A brief note on Snufferism

I don’t know whether any in my reading audience are tempted by, or have been affected by, or know anybody who has been affected by, Snufferism.  If so, here’s a brief item from Robert Boylan that they might find of interest:

“Trouble in Snufferite Paradise”

It’s impossible, when thinking about Snufferism — which I myself do about once a year, for roughly two minutes each time; I’ve scarcely ever blogged a line about it — to think of this remarkable passage from the Prophet Joseph Smith:

“I will give you one of the Keys of the mysteries of the Kingdom. It is an eternal principle, that has existed with God from all eternity: That man who rises up to condemn others, finding fault with the Church, saying that they are out of the way, while he himself is righteous, then know assuredly, that that man is in the high road to apostasy; and if he does not repent, will apostatize, as God lives.”  (History of the Church, 3:385; from a discourse given by Joseph Smith on July 2, 1839, in Montrose, Iowa; reported by Wilford Woodruff and Willard Richards)

Sadly, though, just like recruits from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to fundamentalist polygamist splinter groups, many of those who go over to Snufferite apostasy — I have no scientific survey data on this, but I’m confident that it’s true — are folks who were (and are) very serious about the claims of the Restoration.  I’m deeply sorry to see such people forsake the Kingdom and wander off into what the scriptures call strange paths.  I hope that, someday, they’ll come back.

“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”  (Matthew 24:24)

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On a more pleasant note, here’s an item from my longtime friend Fred Axelgard, whom I’ve known since we were missionaries in Switzerland and who has now become a colleague at Brigham Young University — and who, to my immense irritation, never seems to age:

“Religion’s global voice gains a hearing”

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And a somewhat related item, perhaps:

“Apostle Discusses Religious Freedom with Vanuatu Leaders”

I think that I’ve already posted the following link, but there’s no harm in repeating it for those who might have missed it the first time:

“In the Ecosystem of Rights, Religious Freedom is Foundational”

The folks who choose Snufferism are, of course, exercising their agency and, specifically, their religious freedom.  That’s what mortality is about, and inevitably, alas, the Kingdom will experience casualties.

Posted from St. George, Utah