LDS Freedom Forum

Arenera wrote: ↑September 16th, 2017, 1:13 pm

I testify again, as the Lord lives, God never will acknowledge any traitors or apostates
Unhallowed hands can't stop God's work.
Joseph Smith

Christ centered people don't fight against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, because it is Christ's Church.

Underdog, you continue to disparage Christ's Prophets, apostles, and members of His Church.

This is the fruit of Denver Snuffer and one of the many reasons we know you preach falsely. You should stop before you dig a hole you cannot get out of.

D&C 1
37 Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled.
38 What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.
39 For behold, and lo, the Lord is God, and the Spirit beareth record, and the record is true, and the truth abideth forever and ever. Amen.

p.25
[It's always the servants, always angels who do this work. They do the gathering.]
p.25
“But the father said to his servants, [Again it's the angels who do this.]
p.53-54
[D&C 84] Verse 36: “For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me;” I want to suggest that throughout scripture, almost invariably, the word "servants" is referring to angelic ministrants. So angels minister, that would be Aaronic. Then Christ ministers, that would be sons of Moses. Verse 37: “And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father;”

underdog wrote: ↑September 15th, 2017, 7:55 pm

AI2.0 wrote: ↑September 15th, 2017, 3:18 pm

underdog wrote: ↑September 14th, 2017, 9:52 am

shadow wrote: ↑September 14th, 2017, 9:42 am
Would you like to discuss how this can be incorrect?

Can we stay focused and not go off on tangents please?

The focus: you're supposed to provide evidence of Denver's teachings or actions being apostate.

Please provide a teaching of Denver's that shows apostasy, of evidence of falling away from Christ, or to use Mormon's words, something that Denver is doing that persuades "men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God." Why go through this exercise? Because "then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil", in short, that it is apostate.

Same standard for my list of 8 things.

Underdog, do you agree that Denver Snuffer was a member of the CofJCofLDS for 40 years?

So, if he was a member, then should we not assume that he was a devout believer, that he kept the word ofwisdom, paid a full tithe, kept the commandments and teachings of the CofJCofLDS, was worthy of a temple recommend and attended. Correct?

Therefore, we can assume that Denver Snuffer was ordained and exercise priesthood, submitted himself and recognized the authority of his church leaders, also submitting to their authority to issue him a temple recommend, also submitted to their authority in accepting and fulfilling callings, correct?

As a devout member of the LDS church, Denver would have believed that this is the Only true and living church on the earth, that we have living prophets who lead and guide the church and that he should listen to their counsel and follow it.

So, If we agree on these things, then we agree that for 40 years, Denver Snuffer believed that NOT doing these things was putting himself in jeopardy of falling away from Christ, and doing evil and not serving God. Of course.

Denver Snuffer has made the choice to defy his church leaders, give up the word of wisdom, abandon his callings, and lose his temple recommend, essentially abandoning his temple covenants and stop living the teachings which he believed were embodied in the Church of Jesus christ of Latter day saints.


So, right there, you have proof that Denver Snuffer is an apostate. He chose to turn against everything that he was taught and believed. And frankly, it doesn't matter if the church's claims are true or not, HE believed them to be true and now he's turned against them and is actively recruiting others to do the same. That's called apostasy.

Now, if you want to know what teachings he preaches which are contrary to the LDS faith, and what he was told to stop teaching--there are many.

1. He preaches that you must see God in the flesh while on earth, otherwise you cannot enter the Celestial kingdom. This is false. The LDS church teaches the Baptism is the entrance to the Celestial kingdom and seeing Jesus in the Flesh is not necessary for entrance into the Celestial kingdom.

2. He says that if you follow a man/prophet, you are going to hell--telestial kingdom. The LDS church teaches in accordance with scriptures, that true prophets are the lord's servants on earth and that there is only one on the earth at a time who holds the keys and authority to lead us. The Lord expects us to listen to our prophets and if we do not, we will be 'cut off'.

3. He teaches that not everyone on earth is being tested, some are already Gods. This is false, it is also Anti christ (teaching that some don't need the atonement of Christ). The LDS church teaches that we ALL are here to receive a body and to be tested. None of us are God and we ALL need the atonement or we cannot be saved.

4. He teaches that the LDS church was rejected by God back in 1841. This is false. The LDS church was not rejected and it is the only true church on the earth today.

5. He now claims to have wrested the keys from Pres. Monson and is telling others that he now has the saving ordinances. Obvious apostasy.

6. He's written his own scriptures, he's added to them and taken away from them. Obvious apostasy.

And there are others--he's rejected the LDS church form of baptism, sacrament and the temple ordinances. He's also rejected the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Tithing.

That's obvious apostasy from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints.

1. He preaches that you must see God in the flesh while on earth, otherwise you cannot enter the Celestial kingdom. This is false. The LDS church teaches the Baptism is the entrance to the Celestial kingdom and seeing Jesus in the Flesh is not necessary for entrance into the Celestial kingdom.

I have never read that. Can you quote where he said this? What I have heard him say in an interview once was that he personally would not be comfortable with his status in the hereafter if God hasn’t personally told him. He asks, why not have God tell you now in the flesh? So in that statement he seems to imply something along the lines of what you’re saying. But I’ve never read that in any of his writings. If so, please show me.

Really? I'm surprised you don't know this; it is Denver Snuffer's basic theme and it is one of the false doctrines which he taught in PTHG and why he was told he needed to pull his book.

On page 432 of Passing the Heavenly Gift he says that those who don't receive the holy spirit of promise and don't see christ in mortality, go to the Terrestrial Kingdom. I'm certain that other Snuffer followers know this and if you don't trust my word for it, go ask on one of the Remnant forums.

However, I do see that Joseph Smith taught what you're alleging in Lectures on Faith. From Lecture 6:8:

It is in vain for persons to fancy to themselves that they are heirs with those, or can be heirs with them, who have offered their all in sacrifice, and by this means obtained faith in God and favor with him so as to obtain eternal life, unless they in like manner offer unto him the same sacrifice, and through that offering obtain the knowledge that they are accepted of him.

If Denver does in fact teach that, then he’s actually in harmony with what Joseph taught. I have an opinion about that, but my opinion is irrelevant. No, that doesn't say that if we don't see Jesus Christ in the flesh we don't qualify for the Celestial Kingdom.That's talking about Sacrificing for the Kingdom and being able to stand guilt free before God because we knew we'd done all we could and those who haven't done all they could shouldn't expect to enjoy the same blessings as those who have.

2. He says that if you follow a man/prophet, you are going to hell--telestial kingdom. The LDS church teaches in accordance with scriptures, that true prophets are the lord's servants on earth and that there is only one on the earth at a time who holds the keys and authority to lead us. The Lord expects us to listen to our prophets and if we do not, we will be 'cut off'.

DC 76 backs up that following a man/prophet will lead you into the telestial kingdom.

98 And the glory of the telestial is one, even as the glory of the stars is one; for as one star differs from another star in glory, even so differs one from another in glory in the telestial world;
99 For these are they who are of Paul, and of Apollos, and of Cephas.
100 These are they who say they are some of one and some of another—some of Christ and some of John, and some of Moses, and some of Elias, and some of Esaias, and some of Isaiah, and some of Enoch;
101 But received not the gospel, neither the testimony of Jesus, neither the prophets, neither the everlasting covenant.
102 Last of all, these all are they who will not be gathered with the saints, to be caught up unto the church of the Firstborn, and received into the cloud.
103 These are they who are liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers, and whosoever loves and makes a lie.
104 These are they who suffer the wrath of God on earth.
105 These are they who suffer the vengeance of eternal fire.
106 These are they who are cast down to hell and suffer the wrath of Almighty God, until the fulness of times, when Christ shall have subdued all enemies under his feet, and shall have perfected his work;

The key is verse 101, which says we must “receive the gospel, and the testimony of Jesus, and the prophets, and the everlasting covenant.”

The key is to receive the TRUE gospel, the testimony of Jesus (what does that mean?!), TRUE prophets, and the TRUE everlasting covenant (administered by God personally no doubt). Your belief is you have the true prophets ("the Brethren"), etc. And my belief is they are false. Both are assertions. Both can be debated.

Notice that they 'received not the gospel, neither the Prophets, neither the everlasting covenant', and since these are found in the Lord's only true and living church, then it is those who have left his church, broken their covenants, rejected Pres. Monson and the other LDS prohets and followed after false prophets who need to worry, not members of the LDS church.

3. He teaches that not everyone on earth is being tested, some are already Gods. This is false, it is also Anti christ (teaching that some don't need the atonement of Christ). The LDS church teaches that we ALL are here to receive a body and to be tested. None of us are God and we ALL need the atonement or we cannot be saved.

There’s a lot out there. People say Denver says a lot of things, and he’s very clear that NOBOBDY speaks for him Therefore, I ask for a citation. I’ve never read this in his writings. Chapter and verse please. I’ve heard chatter like you say, but nothing is in writing. Let’s stick to official stuff.

This wasn't second hand, Denver said this, he said it in his 'first three words' talk. I think you should ask other Remnant people about this, I didn't make it up. Here it is:
http://denversnuffer.com/wp/wp-content/ ... Words1.pdf Pages 15 and 41-42.
4. He teaches that the LDS church was rejected by God back in 1841. This is false. The LDS church was not rejected and it is the only true church on the earth today.

Section 124 (given in 1841) appears to side with Denver: If section 124 'sided with Denver' then we'd have no church.
There would never have been a restoration because it would have fallen apart in 1841--do you think Joseph would have continued a sham of a church if he knew they'd been rejected. If you think he would, then he's no one to honor or revere, he's a charlatan. Denver here is once again reworking to make the scriptures sound like they support his claim that the church was rejected and he is the Lord's 're-restoration'. But if he's right,
then Joseph Smith jr. was a charlatan who knew he and his people had failed, yet let them think they were still the Lord's people. That also means that those who said he was a 'fallen prophet' were correct. I don't believe that, but if you want to believe Denver Snuffer's version of events, then you'll have to admit that Joseph is a fallen prophet.

28 For there is not a place found on earth that he may come to and restore again that which was lost unto you, or which he hath taken away, even the fulness of the priesthood.
31 But I command you, all ye my saints, to build a house unto me; and I grant unto you a sufficient time to build a house unto me; and during this time your baptisms shall be acceptable unto me.
32 But behold, at the end of this appointment your baptisms for your dead shall not be acceptable unto me; and if you do not these things at the end of the appointment ye shall be rejected as a church, with your dead, saith the Lord your God.
33 For verily I say unto you, that after you have had sufficient time to build a house to me, wherein the ordinance of baptizing for the dead belongeth, and for which the same was instituted from before the foundation of the world, your baptisms for your dead cannot be acceptable unto me;
34 For therein are the keys of the holy priesthood ordained, that you may receive honor and glory.
35 And after this time, your baptisms for the dead, by those who are scattered abroad, are not acceptable unto me, saith the Lord.
45 And if my people will hearken unto my voice, and unto the voice of my servants whom I have appointed to lead my people, behold, verily I say unto you, they shall not be moved out of their place.
46 But if they will not hearken to my voice, nor unto the voice of these men whom I have appointed, they shall not be blest, because they pollute mine holy grounds, and mine holy ordinances, and charters, and my holy words which I give unto them.
47 And it shall come to pass that if you build a house unto my name, and do not do the things that I say, I will not perform the oath which I make unto you, neither fulfil the promises which ye expect at my hands, saith the Lord.
48 For instead of blessings, ye, by your own works, bring cursings, wrath, indignation, and judgments upon your own heads, by your follies, and by all your abominations, which you practice before me, saith the Lord.
49 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that when I give a commandment to any of the sons of men to do a work unto my name, and those sons of men go with all their might and with all they have to perform that work, and cease not their diligence, and their enemies come upon them and hinder them from performing that work, behold, it behooveth me to require that work no more at the hands of those sons of men, but to accept of their offerings.
50 And the iniquity and transgression of my holy laws and commandments I will visit upon the heads of those who hindered my work, unto the third and fourth generation, so long as they repent not, and hate me, saith the Lord God.
51 Therefore, for this cause have I accepted the offerings of those whom I commanded to build up a city and a house unto my name, in Jackson county, Missouri, and were hindered by their enemies, saith the Lord your God.
52 And I will answer judgment, wrath, and indignation, wailing, and anguish, and gnashing of teeth upon their heads, unto the third and fourth generation, so long as they repent not, and hate me, saith the Lord your God.

The Temple was never completed. The violent persecutions that pushed them out of their place and caused them to flee indicates this prophecy was fulfilled as stated by the Lord. But the temple was completed. And, it was necessary for the saints to leave and set up their base in the tops of the mountains. Also, your interpretation of a mercurial, impatient God is disturbing and not at all in the true character and nature of God. I also don't believe that God is so bumbling that he sets up a restoration that will utterly fail in 11 years.

I know TBM’s deny it, but it takes a serious and elaborate spin job to do that. The words are pretty in clear in the verses above. The interpretation of this prophecy is assertion. So it can be debated either way. I’m persuaded that 'is' means 'is'. And there’s no need to spin it. When the children of Israel were forced to wander in the wilderness for 40 years, were they abandoned and replaced with a new people? No, because God is patient and loving. When the saints were not able to settle in Jackson co. they were still blessed to find a safe area where the church could grow and flourish until time to enter their promised land. The 'spin job' is being spun by a group who want to claim that they are the chosen people and the rest of us are rejected and doomed.

5. He now claims to have wrested the keys from Pres. Monson and is telling others that he now has the saving ordinances. Obvious apostasy.

I’ve never seen Denver try to claim he’s wrested any keys. Though I do believe that is what happened. He’s very careful to not claim authority, because no power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood.
This isn’t “obvious apostasy” if there is actual institutional apostasy. You’re still tempted and succumbing to using assertions as a defense or offense, and may I gently remind you that assertions go both ways. Better to use facts. Assertions can't be admitted as facts.

How did you miss Denver's 'wresting the keys'? He said it at the last lecture, number 10. Some people were shocked and upset,
because that was not what they expected at all. Denver said that after his appeal was lost, he was told by the Lord that the keys had been wrested from the 1st pres. and given to him. If you don't believe me, ask some of your fellow Remnant people, they will know. And even if you don't think 'keys' matter, they do to Denver Snuffer because he understands that they represent the authority to do what he's now involved in. Interesting,
he claimed that he now held the keys of the Kingdom (referring to his excommunication) in his Las Vegas talk (page 6)

There is historical precedent of priesthood being removed because of wickedness. See DC 84:

24 But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his anger was kindled against them, swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory.
25 Therefore, he took Moses out of their midst, and the Holy Priesthood also;
26 And the lesser priesthood continued, which priesthood holdeth the key of the ministering of angels and the preparatory gospel;

Here's the problem. Snuffer claimed the church was rejected in 1841 --which you said is supported by your interpretation of d&C 124, and he's now saying that Joseph failed, the dispensation was closed and he's the head of a new dispensation. But, yet, he says that he got his authority, priesthood and keys from a supposedly failed, rejected sham of a church??? How is that possible? He's messed up because he didn't just start his own church, claiming that the first time Jesus appeared to him, Jesus should have told him that the church was apostate and Denver was to start a new church, but that's not what happened. Instead, he wrote books, he supported the church and didn't break with it until writing his PTHG book and his excommunication. And he's been morphing into a leader/prophet since then. And don't tell me he doesn't want anyone to 'follow' him because his 'covenant' that you all entered proves he wants you to follow him....as he claims to receive revelations FOR YOU from Christ.

6. He's written his own scriptures, he's added to them and taken away from them. Obvious apostasy.

True prophets reveal, so of course scriptures will be added. That’s the 9th Article of your Faith. God will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
Adding yes, but taking away? Especially some of the sections that he removed and the reasons for their removal. I have an article written by John Pratt about this that I will post soon. It's about the removal of some of the sections and how they were wrong to remove them for the reasons they cited. And, to be honest, maybe that's not Denver's fault, since it's being done by the committee, but if he's going to allow his writings in it, maybe he should be a little more careful about what they are doing and why, since it will reflect on him and his leadership and position as spokesman for Jesus Christ.

I do like that you’re at least thinking about things. I really enjoy and have respect for your posts and comments. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and insights.
Well, thank you. I hope you aren't upset with what I've shared, but you ask a question and if I can, I want to answer. I do try to take time with what I answer and unlike some of the others on this thread, I haven't felt that we are contentious. It's a very serious subject with potentially eternal remifications. Yes, we disagree, but I truly believe that you, jdt and Thomas are sincere in thinking Denver is a true prophet and I believe you are good people whom Heavenly Father loves and cares about. I just am trying to persuade you to look more closely at Denver Snuffer's teachings, beliefs, claims etc, because I believe he is one of those false prophets we were warned of in the last days.
You also said,

And there are others--he's rejected the LDS church form of baptism, sacrament and the temple ordinances. He's also rejected the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Tithing.

His form of baptism is in accordance with the scriptures, as is his sacrament. The temple hasn't been built. I'm not aware of his teachings on temple ordinances. That's to be revealed later at the appropriate time and place. He doesn't reject the Word of Wisdom as taught in DC 89. That's not a commandment. The Lord says so Himself. It's given in wisdom, and not by constraint. I'm not aware of Denver's specific teachings on tithing. But DC 119 lays down the law.

But, his form of baptism is not authorized by the LDS church and if we were taught one thing in Primary/sunday school, it is that doing it in the right way with the proper authority is essential. That's why the LDS church does not accept any other church's baptism.

When Snuffer builds his temple, is he going to reinstate the temple services the way they were in Joseph's day, because if he does, good luck.
They will be very loooooong--they could be 8 to 9 hours long for a session. And, if he's sincere about really reinstating everything to how it was in the 1830's, you all will also have to wear garments that cover down to the wrists and ankles, with buttons and ties and little collars. Good luck with that. But then, that was one of the things that Denver Snuffer criticized--that 'changes' had been made and he thought we should do everything the way it was done in Joseph Smith's day. But that's the cost you pay when you reject the notion of change through continuing revelation. And don't forget, if Snuffer tries to change it, if he doesn't follow how things were done in Joseph's day, then he's going back on what he claimed was important and the accusations he made about why the LDS church was in apostasy.

If you reject anything and everything that happened (continuing revelation), then I guess you all can ignore the fact that the Word of Wisdom was accepted by the people as a commandment, at the request of their Prophet, in about 1854. But, hey, if the Remnant followers are going to have to spend all day in their temple to do one endowment and have to wear extremely uncomfortable, long, hot garments 24/7, at least they can drink coffee, tea, alcohol and smoke, if they feel like it--I'll give you guys that one and you may need the stimulants to dull the discomfort.

As for tithing, you can look at what he said; His grand junction lecture 7, pg. 13-14, he talked about tithing, saying it's okay if you want to pay it, but giving an out for remnant people to not have to pay it and instead give money to their fellowships. But, as I've said before--sorry, what he's describing is not tithing. If it's not one tenth and is not paid to the proper authority (such as it was to Melchizedek) to be used by the church to build the kingdom on earth, it's not a proper tithe or tithing.

AI2.0 wrote: ↑September 16th, 2017, 6:33 pm

underdog wrote: ↑September 15th, 2017, 7:56 am By the LDS mainstream? No they aren't. True prophets are hated and reviled by those whom they call to repentance, but who think they need no repentance (like you). Think Jesus. Think Lehi. Think Nephi. Think Abinadi. Think Samuel. Think Joseph. Think Denver. In short, true prophets are reviled by people who do not want to repent, especially the leaders of the day, whose status and income and craft are threatened by the message of the prophet.[/color]

As even Shadow apparently recognizes as he has ceased and desisted, you cannot bring your own tradition / assumptions as evidence.

If you could, talk about stacking the deck in your favor! Jesus called the Jewish leaders corrupt. So you can plainly see the sheer silliness of them whining and complaining and murmuring, "He said we are corrupt! THAT'S the reason he's of the devil!" Seek the Truth, I'm explaining this in plain language to you in a respectful manner.

What more can be done? But you above all else on this forum continue to repeat your same illogic.

Maybe Mosiah 17 will help you.

Even the wicked court that tried Abinadi knew they had to bring him up on some specific charge. I've asked you for something specific. Let's compare what you said above to what they (with King Noah as voice here) accused Abinadi of:

17 And he said unto him: Abinadi, we have found an accusation against thee, and thou art worthy of death.

18 For thou hast said that God himself should come down among the children of men; and now, for this cause thou shalt be put to death unless thou wilt recall all the words which thou hast spoken evil concerning me and my people.

The king stretched for something specific and finally said that Abinadi said Christ would "come down among the children of men" (hmmm, that sounds a lot like Denver teaching about Christ coming down to visit him (not to mention the book, The Second Comforter)!!). But then the REAL reason spills out in crystal clarity:

They will kill (literally in Abinadi's case or metaphorically by exing Denver) Abinadi "UNLESS" he "recalls" the negative things he's said about them.

This has a STUNNING parallel to the Church demanding that Denver recall his book "which speaks evil" of the Church and that he not go out on his speaking tour.

The similarities are so glaringly obvious that you might almost conclude this is fulfillment of an 'embedded prophesy'. Like Mormon may have actually seen our day and plucked and singled this story out of the thousands of pages of Nephite history for a reason!

Just in case some readers aren't aware, let me quote the actual words of the Church demands of Denver, which were put in writing by President Truman Hunt and addressed to Denver in August 2013:

"To avoid the disciplinary counsel (my words in parenthesis: i.e., the death penalty), I ask you, again:

1) To remove PTHG from publication;
2) To acknowledge to those who follow your blog that PTHG contains content that needs to be withdrawn; and
3) To cancel your plan speaking tour..."

To review, when pressed for a specific reason as to why Denver is guilty of apostasy against Christ, you are saying the SAME thing King Noah and his wicked priests are saying! This should give you pause. It's undeniable. To quote your specific reason stated above, "That the LDS Church is apostate." This angered the Church just as you are angry. This angered and bothered them so much that they formally, in writing, asked Denver to recall his words, just as Abinadi was asked to "recall all the words which thou hast spoken evil concerning me and my people." They threatened Denver with the "death penalty" (Let's call a spade a spade. We all know that's what excommunication means. You lose your temple blessings and miss out on the prospects of exaltation unless the Church restores them later) if he didn't comply with their demands.

That is a chilling parallel to Denver's case.

So I ask you again, if you kindly will, to share a specific teaching or practice (that is NOT rooted in tradition or assumptions of yours) of Denver's that show how he opposes Christ, that he is in apostasy, that he "persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God." So far you all have shared nothing.

The Jewish leaders KNEW (like you "know") they were "of God", that they were "right", that they were "chosen," that they were "authorized." They knew it. And so they felt justified in killing their Messiah, the Son of God. They said Jesus was guilty of blasphemy. And they would have been right if their assumptions were true. But they were wrong. Could you be wrong in your assumptions possibly? That's a great question. Will you answer that question? Is there even a remote chance your assumption could be wrong? Could "the Brethren" actually be leading you astray? Could Jesus want to talk to them, but they aren't listening? Could they be, in fact, in apostasy themselves, just as the Sanhedrin was? I predict you will not answer that question either.

underdog wrote: ↑September 15th, 2017, 3:58 pm Specifically state how Denver opposes Christ!

1. Change a bad habit. Singular

At one time we have all felt as if our lives are a constellation of bad habits. You get home from work, you’re exhausted and you go from one “I should not be doing this” to the next.

It’s like you need to change everything. And you need to do it tomorrow… No. Bad. Wrong. Does not compute.

Do less. Just focus on fixing one thing at a time. When I spoke to Power of Habit author Charles Duhigg, he said that’s the key to lasting change. Here’s Charles:

If you try to transform everything at once, it tends to be very, very destabilizing. In general, what people should do, is they should think of change as a project. It’s a project that takes a while… Now, it might feel frustrating to say, “If you have ten habits you want to change, that means it’s going to take eight months or nine months.” The truth of the matter is if this is a behavior that’s really important, changing it will have this huge impact on your life. It’s worth spending a month to change one behavior permanently. You’re going to be reaping the benefits of that for the next decade.
You don’t need to overhaul your life. Just kill one bad habit. Give it a month and then move on to the next.

(To learn the four rituals neuroscience says will make you happy, click here.)

Okay, you’re focused on one thing. What’s a painless way to start?

2. Don’t stop. Just count

Whatever it is you shouldn’t be doing, you don’t have to stop yet. (Doesn’t that sound nice?) Don’t try to reduce the habit, reduce the variability in the habit.

In other words, don’t even try to quit smoking; try to smoke the exact same number of cigarettes each day. Or only check Facebook your usual 90 times an hour.

This tiny effort toward self-control can lead to a decrease in bad habits over time, unconsciously.

Via The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do To Get More of It:

Behavioral economist Howard Rachlin proposes an interesting trick for overcoming the problem of always starting a change tomorrow. When you want to change a behavior, aim to reduce the variability in your behavior, not the behavior itself. He has shown that smokers asked to try to smoke the same number of cigarettes every day gradually decrease their overall smoking— even when they are explicitly told not to try to smoke less.
Just paying attention to those numbers can make a big difference. Merely looking at the calorie counts on food labels before eating was more effective for weight loss than exercise:

Label users who did not exercise displayed a slightly greater likelihood of weight loss than those who exercised but did not read food labels. Additionally, those who only read labels were more likely to improve their chances of weight loss by adding exercise to their routines rather than abandoning label usage in favor of exercise.
You don’t have to deny yourself at first. Just notice the numbers and continue to behave badly — but consistently.

(To learn what Harvard research says will make you happier and more successful, click here.)

That’s not hard. You don’t have to change. How else can you beat bad habits without changing yourself at all?

3. Don’t change you. Change your world

Every day I download Instagram on my iPhone and every day I delete Instagram off my iPhone. Does it sound like I have a problem? Nope. It’s a great way to make sure I only check it once a day.

The app isn’t there tempting me to check it 600 times. And it’s a pain to keep downloading it. And this is a big secret to beating bad habits.

Don’t change yourself. Change your context. We engage in habits because of “triggers” in our environment. Remove the triggers or make them more difficult to reach and you’re less likely to engage in the behavior.

When I spoke to behavioral economist Dan Ariely he said context affects your behavior much, much more than you think. Here’s Dan:

One of the big lessons from social science in the last 40 years is that environment matters. If you go to a buffet and the buffet is organized in one way, you will eat one thing. If it’s organized in a different way, you’ll eat different things. We think that we make decisions on our own but the environment influences us to a great degree. Because of that we need to think about how to change our environment.
So get the tempting stuff away from you. Bestselling author Shawn Achor recommends “the 20 second rule.” Make bad habits 20 seconds harder to begin and you’re far less likely to engage in them. Here’s Shawn:

Watching too much television? Merely take out the batteries of the remote control creating a 20 second delay and it dramatically decreases the amount of television people will watch.
You don’t need to change yourself just yet. Change the things around you.

(To learn an FBI behavior expert’s secrets for getting people to like you, click here.)

Pretty simple, right? Good. And let’s keep it that way. Do you need to put pressure on yourself and be a demanding taskmaster to eliminate bad habits? Nope. Neuroscience says do the exact opposite…

4. Chill, dudette

What makes you more likely to engage in bad habits? Stress.

UCLA neuroscientist Alex Korb says staying relaxed helps your brain make the right choices. Here’s Alex:

I have a friend who always says, “Stress takes the prefrontal cortex offline.” Stress changes the dynamics of that conversation. It weakens the prefrontal cortex. That part of your brain doesn’t have infinite resources. It can’t be eternally vigilant and so while it’s not paying attention, your striatum is like, “Let’s go eat a cookie. Let’s go drink a beer.” Anything that you can do to reduce stress can help strengthen the prefrontal cortex’s control over your habits.
Don’t pressure yourself. Stay calm and you’ll behave better.

(To learn how to stop being lazy and get more done, click here.)

Alright, the tips so far have been plenty easy. Time for some black belt methods. And we also need to correct some myths. How do you really eliminate those bad habits? It’s easy: Don’t.

5. Don’t eliminate bad habits. Replace them.

Ironically, studies show saying, “I’ll never do that again” makes you even more likely to do that again.

Charles Duhigg wrote the book on habits. And he says the research is clear: you can’t eliminate bad habits but you can replace them. Want to stop shoving donuts in your mouth?

When you feel the urge, put some sugarless gum in your piehole. The “trigger” stays the same and you still get a nice reward but you’re replacing the bad behavior with a good one.

From The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business:

We know that a habit cannot be eradicated— it must, instead, be replaced. And we know that habits are most malleable when the Golden Rule of habit change is applied: If we keep the same cue and the same reward, a new routine can be inserted.
Notice what triggers your bad behavior and then replace your usual response with a new one that gives you a different (but still pleasurable) reward.


Am I making this all sound too easy? Don’t worry — I know you’re gonna screw up. We all do. In fact, I bet you know when you’re most likely to screw up. So here are the two words that can make sure you don’t blow it…

6. “If” and “then”

Plans are good. And with a very simple one you can resist temptation. When do you always perform that bad habit? For instance, “Whenever I sit on the couch I surf the internet endlessly.”

Okay, now use two words to make a teensy weensy little plan:

If I sit on the couch, then I will pick up a book.

From Nine Things Successful People Do Differently:

It’s called if-then planning, and it is a really powerful way to help you achieve any goal. Well over a hundred studies, on everything from diet and exercise to negotiation and time management, have shown that deciding in advance when and where you will take specific actions to reach your goal (e.g., “If it is 4 p.m., then I will return any phone calls I should return today”) can double or triple your chances for success.
Sound too simple to be true? Wrong.

From Nine Things Successful People Do Differently:

The results were dramatic: weeks later, 91 percent of if-then planners were still exercising regularly, compared to only 39 percent of nonplanners! Similar results have been shown for other health-promoting behaviors, like remembering to do monthly breast self-exams (100 percent of planners, 53 percent of nonplanners), and getting cervical cancer screenings (92 percent of planners, 60 percent of nonplanners).
Two words. Big changes

But what happens if you still blow it? Don’t worry, buddy. I got you covered . . .

7. Forgive yourself

You’re going to screw up. And that’s okay. In Richard Wiseman’s study of people who achieved their goals he realized we should:

Expect to revert to your old habits from time to time. Treat any failure as a temporary set-back rather than a reason to give up altogether.
So you say you’re not going to eat cookies. Then you accidentally eat a cookie. That’s not when the diet is blown.

The diet is blown when you eat the one cookie and say, “I give up” — and then devour the rest of the bag.

What does science say we should do when we lose self-control or procrastinate? Forgive yourself and move on.

Via The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do To Get More of It:

Study after study shows that self-criticism is consistently associated with less motivation and worse self-control. It is also one of the single biggest predictors of depression, which drains both “I will” power and “I want” power. In contrast, self-compassion— being supportive and kind to yourself, especially in the face of stress and failure— is associated with more motivation and better self-control.
In trying to do anything to better your life, it’s okay to stumble. It takes time. You learn.

(To learn how to be more compassionate with yourself, click here.)

Okay, we’ve covered a lot. Let’s round it up and learn the eighth tip — which is the easiest and most fun of them all…

Sum up

Here’s how to get rid of those awful bad habits:

One at a time. Beat one bad habit per month and in a year you’ll be awesome.
Don’t stop. Just count. Don’t eliminate the bad behavior just yet. First, be consistent in your awfulness.
Don’t change you. Change your world. 20 second rule. Make it harder to engage in bad habits.
Chill, dude. Stress makes the bad stuff tempting. Relax and you’ll behave better.
Don’t eliminate. Replace. You can’t kill bad habits but you can swap them out for new ones.
“If” and “Then.” A simple plan for how you’ll beat temptation helps you beat temptation.
Forgive yourself. Beating yourself up makes you behave worse. Self-compassion keeps you going.
And what’s the final tip?

Peer pressure is a good thing — when you use it strategically. Mom wanted you to hang out with the smart kids in school because they provided good examples. Mom was right.

It’s simple, really. Hang out with people who you want to be. Procrastinate a lot? Spend more time with uber-productive friends. Want to get in shape? Hang around those healthy-eating gym addicts.

When I spoke to Carlin Flora, author of Friendfluence: The Surprising Ways Friends Make Us Who We Are, she said:

Research shows over time, you develop the eating habits, health habits and even career aspirations of those around you. If you’re in a group of people who have really high goals for themselves you’ll take on that same sense of seriousness. And conversely, if you’re in a group of friends who are not that ambitious, then you too will lower your standards.
Okay, enough talk. Right now, email or text one of those friends you want to be and set a time to hang out.

Friends don’t just make us happy. They can also make us better people.

Arenera wrote: ↑September 16th, 2017, 10:36 am

Brigham Young received the sealing power: “by the calling of [God’s] own voice” (citing JST-Gen. 14:29). Orson Hyde described a heavenly manifestation given to all the Twelve.

In the month of February, 1848, the Twelve Apostles met at Hyde Park, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, where a small Branch of the Church was established…. We were in prayer and council, communing together; and what took place on that occasion? The voice of God came from on high, and spake to the Council. Every latent feeling was aroused, and every heart melted. What did it say unto us? “Let my servant Brigham step forth and receive the full power of the presiding Priesthood in my Church and kingdom.” This was the voice of the Almighty unto us at Council Bluffs, before I removed to what was called Kanesville. It has been said by some that Brigham was appointed by the people, and not by the voice of God. I do not know that this testimony has often, if ever, been given to the masses of the people before; but I am one that was present, and there are others here that were also present on that occasion, and did hear and feel the voice from heaven, and we were filled with the power of God. This is my testimony; these are my declarations unto the Saints—unto the members of the kingdom of God in the last days, and to all people.
Orson Hyde, in Journal of Discourses 8:233–34 (7 October 1860)

Unhallowed hands can't stop God's work.

We said nothing about the matter in those times, but kept it still. . . . Men, women, and children came running together where we were, and asked us what was the matter. They said their houses shook, and the ground trembled, and they did not know but that there was an earthquake. We told them that there was nothing the matter—not to be alarmed; the Lord was only whispering to us a little, and that he was probably not very far off. We felt no shaking of the earth or of the house, but were filled with the exceeding power and goodness of God. 1

Elder Hyde related this incident, in public, on 7 October 1860. On the same day Brigham Young verified the content of the story. “Brother Hyde, in his remarks, spoke about the voice of God at a certain time. I could tell many incidents relating to that circumstance, which he did not take time to relate. We were in his house, which was some ten or twelve feet square. The houses in the neighborhood shook, or, if they did not, the people thought they did, for they ran together and enquired whether there had been an earthquake. We told them that the voice of God had reached the earth- that they need not be afraid; it was the power of God.”

Jesef wrote: ↑September 17th, 2017, 9:15 pm The Snufferites dismiss all of these post-1844 accounts & testimonies on the assumption/assertion that BY & Twelve were corrupt power/whore-mongers, and because they are "conveniently" belated. They consider these tainted non-evidences. They even try to incriminate them in the deaths of Joseph & Hyrum. But the irony is that Joseph trusted BY & Twelve completely, with the most sacred things, including the keys of the kingdom and the higher ordinances and the second anointing. So more than good enough for Joseph, but not for Snuffer & his followers.

Jesef wrote: ↑September 17th, 2017, 9:15 pm The Snufferites dismiss all of these post-1844 accounts & testimonies on the assumption/assertion that BY & Twelve were corrupt power/whore-mongers, and because they are "conveniently" belated. They consider these tainted non-evidences. They even try to incriminate them in the deaths of Joseph & Hyrum. But the irony is that Joseph trusted BY & Twelve completely, with the most sacred things, including the keys of the kingdom and the higher ordinances and the second anointing. So more than good enough for Joseph, but not for Snuffer & his followers.

Joseph Smith was the greatest victim of fraud and conspiracy of the last 500 years. Nothing like it in recorded history. He was simply lied about when something had to be done to justify ... Utah Mormon polygamy."

—President Israel A. Smith, grandson of Joseph the Martyr (Letter to Pamela Price,
September 17, 1956)

"I had not been married scarcely five minutes, and made one proclamation of the Gospel, before it was reported that I had seven wives.... I am innocent of all these charges.... What a thing it is for a man to be accused of committing adultery, and having seven wives, when I can only find one. I am the same man, and as innocent as I was fourteen years ago; and I can prove them all perjurers."

—Joseph Smith, Jr., History of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6:410–411

That the church funds have been misapplied, I have no hesitation in asserting, for of necessity I have been made acquainted with the fact, that several houses have been tilled up with women who have been secretly married to Brigham Young, H. C. Kimble [Heber C. Kimball], and Willard Richards—women with little children in their arms, who had no means of support except from the tithing funds.... I heard my brother Joseph declare before his death, that Brigham Young was a man, whose passions, if unrestrained, were calculated to make him the most licentious man in the world, and should the time ever come, said he, that this man should lead the church, he would certainly lead it to destruction. (William Smith, A Proclamation, Warsaw Signal, Warsaw, Illinois [October 1845], page 1, column 4; italics added)

Jesef wrote: ↑September 18th, 2017, 9:34 am I think it is extremely difficult to reconcile Joseph's very historically evident strong relationship and trust with BY & Twelve, particularly at the end of his life - he spent more time with them (the ones who weren't out on missions), according to his contemporary journals, than anyone else. And the ones who were out on missions were proving, in a most sacrificial manner, how dedicated and true they were to Joseph and the cause by the very act of being abroad and fulfilling their missions.

Snuffer's historical rewrite attempts to attach the betrayals of guys like the Laws and FG Williams and other apostates to BY & Twelve - to also classify them as traitors. Also, Denver's attempt to blame polygamy on BY and to exonerate Joseph and Hyrum is completely untenable from a historical perspective. They are believing and buying into a complete historical fantasy that tries to remove all controversy from Joseph and put it all on Brigham. They're borrowing a lot of the RLDS stuff from that era, too. But the evidence that Joseph taught "the principle" of plural marriage to the Twelve directly and administered it to them and their wives is very solid. They try to leverage the fact that it was kept secret to present that it was not practiced at all. Too many of these folks, whose private journals testify solidly of the fact, had no reason to "smear" Joseph - they considered themselves his most loyal followers/believers. Even Denver has had to admit that Joseph was practicing some form of "kingly" sealing of women to himself (spiritual plurality) as a way to craftily use the sealing power to connect as many families to himself as possible. Why did he have to seal the young women then (to save the whole families)? Why not just craftily use the sealing power to seal all the individuals to him as sons, daughters, etc. - why wives?

So there's too much evidence for them to get away with a comprehensive re-contextualization of all the history. There's too many contemporary journals coming to light, from people who were obviously loyal to Joseph (not enemies trying to destroy him). Plus, look at how Brigham and all the Twelve continue, consistently and unwaveringly, to applaud and uphold Joseph & Hyrum, the First Vision, the Book of Mormon, Temples - everything Joseph revealed, they honored. So much ridiculousness - it amounts to a massive conspiracy theory and coverup - I have to stop right here.

Thomas wrote: ↑September 18th, 2017, 9:55 am "

Joseph Smith was the greatest victim of fraud and conspiracy of the last 500 years. Nothing like it in recorded history. He was simply lied about when something had to be done to justify ... Utah Mormon polygamy."

—President Israel A. Smith, grandson of Joseph the Martyr (Letter to Pamela Price,
September 17, 1956)

The Book of Mormon was a project guided by God starting in 600BC. Plates were gathered, prophets were guided and commanded to keep the plates and write spiritual information on more plates. A prophet historian and his son abridged the plates and sealed them up in the earth. These plates were destined to come forth by the power of God during the dispensation of the fulness of times. Joseph, an unlearned but spiritual giant was selected in the pre-existence to translate the plates to the Book of Mormon, and to start the restoration and begin the dispensation of the fulness of times. Brigham Young was selected in the pre-existence to continue the restoration and dispensation when Joseph was killed.

This is Joseph's dispenstation, as told in his own words a few days before he was killed:

The old Catholic church traditions are worth more than all you have said. Here is a principle of logic that most men have no more sense than to adopt. I will illustrate it by an old apple tree. Here jumps off a branch and says, I am the true tree, and you are corrupt. If the whole tree is corrupt, are not its branches corrupt? If the Catholic religion is a false religion, how can any true religion come out of it? If the Catholic church is bad, how can any good thing come out of it? The character of the old churches have always been slandered by all apostates since the world began.

I testify again, as the Lord lives, God never will acknowledge any traitors or apostates. Any man who will betray the Catholics will betray you; and if he will betray me, he will betray you. All men are liars who say they are of the true Church without the revelations of Jesus Christ and the Priesthood of Melchisedek, which is after the order of the Son of God.

It is the order of heavenly things that God should always send a new dispensation into the world when men have apostatized from the truth and lost the priesthood; but when men come out and build upon other men's foundations, they do it on their own responsibility, without authority from God; and when the floods come and the winds blow, their foundations will be found to be sand, and their whole fabric will crumble to dust.

Did I build on any other man's foundation?"

Brigham Young received the sealing power: “by the calling of [God’s] own voice” (citing JST-Gen. 14:29). Orson Hyde described a heavenly manifestation given to all the Twelve.

In the month of February, 1848, the Twelve Apostles met at Hyde Park, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, where a small Branch of the Church was established…. We were in prayer and council, communing together; and what took place on that occasion? The voice of God came from on high, and spake to the Council. Every latent feeling was aroused, and every heart melted. What did it say unto us? “Let my servant Brigham step forth and receive the full power of the presiding Priesthood in my Church and kingdom.” This was the voice of the Almighty unto us at Council Bluffs, before I removed to what was called Kanesville. It has been said by some that Brigham was appointed by the people, and not by the voice of God. I do not know that this testimony has often, if ever, been given to the masses of the people before; but I am one that was present, and there are others here that were also present on that occasion, and did hear and feel the voice from heaven, and we were filled with the power of God. This is my testimony; these are my declarations unto the Saints—unto the members of the kingdom of God in the last days, and to all people.
Orson Hyde, in Journal of Discourses 8:233–34 (7 October 1860)

Thomas wrote: ↑September 18th, 2017, 9:55 am "

Joseph Smith was the greatest victim of fraud and conspiracy of the last 500 years. Nothing like it in recorded history. He was simply lied about when something had to be done to justify ... Utah Mormon polygamy."

—President Israel A. Smith, grandson of Joseph the Martyr (Letter to Pamela Price,
September 17, 1956)

Thomas wrote: ↑September 18th, 2017, 10:02 am Here is a statement from one of the twelve apostles. Joseph Smith's own brother.

That the church funds have been misapplied, I have no hesitation in asserting, for of necessity I have been made acquainted with the fact, that several houses have been tilled up with women who have been secretly married to Brigham Young, H. C. Kimble [Heber C. Kimball], and Willard Richards—women with little children in their arms, who had no means of support except from the tithing funds.... I heard my brother Joseph declare before his death, that Brigham Young was a man, whose passions, if unrestrained, were calculated to make him the most licentious man in the world, and should the time ever come, said he, that this man should lead the church, he would certainly lead it to destruction. (William Smith, A Proclamation, Warsaw Signal, Warsaw, Illinois [October 1845], page 1, column 4; italics added)