Standard of Truth

In this episode, we talk about the Council of Fifty. The Council of Fifty was an organization created by Joseph Smith in early 1844 to help the Saints find a new place to live, somewhere outside of the boundaries of the United States where they could be free from persecution. The Council was tasked with crafting the Constitution for the Kingdom of God on earth that they intended to found wherever...

During the Christmas season, believers talk more about angels than they usually do.  Latter-day Saints might not know just how radically different their understanding of angels is from the beliefs of other Christians.  Joseph Smith received many revelations that provided a new understanding of angels. The article referenced in the episode is called "The Development of Winged Angels in Early Christ...

Part 3 of our examination of the Joseph Smith's decision to run for President of the United States.  In this final segment we examine Joseph Smith's radical presidential platform in detail.   If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

Part 2 continues our discussion of Joseph Smith's reasons for declaring himself a candidate for President of the United States.  Joseph responds to the leading politicians of the day who are too cowardly to pledge to help the suffering Saints.   If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

Part 1 of our three-part podcast examining Joseph Smith's presidential campaign.  We discuss the political situation of 1843-1844 America.  It is not quite as scintillating as discussing townships, but it is a solid second.   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 on the revelations, we talk about the major changes that were made to the Doctrine and Covenants in 1876 and how other revelations were added over time. 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 how some of the revelations were eventually published in the Book of Commandments and the Doctrine and Covenants.  Some revelations were not selected to be included even though they were still revelations from the Lord. 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 conclude the early criticisms of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon by looking at View of the Hebrews and The Late War. We discuss tactics used by antagonists of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to make it seem like entire sections of the Book of Mormon have been copied from other texts. If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcom...

In this week’s podcast, we continue our discussion of the earliest criticisms of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. We talk about Eber Howe, Doctor Philastus Hurlbut, and the book Mormonism Unvailed. We also continue to look at how the criticisms of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon change over time. If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email...

In this week’s podcast, we discuss some of the earliest criticisms of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. We start with an example before the Book of Mormon is published with Jonathan Hadley, the editor of the Palmyra Freeman, and an article he publishes in August of 1829 called the “Golden Bible”. We talk about how the arguments change once the Book of Mormon is published citing Alexander Campbe...

In this week’s podcast, we are joined again by our friend Jonathan Oliver as we continue to discuss the multiple accounts of the First Vision. We talk about the account in the Wentworth Letter and the account found in Joseph Smith History in the Pearl of Great Price. We also look at accounts that come from secondhand sources like Orson Pratt and Alexander Neibaur. If you have any questions or poss...

In this week's podcast, we are joined by our friend Jonathan Oliver who has a question about the multiple accounts of the First Vision. We discuss the context surrounding the 1832 account and explain the discrepancy of Joseph Smith's age. 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 continue to discuss Doctrine and Covenants 93. In Part 3 we discuss what this revelation tells us about the nature on mankind in relation to the nature of our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. 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 continue to discuss Doctrine and Covenants 93. In Part 1 we provided some historical and theological context from the Christian world. In Part 2 we go through Section 93 and discuss the radical nature of this revelation as it provides insights to questions about the nature of Jesus Christ that have confounded philosophers and theologians for centuries. If you have any qu...

In this week’s podcast, we dive deep into one of the most important revelations ever received by Joseph Smith, Doctrine and Covenants 93.  But to understand how radical and how profound this revelation is, we must first understand a little of what the Christian world thinks about the nature of God, the nature of Christ, and our own nature. If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion...

In this bonus episode, we talk about some of the highlights of the book “From Darkness Unto Light: Joseph Smith’s Translation and Publication of the Book of Mormon.” If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

In part 2 of our podcast on the translation of the Book of Mormon we discuss the earliest account of the translation of the Book of Mormon, from 1829, and how non-believers responded to the idea that the Book of Mormon was sacred scripture. Subscribe to our free newsletter⁠  -  ⁠https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com/⁠ Please visit our website at  ⁠www.standardoftruth.com⁠ If you have any que...

In this podcast, we examine the miraculous translation of the gold plates and ask “How did the translation take place?”  We examine the references to translation in the Book of Mormon and what the scribes and witnesses of the translation said about the process. Subscribe to our free newsletter⁠  -  ⁠https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com/⁠ Please visit our website at  ⁠www.standardoftruth.com...

In this podcast, we discuss how the Word of Wisdom changes over time within the Church to where we are today. Subscribe to our free newsletter⁠  -  ⁠https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com/⁠ 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 podcast, we discuss the context around the receiving of the Word of Wisdom and talk about how the saints responded to the revelation when it is received. Subscribe to our free newsletter⁠  -  ⁠https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com/⁠ Please visit our website at  ⁠www.standardoftruth.com⁠ If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us...

In one of the most astounding feats of prophecy, Joseph Smith receives this revelation from the Lord on Christmas Day, 1832.  It astonishingly predicts with great clarity the coming and horrific nature of the American Civil War. Subscribe to our free newsletter⁠  -  ⁠https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com/⁠ Please visit our website at  ⁠www.standardoftruth.com⁠ If you have any questions or po...

In 1831, Joseph Smith received a revelation calling elders to preach to the Shaker community near Kirtland.  This revelation not only refuted Shaker beliefs, but it also helps Latter-day Saints today better understand why the truths they have are so important. Subscribe to our free newsletter⁠  -  ⁠https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com/⁠ Please visit our website at  ⁠www.standardoftruth.com⁠...

In this groovy podcast, we answer a question from a listener about the claim that Joseph Smith and other early members of the Church used psychedelic mushrooms and hallucinogenic toad venom in order to have the visions and revelations that they had.  Spoiler alert: we don’t agree. Subscribe to our free newsletter⁠  -  ⁠https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com/⁠ Please visit our website at  ⁠www...

In Part 2 of our podcast on Doctrine and Covenants 76, we discuss aspects of the next life that have not yet been fully revealed, such as the concept of progressing after this life.  We also highlight the continuing nature of revelation and evolving understanding of Joseph Smith about who can qualify to enter the celestial kingdom and exaltation. Subscribe to our free newsletter⁠  -  ⁠https://stan...

In Part 1 of this two-part podcast, we discuss one of the most important and influential revelations given to Joseph Smith.  Doctrine and Covenants 76 was so powerful and impactful that it was reverently referred to throughout the 19th century as “The Vision.”  Though the degrees of glory are well-known to modern Latter-day Saints, “The Vision” had aspects to it that were so controversial many peo...