Denver Snuffer and the Remnant Movement

Who is Denver Snuffer?

Denver Snuffer[BIO][1] is a Utah lawyer[2] and the religious leader[3] of “Remnant fellowships” (sometimes referred to as the Snufferites),[4] a break-off from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[5] Following his excommunication in 2013,[6] Snuffer claimed that God terminated the Church's authority[7] but sustained his own.[8]

Why was Denver Snuffer excommunicated in 2013?

For apostasy.[9] Snuffer refused to stop publishing his book,[10] Passing the Heavenly Gift,[11] which claimed the modern Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wasn’t legitimate.[12]

What is Passing the Heavenly Gift about?

The book is a revision of early Church history[13] written by Snuffer.[14] It argues that Joseph Smith was initially directed by God,[15] but by 1841, Joseph and the early Saints lost divine approval through faithlessness.[16]

The book asserts that since Joseph's death, the Church of Jesus Christ has continued under God's condemnation by yielding to social pressures and becoming more corporate.[17] The book's title refers to the "heavenly gift" of the Restoration, prophesied to pass to a faithful remnant of Church members.[18]

What is the “Remnants” movement all about?

The Remnant movement is about establishing a more grassroots experience of the Restoration[19] than the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offers. That means less leadership and organization[20] and a bigger emphasis on individual expressions of revelation.[21] Receiving personal visits from angels and Christ is an important part of Remnant beliefs.[22] The name "Remnant" refers to their idea of remaining in the full covenant, i.e., not the misled state they believe the Church of Jesus Christ is in.[23]

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Footnotes

BIODenver Snuffer
Denver Snuffer is a Utah lawyer, author, and religious leader. He converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1973 and was excommunicated in 2013. Snuffer claims the mainstream Church is under condemnation from God. He now serves as a teacher and revelator to "the Remnants," a decentralized movement broken off from the Church.
[1]↩︎
A year before Snuffer's excommunication, John Dehlin described Snuffer as "a progressive, fundamentalist, non-polygamist Mormon lawyer who claims to have seen Christ."
Snuffer thought that description made him seem like a "braggart" and "unbelievable" but ultimately had "no complaints" about how Dehlin "titled the matter."
Snuffer includes details about his education and Church work in his bio in Passing the Heavenly Gift.
- Denver Snuffer discusses seeing God, Passing the Heavenly Gift, and polygamy on the Mormon Stories Podcast.
- Denver Snuffer discusses seeing God, Passing the Heavenly Gift, and polygamy on the Mormon Stories Podcast.
[2]↩︎
Denver Snuffer is a practicing attorney at Nelson, Snuffer, Dahle & Poulsen, P.C., Attorneys At Law in Sandy, Utah.
[3]↩︎
Denver Snuffer does not own claim any leadership or preferential position and actively denies any ownership of the movement.
Despite this, many members in the Remnant movement consider Snuffer a prophet and look to him as the de facto leader. Snuffer originates ideas that are canonized in Remnant scripture and his opinion is given preference in Remnant affairs.
[4]↩︎
The Remnant movement is hard to classify or name because its members deliberately avoid organization, rigid rules, and hierarchy.
While "Remnant movement" and "Remnants" are the most common names, some members insist on referring to themselves as just "followers of Christ."
While "Snufferite" might be useful as a distinguisher, some consider "Snufferite" to be a derogatory term.
- DS-sympathetic blogger LDSW explores the merits of Snuffer theology and history.
- PFS reports on Remnant individuals and their practice.
[5]↩︎
While Snuffer firmly asserted after his excommunication that he would "not start a church," he has clearly identified the Remnant as a cohesive "people" in schism with the Church of Jesus Christ.
I have since come to understand that the form of baptism in the LDS church has been changed, and no longer conforms to the Doctrine of Christ . . . In the intervening years I have come to see that the baptism now offered by you, this people [emphasis in original], appears to be the only one offered on earth that meets the requirements of what I was shown by the Lord years ago. For this reason it is important for us to baptize as many as will accept the Doctrine of Christ.
Online reporting and discourse refer to the Remnants as an "off-shoot," "movement," or "schism."
[6]↩︎
On September 10, 2013, Stake President Truman Hunt (of the Sandy Utah Crescent Stake) called Denver Snuffer to notify him of his excommunication for apostasy.
- DS describes his excommunication the day after.
[7]↩︎
Denver Snuffer wrote in the Pearls of Great Price (an iteration of Remnant scripture):
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 . . . Last general conference [April 5, 2014], the entire First Presidency, the Twelve, the Seventy, 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.
- DS claims his excommunication terminated Church authority.
[8]↩︎
Snuffer positions his authority as coming from direct contact with God. Post-excommunication, Snuffer asserts that the faith he practices can't be taken from him and excommunication did not revoke the priesthood he received from the Church.
More generally, Snuffer often adopts a disregard for institutional ordinances. Baptism, for instance, is validated by the faith of the baptized—authority not required.
[9]↩︎
Snuffer's stake president, Truman Hunt, notified Snuffer of a disciplinary counsel:
The issue for consideration at the disciplinary council is whether the continued publication of Passing the Heavenly Gift constitutes an act of apostasy and, if so, what the appropriate remedy should be. For your information, if the council concludes that publication of the book is an act of apostasy, the only alternative outcomes for the council are disfellowship or excommunication.
The result of that disciplinary council was Snuffer's excommunication. Snuffer received the news by phone call while traveling for a speaking engagement in Boise, Idaho.
[10]↩︎
Denver Snuffer asserts that he was excommunicated "because he would not withdraw publication of this book."
According to Snuffer's stake president, Truman Hunt, Snuffer's disciplinary council was about "whether the continued publication of Passing the Heavenly Gift constitutes an act of apostasy." The result of that council was Snuffer's excommunication.
[11]↩︎
Authored by Snuffer, Passing the Heavenly Gift was published by Mill Creek Press in Salt Lake City in 2011.
It was dedicated to "those willing to take counsel and flee from Babylon."
- DS's website summarizes the thesis of Passing the Heavenly Gift.
- This book's thesis is central to DS's claims.
[12]↩︎
Snuffer argues that God rejected Latter-day Saints and their Church starting in Joseph Smith's day due to faithlessness and neglected covenants.
The modern Church of Jesus Christ will continue to "lose light, discard truth, forget what is expected, and dwindle in unbelief," says Snuffer, "until He sends someone who can teach what is necessary in order to establish Zion."
[13]↩︎
Snuffer himself characterizes his book as a revision of early Church history:
This book does not include the traditional account. It only responds to it. . . . This explanation of events is not based on personal preferences, but it instead conforms with prophecies about Mormonism. The result is a story unlike the familiar one. . . . If you are a faithful Latter-day Saint, as I am, you will need to be open-minded as you go through this book. Some conclusions are very different from what you are used to.
- DS describes PTHG as a nontraditional history.
[14]↩︎
Snuffer describes his approach to history in Passing the Heavenly Gift:
I am a lawyer, not an historian. . . . Any historian will offer only his editorial opinion dressed in an academic discipline to pretend it is more than mere opinion. But history written by the academics suffers from all the bias, blindness and foolishness of the one who writes.
He also writes, "History does not belong to the historians. Their techniques only permit them to offer an interpretation of events."
Later, in his blog, Snuffer claimed his interpretation "was not history, but truth. If the book is true (and I am persuaded it is the most correct account of our dispensation written so far) then we need to awaken to our present peril and repent."
[15]↩︎
Snuffer, who claims to understand Smith "as well as any person who has reviewed the written record about him," fully endorses him as the prophet who began the Restoration.
However, Snuffer wrote, "By 1841, the fullness of the priesthood had been suspended or 'lost' from Joseph Smith. He was no longer authorized to use that fullness on behalf of the church. The details of how it was taken have not been preserved."
[16]↩︎
Snuffer claims early Latter-day Saints failed to live up to God's expectations because they became focused on "getting economic gain, power over the flesh, becoming popular in the eyes of the world, and infatuated by the lusts of the flesh and the things of the world."
Snuffer points to the incomplete Nauvoo temple as central evidence that early Saints lost God's approval. His interpretation is that God gave a time-sensitive command to build the temple that wasn't met by early Saints. Snuffer argues that since Joseph Smith died before the Nauvoo temple was complete, Smith couldn't pass on priesthood keys only available in the temple.
[17]↩︎
The summary of Passing the Heavenly Gift on denversnuffer.com says the book "explains how Mormonism has undergone four distinct phases."
As Snuffer describes it, the first phase ended with Joseph's death in 1844, and all subsequent phases changed or abandoned doctrine and "growth in these subsequent phases has been defined in terms of political influence, financial gains, cultural inroads, and population growth; while the underlying religion has been curtailed."
- DS's website summarizes the thesis of Passing the Heavenly Gift.
[18]↩︎
Snuffer, who thinks the apostasy of the Church of Jesus Christ was predicted in scripture, asserts that there is another chance to continue the Restoration.
The Lord will extend the offer again, Snuffer says, when:
- "He sends someone who can teach what is necessary in order to establish Zion" and
- "some remnant of the saints, some fraction from among us" respond to the opportunity.
[19]↩︎
Peggy Fletcher Stack described the Remnant as "radically democratic, a 'federation of fellowships' with no clear leader, no rigid rules, no prescribed offices, no formal organization."
Snuffer resents the commodification of Mormonism and encourages a decentralized experience in the Remnant. Fellowships self-organize and self-govern, though Snuffer circulates among them and supervises.
[20]↩︎
Snuffer describes fellowships as "independently motivated" groups that "proceed pretty differently from one to the next."
According to Snuffer, any church that subjects itself to "institutional control" will become "sullied and soiled, tossed and pulled, and ultimately wind up contradicting itself." Snuffer proposes the pure, unsullied, and unregulated church "can exist in your heart."
Snuffer insists that "hierarchy always presents inequality." Though he functions as an authority in many practical ways, Snuffer refuses to be sustained as a leader in an official capacity.
[21]↩︎
Snuffer teaches that the return of Zion today will look like "the original, first phase restoration given to Joseph," which he characterizes as "dominated by visions, angels, and direct involvement from God."
Remnant meetings encourage demonstrations of spiritual gifts, emphasize personal salvation outside any institution.
[22]↩︎
Snuffer is forthcoming with his claim to have seen God:
The Lord does still personally appear to mankind. I am a witness to that fact. He first appeared to me February 13, 2003.
Remnant fellowships are likewise encouraged to pursue visions and visitations.
"Each person must get their own covenant, their own promise of election directly from God," Snuffer writes.
Further, Snuffer teaches that priesthood power must be activated "through contact directly with God."
[23]↩︎
Snuffer claims that due to failings of the Church of Jesus Christ, God has a "back-up plan" that relies "upon a 'remnant' to take things over and return to what was once offered to the Gentiles [the Church]."
That remnant will "remember the Book of Mormon and renew ourselves by accepting what was once offered through that 'covenant,'" Snuffer teaches.
- DS's stance on polygamy in 2010—it came from the Lord.
- DS's main argument about the passing of the heavenly gift.
[24]↩︎
In 2017, The Salt Lake Tribune estimated between Remnant followers numbered between 5,000 and 10,000 members.
As of June 2021, the Fellowship Locator linked to denversnuffer.com lists 79 fellowships across 25 states and 7 countries.
[25]↩︎
The Restoration Scriptures Foundation combines the New Testament and the Book of Mormon into one volume called the New Covenants. In the foreword to the New Covenants, it reads:
This volume of scripture is one of three that together constitute a unified effort to recover what the scriptures originally said and to prune away the uninspired alterations of man.
This version of the Book of Mormon attempts to "recover the scriptures provided to us in the Restoration through Joseph Smith." Verses are removed, punctuation is greatly reduced, and there is very minimal spelling corrected from the original manuscripts.
[26]↩︎
Remnant accounts of their scripture's creation describe two groups independently studying scriptures that were then combined by Denver Snuffer.
The foreword to the New Covenants reads:
Moving forward, the united team worked closely with one another, with the Lord, and with the Lord’s servant, and produced a record that is more accurate and more true to the Lord’s intent and to the Restoration.
- CH announces Restoration Edition scriptures.
- The foreword to the Restoration Edition of the Book of Mormon.
[27]↩︎
Remnant scriptures make changes to verse numbers, chapters, punctuation, spelling, and word choice. As read in prefaces to in their scriptures, these changes are made to produce "a record that is more accurate and more true to the Lord’s intent and to the Restoration."
The Restoration Scriptures Foundation tracks changes to their scriptural canon.
[28]↩︎
Volumes of Remnant scripture are arranged according to subject and time period. For instance, the entire Book of Moses is inserted into Genesis and as much as Joseph Smith's translation of the Bible as he had completed. The New Testament is put into one volume with the Book of Mormon as two testaments of Christ.
[29]↩︎
The Remnant volume of scripture, the Teachings and Commandments, announces "additional revelation has come forth in our day through Denver Snuffer Jr., a messenger sent by God. These revelations have been added to this volume."
- Remnant scripture combines DS revelations with JS history and the Book of Abraham.
- Preface to the Teachings and Commandments, consisting of revelations from JS and DS.
[30]↩︎
By 2017, the Restoration Scriptures Foundation was still calling their version "the Doctrine and Covenants" and proposing which sections to keep. The Latter-day Saint Pearl of Great Price was repurposed into the "Pearls of Great Price" with added revelations from Snuffer.
As of 2021, however, all contemporary scripture has been consolidated into the Teachings and Commandments.
[31]↩︎
Revelations from Joseph Smith are presented in Joseph Smith History (including some revelations not canonized in Latter-day Saint scripture). The Lectures on Faith are featured in their entirety, the Articles of Faith are included as they were written in the Wentworth Letter, and the Book of Abraham stands without the Book of Moses (which resides in Genesis in the Old Covenants). Finally, 22 sections of Denver Snuffer revelations conclude the volume.
- Remnant scripture combines DS revelations with JS history and the Book of Abraham.
- Preface to the Teachings and Commandments, consisting of revelations from JS and DS.
[32]↩︎
The text of the Old Testament is drawn from Joseph Smith’s "New Translation of the Holy Bible" (also known as the "Inspired Version"). The Book of Moses replaces the first few chapters of Genesis. The Song of Solomon is removed.
While a previous version of the Remnant Old Testament added "Proverbs of Joseph Smith, Jr." and "Proverbs of Denver Snuffer, Jr" next to the Biblical book of Proverbs, the current Old Covenants has reversed that addition.
- RSF published book of scripture "The Old Covenants."
- The announcement of Restoration Edition scriptures.
[33]↩︎
The Foreword to the New Covenants explains the decision to combine the two.
"Joseph Smith Jr. always intended to publish the New Testament and the Book of Mormon in a single volume," it reads, then cites a letter from Joseph Smith and a segment from Evening and Morning Star.
[34]↩︎
The preface to the Teachings and Commandments reads:
Teachings and Commandments is a collection of principles, teachings, commandments, precepts, and truths from God, as revealed to Joseph Smith Jr., and Denver Snuffer Jr.
Snuffer affirms Joseph was a prophet in his books and talks.
[35]↩︎
Snuffer details how that first ministry or "phase" failed in his book, Passing the Heavenly Gift.
The preface to the Teachings and Commandments alludes to "an institution" that "departed from the commandments established by the Lord" and its failure to achieve Zion.
[36]↩︎
The Preface to the Remnant's Teachings and Commandments reads:
A significant portion of the content of the T&C is related to organizing and guiding an institution . . . Those former materials relating to a church hierarchy are included in this volume, even though we now realize that they hindered the establishment of Zion. They are relevant to understanding the past, and they yet contain some principles, precepts, and guidance that are applicable to our day. Therefore, this volume contains some materials that were once commandments, but are now only part of understanding history and helping us to discern what did not, has not, and cannot bring Zion.
- CH announces Restoration Edition scriptures.
- Preface to the Teachings and Commandments, consisting of revelations from JS and DS.
[37]↩︎
Here are two examples:
- Snuffer doesn't think Moses, Elias, and Elijah visited Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple. The Restoration Scriptures Foundation claims Doctrine and Covenants Section 110 (an account of that event) "is completely unverifiable as a true revelation/vision."
- Snuffer discredits ordinances performed by Joseph in his red brick store in May 1842.
[38]↩︎
In 2017, the Restoration Scriptures Foundation described their rationale for removing Section 129:
Section 129 was a struggle. Initially it was revised by taking the shorthand notes from Joseph Smith’s journal and fleshing them out with bridge words and phrases to make them into comprehensible sentences. However, once attempted, that effort was abandoned and the section was completely removed for the following reasons: 1. The shorthand is just sketchy enough that some of the bridge wording is clearly debatable. 2. The instruction we have through the Book of Mormon is sufficient on its own to allow us to discern evil spirits. 3. This section, if relied upon alone, is apparently not sufficient to defend against lying spirits.
- DS facilitated Remnant scripture, including the the removal of D&C 129 as insufficient for defending against lying spirits.
[39]↩︎
In a 2020 interview, Snuffer said:
The Fanny Alger stuff, and you’ve got all of these points to triangulate from. What do you make of it? I can tell you that story and make Joseph Smith an adulterer, and a plural marriage practitioner, or I can tell you that story, and I can make Joseph Smith absolutely chaste, and that what happened there was not by any stretch, a sexual liaison. You consider nothing that got written down or got introduced after June 27, 1844. You are limited, absolutely, to the material that got its existence, put pen to paper before that date. Okay. What do you have? What do you have to support Joseph Smith practicing plural marriage with sexual relations with other women than Emma?
- DS describes his change of position on JS's polygamy.
[40]↩︎
Here is a brief recap of some of Snuffer's public positions:
In 2010, Snuffer explained that polygamy was an "opportunity" from the Lord to expand Gentile, "white, European" populations. Had the Saints embraced polygamy more zealously, there would be a "much larger population from which to build Zion" and the "Latter-day Saint population would essentially have political control of the United States."
In 2011, Snuffer said Joseph Smith lived God's requirement to take plural wives, which proved him worthy to receive the sealing power.
In 2013, Snuffer explained Smith's "purpose with plural wives was not primarily to produce offspring." Instead, Smith "could offer salvation to these others by 'sealing' them to himself." Brigham Young's polygamy was for a less moral purpose.
In 2015, Snuffer said that Smith's polygamy happened, but Smith intentionally left the historical record blanks as a test for believers. But he said it surely wasn't sexual.
In 2016, Snuffer said there is no evidence to support Smith had 40 wives or that any of his "sealings" were sexual. He said Brigham Young misinterpreted and overemphasized polygamy.
In 2020, Snuffer taught that Smith was "absolutely chaste" and there is no evidence to support Smith having a sexual relationship with anyone but Emma Smith.
[41]↩︎
Canonized Remnant scripture characterizes the Church as "a model of inequality" or a "magisterium akin to Roman Catholicism" that has failed to realize Zion and been condemned by God since 1832.
[42]↩︎
An illustration of the varied beliefs of Remnant groups is the "flower of principles" found on the Statement of Principles website. The flower attempts to consolidate "the creative development of various statements, guides, and standards" among Remnant groups and illustrate where they agree.
- Remnant website collates beliefs in a flower diagram.
[43]↩︎
The Introduction to the Remnant scripture, Teachings and Commandments, reads:
Today, bankers, lawyers, doctors, and businessmen are paid well to control the wealthy LDS organization whose ranks include many impoverished tithe-payers. It is a model of inequality.
Personal accounts from Remnant practitioners often include views on the Church of Jesus Christ. Reporting on those accounts has been covered by The Salt Lake Tribune, Bitterroot, and Medium articles.
[44]↩︎
One well-documented example of this view among the Remnant is the excommunication of Nelson and Lacey Whiting.
Catalyzed by the ideas of Denver Snuffer, Nelson and Lacey Whiting distributed a letter to their ward on the "Apostasy of the LDS Church." In the letter, the Whitings wrote, "we do in fact love Mormonism as restored through Joseph Smith. We simply believe the Lord has great desires to remove our condemnation as members of the Church, which we fail to enjoy because of what is currently taught and practiced."
In their disciplinary council defense, the Whitings said, "If you think to excommunicate us based on our belief in the words of one Denver Snuffer, we would tell you to be careful" and warned against "rejecting true prophets."
[45]↩︎
Changes since Joseph Smith's day include:
- migrating west and founding of Salt Lake City
- adopting a worldwide Primary program
- canonizing of the Pearl of Great Price
- ending the practice of polygamy
- developing Church historical sites
- expanding missionary efforts
- creating the welfare program
- establishing humanitarian assistance programs
- growing into an international Church
- ending all restrictions on the priesthood based on race
- establishing the Perpetual Education Fund
- multiplying the number of temples
Changes to Church policy and structure are informed by a doctrinal belief in "continuing revelation," as established early by Joseph Smith and the Articles of Faith.
- JS, in a letter addressed to JW, affirms "continuing revelation" as tenet of faith.
- Church Newsroom summarizes administrations of Church presidents, including changes to the Church.
[46]↩︎
Ironically, about seven years before his excommunication, Denver Snuffer warns in his book The Second Comforter (on page 353):
You should be careful about whom you trust to relate history to you. If you are going to err, you should elect to err on the side of accepting the words of prophets, rather than the adversaries and enemies of the prophets.
Historians like Brian Hales and Gregory Smith have published critical disagreements with Snuffer's interpretations of history.
[47]↩︎
Denver Snuffer has claimed that the Latter-day Saint Church is in a state of apostasy, Joseph Smith was a fallen prophet, and that Snuffer has been personally ministered to by Jesus Christ.
[48]↩︎
There are many reasons why the Remnant movement is not compatible with the restored gospel. Ironically, seven years before his excommunication, Denver Snuffer himself offered some key reasons in The Second Comforter (page 230):
The inspired leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are assigned by the Lord to lead His Saints in these latter-days. They are entrusted with keys and authority which is necessary for salvation.
He later writes (page 397):
Our salvation is related to the heed and diligence we give to the Lord’s anointed ministers. And evil speaking of them, assuming superiority to them, and trying to bring others away from them will inevitably lead to your condemnation.
- DS teaches LDS leaders are given authority and keys necessary for salvation, encourages readers to seek personal covenants with God through "his established system."
- DS exhorts his readers to heed the Apostles and Prophet, warns against "assuming superiority to them" and "trying to bring others away from them."