Hi everyone, I live in Mackay, Idaho, married to Rodney with four grown kids and a daughter-in-law. I work as an Administrative Assistant at the Naval Reactors Facility (yes, a secure government facility in a remote desert, bwahaha). I am seeking to heed Rob's counsel: "don't work for fools," before the next pandemic arrives (and it will be a lot more deadly!).
My story is like many of you, starting in the LDS tradition. Like Rob in my former life, I was a hard core, true blue, right-wing Mormon. Most all of my friends and extended family felt like I was off the rails in my devotion. After all, the more of their boxes you check, the better of a person you are...
So when a very trusted friend suggested I join the "Another Voice of Warning" and "LDS Freedom Forum" forums online, I was shocked to see so many differing points of view there amongst supposedly devout LDS people.
I had already, through some health challenges, researched and learned about the dark underbelly of the medical system, and then the educational, financial, and political system. I was blown away, and disappointed to realize I had spent a good portion of my life as an absolutely blind sheeple to the influence and control of the Gadiantons on all levels.
Yet my dishonesty would not allow me to consider that regarding the church, as well.
That changed when a fellow called Denver Snuffer came on the scene. I was invited to a discussion with truth seekers, but the pre-requisite was reading "The Second Conforter" by Denver. No way, no how was I going to read a book by someone who had been excommunicated. Not only no, but heck-to-the-no!
So my friend didn't give up on me, thank goodness, and I was finally convinced to give it a try just to silence my friend and get a pass to the meeting.
I read the first declaration in that book: the Second Comforter is actually a personal visit from our Savior, in the flesh, in this life, not in the next... And it is not only an offered blessing but a requirement for eternal life.
I was struck as if by lightning. I knew this was true. I'll never forget the place I was where I read this. (Helped that it was the shore of a peaceful, gorgeous alpine lake). ๐
Wow, was I was shocked. I knew the LDS church does NOT teach this truth, and that it's not only possible but ... required?!
I knew that the church does NOT facilitate those who have experienced this to openly share their witness (any visitation, vision, or dream is actively hushed), nor to teach others how to get there.
Thus, I knew that it is NOT the Church of Christ. And I would NOT make it if I continued with them.
My heart and mind knew that this information would cause me to leave the LDS church at some point. And I was devastated! Just as Rob shared in his path, it was eviscerating to experience that realization. So when Rob teaches that not all truth feels good, this is a classic example. It may not feel good, but it feels right. And I knew it felt right.
So, I joined the Snuffer movement and greatly benefitted from his book "Passing the Heavenly Gift" which identifies so many red flags in the LDS church. However, at that time, he was adamant that we should stay in the church despite those flaws, which made no sense to me.
Meanwhike, there was a Gmail group I joined called the "Snuffer Readers Group" which was invaluable to me. Like-minded seekers of truth could process all these life-changing ideas and changes in their lives that had our world upside down suddenly. It was priceless to me to know I was not crazy and not alone in this new agonizingly difficult path outside of the church.
I did appreciate how Denver still believed Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is indeed still true, even if the LDS church has gone astray.
However as with all movements that have no works to accompany their cliams of authority, Denver's went off the rails as well. I was particularly annoyed with some dweeb named Rob Smith who kept pointing out the things that Denver was out in left field on. ๐
Wow did that guy ruffle my feathers!! I heard lots of bad whispers about Rob, which were enough for me to write him off (to my great later regret).
But God is merciful and allows us to receive truth in dribs and drabs if that's all we'll allow. So it is to my chagrin (and deepest gratitude) that I later learned that Denver proved to be a fake and I was again adrift. I went through teacher after teacher... each claiming amazing experiences, knowledge, and authority.
Each one eventually disappointed.
As Rob says, it's rarely the case that the more you get to know someone, the better they get. It's usually the opppsite, and such was the case with guru after guru, movement after movement, for me. And there are a lot of them, as we know.
So in the end, Rob's noodles were the only ones that stuck to the wall. ๐
Even through all the times I've been so deeply offended (my fault of course) I have not found anything better. His teachings are the word of God that slice the heart asunder. Leaving the bad and adding the good, to help us ascend.
Rob's teachings of truth cut like the knife they're supposed to be. Truth is a wedge and we must necessarily use it to become closer to God or move further away.
And, to whom shall we go? No one else has the words of life. No one else has had Christ personally visit and say, in essence, "You're on the completely wrong path buddy. I couldn't care less about the LDS church."
Then move forward immediately on a new path, to being excommunicated, living in complete sinlessness, losing his career and reputation and company worth millions... to live simply and extremely frugally on the donations of about 30 people (when he has over 1.6k YouTube subscribers.) And spending his time writing books, blog posts, and posting videos-- all for you and for me.
Key for me: Rob is sinless.
I belive that.
End of story for anyone searching for a true messenger.
There is no other place to find the pure, unadulterated word of Christ. Rob is the man most like Christ that I know of. I regret the years of disdain and now feel only gratitide for his, and God's, patience with my hard heart.
And now for my "thankimony", haha!
***I am so grateful to God for leading me on this path to light and truth.
***I am so grateful to each of you for this path you're on with me. So glad you have opened your heart and mind to receive more and more light and truth.
***I love learning from each of you, in addition to Rob, and so grateful I can live in these end times to see God's arm revealed!
Love to each of you,
Angelina ๐
My contact info:
Please reach out if you'd like: angelina dot farnes at gmail.
YouTube: Voice of Improvement
https://youtube.com/@gods_voice_is_our_conscience?si=Tu52a1i8h-Bd4i1J
X: Angelina Farnes
@comonaltia