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 commit suicide just to get there. We have received interest in hosting a Church History tour led by Ge...
Jul 07, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 27
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 interest from the podcast listeners to go on a Standard of Truth History Tour in the summer of 2023. If you...
Jun 30, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 26
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 or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftrut...
Jun 23, 2022•55 min•Season 2Ep. 25
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
Jun 16, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 24
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-of-the-city-of-zion-circa-early-august-1833/1 If you have any questions or possible topics of discus...
Jun 09, 2022•52 min•Season 2Ep. 23
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 Mormon Missourians is immediate and violent. Link to the W. W. Phelps article: https://contentdm.lib.by...
Jun 02, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 22
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
May 26, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 30
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 land/property ownership as part of gathering in Zion. If you have any questions or possible topics ...
May 26, 2022•54 min•Season 2Ep. 21
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-of-heaven If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please ema...
May 19, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Season 2Ep. 20
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.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-response-to-jon-krakauers-under-the-banner-of-heaven If you have any questions ...
May 12, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 19
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, difficulties between the members of the Church in Missouri and Ohio are described. If you have any qu...
May 04, 2022•53 min•Season 2Ep. 18
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
Apr 28, 2022•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 17
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
Apr 21, 2022•50 min•Season 2Ep. 16
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 you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: quest...
Apr 14, 2022•47 min•Season 2Ep. 15
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
Apr 07, 2022•42 min•Season 2Ep. 14
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
Mar 31, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 13
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
Mar 24, 2022•1 hr 20 min•Season 2Ep. 12
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
Mar 17, 2022•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 11
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 issue but we will exam this idea of the course of several episodes. If you have any questions or poss...
Mar 10, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Season 2Ep. 10
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 upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com...
Mar 03, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 9
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
Feb 24, 2022•1 hr 16 min•Season 2Ep. 8
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 discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com...
Feb 21, 2022•50 min•Season 2Ep. 1
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. This discussion leads to a wider examination of the unique section of the Doctrine and Covenants, Sect...
Feb 17, 2022•58 min•Season 2Ep. 7
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 for the subject matter. This is done intentionally. This theory is a joke. This video is a joke. The f...
Feb 10, 2022•1 hr 29 min•Season 2Ep. 6
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 Tribune article that we read in the episode. https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2022/01/21/jana-riess-who-k...
Feb 03, 2022•1 hr 40 min•Season 2Ep. 5
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
Jan 27, 2022•47 min•Season 2Ep. 4
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
Jan 20, 2022•54 min•Season 2Ep. 3
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
Jan 20, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 2
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 questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standa...
Jan 06, 2022•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 1
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
Dec 30, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 31
