Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.

I find this deeply sad, and hope that, eventually, most if not all of these folks will return to full fellowship in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

“Denver Snuffer’s offshoot is drawing away Mormons with the mantra: God can talk to you, too. But will these freewheeling fellowships last?”

There’s a great deal of work to be done in perfecting the Saints, proclaiming the Gospel, redeeming the dead, and providing for the poor and the needy in the Lord’s way, and we need the help of all of those who have testimonies of the Restoration.  By leaving the Church, though, such people turn away from this work.  (Obviously, for one thing, they’re no longer admitted to the Lord’s temples.)  And, I’m convinced, the devil rejoices to see them do so.  What greater victory can he have than to neutralize someone who was deeply committed?

For relevant perspectives from two faithful Latter-day Saints, see

“Passing Up The Heavenly Gift (Part One of Two)”

“Passing Up The Heavenly Gift (Part Two of Two)”

“A house of order, a house of God: Recycled challenges to the legitimacy of the church”

“Whenever there is a disposition manifested in any of the members of this Church to question the right of the President of the whole Church to direct in all things, you see manifested evidences of apostasy—of a spirit which, if encouraged, will lead to a separation from the Church and to final destruction; wherever there is a disposition to operate against any legally appointed officer of this Kingdom, no matter in what capacity he is called to act, if persisted in, it will be followed by the same results; they will ‘walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed; they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities'” [see 2 Peter 2:10] (Discourses of Brigham Young, 83).

“When a man begins to find fault, inquiring in regard to this, that, and the other, saying, ‘Does this or that look as though the Lord dictated it?’ you may know that that person has more or less of the spirit of apostasy. Every man in this Kingdom, or upon the face of the earth, who is seeking with all his heart to save himself, has as much to do as he can conveniently attend to, without calling in question that which does not belong to him. If he succeeds in saving himself, it has well occupied his time and attention. See to it that you are right yourselves; see that sins and folly do not manifest themselves with the rising sun” (Discourses of Brigham Young, 83).