Okay, so, it’s a slow day at work. Most everybody has taken the day off. Part of my job is to advise management on advances in AI. I decided to prompt ChatGPT 4.0 (paid version) to search the Internet and provide a summary of Denver Snuffer and his claims. I only use this as an example because both subjects are of interest to me personally (AI & Denver’s writings).
Here is the actual prompt for those interested: “From the sources you just cited (see bottom of post for sources), can you summarize what are the main issues of controversary surrounding Denver Snuffer, his teachings, writings and actions as related to the LDS Church?” (Sources are found at the bottom of this post).
I think the conclusion is inevitable that the responses are mostly negative. Perhaps it’s in the way I engineered the prompt. I should probably see if I can create a prompt that asks ChatGPT to provide evidence from material available online that is helpful, positive and uplifting to those who have taken the trouble to record and publish their observations of the man, but more especially, the message he has delivered and the works he has brought forth.
Response from ChatGPT
Denver Snuffer is a prominent and controversial figure in discussions about the LDS Church due to his teachings, writings, and actions, which have both inspired followers and drawn criticism. Here’s a summary of the main issues of controversy surrounding him:
1. Loss of Priesthood Authority in the LDS Church
- Claim: Snuffer asserts that the LDS Church has lost its priesthood authority and divine approval due to deviations from its foundational teachings and practices.
- Controversy: This claim directly challenges the LDS Church’s assertion of continuous divine authority through its leadership and priesthood hierarchy.
- Response: Critics, including FAIR Latter-day Saints, argue that Snuffer’s interpretation lacks doctrinal basis and undermines the Church’s foundational claims.
2. Excommunication and Apostasy
- Event: Snuffer was excommunicated from the LDS Church in 2013 for apostasy, primarily due to his book Passing the Heavenly Gift, which critiques the Church’s historical narrative and leadership.
- Impact: His excommunication solidified his role as a dissenting voice and led to the formation of the Remnant movement, a group of followers who reject centralized Church authority.
- Controversy: Many see his excommunication as a pivotal moment in defining his relationship with the LDS Church and view him as either a reformer or an apostate.
3. Critique of LDS Leadership
- Claim: Snuffer accuses the LDS Church leadership of focusing on institutional growth, financial wealth, and public image at the expense of spiritual purity and doctrinal integrity.
- Controversy: This critique resonates with some members disillusioned with the Church’s corporate structure but is seen by others as an unfair and divisive attack.
4. Revelations and Claims of Visions
- Teaching: Snuffer claims to have had a personal visitation from Jesus Christ, which forms the basis of many of his teachings.
- Controversy: While personal revelation is a key tenet of LDS belief, his claim challenges the Church’s centralized model of revelation, which holds that only the prophet receives revelation for the entire Church.
5. Rewriting and Restoring LDS Doctrine
- Action: Snuffer has undertaken efforts to “restore” early LDS doctrines and practices, including producing new editions of scripture and encouraging the formation of independent fellowships.
- Controversy: Critics see this as an attempt to undermine the authority of the LDS Church and create a splinter group, while his followers view it as a return to the original Restoration principles.
6. Formation of the Remnant Movement
- Development: The Remnant movement, inspired by Snuffer’s teachings, rejects institutionalized religion and focuses on personal revelation, covenant-making, and community fellowships.
- Controversy: The movement has drawn members away from the LDS Church, leading to accusations of schism and apostasy, while adherents argue they are fulfilling the original goals of the Restoration.
7. Criticism of Church History Narratives
- Claim: In Passing the Heavenly Gift, Snuffer critiques traditional LDS narratives about Church history, particularly regarding Joseph Smith, the succession crisis, and the Utah period.
- Controversy: His revisionist approach has been praised by those seeking alternative perspectives but criticized by faithful members and scholars as undermining faith and promoting doubt.
8. Theology and Covenant-Making
- Teaching: Snuffer emphasizes covenant-making directly with God, rather than through institutional mediation, as essential for salvation.
- Controversy: This teaching challenges the LDS Church’s emphasis on temple ordinances and priesthood authority as the means of accessing God’s covenants.
9. Accusations of Cult-Like Behavior
- Claim: Critics have accused Snuffer of fostering a personality cult and creating a movement overly reliant on his teachings and interpretations.
- Response: Snuffer and his followers reject this characterization, emphasizing personal accountability and the decentralized nature of their fellowships.
10. Ongoing Impact
- Growth of Movement: The Remnant movement has steadily grown, with gatherings, conferences, and publications promoting Snuffer’s teachings.
- LDS Church Response: The LDS Church has not officially engaged with Snuffer’s claims but continues to caution members against apostasy and unapproved teachings.
Summary
Denver Snuffer’s critiques of the LDS Church’s leadership, doctrinal practices, and historical narratives, combined with his claims of personal revelation, have positioned him as a polarizing figure. For his followers, he represents a reformer returning to the core principles of the Restoration. For his critics, he is an apostate leading members astray. The controversies surrounding him underscore larger debates about authority, revelation, and the nature of faith within the LDS tradition.
Sources provided by ChatGPT
Here are several websites that discuss Denver Snuffer and his teachings:
Denver Snuffer’s Official Website: Features his blog, books, papers, and lectures. Denver Snuffer
Wikipedia – Denver Snuffer Jr.: Provides an overview of his life, teachings, and the movement associated with him. Wikipedia
Wikipedia – Christian Fellowships of “the Remnants” Movement: Details the movement inspired by Snuffer’s teachings. Wikipedia
Salt Lake Tribune – “An Offshoot of the Mormon Church is Drawing Away Members”: An article discussing Snuffer’s influence and the Remnant movement. The Salt Lake Tribune
Religion News Service – “8 Questions for Denver Snuffer”: An interview exploring Snuffer’s views and the growth of his movement. Religion News
Mormon Stories Podcast – Episodes 321-322: Interviews with Denver Snuffer discussing his experiences and teachings. Mormon Stories
Restoration Archives: A repository preserving the teachings and writings related to the Restoration movement, including those of Denver Snuffer. Restoration Archives
Latter-day Commentary – “What Denver Snuffer Teaches”: A blog post analyzing Snuffer’s teachings. Latter-day Commentary
FAIR Latter-day Saints – Criticism of Mormonism: Addresses and critiques some of Snuffer’s doctrinal claims. FAIR
Mormon Land Podcast – A Conversation with Denver Snuffer: A podcast episode featuring Snuffer discussing the Remnant movement. The Salt Lake Tribune
These resources offer diverse perspectives on Denver Snuffer’s teachings and the movements associated with him.
NOTE: The image of Denver was taken from the 2021 Salt Lake Tribune article: https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2021/12/22/mormon-land-conversation/
This is all publicly available information. This post was not encouraged by, nor did I ask Denver Snuffer for permission to analyze his publicly available information with ChatGPT.
Perhaps I don’t get the circular nature of the question “From the sources you just cited…”
What prompted the sources?
Hi Daryl. I had been chatting with the AI engine for quite a while. Here is the prompt that generated the list of sources: “Are you able to scan the internet for websites that write about Denver Snuffer and provide a list of the sites you find?”