Standard of Truth

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 possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

In the second part of our examination of the claims made in the book Under the Banner of Heaven, we discuss the Mountain Meadows Massacre and the attempt of the author to claim that religious beliefs lead people to be more prone to violence.  Church's response to Under the Banner of Heaven in 2003: https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-response-to-jon-krakauers-under-the-banner-o...

We have received multiple requests to talk about the new limited series Under the Banner of Heaven. While we are not film critics, the series is based on a book written by an outdoor adventurer/journalist and published in 2003.  We examine the claims made in the book that will likely be shown in the series.  Church's response to Under the Banner of Heaven in 2003: https://newsroom.churchofjesuschr...

In this episode we continue our discussion of the aftermath of the declaration that Jackson County was the location for the prophesied New Jerusalem. Ezra Booth, a former Methodist minister who had joined the Church of Christ in Ohio, became disillusioned with both the location of Zion and other aspects of the Church on his journey to Missouri and becomes a very public apostate and critic. Also, d...

We discuss the importance of the doctrine of the establishment of the New Jerusalem and the way members reacted to the declaration that Independence, Missouri was the location for the city to be built. If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

We continue our discussion of underlying American ideologies from the Revolutionary War era, with a very deep dive (scuba gear required) on the ideology surrounding the Boston Tea Party.  If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

In this podcast we answer some questions posed by listeners about sources covering the era.  This leads into a discussion of American ideologies and how they will eventually both be held by believing members and used as a justification for violence enacted against the Saints, especially religious freedom.  Colonies of Virginia and Massachusetts Bay are discussed, probably at too much length. If yo...

We continue our discussion of Freemasonry and the early Church. We talk about the claims antagonists make that the LDS temple ceremony is "stolen" from the Freemasons and provide additional context.   If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

Latter-day Saints have a unique history in relation to the Freemasonry movement that was especially popular in 19th Century America.  We discuss the history of Freemasonry and Joseph’s earliest encounters with it.    If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

In our final podcast on the topic, we directly discuss some of the specific claims that have been made of a special relationship between Lincoln and the Book of Mormon and the Latter-day Saints.   If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

In part two of our discussion of Abraham Lincoln and the Latter-day Saints we talk about Lincoln's election and the secession of the Confederate states and how the Saints in Utah reacted to the coming of the Civil War. If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

We have received multiple inquiries as to the relationship Abraham Lincoln had to the Latter-day Saints when he was President of the United States and during the Civil War.  There have been some popular attempts to portray Lincoln as being a champion of the Saints, and even the widely believed idea that Lincoln was in some way influenced by reading the Book of Mormon.  This is a complex historical...

Our podcast would like to begin highlighting some of the faithful, courageous heroes in Church History.  Women like Mercy Fielding are not well-known by the average Latter-day Saint and yet the suffering she endured and resolute faithfulness she displayed can be a powerful reminder to us all of how important the gospel is in our lives. If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for...

A recent news story about thousands of invalidated baptisms prompted a discussion about Latter-day Saint theology surrounding the necessity of baptism and an investigation into questions about baptism in the early Church, especially D&C 22 and D&C 74. If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

In this President's Day bonus episode, we introduce you to Dr. Gerrit Dirkmaat's mother Renee Dirkmaat. If you love Hubert Humphrey and embarrassing stories about Gerrit you are going to love this episode. Gerrit and Richard learn pretty early in this bonus episode that Renee did more in her first 22 years of life than they will ever hope to do.  If you have any questions or possible topics of dis...

How should we deal with oral history that does not have any accompanying documents?  Most people have powerful and important stories in their family history and we respond to one listener's question about the validity of family history stories that do not have reliable sources to verify the events.  Richard shares a personal experience of family oral tradition that drifted into some inaccuracies....

In Part 2 of Carthage Conspiracy, we continue to address claims made in the video “Who Killed Joseph Smith”. After showing example after example where the creators of the film omitted significant details to allow their “theory” to have any sort of merit we end with the testimony of John Taylor.  There are times during Parts 1 and 2 of Carthage Conspiracy where we may appear to be overly levitous f...

In response to several recent emails, we discuss several conspiracy theories about the murder of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. We dissect a video that claims to have "new evidence about what really happened at Carthage” and use some of the movie's claims as jumping-off points for larger discussions around amateur research and tactics used by antagonists of the Church. Below is a link to a Salt Lake Trib...

In this week's podcast, we continue our discussion of the "White Horse Prophecy”. We also talk about a lesser-known dream/vision by John Taylor that has gained recent popularity in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com  

In this week's podcast, we discuss the "White Horse Prophecy”. In 1843 Edwin Rushton claims that the Prophet Joseph Smith received a prophecy that the US Constitution would one day "hang like a thread" but be saved by Latter-day Saints. 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 talk about some of the earliest converts to the Church and the problems that come when there isn't a handbook to provide direction. If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

As we start Season 2 of the Standard of Truth Podcast we begin with a discussion around the context of Joseph Smith receiving The Book of Moses in June of 1830. Gerrit goes through Moses Chapter 1 and talks about the radical nature of the revelations received. The understanding of both the nature of God and the nature of Mankind are turned on their head in this early revelation. If you have any qu...

In Part 3 of our discussion on the Council of Fifty, we discuss the role of Brigham Young after the death of Joseph Smith and the Saints' plan to leave the United States. Gerrit also shares a story about Porter Rockwell. If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

Merry Christmas We have received quite a bit of feedback from listeners who expressed interest in getting to know Dr. Dirkmaat a little better. Gerrit has always wanted the podcast to focus more on Joseph Smith and Church History and less on his High School basketball career in Shelley, ID. That said after much cajoling Gerrit has finally acquiesced and in this episode, we are joined by his wife A...

In part 2 of our discussion of the Council of Fifty and the lost teachings found in the minute books of that organization, we discuss some of the harsh feelings the Saints felt after Joseph's murder.  The continued mob violence against the Saints in 1845 further alienated them from the United States and gave them greater resolve to leave the nation.  One of the council members featured in this dis...