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 show others. Lucy Harris demands to see the plates. If you would like to join us on a Standard of Truth...
Jan 25, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 4Ep. 4
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 newsletter. We hope to see you there. Please sign up by clicking in the link below: Subscribe to our free n...
Jan 22, 2024•18 min•Season 4Ep. 1
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 please sign up at: https://standardoftruth.com/tours/ If you have any questions or possible topics o...
Jan 18, 2024•57 min•Season 4Ep. 3
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 Potters Beatrix Potter (wrote The Tale of Peter Rabbit) Lily Potter (Harry’s mom) Harry Potter (Har...
Jan 11, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 4Ep. 2
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 discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com Subscribe...
Jan 04, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Season 4Ep. 1
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 us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com Subscribe to our free newsletter - https://standardo...
Dec 28, 2023•1 hr 22 min•Season 3Ep. 52
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 possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodca...
Dec 25, 2023•25 min•Season 3Ep. 5
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 discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com Subscribe to our...
Dec 21, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Season 3Ep. 51
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=eng If you would like to join us on a Standard of Truth Tour in the summer of 2024 please sign up at:...
Dec 14, 2023•58 min•Season 3Ep. 50
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@standardoftruthpodcast.com Subscribe to our free newsletter - https://standardoftruthpodcast.substa...
Dec 07, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 3Ep. 49
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 discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com Subscribe to our ...
Nov 30, 2023•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 48
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 received many revelations that provided a new understanding of angels. The article referenced in the ep...
Nov 23, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 4
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 discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com Subscribe to...
Nov 23, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 3Ep. 47
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 up at: https://standardoftruth.com/tours/ If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion...
Nov 16, 2023•59 min•Season 3Ep. 46
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 like to join us on a Standard of Truth Tour in the summer of 2024 please sign up at: https://standa...
Nov 09, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 3Ep. 45
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 - https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com/ Please visit our website at www.standardoftruth.com...
Nov 02, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 44
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 on a Standard of Truth Tour in the summer of 2024 please sign up at: https://standardoftruth.com/tour...
Oct 26, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 3Ep. 43
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.com Subscribe to our free newsletter - https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com/ Please visit ...
Oct 19, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 3Ep. 42
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://standardoftruth.com/tours/ If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, pl...
Oct 12, 2023•54 min•Season 3Ep. 41
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 free newsletter - https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com/ Please visit our website at www.st...
Oct 05, 2023•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 39
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 topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com Su...
Sep 28, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 3Ep. 38
In this episode, we discuss the bizarre conclusion to George Adam's attempts to found a Church prepared for the Second Coming and Richard learns that at least one 13-year-old listens just for his sports references. 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...
Sep 21, 2023•46 min•Season 3Ep. 38
In this week’s episode, a listener's question about the Council of Fifty leads us to a discussion of George Adams and a blistering letter from his brother Elias over the James Strang controversy. 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 newslette...
Sep 14, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Season 3Ep. 37
We were so excited to launch our Standard of Truth Tours for 2024...and then our credit card processor (Square) crashed. We talk about a couple of funny things that happened and read several funny responses that we received. We are sorry for the issue. It appears to be fixed and if you ran into issues yesterday we hope that today you will have a better experience 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/...
Sep 08, 2023•11 min•Season 3Ep. 3
We are excited to announce two tours in 2024. Please click on the link for additional details https://standardoftruth.com/tours/
Sep 07, 2023•16 min•Season 3Ep. 2
In this week’s episode, a listener takes Richard to the woodshed because she believes his discussion of what constitutes a "general authority" is incorrect. We discuss the historical beginnings of the term. Difference between Area Authority Seventy and General Authority Seventy https://www.thechurchnews.com/2021/4/1/23264989/what-is-a-general-authority-area-seventy-general-officer-area-presidency-church-organization If you would like to join us on a Standard of Truth Tour in the summer of 2024 p...
Sep 07, 2023•50 min•Season 3Ep. 36
We discuss the final charge of Joseph Smith to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles wherein Joseph gave all of the keys he possessed to the Twelve collectively shortly before he was murdered. Wilford Woodruff Testimony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NjANSFISFY 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 - https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com/ Please visit our...
Aug 31, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 3Ep. 35
Disclaimer: Halfway through the episode Richard’s mic stopped working. You’re welcome. In this episode, we answer a thoughtful listener's question about the origin of the oft-quoted missionary stanza (and our podcast's namesake) The Standard of Truth. 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 - https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com/ Please visit our website ...
Aug 24, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 3Ep. 34
In this episode, we finally get to a persistent listener’s email. We didn’t come close to answering his question, but by reading a portion of his email we felt that we met him halfway. Gerrit and Richard answer a listener's question about the awkward phrasing of "the Ohio" in the Doctrine and Covenants. They then focus on a question from a listener about the sometimes overwhelming thought that some of us have found the Restored Gospel while so many billions have not. Subscribe to our free newsle...
Aug 17, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 3Ep. 33
Richard and Gerrit discuss Gerrit’s favorite topic…Mormon Hell…or the lack thereof in response to a listener’s question. Rex’s Elder’s Quorum President should begin listening at the 9th minute 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 - https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com/ Please visit our website at www.standardoftruth.com...
Aug 10, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Season 3Ep. 32
