The reference to this common phrase will become apparent soon. Please bear with me. This year has been a whirlwind. Actually, the last several years have been a challenge but 2024 watched us sell our home in Mesa, AZ, and buy another home in Snowflake, AZ. Thankfully, we are done with urban nonsense and the acronyms, TMC (too many cars), and TMP (too many people). I felt the same way in April of 2008, moving from Diamond Bar, California to Gilbert, Arizona.

Moving from the Phoenix Valley, to the North slope of the White Mountains at a bit over 5,600 feet trades the blazing hot Valley summers, for pleasant winters with occasional light snow, and mild summers where 90deg is a hot day. Good trade. However, let’s get to the point of the story. I just thought I’d catch you up a bit. It's been awhile. I’m glad to be back here and writing. We’ll chat again, soon. I miss this.

Having been aligned for many years with the Remnant, and now Covenant Christian, movement splinter off the modern LDS organization, we have only sporadically attended our local wards, mostly for family events, or other special occasions. Our local Mesa fellowship was a great group! Up here, we decided to attend our local ward and see what it was like. We have LDS-active family here so it was an easy intro.

While my wife enjoys the social aspects of the ward, I treated the experience more like an experiment in cultural and societal conditioning. My tendency, as you have certainly guessed, is toward the stoic. (Mr. Spock and I would have gotten along very well.) I was surprised at the casual nature of the people, and their obvious sincerity was genuine. At a baptism we attended early on, the speakers wore casual clothes, and the bishop came right from work in jeans. I was both stunned, being used to more formal meeting attire, but pleased at the friendly approach. Nothing unserious about this essential ordinance here, but I never saw a scripture requiring a suit and tie. It was an enjoyable and spiritual baptism.

What I found was a kind people who were pleasant, and helpful. However, the same people were inflicted with TBM, (True Blue Mormon), Derangement Syndrome. For an indepth treatment of that subject see my post: Pavlov's Saints. A TBM, simply, is someone who has done little to no historical inquiry of their own, relying on the modern LDS institution for their historical understanding. Unfortunately, currently available historical information from primary sources, differs, sometimes dramatically, from the approved LDS viewpoint. Surrounding all this is an atmosphere of aspirations for the "honors of men," with increased popularity as the intended goal. Mix in hearts set upon the "things of this world," and you have a goulash of insidious flavors. Begin with Brigham and go from there.

I heard a bishop remark once, that the church is run by imperfect men, but that doesn’t mean the Gospel is not true. I think he’s on to something. The difficulty for many is the life-long emotional commitment they’ve made to the  organization, rather than the Gospel of Christ. Missionaries don’t ask people to be baptized into the Gospel, they’re recruiting for the club. Spend a lifetime advocating for the club and you’ll find difficulty having a “rational and intelligent”* viewpoint on the subject. Now there’s a dilemma for you. Of course, the organizational answers about corrupt governments and power are all in the Book of Mormon, but we don't teach such things anymore. I wonder why?

Let me lay it out, plainly. I have a strong testimony that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, and as such, we owe Him everything, even our very breath. Further, Joseph Smith is a true prophet, having received that gift directly from our Lord and then recording the event. That’s the way all true prophets receive their calling. (You’ll be kind enough to show one of those recordings to me for anyone after Joseph. Oh, you can’t? That ought to be an obvious telltale sign of institutional corruption.) 

“…I have appointed unto you to be stewards over my house, even stewards indeed. And for this purpose have I commanded you to organize yourselves, even to print my word, the fullness of my scriptures, the revelations which I have given unto you, and which I shall hereafter, from time to time, give unto you…” (T&C 105:13 RE; D&C 104:58 LDS)

So when the Lord selects a man out of society to be His prophet, and provides a revelation declaring such, the man is to write it down as evidence. Oh there’s an interesting thought. Where are all the revelations about all the “prophets” today? We have that evidence for Joseph. Where are the rest?

I also have a testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, and more recently, the Covenant of Christ, the modern English version. What I don’t have is a testimony of the modern LDS institution other than of it’s blatant corruption, and devotion to the things of this world, and the honors of men. Oh how it wants to be popular and sit at the cool kid’s table.

With those three principles and doctrines firmly in place, what do I need with a Handbook of Instruction written by descendants of disobedient Kirtland and Nauvoo residents who suffered the wrath of Almighty God for their defiance of the Lord’s commands. July 24th is a day of mourning. Or is it that we celebrate disobedience these days as we celebrate adultery? Our Lord was clear in his denunciation of those who held, and currently hold that Joseph was a liar, deceiver, and adulterer. And yet, TBMs ignore the Lord and honor Brigham, who made slavery legal in Utah and made single young teenage girls nearly extinct there. Don’t get me started on that bum.

Here’s what the Lord said about Joseph Smith: “The ends of the earth shall inquire after your name, and fools shall have you in derision, and hell shall rage against you, while the pure in heart, and the wise, and the noble, and the virtuous shall seek counsel, and authority, and blessings constantly from under your hand. And your people shall never be turned against you by the testimony of traitors, and although their influence shall cast you into trouble, and into bars and walls, you shall be had in honor. And but for a small moment, and your voice shall be more terrible in the midst of your enemies than the fierce lion, because of your righteousness, and your God shall stand by you for ever and ever.” (T&C 139:7 RE; D&C 122:1-4 LDS)

I stand with God, by Joseph Smith, for ever and ever. If I am privileged enough to meet Joseph on the other side of the veil, it will be with a clear conscience, a pure heart, and knowledge of Joseph’s true nature as a virtuous and courageous prophet of God. That I have done so throughout my life, after learning the truth about Joseph and the slanderous testimony of early, and modern, traitors gives me confidence before the Lord, and Joseph. My anger remains kindled against those controlling a multi-billion dollar money laundering scheme that continues the slanderous propaganda against Joseph. Where is the credibility of that organization when it holds it’s mortal founder in such derision? Especially considering what God has said about such people, and Joseph.

Jesus is the Christ, Joseph Smith is a true and virtuous prophet, and the Book of Mormon is a true course in essential lessons. Everything else in the current structure, other than scripture and essential ordinances, is bathwater and ought to be discarded. Oh, you say, what about the temple? What about it? Ask Brigham, the tyrannical debaucher and control freak. No thanks, he concocted most of it himself to suit his own purposes. (That’s a subject for another day. I'm not suggesting that there is no value in current temple attendance. But until we are sealed, ahead, to the Fathers in Heaven, as Joseph instructed, sealing behind us lacks purpose. We look forward to the new temple in the coming Zion.)

What we need, and have, is a current messenger who God has called, to more fully direct our attention to Him. All you have to do is ask, and our Lord will lead you to him. Just be prepared to jettison the bathwater. We don’t follow men, we follow God and plead, “Lead me, guide me, walk beside me.” Are you going to tell God who can or can’t be His prophet? I wouldn’t be so crass and arrogant. I just want evidence, and SLC is bereft of any supporting it's current stance.

Denver Snuffer does one thing, and one thing only. He points us to God, and only God. Denver is a true messenger sent from God with knowledge and understanding God has given him to impart to us. He uses his things of the world to bless others and further God’s plan. He has utterly no desire for the honors of men. I have worked with him and can tell you that everything you want in a true prophet, he exudes. Don’t believe me. Ask God. But be prepared to throw out the bathwater and bask in the light of our Savior’s love and understanding.

God has never called a true prophet from an existing hierarchical institution. Institutions, by their nature, become corrupted. God calls men to correct institutions. Why should it be surprising that He would do so now? Or do we simply believe in God, but we don’t actually believe Him, or a man He has sent? Are we just too afraid, and weak, to ask with a sincere heart, having faith in Christ, that the truth will be manifest to us?

By now, it may have become obvious why I don’t socialize much with local LDS. First, I’m not into small talk. If we’re going to converse, let’s talk about something worth considering. And as soon as you start analyzing, you bump into paradigm-shifting landscapes which, for many steeped in traditional Mormonism, lead directly to cognitive dissonance. I have made a promise to myself and the Lord that I would not be the cause of contention and disputation in our new place. And so I don’t socialize much with local LDS. We don’t have a local Covenant Christian fellowship up here yet, but we’re working on that. I'll keep you posted...