Standard of Truth

In this episode, we take a slight departure from the Witnesses of the Book of Mormon to answer a litner’s question about Oliver’s attempt to translate the Book of Mormon. Gerrit provides additional context for Doctrine and Covenants Sections 7, 8, and 9. In addition, we find out that California exports 56 million pounds of cilantro per year. For details about our live studio audience recording on...

Richard feels so confident coming off his first ever successful football pick (Kansas City over San Francisco) that he predicts the Collingwood Magpies to repeat winning back-to-back McClelland Trophies under the veteran leadership of Jack Crisp. Gerrit discusses the context and history of Doctrine and Covenants sections 10 and 17. Gerrit also talks about the items seen by the Three Witnesses, the...

In this episode, we continue our discussion about the witnesses of the Gold Plates, but we start with Richard’s picks for the Super Bowl which he claims to be his stone-cold lock of the century. We also read several wonderful emails from listeners. For those that care to listen to more spiritual matters the Rex’s Elders Quorum President start time is 27:17. We talk about a vision of the Savior had...

In this episode, we continue our discussion about the witnesses of the Gold Plates. We discuss the setting where Joseph first learns that he will be allowed to show the plates to witnesses. We also talk about the attempt by Lucy Harris to force Joseph to show the plates or be found guilty of fraud. Rex’s Elders Quorum President start time: 17:37 For details about our live studio audience recording...

In a surprise usurpation of power, Richard presents a top five list of facts surrounding modern day polygamy before Gerrit can shut his microphone off.  We answer a listener's question about when Joseph might have realized that he was indeed called as a prophet and then begin a discussion about the heavy burden Joseph Smith carried even after he obtained the plates because he was not allowed to sh...

We are excited to annouce a recording of the Standard of Truth Podcast in front of a live studio audience. We would love for you to come. We are working on possible venues and are tentatively looking at the date of Saturday March 16th. We will have some fun giveaways and will be answering listeners questions. All of the details as well as tickets for the event will be found in our monthly newslett...

In this episode we discuss some of the implications of Calvinism at the time of the Restoration juxtaposed against the religious world today and discussed the history behind the Book of Mormon Title Page and the early attacks on Joseph Smith from the same Egbert Grandin that would eventually publish the Book of Mormon. If you would like to join us on a Standard of Truth Tour in the summer of 2024...

In this episode, we discuss an obscure anti-Mormon argument that confronted a missionary in the field. The story is about Arnold Potter a former member of the Church that became a self-declared Messiah and referred to himself as Potter Christ. At the end of the episode, Gerrit brings this crazy story back to current issues that we face from modern-day apostate arguments. Rick Duke’s Top 5 Favorite...

To usher in a new season and the study of the Book of Mormon we have a discussion of the original Preface to the Book of Mormon and the central aspect of the Book or Mormon and Joseph Smith in our beliefs about Jesus. If you would like to join us on a Standard of Truth Tour in the summer of 2024 please sign up at: https://standardoftruth.com/tours/ If you have any questions or possible topics of d...

In this episode we fulfill our promise from weeks ago and discuss a couple more questions listeners have asked about Moroni, such as his relationship with the Manti temple. If you would like to join us on a Standard of Truth Tour in the summer of 2024 please sign up at: https://standardoftruth.com/tours/ If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email...

We hope everyone has a Merry Christmas...our present to you...which is like getting coal in your stocking, is a bonus episode in which we read a letter from an early pioneer about what Christmas was like for the early Saints in Utah. If you would like to join us on a Standard of Truth Tour in the summer of 2024 please sign up at: https://standardoftruth.com/tours/ If you have any questions or poss...

If you ever wondered how rabbit pies and Puritanism affected the history of Christmas in America and Europe, then this is the podcast for you.  We examine Wilford Woodruff's Christmas celebration over the years. If you would like to join us on a Standard of Truth Tour in the summer of 2024 please sign up at: https://standardoftruth.com/tours/ If you have any questions or possible topics of discuss...

We started off with a plan to provide some addendums to our Moroni episodes, but a listener's touching email kind of derailed us into a discussion about faith, testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and President Ballard.  We also discuss the 1st Punic War. President M. Russell Ballard's 2023 conference address: ⁠https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/10/41ballard?lang=e...

We continue our discussion about antagonistic claims against Joseph Smith that were eventually repeated in the 20th century in a pseudo-academic source. If you would like to join us on a Standard of Truth Tour in the summer of 2024 please sign up at: https://standardoftruth.com/tours/ If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at:  ⁠questions@...

We respond to a question from a sister serving her mission in Pennsylvania who had someone call them up and share an outlandish story about Mormons attempting to trick people by faking the ability to on water. If you would like to join us on a Standard of Truth Tour in the summer of 2024 please sign up at: https://standardoftruth.com/tours/ If you have any questions or possible topics of discussio...

This episode that was referenced in Moroni Part 5 and so we wanted to make it easier to find by dropping it as a bonus episode. We hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving. 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 r...

We conclude the five-part series on the Angel Moroni. We discuss additional scolding and training that Moroni gives to the Prophet Joseph Smith. We also spend some time discussing Latter-day Saint belief on angels. If you would like to join us on a Standard of Truth Tour in the summer of 2024 please sign up at: https://standardoftruth.com/tours/ If you have any questions or possible topics of disc...

We conclude our four-part series on the Angel Moroni by admitting that there will be at least one more episode on the Angel Moroni. We talk about the temptation that Joseph Smith has to use the Gold Plates to solve the Smith family’s financial problems and the additional instruction he receives from Moroni. If you would like to join us on a Standard of Truth Tour in the summer of 2024 please sign...

In this episode, we discuss the book I gave Gerrit for his birthday. The book was a review of the opinion that the Supreme Court rendered in 1878 in the case of George Reynolds on the issue of polygamy. It was a ploy to get Gerrit to discuss polygamy...which he did. We also continued our discussion on the things Moroni taught Joseph Smith that prepared him to receive the Gold Plates. If you would...

In this episode, we continue our discussion about Moroni’s interaction with Joseph Smith. If you would like to join us on a Standard of Truth Tour in the summer of 2024 please sign up at: https://standardoftruth.com/tours/ If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at:  ⁠questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com Subscribe to our free newsletter⁠  -...

In this episode, we review some of the extensive feedback we received in the Hero Worship episodes and then start the long process of answering a question we received from a listener who was actively in labor as she wrote the email, a first for our show, about the role and importance of Moroni since we just had the 200th anniversary of his first appearance to Joseph. If you would like to join us o...

In this episode, we continue our discussion on hero worship and give several examples from the early days of Joseph Smith.  If you would like to join us on a Standard of Truth Tour in the summer of 2024 please sign up at:  ⁠https://standardoftruth.com/tours/⁠ If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at:  ⁠⁠questions@standardoftruthpodcast.co...

In this episode, we begin with an emailer's question about dogs going to heaven. We also discuss the problem of “hero worship” in the church. The point is made that there is a problem anytime we care about anyone or anything more than the teachings of Jesus Christ and His prophets.  If you would like to join us on a Standard of Truth Tour in the summer of 2024 please sign up at: https://standardof...

In this episode, we discuss the history of the Hosanna shout from Kirtland to Salt Lake and beyond.  If you would like to join us on a Standard of Truth Tour in the summer of 2024 please sign up at:  ⁠https://standardoftruth.com/tours/⁠ If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at:  ⁠⁠questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com⁠ ⁠Subscribe to our fr...

In this episode, we discuss the claim made by the pastor at Alvin Smith’s funeral that Alvin was in hell because he wasn’t baptized. We go on to discuss the role that baptism plays for other Christians and Latter-day Saints. If you would like to join us on a Standard of Truth Tour in the summer of 2024 please sign up at: https://standardoftruth.com/tours/ If you have any questions or possible topi...