is not possible for a man
to bear such pains and live, but with nothing more than will, hope in
His Father, and charity toward all men, He emerged from the final
wave of torment, knowing He had suffered all this for His Father and
His brethren. By His hope and great charity, trusting in the Father,
the Lord returned from this dark abyss and found grace again, His
heart being filled with love toward the Father and all men.
These
great burdens were born by the Lord not only on behalf of mankind,
but also as a necessary prelude to His death upon a Roman cross. Had
He not been so physically weakened by these sufferings, and drained
of power from within, the scourging and crucifixion He suffered at
the hands of men could not have taken His life.
It
was many hours after this vision closed before the one who witnessed
this suffering could compose himself again. He wept because of the
vision shown him, and he wondered at the Lord’s great suffering for
mankind.
The
witness reflected for many days upon this scene of the Lord’s great
suffering. He read many times the account of the Lord’s agony given
to Joseph Smith, which reads: “Therefore I command you to
repent—repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my
wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore—how sore you
know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know
not. For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that
they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not
repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself,
even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to
bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would
that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—Nevertheless,
glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations
unto the children of men.” He pondered and asked: Why were there
waves of torment? Why did they increase in difficulty? How were they
organized as they seemed to fit a pattern?
After
long inquiring into the things which he had seen, the Lord, who is
patient and merciful and willing to instruct those who call upon Him,
again appeared to the man again. He made known unto him that the
waves of torment suffered by the Lord came in pairs which mirrored
each other. The first of each wave poured upon the Lord those
feelings, regrets, recriminations and pains felt by those who injured
their fellow man. Then followed a second wave, which mirrored the
first, but imposed the pains suffered by the victims of the acts
committed by those in the first wave. Instead of the pains of those
who inflict hurt or harm, it was now the anger, bitterness and
resentments felt by those who suffered these wrongs.
From
each wave of suffering, whether as the one afflicting or as the
victim of those wrongs, the Lord would overcome the evil feelings
associated with these wrongs, and find His heart again filled with
peace. This was why, in the vision of the suffering of the Lord it
was in the second waves that there appeared oftentimes to be injuries
to His body.
The
greater difficulty in these paired waves of torment was always
overcoming the suffering of the victim. With these waves, the Lord
learned to overcome the victims’ resentments, to forgive, and to
heal both body and spirit. This was more difficult than overcoming
the struggles arising from the one who committed the evil. This is
because the one doing evil knows he has done wrong, and feels a
natural regret when he sees himself aright. The victim, however,
always feels it is their right to hold resentment, to judge their
persecutor, and to withhold peace and love for their fellow men. The
Lord was required to overcome both so that He could succor both.
In
the pairing of the waves, the first torment was of the mind and
spirit, and the second was torment of mind, spirit and body.
The
Lord experienced all the horror and regret wicked men feel for their
crimes when they finally see the truth. He experienced the suffering
of their victims whose righteous anger and natural resentment and
disappointment must also be shed, and forgiveness given, in order for
them to find peace. He overcame them all. He descended below them
all. He comprehends it all. And He knows how to bring peace to them
all. He knows how to love others whether they are the one who has
given offense or the one who is a victim of the offense.
In
the final wave, the most brutal, most evil, most heinous sins men
inflict upon one another were felt by Him as a victim of the worst
men can do. He knew how it felt to wrongly suffer death. He knew what
it was like to be a mother holding a child in her arms as they are
both killed by those who delight in their suffering. He knew how it
was for ambitious men to rid themselves of a rival by conspiracy and
murder. He knew what it was to have virtue robbed from the innocent.
He knew betrayal, treachery, and abuse in all its worst degrading
horror. There was no cruelty, no offense, no evil that mankind has
suffered or will suffer that was not put upon Him.
He
knew what it is like for men to satisfy their ambition by clothing
their hypocrisy in religious garb. He also felt what it was like to
be the victim of religious oppression by those who pretend to
practice virtue while oppressing others. He knew the hearts of those
who would kill Him. Before confronting their condemnation of Him in
the flesh, He suffered their torment of mind when they recognized He
was the Lord, and then found peace for what they would do by
rejecting Him. In this extremity there was madness itself as He
mirrored the evil which would destroy Him, and learned how to come to
peace with the Father after killing the Son of God, and to love all
those involved without restraint and without pretense even before
they did these terrible deeds. His suffering, therefore, encompassed
all that has happened, all that did happen, and all that would happen
in the future.
As
a result of what the Lord suffered, there is no condition - physical,
spiritual or mental - that He does not fully understand. He knows how
to teach, comfort, succor and direct any who come to Him seeking
forgiveness and peace. This is why the prophet wrote: “by his
knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear
their iniquities.” (Isa. 53: 11.) And again: “Surely he hath
borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him
stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our
transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement
of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” He
obtained this knowledge by the things he suffered. He suffered that
we might avoid sin by being obedient to His commandments. None of us
need harm another, if we will follow Him. He knows fully the
consequences of sin. He teaches His followers how to avoid sin.
The
prophet Alma taught and understood our Lord’s sufferings as he
wrote:
“And
he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of
every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he
will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he
will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which
bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that
his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he
may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to
their infirmities.” (Alma
7: 11–12.)
He
can bring peace to any soul. He can help those who will come to Him
love their fellow man. He alone is the Perfect Teacher because He
alone has the knowledge each of us lack to return to being whole and
at peace with the God and Father of us all after our transgression of
His will. He is wise to what is required for each man’s salvation.
As
the Lord made these terrible things known to the man he cried out:
“Hosanna to the Lamb of God! He has trodden the winepress alone!
Glory, honor and mercy be upon the Chosen One forever and ever! I
will submit unto anything you see fit to require of me! I will bend
my knee in obedience to you! Let thy will, not mine be done! For
worthy is the Lamb!” Then, thinking upon how trifling his
difficulties and disappointments had been in comparison with the
suffering he saw imposed upon his Lord, the man added: “Surely
goodness and mercy have been mine all the days of my life!”
And
the Lord responded: “And you shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.”
Then
the man wept.
I
write these things with permission, and not on my own. For those who
receive a knowledge of these things are not always permitted to make
them known, nor should they do so. But the Lord requires that some
must bear testimony so that others may read or hear, and be edified
by them, that faith may increase among mankind. If none of those who
receive these things were ever permitted to make them known, then
mankind could not come to their Lord and be healed. It is not
important to know why the Lord chooses to make these things known to
some and then instructs them to testify of them to another. It is
only necessary to understand that the Lord is the One to whom all
should look in their trials and afflictions for succor. He is mighty
and able to save. You do not and will not suffer from any affliction,
any dilemma, disappointment or pain which He does not already
understand. He has overcome it all. He is worthy to be trusted with
your burdens. Come to Him and be healed! Come to Him and be
understood! When all others move away, He will come to you! There is
nothing wretched that you must confront that He did not first
confront and overcome! Take your burdens to Him!
The
great Atonement of the Lord allowed Him to know our weaknesses and
troubles, and to understand how to bring us back to peace. Christ, as
the Atoning One, knows how to bring every troubled soul back to
peace. The Lord can tutor us and help us lay down any burden we may
be bearing. We are all required to come to peace with our sins and
with the offenses we have suffered. To be fully redeemed, we must
leave this life having peace through a clear conscience before God
and all mankind. This can only be obtained by forgiving others their
trespasses. As was recorded about Joseph Smith, before his death:
“When Joseph went to Carthage to deliver himself up to the
pretended requirements of the law, two or three days previous to his
assassination, he said: ‘I am going like a lamb to the slaughter;
but I am calm as a summer's morning; I
have a conscience void of offense towards God, and towards all men.’”
(D&C 135: 4) He was able to do this because Joseph had forgiven
in advance, those who he expected would kill him. It was by these
means he was able to have a clear conscience, void of any offense
toward all men. Though others would cry revenge for Joseph’s death,
Joseph himself obtained the fullness of his reconciliation to God
through the act of forgiving those who would kill him.
Christ
taught His followers to forgive, that they may in turn merit
forgiveness. He said: “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your
heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men
their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
(Matt. 6: 14–15.) He taught this because of the atoning power of
forgiving others. As a result of the things He suffered, He
understood that men must forgive others in order to be able to obtain
forgiveness. There are many things men do that they lack the capacity
to make amends. The price they must pay for their own transgressions
are paid by forgiving all others of their offenses.
Christ
was asked by Peter how often men ought to forgive one another. “Then
came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin
against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?” (Matt. 18: 21.)
In response Christ taught this, saying:
Jesus
saith unto him, I
say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which
would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon,
one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But
forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold,
and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be
made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying,
Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord
of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and
forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of
his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid
hands on him, and took [him] by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou
owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him,
saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would
not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry,
and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord,
after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I
forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest
not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had
pity on thee? And
his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he
should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly
Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every
one his brother their trespasses. (Matt.
18: 22–35)
He
taught this to show how offering forgiveness was in turn obtaining
forgiveness. His disciples continued to misunderstand how these two
are related. They did not understand that forgiveness is the means by
which the Lord enables men to take advantage of His “preparations
unto the children of men.” (D&C 19: 19.) To forgive is to
atone.
The
Lord taught elsewhere: “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye
have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may
forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will
your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” (Mark 11:
25–26.) The Father cannot give to men what they ask of Him until
they first forgive all offenses among one another.
The
voice of the Lord came to Alma, also, and said unto him: “And ye
shall also forgive one another your trespasses; for verily I say unto
you, he that forgiveth not his neighbor's trespasses when he says
that he repents, the same hath brought himself under condemnation.”
(Mosiah 26: 31.) Alma taught this to the people of Mosiah, so they
might abide the conditions to obtain forgiveness for their own sins.
When
instructing those who assembled in the land of Bountiful, Christ
taught: “For, if ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly
Father will also forgive you; But if ye forgive not men their
trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (3
Ne. 13: 14–15.) He said this so they may understand the means by
which men are redeemed. All mankind must redeem themselves by
permitting others to escape condemnation for the offenses they have
committed against them. In this way men are no longer their brother’s
accuser; and the Accuser of Mankind is without means to keep men from
redemption. For justice cannot have hold on those who have claim on
mercy. Mercy comes to those who give mercy, and men are restored to
that which they have become. The merciful are entitled to mercy.
In
revelations to Joseph Smith the Lord has commanded: “Verily,
verily, I say unto you, my servants, that inasmuch as you have
forgiven one another your trespasses, even so I, the Lord, forgive
you.” (D&C 82: 1.) And, again: “Wherefore, I say unto you,
that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his
brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there
remaineth in him the greater sin.” (D&C 64: 9.)
To
enter into the kingdom of heaven, all men must lay down their sins.
But this they cannot do when they claim the right to restitution for
any offense from their brother. All claims must be set aside, the
greater and more difficult being the righteous claim against another
for their deliberate offense. Yet in asking for justice for yourself,
you always require justice be answered in turn for all of your
offenses A man will not be given mercy if he is not merciful. Alma
taught this plainly to his son, Corianton, so he might be redeemed.
Mormon preserved this teaching that all men who read the Book of
Mormon may be redeemed and have claim on mercy:
Now,
there was a punishment affixed, and a just law given, which brought
remorse of conscience unto man. Now, if there was no law given—if a
man murdered he should die—would he be afraid he would die if he
should murder? And also, if there was no law given against sin men
would not be afraid to sin. And if there was no law given, if men
sinned what could justice do, or mercy either, for they would have no
claim upon the creature? But there is a law given, and a punishment
affixed, and a repentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth;
otherwise, justice claimeth the creature and executeth the law, and
the law inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice
would be destroyed, and God would cease to be God. But God ceaseth
not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh
because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the
resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth
back men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into
his presence, to be judged according to their works, according to the
law and justice. For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and
also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the
truly penitent are saved. What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob
justice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease to
be God. And thus God bringeth about his great and eternal purposes,
which were prepared from the foundation of the world. And thus cometh
about the salvation and the redemption of men, and also their
destruction and misery. Therefore, O my son, whosoever will come may
come and partake of the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not
come the same is not compelled to come; but in the last day it shall
be restored unto him according to his deeds. If he has desired to do
evil, and has not repented in his days, behold, evil shall be done
unto him, according to the restoration of God.” (Alma
42: 18–28.)
Now
I know these things to be true, and the Lord has permitted them to be
made known to anyone who will believe so they may repent and forgive
one another, and may in turn have claims on mercy for themselves. It
is certain Christ is able to heal us of any affliction which this
life may visit upon any of us, but only if we will forgive one
another and come to Him. He can teach all how to forgive. No matter
how terrible the offense, He has the knowledge to lead us to peace.
When
men come to the Lord seeking forgiveness, He will prepare the means
for each of them to obtain forgiveness. The way will be opened for
them to forgive so they in turn may be forgiven. In this way all may
come to know their Lord.
Do
not depart this life while still harboring resentment against any
person. It does not matter how just the claim may be, we must
surrender our claims for justice to merit mercy. Find a way to
forgive all those who transgress against you before leaving mortality
and, by showing mercy to them, you will find mercy for yourself. As
Joseph Smith put it:
I
charged the Saints not to follow the example of the adversary in
accusing the brethren, and said, “If you do not accuse each other,
God will not accuse you. If you have no accuser you will enter
heaven, and if you will follow the revelations and instructions which
God gives you through me, I will take you into heaven as my back
load. If you will not accuse me, I will not accuse you. If you will
throw a cloak of charity over my sins, I will over yours-for charity
covereth a multitude of sins.” (TPJS p.
193.)
This
path to knowing God’s goodness has been made known to every people
in every generation. It can be felt whenever any man has shown mercy
to his fellowman. Christ taught this, but the light of Christ leads
all those who seek wisdom to find this truth. God is no respecter of
persons. Blessed are the merciful, for they will always obtain mercy.
More blessed are those who love, for God is love.
To
obtain perfect charity, however, a man must make intercession for
those who offend him. Christ taught: “I say unto you, Love your
enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you,
and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That
ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven[.]” (Matt.
5: 44–45.) He wants us to go beyond merely forgiving others. He
wants us to become like Him, and atone or cover the sins of others.
Through intercession on behalf of our enemies, we not only learn to
understand Him, we also learn to be like Him. This is what Christ
did. This is what Stephen did. All those who have the hope of
Christ within them will do likewise.
------------------------------------------------------------------
What
is written above is the testimony of Brother Snuffer, as published in
Chapter 12 of a book, Come,
Let Us Adore Him.
It is an account of his personal experience and testimony of the
Lord’s sacrifice.
I
am being accused of apostasy for testifying that the man who wrote
this testimony is “a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.” I
consider it a great honor to again stand as a witness in this matter.
It has been my privilege to know Brother Snuffer personally for
almost ten years and can say without question he has been a good and
honest man in all our dealings. I vouch for his integrity and assert
he is not publishing deception.
In
a very real sense, you have the heavy task of deciding whether or not
what you have just read (as well as many other things written by him
that you have not read) is true and faithful and of God…or whether
it is evil and of the devil. Does his witness lead a man to Christ,
or does it bring darkness?
My
obligation to honor the truth is now shared by you. In his epistle
to his son, Mormon taught:
“Wherefore, a man
being evil cannot do that which is good; neither will he give a good
gift. For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring
forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter
water; wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow
Christ; and if he follow Christ he cannot be a servant of
the devil. Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of
God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the
devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and
inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil
continually. But behold, that which is of God inviteth
and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing
which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love
God, and to serve him, is inspired of God. Wherefore,
take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which
is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to
be of the devil” (Moroni 7:10-14).
I
have spent decades fasting, praying and studying to come to know what
I now know of my Father in Heaven, my Savior and the purpose of my
life. Through many engagements with disaffected and “apostate”
Mormons, I can say with certainty that I know the look, sound and
spiritual feel of those who hate Christ and speak his name with
deception. Brother Snuffer, like so many who are now being
excommunicated for their devotion to God and his work, would have
remained valiant in his service to the Church and to the truths
restored through Joseph Smith had he been permitted to do so.
I
affirm Brother Snuffer is not an enemy to the church of Christ,
though he has been made “an offender for a word” and cast out,
not unlike Lehi, Abinadi, Samuel and so many others speaking outside
the ranks of the powerful. He continues to attend his ward despite
the judgments passed upon him. The disciplinary action against him
was the work of another stake president and high council.
I
freely confess that if the Lord is willing to give me a witness, then
I must be willing to stand true to that witness at all times and in
all places. What is obscure to most who read my testimony is that it
is as much about the Lord’s kindness to us as it is about the
standing of Brother Snuffer before the Lord. Much of what I
referenced in the testimony occurred while seeking the Lord in prayer
long before I met Brother Snuffer. That which pertains to Brother
Snuffer came in the utter clarity of audible words that left me
shaken, pained and grateful. I realize my testimony may be rejected
by most people and I may be judged to be dishonest, to have an
overzealous, frenzied mind, deceived or possessed of a devil—even
by righteous men who may profess to love me and be on the Lord’s
errand as they condemn me. For those who would find me unworthy of
fellowship with the saints, the test of their fidelity and love will
commence only after they have rendered judgment upon me.
My
testimony as published at the beginning of Brother Snuffer’s last
book Preserving
the Restoration
is attached at the end of this letter for your review, if President
Lake has not already shared it with the Council before reading this
letter. I would be happy to meet with you at any time or place of
your choosing to speak of Christ and this latter-day work in which we
all labor.
I
know the Lord is mindful of us this very night. I know it is easier
to go along to get along, but the Lord often asks more of us. I pray
the Lord does not find me to be an enemy to righteousness. I know
there is nothing morally amiss in my life. I know I am embroiled in
a dispute not of my making, which at its core pits the extensive
teachings and prophecies of Lehi, Isaiah, Nephi, Christ and Moroni
regarding the sad fate of the holy church of God after the coming
forth of The Book of Mormon against non-canonical statements of some
church authorities culled from their historical context and woven
with isolated scriptures to form new doctrinal claims that our church
dispensation is immune from collective apostasy and it is impossible
for us to be led astray. None of our latter-day revelators have been
able to reconcile these new views with those of The Book of Mormon
prophets. Without the ability to build a bridge of reconciliation,
the only alternative in the view of some leaders is to enforce member
silence or expel them from the Church.
But even in these
self-aggrandizing beliefs our dispensation is not unique; and Zion is
no closer to being ours today than it was in 1844. There are simply
more of us failing to bring Zion with our current form of godliness.
How I wish we had time to sit together with the Book of Mormon and
our history, study them side by side, take in every voice deeply and
then kneel together before the Lord, determined not to rise from
prayer until we were of one accord. To me, Mormonism was not
intended to be a sipping religion suitable for those busy with other
tasks.
I
have strived with all the energy of my heart to be your brother in
Christ, yet I am a rough stone in need of the Lord’s continuing
mercy.
Very
truly yours,
Louis
S. Naegle
From
the book, “Preserving
the Restoration:”
“Testimony
of Louis Naegle
At
the time of this writing I am a member in good standing of The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I was born and raised in Salt
Lake City, entirely a direct descendant of ‘proud Nauvoo’ and
pioneer ancestors. To my knowledge, every one of my direct
predecessors were active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saint while Brigham Young was president, and most were
members before that time. My forefathers include John Conrad Naegle,
Levi Savage, Joseph Leland Heywood, John D Lee, Thomas Ross, Levi
Bracken, James McFate, Joseph Cadwallader Davis, George Zimmerman,
John Harvey, George Prince, James Jackson, Joseph Woolsey, James
Bell, Owen Williams, John Davies, and James Crawford. All of my
great-great-grandparents were church members.
As
far as bloodline heritage is concerned, I think it would be
impossible to be more “Mormon” than am I. I say this not to
boast but as part of a solemn testimony and declaration:
I
am not a dissenter trying to “destroy the kingdom”. I am instead
a descendant of those who built “the kingdom” and I am attempting
to make the pathway straight and the record clear. I believe this is
in the best tradition of the pioneers who were trying to live a true
religion. I reject the notion that I am apostate, I know I will
answer to my forefathers and to my Father for the testimony I give,
and therefore I want most of all to be true to the faith once held by
my fathers.
Anyone
with a rudimentary understanding of the current church management and
culture will understand what publishing this testimony will mean to
me and my family. I anticipate retaliation from the church, and
although it saddens me, I am resigned to facing those consequences.
I do not claim to be righteous, but I am a witness.
I
testify that the Lord has set His hand a second time to restore the
truth through His servant before the great and dreadful day that fast
approaches. I have known Denver Snuffer since 2007. I have attended
every public talk he has given since that time, including all ten
lectures of the Forty
Years in Mormonism
series. I have read what he has written. I am a witness that events
he now shares in public concerning his interactions with his stake
presidents and church leaders were shared with me by Denver at the
time they were happening and while he was in good standing with the
church. He valued his church membership greatly and the events he
now shares publicly have not been fabricated or reconstructed after
the fact to support an agenda of his own design.
I
know God the Father and Jesus Christ live. I have seen them. I know
Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I have been in his presence also.
I believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. I have had my
eyes opened and my life changed through its message. I also know
from my own sense of reason, from the testimony of the Holy Ghost,
and from God declaring it to me by His own Voice that Denver C.
Snuffer, Jr. is an honest messenger, sent by Him, and telling the
truth.
Please
do not ignore what is written in this book. Please do not take this
warning lightly. I implore all who read this testimony to repent and
return to Jesus Christ, the God of Israel and savior of the world.
Receive the words of a true prophet, but follow no man! Do not allow
any man or group to come between you and your Savior. To the extent
you do so, you are laboring in idolatry and you will damn yourself
and any who follow you in doing likewise. (D&C 76:100).
Jesus
Christ alone is the Holy One. He employs no servant at that gate
through which we all must pass. The fullness of the gentiles is now
fulfilled except for our impending destruction. Who cannot see that
all is not well in so-called “Zion.” Only a few repentant
gentiles will be gathered. Only the penitent of the House of Israel
will establish the New Jerusalem. Will you be among them?
Save
what was given through the Prophet and Seer Joseph Smith, what is
offered in this book contains the most light and truth that has been
presented in writing in almost 2,000 years.
Denver
has openly testified that Jesus Christ has ministered to him. I
testify this is true, and that he has been called as a servant to
declare the heavens are open again for all to freely partake of the
Heavenly Gift.
If
you will consider the message of this book from a servant sent to
deliver it, with a sincere heart and real intent, you will also know
that what is presented is true and faithful. If you will not
consider it, but instead harden your heart, you will be damned. God
is working to save us, and this book is part of God’s kindness in
forewarning us about our present state. Even if you find it hard to
believe, it is important for us to see and understand our
circumstances.
I
leave this testimony with you in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost;
Amen.
-Louis
Naegle
August
29, 2015”
May 13, 2016 Notice of Decision of Disciplinary Council
To: Louis NaegleFrom: Daniel Lake
What a sad thing has come upon the church. This is not the same church Joseph Smith founded. Praise to the men who have communed with Jehovah!
ReplyDeleteJames Russell Uhl