In this episode we discuss the relationship between Brigham Young and John Taylor. We read an email from a descendant of John Taylor who shares a story from her family history that the two of them were never friends. Link to Sunstone Conference discussion mentioned by Gerrit: https://sunstone.org/never-friends-brigham-young-and-john-taylor/ Subscribe to our free newsletter Please visit our website at www.standardoftruth.com If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming ...
Jan 19, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 3Ep. 3
A recent internet post about the mother of Mary and a question about whether or not Jesus had brothers and sisters led to a discussion that examined early Christian noncanonical gospels and Catholic tradition. Subscribe to our free newsletter 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...
Jan 12, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Welcome to Season 3 of the Standard of Truth Podcast. In this episode we continue our discussion on the nature of God, the Trinity, and the question “Are Mormon’s Christian?”. We do a deeper theological dive into the nature of Jesus and try to find common ground on the idea of salvation ultimately coming through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Subscribe to our free newsletter Please visit our website at www.standardoftruth.com If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcomin...
Jan 05, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 1
We wrap up our foray into early Christian theology (for now) and discuss some of the unique aspects of Latter-day Saint theology that are different from traditional Christians. Again, we apologize for the poor audio quality. 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 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG0yyZlH_HYWmKegHoC96ig/featured...
Dec 29, 2022•56 min•Season 2Ep. 52
Transcript
Dec 23, 2022•59 min
The discussion about Latter-day Saint beliefs about Christ and early Christian history continues from the previous week. Because we were traveling outside of our “studio” but wanted to deliver a podcast, the audio quality is poor on this and the next episode. We apologize for that. The content is the same level of quality you get every week; we will let you determine what that is. Please visit our website at www.standardoftruth.com If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for u...
Dec 22, 2022•59 min•Season 2Ep. 51
A recent uptick in social media conversations about whether or not Latter-day Saints (Mormons) are really Christians causes Gerrit and Richard to wade into early Christian theology. You have not lived until you have had a discussion about Arianism. 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 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG0yyZlH_H...
Dec 15, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 50
In this episode Gerrit examines the claims that particular emphasis was given to part of Joseph Smith History by way of punctuation. Few things are more exciting than punctuation. 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 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG0yyZlH_HYWmKegHoC96ig/featured...
Dec 08, 2022•52 min•Season 2Ep. 49
In this episode, Gerrit finally gets to the Mormon Battalion and exposes James K. Polk as the liar he is. Controversial we know, we only hope that Gerrit’s aggressive attacks on President Polk will not offend our Polkite listeners. We also discuss the temple work done for the Founding Fathers and Wilford Woodruff’s vision. Link to Wilford Woodruff’s journal: https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets/eb07ddd8-d258-43b3-82fd-1b0bc186b269/0/275 Link to conference address (end of page 89): http...
Dec 01, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 48
In this episode, we continue with our discussion of the context for the Mormon Battalion as the Federal Government continues its disinformation campaign with the Saints. We share some specific conversations that Jesse Little has with Thomas Kane and President James Polk. 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 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube....
Nov 24, 2022•54 min•Season 2Ep. 47
We start the episode as we usually do by ranking hells. Mormon hell is obviously the best, then Jehovah's Witness hell and Catholic purgatory. Gerrit has been upfront with his anti-camping agenda but extends his feelings about camping to Trek. We discuss Samuel Brannan, head of the Church in the Eastern U.S., telling Brigham Young that the Secretary of War is saying that the saints need to be obliterated. We also talk about Manifest Destiny and Gerrit says that this time in history Mormons are t...
Nov 17, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 46
We wanted to apologize for some audio issues in this week's episode. We will try to fix the audio on the upcoming Mormon Battalion episodes. In this episode, we set the context for America at the time of the Mexican-American War. At the time the majority of Americans make their living through farming and westward expansion continues as land is the driver of social standing and monetary wealth. We also discuss both the blessing and curse of saints gathering altogether and look at Nauvoo and Illin...
Nov 10, 2022•51 min•Season 2Ep. 45
In this episode, we continue our discussion of a self-published anti-Mormon book. We talk about the poor genealogical research done by the author (thank you for the help Family Search). We also address Polygamy and DNA testing, claims of Sydney Rigdon writing the Book of Mormon, and last but not least claims of attempted William Law wife swapping. With our first Standard of Truth Book Review, we give Mormon Counterfeiting the lowest of possible scores: 13 Willard Richard’s pistols down Please vi...
Nov 03, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Season 2Ep. 44
We received a question from a listener about a self-published anti-Mormon book and we again examine why using real sources matters. We talk about the difference between a person who likes history and a historian. Example: Richard likes history (not really, but for the purpose of this example we will say that he does). Dr. Dirkmaat is a historian. We also discuss the problem with self-publishing books and making arguments that no one else is making. We show an example from Church history on how m...
Oct 27, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 43
In this episode, we continue our discussion of polyandry, specifically discussing the sources that relate to Marinda Hyde. We talk about the one source used by people antagonistic to the Church and then we also discuss additional sources that are never mentioned on anti-Mormon blogs and subreddits because they do not support their argument. 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: que...
Oct 20, 2022•57 min•Season 2Ep. 42
No, you are not caught in a time vortex. It is not Season 38 yet, but we answer a listener’s specific question about plural marriage. 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
Oct 13, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 41
In this week's episode, we respond to an email we received about Prosperity Theology, specifically D&C 130:20-21. We also discuss current apostate movements that claim Brigham Young has led the Church astray and Joseph Smith never practiced polygamy. We talk about a meme sent by a listener that claims Brigham Young changed Joseph Smith's journal to justify polygamy. The links below take you to Joseph Smith's original journal entry and the Church History record that references Joseph Smith's ...
Oct 06, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 40
In this week's episode, we continue to discuss the theology of the Prosperity Gospel. We play a clip from a Joel Olsteen sermon to help the listener understand how these ideas are also taught outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Gerrit shares several heartbreaking experiences from early Saints (Wilford Woodruff and Stillman Pond) who experience struggle after struggle and trial after trial despite being incredibly faithful and obedient. Gerrit ends with a quote from Joseph Sm...
Sep 29, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Season 2Ep. 39
In this week's episode, we respond to a listener's email about the ideas surrounding Prosperity Gospel Theology. Gerrit begins with a discussion about paganism and the idea of worshiping a god for immediate gain as a contrast to Jesus saying that His Kingdom is not of this world. Gerrit also talks about how the notion that all of our suffering or all of our prosperity is directly connected to our level of righteousness can create faith crises. Please visit our website at www.standardoftruth.com ...
Sep 22, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 38
In this week's episode, we conclude our discussion about the signs of the times. We start with an email from the Ebenezar Hazard Mailbag and discuss a book about the Second Coming written by Latter-day Saint authors mentioned in an earlier email. Gerrit shares several problematic statements made about the Second Coming and explains that while every day the Second Coming is closer than the day before, the Lord will let us know what we should do through his prophet and not through cryptic interpre...
Sep 15, 2022•54 min•Season 2Ep. 37
In this bonus episode, we talk about the details of the Standard of Truth Tour that Gerrit will be leading from Boston to Cleveland starting on Monday, June 5th, and going through Sunday, June 11th. We discuss some of the details of the tour and Gerrit shares additional information about the sites we will be visiting. The tour bus we have booked has room for 44 people and we have 20 spots remaining. Thank you for your interest and we hope to see you in June. Sign-ups for the Standard of Truth To...
Sep 12, 2022•42 min•Season 2Ep. 1
In this week's episode, we continue our discussion about the signs of the times and the Savior's Second Coming. Gerrit discusses religious movements from history where the end of the world was predicted. He goes into detail on William Miller and the Great Disappointment of 1844. Gerrit shares a quote from Joseph Smith talking about the Millerite Movement and says that all that give exact times of the Savior's Second Coming are false teachers. Also, as assumed by many, Samuel Osgood's Estate refu...
Sep 08, 2022•48 min•Season 2Ep. 36
In this week's episode, we discuss the signs of the times of the Savior's Second Coming. Gerrit discusses several quotes that are used when teaching about the Second Coming and provides historical context. Gerrit also describes how people use proof-texting to prove a point or win an argument. The episode ends with a Millerite tease, the worst tease in podcast history, that we will discuss in Part 2. Richard attempts to gain sponsorship for the opening mailbag segment to no avail. Sign-ups for th...
Sep 01, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 35
In this episode, we give a tribute to a great friend who recently passed away. We discuss one of his favorite scriptures (D&C 58:4) and provide additional content for section 58 of the Doctrine and Covenants. This larger context leads to a discussion about trials and tribulations and the promised blessings from the Lord. We also discuss the faithfulness of Lydia and Edward Partridge. Gerrit may also take occasional pot shots at Independence Missouri. If you have any questions or possible top...
Aug 25, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 34
In this episode, we discuss the recently discovered daguerreotype that has been reported to be the only known photo of the prophet Joseph Smith. We also discuss how documents and artifacts are authenticated. A slight tangent is taken to discuss approved mission music and primetime hospital dramas from the 90s. If you love Chicago Hope you are in for a real treat. If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast...
Aug 18, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 33
We are on remote coming to you from the Yucatán peninsula (or at least in the buffet line of a cruise ship off the coast of Cancun). In this episode, we discuss the ancient Mayan people as viewed through the eyes of Diego de Landa. We discuss his book from the 16th century and his belief on the origin of the Mayan people and their mode of baptism. We also discuss the Church’s position on where the Book of Mormon took place. Based on exhaustive archeological research Richard believes that he has ...
Aug 11, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 32
In this episode, we continue our discussion of the Apocrypha. The podcast starts with a 19th-century Latter-day Saint view of the Apocrypha. Gerrit asks Richard a question where Richard has a 50% shot of getting it right… He gets it wrong. We also read from 2 Ezras and its reference to the lost 10 tribes and Zion being built up. This all provides the context for Joseph receiving the revelation for D&C Section 91. If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcast...
Aug 04, 2022•53 min•Season 2Ep. 31
We had some technical difficulties that prevented the podcast dropping on Thursday. We are sorry for that. In the episode this week, 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.co...
Jul 29, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 30
In this episode, we continue our discussion of the 1861 letter to Brigham Young from W. W. Phelps. We provide insight into Brigham Young's feelings for W.W. Phelps as well as an 1831 account of the mission to the Native Americans from Ezra Booth. We conclude with the words of W. W. Phelps from the Council of Fifty minutes in 1845 that cast doubt on the accuracy of Phelps' memory of the events of 1831 We have received interest in hosting a Church History tour led by Gerrit for our podcast listene...
Jul 21, 2022•55 min•Season 2Ep. 29
In this episode, we find out what a terrible friend Gerrit is as he recommends a brutal history class for Richard to take. Richard has still not forgiven him. We also talk about polygamy. In 1861 Brigham Young receives a letter from W. W. Phelps that discusses a revelation Phelps claims Joseph Smith received in 1831. The Civil War and polygamy feature prominently. We talk about the merits of the revelation and why it was not included in the Joseph Smith Papers. We have received interest in hosti...
Jul 14, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 28
