Standard of Truth

We wanted to apologize for some audio issues in this week's episode. We will try to fix the audio on the upcoming Mormon Battalion episodes. In this episode, we set the context for America at the time of the Mexican-American War. At the time the majority of Americans make their living through farming and westward expansion continues as land is the driver of social standing and monetary wealth. We...

In this episode, we continue our discussion of a self-published anti-Mormon book. We talk about the poor genealogical research done by the author (thank you for the help Family Search). We also address Polygamy and DNA testing, claims of Sydney Rigdon writing the Book of Mormon, and last but not least claims of attempted William Law wife swapping.  With our first Standard of Truth Book Review, we...

We received a question from a listener about a self-published anti-Mormon book and we again examine why using real sources matters. We talk about the difference between a person who likes history and a historian. Example: Richard likes history (not really, but for the purpose of this example we will say that he does). Dr. Dirkmaat is a historian. We also discuss the problem with self-publishing bo...

In this episode, we continue our discussion of polyandry, specifically discussing the sources that relate to Marinda Hyde. We talk about the one source used by people antagonistic to the Church and then we also discuss additional sources that are never mentioned on anti-Mormon blogs and subreddits because they do not support their argument.  Please visit our website at  www.standardoftruth.com If...

No, you are not caught in a time vortex.  It is not Season 38 yet, but we answer a listener’s specific question about plural marriage.   Please visit our website at  www.standardoftruth.com If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

In this week's episode, we respond to an email we received about Prosperity Theology, specifically D&C 130:20-21. We also discuss current apostate movements that claim Brigham Young has led the Church astray and Joseph Smith never practiced polygamy. We talk about a meme sent by a listener that claims Brigham Young changed Joseph Smith's journal to justify polygamy. The links below take you to...

In this week's episode, we continue to discuss the theology of the Prosperity Gospel. We play a clip from a Joel Olsteen sermon to help the listener understand how these ideas are also taught outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Gerrit shares several heartbreaking experiences from early Saints (Wilford Woodruff and Stillman Pond) who experience struggle after struggle and trial...

In this week's episode, we respond to a listener's email about the ideas surrounding Prosperity Gospel Theology. Gerrit begins with a discussion about paganism and the idea of worshiping a god for immediate gain as a contrast to Jesus saying that His Kingdom is not of this world. Gerrit also talks about how the notion that all of our suffering or all of our prosperity is directly connected to our...

In this week's episode, we conclude our discussion about the signs of the times. We start with an email from the Ebenezar Hazard Mailbag and discuss a book about the Second Coming written by Latter-day Saint authors mentioned in an earlier email. Gerrit shares several problematic statements made about the Second Coming and explains that while every day the Second Coming is closer than the day befo...

In this bonus episode, we talk about the details of the Standard of Truth Tour that Gerrit will be leading from Boston to Cleveland starting on Monday, June 5th, and going through Sunday, June 11th. We discuss some of the details of the tour and Gerrit shares additional information about the sites we will be visiting. The tour bus we have booked has room for 44 people and we have 20 spots remainin...

In this week's episode, we continue our discussion about the signs of the times and the Savior's Second Coming. Gerrit discusses religious movements from history where the end of the world was predicted. He goes into detail on William Miller and the Great Disappointment of 1844. Gerrit shares a quote from Joseph Smith talking about the Millerite Movement and says that all that give exact times of...

In this week's episode, we discuss the signs of the times of the Savior's Second Coming. Gerrit discusses several quotes that are used when teaching about the Second Coming and provides historical context. Gerrit also describes how people use proof-texting to prove a point or win an argument. The episode ends with a Millerite tease, the worst tease in podcast history, that we will discuss in Part...

In this episode, we give a tribute to a great friend who recently passed away. We discuss one of his favorite scriptures (D&C 58:4) and provide additional content for section 58 of the Doctrine and Covenants. This larger context leads to a discussion about trials and tribulations and the promised blessings from the Lord. We also discuss the faithfulness of Lydia and Edward Partridge. Gerrit ma...

We are on remote coming to you from the Yucatán peninsula (or at least in the buffet line of a cruise ship off the coast of Cancun). In this episode, we discuss the ancient Mayan people as viewed through the eyes of Diego de Landa. We discuss his book from the 16th century and his belief on the origin of the Mayan people and their mode of baptism. We also discuss the Church’s position on where the...

In this episode, we continue our discussion of the Apocrypha. The podcast starts with a 19th-century Latter-day Saint view of the Apocrypha. Gerrit asks Richard a question where Richard has a 50% shot of getting it right… He gets it wrong. We also read from 2 Ezras and its reference to the lost 10 tribes and Zion being built up. This all provides the context for Joseph receiving the revelation for...

We had some technical difficulties that prevented the podcast dropping on Thursday. We are sorry for that.  In the episode this week, we decided to tackle one of the great hot-button historical issues of the day…well, of Joseph Smith’s day anyway. We discuss the history of the Apocrypha and how controversy in Christianity led to Joseph Smith’s revelation on it. If you have any questions or possibl...

In this episode, we continue our discussion of the 1861 letter to Brigham Young from W. W. Phelps. We provide insight into Brigham Young's feelings for W.W. Phelps as well as an 1831 account of the mission to the Native Americans from Ezra Booth. We conclude with the words of W. W. Phelps from the Council of Fifty minutes in 1845 that cast doubt on the accuracy of Phelps' memory of the events of 1...

In this episode, we find out what a terrible friend Gerrit is as he recommends a brutal history class for Richard to take. Richard has still not forgiven him. We also talk about polygamy. In 1861 Brigham Young receives a letter from W. W. Phelps that discusses a revelation Phelps claims Joseph Smith received in 1831. The Civil War and polygamy feature prominently. We talk about the merits of the r...

In this episode, we discuss the different types of sources that historians have to examine for accounts of miraculous events and respond to the inquiry of a listener of how we can determine whether or not some of these accounts are credible.  We discuss in particular the source of the well-known expression that Joseph Smith said that if people knew how great the telestial kingdom was, they would c...

In this episode, we talk about the way the Saints celebrated the 4th of July early in the Nauvoo period and the change that occurs after the murder of Joseph Smith. We have touched on this topic before, but this is a deeper dive into the treatment of the Saints and the national response to their protest. Gerrit also talks about a recent Church History tour he led and asks if there would be interes...

In this episode, we continue our discussion of the revelations received by the Prophet Joseph Smith that never made it into the Doctrine and Covenants. We review revelations about referring to people in the church by their title, the way to prepare to receive manifestations and revelations after the Kirtland temple is dedicated, and when the saints should leave Kirtland. If you have any questions...

There are many revelations that were received by the Prophet Joseph Smith that never made it into the Doctrine and Covenants. In this episode we review several of those revelations and discuss the lessons that can be applied to us today.  If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

In this episode, we discuss the aftermath of the W. W. Phelps article inviting black Latter-day Saints to join the Saints in Missouri. The mob destroys the Saint's printing press and threatens to kill them if they do not leave the county immediately. Roughly 1,200 Saints are driven from Jackson County in the winter of 1833. Plat of Zion https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/revised-plat-...

In this episode we discuss the spark of the violent reaction of Missourians toward Latter-day Saints in Jackson County in 1833.  In particular, we discuss the article in the Church's local newspaper, The Evening and the Morning Star, which was intended to help free black members navigate the anti black laws of Missouri as they immigrated to the city of Zion. The reaction of the anti black, anti Mo...

In this episode we resume our discussion of the Saints search for Zion in Missouri. We continue to discuss the events surrounding the Saints early attempts to build the city of Zion in Missouri. We focus on the reaction of Missourians to this influx of blasphemous outsiders and how their culture and history will lead to a violent expulsion. We also do a deeper dive into the law of consecration and...