In the beginning of the June 20^th revelation, the Lord says to Denver:

As you have considered comments from others you have feared man more than me. The corruption of scripture has been caused by men fearing others and failing to heed my word.

I believe, though directed at Denver, we can benefit from applying this to ourselves as well. Fearing man more than God includes all men, including a dispensation head and his wife.

Joseph said to the Relief Society, “they were depending on the Prophet, hence were darkened in their minds, in consequence of neglecting the duties devolving upon themselves.” (TPJS, p. 238.) Further, the explanation in D&C 121:34–42 places decided limits upon the kind of deference that a person in authority in the priesthood should receive. Implicit in this Section is unless the authority actually does persuade you by the Spirit, then they are as other men and not entitled to any greater deference than any other man (The Second Comforter).

Unless an authority, meaning the Prophet, uses the tools of persuasion and the Spirit, they are not entitled to your deference any more than any of us.

Stephanie said:

On that… Briefly, the idea of deference: We… People become leaders when the people around them give them deference or permission to do that, so… ‘Cuz we hear enough around here that people think there are certain people “in the know” or “more this” or “less that” or… And so, I just would like to put the idea out there: We can “think” people into their positions just by the way we act or the way we talk or the way we think. And so, you know, I’m of the view that much of our hierarchical LDS leadership and the admiration and the infallibility that they labor under or with or through has been imposed upon them in large measure by the membership. And so, as you transition out of that into a new experience with new people and new, you know… And some are gonna be way more vocal than others and some are gonna be in the United States congregated regularly/doing regular things and other people in other parts of the world are gonna feel left out and think that there’s this group of people somewhere in Utah or Idaho or Colorado (or, you know, wherever they are) being in charge or being more important or being “more than.” And I strongly encourage you to self-talk that out of the dialogue. Because if we talk it into the dialogue and talk it into the experience, then it just creeps in. And it’s not real. And so, I guess I’m making some assumptions that you might think things, which is what he was talking about: impressions and misunderstandings. And so, don’t buy into the notion that there is a—I don’t know what even to call it—an “in-group” or a…an important group. I mean, there might be cohorts all over of vocal people who do a lot of stuff who are very active, and that doesn’t make them anything other than just people who are feeling like they’ve got stuff to do. It’s not proscribed or… Anyway, I just felt impressed to make sure that you know that a lot of what happens, in terms of hierarchical creep, comes from the way we talk about it and the way we view it and our own…(2020.06.14 EU Fellowship Meeting).

We are the creators of “leaders” amongst us by the humble submission, respect, and permission we give them to become so. Our thoughts, actions, and conversations regarding certain people are what encourage this “hierarchical creep” and create their leadership. It is not real. There are no positions or leadership roles amongst the Covenant Christians.

Continuing with the June 20^th revelation:

Let the women call a conference at a suitable time and place convenient to allow interested women to attend. Have your wife, Stephanie Snuffer conduct the conference deliberations and let any who want to speak present their concerns. Reason together and draw upon the experiences from those past women’s councils. Let the women learn to come to agreement and the voice of that conference decides all matters raised. And I remind you that the majority of those who vote decide the voice of the conference of women. If 100 vote, the vote of 51 decides the matter.

Previously, it was specified that there were ongoing disputes over councils, then the revelation says to call a conference (one conference). At that conference, Stephanie would conduct the deliberations – not necessarily make decisions regarding the conference, but only conduct. This took place in April 2025.

Following, it says:

And, if another dispute later arises from other women’s councils, and there is a need, call another conference of the women and resolve the dispute by the voice of the women’s conference, as often as need arises.

It does not explicitly state here that Stephanie is to conduct these future conferences.

Because of the imprecise wording, we can assume that the Lord does require Stephanie to conduct future conferences called to resolve disputes for specific ongoing women’s councils. Or, can assume that the Lord does not require it.

Additionally, the third option is that Stephanie is not required to conduct any women’s conferences where a dispute for a specific women’s council is not involved.

Remember, people become leaders when the people around them give them deference or permission to do that. These are the brown-nosers. How you choose to interpret the conducting portion of the revelation may play a large role in the creation of a position of authority that isn’t real until we make it so.

I’d like to offer some points to consider and I am addressing those who make claims on behalf of others.

Until you succeed, you’ve failed. I don’t care who comes along, claiming whatever they want to claim. Until the work is done, you can’t take credit for it—period. There’s all kinds of nonsense that circulates about who has the keys. “Button, button who’s got the button?” Look, someone’s going to do a work. When the work is done, you will know. Until the work is done, no one can be identified with the role—period. It is arrogance; it is pretentiousness; it is foolishness for anyone to step forward and say: “I, I, I am that man!” Do the work. Finish the course. Fulfill the covenant. You do that, you can take the name. Until you do the work, it’s just noise (DS Podcast #97).

If you find yourself confused in the midst of what seems to be an avid game of passing the button, consider that the confusion is a result of hearing many claims but seeing a lack of evidence or work being done – the covenant being fulfilled and lived.

Women’s councils were the result of Denver asking God if women could have the priesthood.

I asked the Lord that priesthood get extended beyond the confines of the men who have continually abused and neglected it. I was told that priesthood is confined to men because of the Fall and the conditions ordained by God at that time. Until we reverse things in the Millennium, that is the way it is going to remain, as to the ordinances thus far given in public. I asked the Lord to change that order. It is not going to change. I then asked the Lord that if only men were to hold priesthood for our public ordinances, then could only women vote to sustain them. The saying pleased the Lord, for it was already in His heart (Talk 10 – Preserving The Restoration).

This is an interesting outcome after considering what was said five talks previously to the 10^th one:

You see, the Holy Ghost is God’s messenger to administer in all these priesthoods. You envy the unenviable, and you focus on the irrelevant, if you are distracted by church offices. Because quite frankly, given the fact that the purpose of the Aaronic priesthood is to pour out judgments and destructions, and it’s purpose is to seal people under condemnation, I can’t imagine—well I take that back. I can imagine why a woman would want to possess that. I have a law partner who does divorce work. There are so many unsavory and bitter motives on display during divorces. So I can imagine it (Talk 5 Priesthood).

This is an interesting thought to take into consideration. The Aaronic priesthood is for judgments, destructions, and sealing condemnation. Denver makes the comment that he can imagine why a woman would want to possess that. Five talks later, the Lord says the priesthood will remain confined to men until the Millennium.

The amount of interactions and dialogue happening within the group of women regarding women’s councils is exposing what’s in our hearts regarding two pivotal points:

• The idea that each of us, by our actions and words, are the creators of leadership and position.

• In being given a sliver of responsibility related to the priesthood, we can choose to exemplify the ideals of the Aaronic priesthood or the Melchizedek priesthood.

The Melchizedek is given instead for blessing and giving life. When someone claims to hold Melchizedek priesthood but they use it in order to offer up judgment, and condemnation, control, compulsion, and authority over the souls of men, you can mark it as a sign that they hold no such authority. If they refuse to constrain themselves, to use persuasion only, and gentleness and meekness then you know by that sign alone that you are listening to an Aaronic and not a Melchizedek authority (if they have authority at all). Because the office and the authority and the keys of the Melchizedek is given by God to a man to bless, to enlighten, to raise you up by bringing to you light and truth, which is the glory of God, or intelligence (Talk 5 Priesthood).

If someone is using the tools of coercion, control, compulsion, authority, and condemnation as a means of getting you to change your mind instead of constraining themselves and using only persuasion, gentleness, and meekness, it is a sign alone that they are conducting themselves under an Aaronic authority (if they have any authority at all).

When you actually “have the button,” the keys of the Melchizedek priesthood are to bless and enlighten. It is to bring you to light, truth, and intelligence.