Standard of Truth

In this episode, we share an interview that Gerrit had with one of our younger litners, JT, and we also share an interview that Gerrit and I had with President Roggero, the district president for the Rio Gallegos district in Argentina. Standard of Truth Tour dates for the summer of 2025:  ⁠https://standardoftruth.com/tours/⁠ Missouri/Nauvoo – June 22nd through June 28th  Palmyra/Kirtland – August...

In this episode, Gerrit shares a story about a fight that broke out in a BYU football game on Christmas Day in their second season. He also shared several stories about letters and documents he has recently come across.    Team Photo of the BYA Football Team: http://www.byhigh.org/History/SportsHistory/1896-BYA-1st-Football-Team-650x492-a.jpg Standard of Truth Tour dates for the summer of 2025:  ⁠...

In this episode, we discuss the Sweetwater Rescue temple trip to Buenos Aires with the Saints of Rio Gallegos. We talk about the Lord’s hand in the miraculous events of our daily life. They run out of time to play a message from President Roggero and will have to put it on next week’s episode.   Standard of Truth Tour dates for the summer of 2025:  ⁠https://standardoftruth.com/tours/⁠ Missouri/Nau...

In this episode, we begin with a discussion of the anti-Mormon claim that others should have seen the angel Moroni as he appeared to Joseph in a room where his other siblings were sleeping. Gerrit goes on to discuss Lyman Johnson’s witness of the Gold Plates. Lyman ends up leaving the Church and despite being responsible for much of the apostasy in Kirtland, when Lyman moves to Nauvoo Joseph expre...

In this episode, Gerrit shares stories about additional witnesses of the Gold Plates. We discuss Mary Whitmer and Josiah Stoal’s witness of the Gold Plates and talk about Emma’s experience with translation. Also, early evidence suggests that the Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Mission is the smartest mission in the Church.   Standard of Truth Tour dates for the summer of 2025:  ⁠https://standardoftruth.co...

In this episode, we discuss a litner’s email about the location of Zion and Gerrit shares a lesser-known quotes from Joseph Smith from one of his last sermons. Gerrit also share a sermon from Brigham Young about Zion.   “When I heard brother Joseph make his proclamation yesterday about North and South America, I thought it was a sweepstakes.” – Brigham Young Websters 1828 definition of sweepstakes...

In this episode, Gerrit’s dander is way up as we focus on a question from a litner about celestial marriage. A wonderful sister who was baptized later in life has a husband who has no desire to join the Church, and she wanted to know the opportunity for eternal marriage for people like her. Gerrit shares a quote from Joseph Smith about those who “die in Jesus Christ”   Standard of Truth Tour dates...

In this episode, we begin with a discussion of academic procrastination and how desperate Richard’s dissertation committee is to read about implied referrals. We look at Rigdon’s movement away from the teachings of the Prophet Joseph. Gerrit shares the things Rigdon was saying publicly verses things he shared privately showing how Sidney was not being an honest broker.   Standard of Truth Tour dat...

In this episode, we begin with a discussion of the impact of Sidney Rigdon’s tarring and feathering injuries on his mental health. We then move to Sydney Rigdon's attack on Joseph Smith and the Quorum of the Twelve and his founding of the Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite).   Standard of Truth Tour dates for the summer of 2025:  ⁠https://standardoftruth.com/tours/⁠ Missouri/Nauvoo – June 22nd t...

In this episode, Gerrit discusses the claim that President Joseph Fielding Smith destroyed pages of Joseph Smith’s history so that the saints wouldn’t be upset with some of the things found in the history. Gerrit also destroys Sidney Rigdon’s claims to lead the Church after the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith. THANK YOU to all of those who donated to Sweetwater Rescue. You have donated over $38,...

In this episode, we read a couple of missionary emails and talk about why the Church is mocked. We discuss our experience at the premier of the movie 6 Days in August and go on to talk about how Brigham Young follows the Prophet Joseph Smith and his teachings after Joseph and Hyrum’s death. Link to The Prodigal Son:  ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meBiSt4NgkI⁠   Standard of Truth Tour dates for...

In this episode, we begin with a celebration of the Milwaukee, Wisconsin temple. We play everyone’s favorite game “Fun with General Conference”. We discuss the historical context behind the movie Six Days in August which is a dramatization of the succession crisis after the murder of Joseph Smith.   Six Days in August Trailer: https://youtu.be/8JcNJzfDtyY?si=Fa7lKg2yUyOaATpd Where to find the film...

In this bonus episode, we play a recording that we did on the 2024 standard to tour in Palmyra. We hear the comments of tour participants and the things that they liked the most about the tour. We hope that you enjoy this bonus episode and that you are having a lovely conference weekend.   Standard of Truth Tour dates for the summer of 2025:  ⁠https://standardoftruth.com/tours/⁠ Missouri/Nauvoo –...

In this episode, we continue a deeper theological discussion of the problem of evil and what happens to the billions upon billions of people who never hear the name Jesus let alone be given the opportunity to accept Him. Gerrit’s dander is way up. In fact, in this episode on the Gerrit Dander Meter we are at a 93. Is that high? We have no frame of reference but 93 sure seems high.   Joseph Smith s...

In this episode, we discuss the theological impact of the restored gospel on Christianity. Most if not all of us have family or friends that have had a crisis of faith over some aspect of the church, church, history, or doctrine. Many of these people leave the church while still having a strong love and belief in Jesus Christ. We discussed the false choice that exists between the teachings that co...

In this episode, Gerrit discusses a book that was randomly sent to a litner, Joseph Smith Revealed: A Faithful Telling: Exploring an Alternate Polygamy Narrative. Gerrit provides an academic breakdown of the argument taking it apart piece by piece. Richard provides a slightly less comprehensive review by calling the book stupid. In these highly charged political times The Standard of Truth Podcast...

We continue our discussion on President George Albert Smith’s apocalyptic vision and Gerrit shares other quotes and warnings from modern prophets on how to prepare for the great calamities and signs of the times of the Second Coming. In addition, Richard accused Gerrit of being wealthy enough to have the Disney Channel in his youth. Richard is proven incorrect as the cartoon Gummi Bears originally...

The Standard of Truth Podcast is nothing if not hip to the kids and current social media trends. Recently a recollection of an apocalyptic vision attributed to George Albert Smith has been making its way around the interwebs. In this episode, we go through the vision and the original source. BYU archived source:  https://archives.lib.byu.edu/repositories/ltpsc/resources/upb_mss6105 Standard of Tru...

The episode begins with a TREMENDOUS amount of gratitude for those who donated to Sweetwater Rescue’s fundraiser to help Latter-day Saints in Rio Gallegos get to the temple  ( https://www.sweetwaterrescue.org ). Gerrit answers litner’s questions about the changes made to Aaronic Priesthood offices and responsibilities. Sign up for our free monthly email: ⁠  https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack....

Gerrit is asked for his favorite story from Church history, leading to a discussion of the rescue of the Willie and Martin handcart companies at the Sweetwater River.  Richard talks about the organization Sweetwater Rescue and their goal to help people get to the temple. He shares a miraculous story about saints in southern Argentina and the work being done to help them. Sweetwater Rescue website:...

Attacking the Book of Mormon is a staple of anti-Mormon commentary, however, the fact that it exists creates a problem. There are many theories about the origin of the Book of Mormon that attempt to explain it away and in this episode, we explore a lesser-known theory. Gerrit also makes a definitive statement that Joseph Smith did not steal the line “I have dreamed a dream” (1 Nephi 8:2) from the...

We start the episode by providing an answer to a litner’s email, if they could choose the date for their child to be born, what date from Church history would Gerrit choose. We then go on to answer the following questions about Joseph Smith from a missionary’s email: What was Joseph Smith’s education? What was Joseph’s military service? What were Joseph’s financial circumstances? What were some of...

In this episode, Gerrit’s dander and blood pressure both continue to remain way up as he continues to refute the assertion that Joseph was in any way a fallen prophet. Standard of Truth Tour dates for the summer of 2025: Missouri/Nauvoo – June 22nd through June 28th Palmyra/Kirtland – August 3rd through August 9th Sign up for our free monthly email:   ⁠https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com⁠...

We begin with a discussion about the author of Lectures on Faith and why was it removed from the Doctrine and Covenants. Then the episode takes a sharp turn as Gerrit refutes an argument made on social media that Joseph Smith was taken from the earth because he refused to practice polygamy. Standard of Truth Tour dates for the summer of 2025: Missouri/Nauvoo – June 22nd through June 28th Palmyra/K...

In this episode, we respond to a litner’s email who has had many friends and family leave the Church. Gerrit describes all of the problems with the standard definitions of God without the further light we receive from the Restored Gospel. We cover just about everything from mosquitos to syphilis. Gerrit also answers a question about canes made from the coffins of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. Standard o...