Standard of Truth

The purpose of this podcast is to help Latter-Day Saints better understand their history and increase their faith. The podcast hosted by Dr. Gerrit Dirkmaat, associate professor of Church History and Doctrine at BYU.

Gerrit Goes Hard in the Paint on Hurlbut and Solomon Spaulding Part 2

If you love the anti-Mormon book Mormonism Unvailed boy, do we have an episode for you. In this episode, Gerrit reads from Mormonism Unvailed where definitive statement after definitive statement is given by friends and family of Solomon Spaulding saying how the Book of Mormon was taken word for word from Spaulding’s manuscript called “Manuscript Found”. Unfortunately for all of Spaulding’s lying friends and family, Manuscript Found is found and doesn’t resemble anything in the Book of Mormon at all. We also replay part of Gerrit’s rant from a previous premium episode.  Sign up for our free monthly email: ⁠ ⁠https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com⁠ If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: ⁠⁠questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com⁠

05-16
01:09:18

Gerrit Goes Hard in the Paint on Hurlbut and Solomon Spaulding Part 1

In a premium episode several weeks ago Gerrit may or may have gone on a rant about Doctor Philastus Hurlbut and Solomon Spaulding and we wanted to play a section of that rant. So In this episode, Gerrit provides additional context to Hurlbut and the Solomon Spaulding Manuscript. Gerrit also talks about the Restoration Proclamation that was read during General Conference in April 2020. Sign up for our free monthly email: ⁠ https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: ⁠questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

05-09
54:12

Lesser Known Heroes from Church History - Eliza Dana Gibbs Part 2

We continue our discussion of Eliza Gibbs and the trials she suffered in Nauvoo, Iowa, and Utah. Despite her difficulty, she remained faithful. Gerrit shares a letter to Eliza from Wilford Woodruff to comfort her and share with her the laws that govern angels and spirits that depart this life.   Sign up for our free monthly email: ⁠ ⁠https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com⁠ We had a couple of cancelations and have a couple of spots available on the Palmyra/Kirtland tour and 2 spots available on the Missouri/Nauvoo tour. ⁠https://standardoftruth.com/tours/⁠  If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: ⁠⁠questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com⁠

05-02
01:09:51

Lesser Known Heroes from Church History - Eliza Dana Gibbs Part 1

We begin this episode, like most episodes, with a discussion of the faith crisis of a 19th-century 20-year-old woman with consumption (tuberculosis). She has a miraculous experience and seven years later is introduced to the gospel. She believes the message immediately and despite the opposition she faced by her family she joins the Church.  Images mentioned on the podcast: ⁠https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13hmR2rOTiVKUWRZblFsmG9hTwIu7R_oU?usp=share_link⁠ Sign up for our free monthly email: ⁠ ⁠https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com⁠ We had a couple of cancelations and have a couple of spots available on the Palmyra/Kirtland tour and 2 spots available on the Missouri/Nauvoo tour. ⁠https://standardoftruth.com/tours/⁠  If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: ⁠⁠questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com⁠

04-25
01:02:18

The Angel Raphael and Other Ninja Turtles

In this episode, Gerrit discusses D&C 128 and the identity of the Angel Raphael. We start with what we know from modern revelation and then bring in the Apocrypha. We talk about the Book of Tobit, written by Tobit, where Raphael is discussed but his identity is not disclosed. Gerrit also discusses the Book of Jude and the Book of Enoch. The Book of Enoch is not in the Apocrypha but was mentioned in the Book of Jude and was in circulation at the time of Jesus. Photo of Raphael binding a demon: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1beqKOIU_S3NeP4uQJw8olnCqOPMXiD1K/view?usp=share_link Sign up for our free monthly email: ⁠ https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com The Kirtland temple is under new management. See it with us the first week of June. We have ordered a larger bus, and a few spots are still available. https://standardoftruth.com/tour-baltimore-gettysburg-harmony-fayette-palmyra-kirtland-cleveland/ If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: ⁠questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

04-18
01:06:05

Bonus 5 – Thoughts on Following the Prophet After Conference

Gerrit shares some of his thoughts about the responses to several talks during General Conference. He compares the responses of General Conference to the responses to “The Vision”. We read a letter from Joseph Smith discussing the response to “The Vision”. We also had a very kind anonymous donor offer to pay for the Standard of Truth Tour for six people. We are calling it the Dirk Moss Scholarship. The gift is for the Palmyra/Kirtland tour and people would still be responsible for booking their airfare and paying for about half of their meals. The transportation, hotels, tickets to sites and roughly half of the food costs would be covered. If you know someone that would be interested, please nominate them and share their story with us at our email questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com. We had a couple of cancelations and have a couple spots available on the Palmyra/Kirtland tour and 2 spots available on the Missouri/Nauvoo tour. https://standardoftruth.com/tours/ 

04-15
29:39

The Angel Gabriel and a Good Old-Fashioned Feet Dusting

In this episode, Richard starts by thanking all the kind listeners who donated money to help 118 people in Peru travel to the Arequipa Temple. We discuss a listener’s question about Joseph Smith telling the missionaries in Cincinnati to wash the dust of that wicked city off their feet. Gerrit talks about the likely origin of that story and provides additional context. We also discuss the keys given to Joseph Smith by Michael and Gabriel and where we learn that Michael is Adam and Gabriel is Noah. Pictures of the Saints at the Arequipa Temple: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1BV8emiUb9--07RvkHY06fSZw7S7pOMzj?usp=sharing Sign up for our free monthly email: ⁠ https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com The Kirtland temple is under new management. See it with us the first week of June. We have ordered a larger bus, and a few spots are still available. https://standardoftruth.com/tour-baltimore-gettysburg-harmony-fayette-palmyra-kirtland-cleveland/ If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: ⁠questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

04-11
01:05:09

Bonus 4 – Explaining Poor Audio and Conference Report

On Thursday we released an episode that sounded like it was recorded in Gerrit’s bathroom in a cave. We fixed the audio and explained how you can access it. We also give our thoughts from the 194th Annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Spoiler Alert, we liked it. Sign up for our free monthly email: ⁠ https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com The Kirtland temple is under new management. See it with us the first week of June. We have ordered a larger bus, and 10 spots are still available. https://standardoftruth.com/tour-baltimore-gettysburg-harmony-fayette-palmyra-kirtland-cleveland/ If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: ⁠questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

04-08
25:54

Statements from the Three Witnesses (primarily Martin Harris)

We had a corrupted audio file that made the episode sound terrible. We have fixed the audio quality, however, the terrible content remains. We apologize for the inconvenience. We begin the episode with how a person can resolve concerns they may have with Church history. Gerrit begins by sharing several statements from Martin Harris as he witnesses of the Gold Plates. He also shares a testimony of Oliver Cowdery For details about our live studio audience recording on Saturday, March 16th please sign up for our free newsletter: ⁠https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com/⁠ If you would like to join us on a Standard of Truth Tour in Palmyra and Kirtland on June 7 spots are still available: https://standardoftruth.com/tours/ If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: ⁠questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com Please visit our website at ⁠www.standardoftruth.com⁠

04-04
01:07:53

Live Studio Audience Part 2 (Politics and Polygamy)

In this episode, we really wanted everyone in attendance to feel comfortable, so we discussed politics and polygamy. We learned the history of political parties in Utah, and we talked about the insanity of Idaho’s Anti-Mormon Constitution that disenfranchised Mormons regardless of whether or not they practiced polygamy. We also learned that Richard is not capacitated to pronounce the word “anarchist”. Sign up for our free monthly email: ⁠ https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com The Kirtland temple is under new management. See it with us the first week of June. We have ordered a larger bus, and 10 spots are still available. https://standardoftruth.com/tour-baltimore-gettysburg-harmony-fayette-palmyra-kirtland-cleveland/ If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: ⁠questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

03-28
01:05:59

Live Studio Audience Part 1 (Phebe Draper Mail Bag)

Like every sitcom in the 1980s, this episode was recorded in front of a live studio audience. We cannot even begin to thank all the amazing people who attended the event. People came from all over the country and we cannot properly articulate how much fun we had. Many listeners to the show brought friends and significant others who do not listen and have never listened. These people brought to the show against their will are the true heroes among us just behind the military, teachers, emergency responders, Officer R, and the men and women working at Jersey Mike’s. In this episode, we answered litner questions from the Phebe Draper Mail Bag. We start with a question from Dan (who did not want to be there) about the Small Plates of Nephi. We then answered questions about the name Gerrit would give to his rock band, the meaning of the symbols on the pulpits in the Kirtland Temple, the Three Nephites, and the teachings from the stolen 116 pages. We end the episode with a question about the Church’s unpaid ministry.  Sign up for our free monthly email: ⁠ ⁠https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com⁠ The Kirtland temple is under new management. See it with us the first week of June. We have ordered a larger bus, and 10 spots are still available. ⁠https://standardoftruth.com/tour-baltimore-gettysburg-harmony-fayette-palmyra-kirtland-cleveland/⁠ If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: ⁠⁠questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com⁠

03-21
01:11:02

Witnesses of the Book of Mormon Part 5 (we finally get to it)

We finally get back to the Witnesses of the Book of Mormon. Sure, we first spend a little time talking about the Book of Abraham and the characters copied from the gold plates, but then we jump right into the Whitmer family being baptized. After much “teasing” by Martin, Oliver, and David Joseph Smith goes to the Lord and receives D&C 17 as a revelation. The Angel Moroni shows the gold plates to Oliver, David, and Martin, and the voice of the Lord commands them to testify of the Book of Mormon. Kirtland Temple architecture plans used to hold part of the papyrus together: https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/plan-of-the-house-of-the-lord-in-kirtland-ohio-fragments-circa-june-1833/1 Image of Book of Mormon characters copied by John Whitmer: https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/appendix-2-document-1-characters-copied-by-john-whitmer-circa-1829-1831/1 For details about our live studio audience recording on Saturday, March 16th please sign up for our free newsletter: ⁠https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com/⁠ If you would like to join us on a Standard of Truth Tour in Palmyra and Kirtland on June 7 spots are still available: https://standardoftruth.com/tours/ If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: ⁠questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com Please visit our website at  ⁠www.standardoftruth.com⁠

03-14
01:00:01

Bonus 3 - Dedication of the Kirtland Temple

In this bonus episode, we replay sections of a previous episode from season 3 where we discuss the origin of the Hosanna Shout and the dedication of the Kirtland Temple.

03-07
45:18

The Church Acquires the Kirtland Temple and Nauvoo Properties

In this episode, we discuss the historic purchase of the Kirtland Temple and other Nauvoo properties. Gerrit provides additional insight into the properties that the Church has acquired.  Map of Nauvoo: ⁠https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/bc-jsp/content/jsp/images/content/library/pdf/D10_Nauvoo-Plat.pdf⁠ For details about our live studio audience recording on Saturday, March 16th please sign up for our free newsletter: ⁠⁠https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com/⁠⁠ If you would like to join us on a Standard of Truth Tour in Palmyra and Kirtland on June 7 spots are still available: ⁠https://standardoftruth.com/tours/⁠ If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: ⁠⁠questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com⁠ Please visit our website at ⁠⁠www.standardoftruth.com⁠⁠

03-07
01:13:13

Bonus - Update on Live Event

In this bonus episode, we discuss additional details of our live event on Saturday, March 16th at 6:00 PM in Orem.  Space is limited so if you would like to purchase tickets to attend the event please click on the link below to sign up for the free monthly newsletter: ⁠https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com/⁠

03-01
19:12

Questioning Scriptures and Frustration with Politics

In this episode, we begin the podcast by talking about the pseudepigraphal nature of some of the books of the New Testament and the problem with the process academics use for identifying pseudepigraphal records. We also talk about the importance of modern-day revelation in understanding the scriptures. A litner talks about their frustration with politics making their way into their Sunday experience and Gerrit shares a quote from Brigham Young that squashes the idea of political arguments in the Church calling it “political gentile warfare” and saying there is no place for it in the Kingdom of God. For details about our live studio audience recording on Saturday, March 16th please sign up for our free newsletter: ⁠https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com/⁠ If you would like to join us on a Standard of Truth Tour in Palmyra and Kirtland on June 7 spots are still available: https://standardoftruth.com/tours/ If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: ⁠questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com Please visit our website at ⁠www.standardoftruth.com⁠

02-29
01:07:25

Oliver Cowdery Attempts to Translate

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 Saturday, March 16th please sign up for our free newsletter: ⁠https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com/⁠ If you would like to join us on a Standard of Truth Tour in Palmyra and Kirtland on June 7 spots are still available: https://standardoftruth.com/tours/ If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: ⁠questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com Please visit our website at ⁠www.standardoftruth.com⁠

02-22
01:07:59

Witnesses of the Book of Mormon Part 4

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 Urim and Thummim, and the pattern the Lord has in making changes to revelations. For details about our live studio audience recording on Saturday, March 16th please sign up for our free newsletter: ⁠https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com/⁠ If you would like to join us on a Standard of Truth Tour in Palmyra and Kirtland on June 7 spots are still available: https://standardoftruth.com/tours/ If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: ⁠questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com Please visit our website at ⁠www.standardoftruth.com⁠

02-15
01:09:37

Witnesses of the Book of Mormon Part 3

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 by Oliver Cowdery and his coming to Harmony to begin the work of translation. For details about our live studio audience recording on Saturday, March 16th please sign up for our free newsletter: ⁠https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com/⁠ If you would like to join us on a Standard of Truth Tour in Palmyra and Kirtland on June 7 spots are still available: https://standardoftruth.com/tours/ If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: ⁠questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com Please visit our website at ⁠www.standardoftruth.com⁠

02-08
01:08:38

Witnesses of the Book of Mormon Part 2

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 on Saturday, March 16th please sign up for our free newsletter: ⁠https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com/⁠ If you would like to join us on a Standard of Truth Tour in Palmyra and Kirtland on June 7 spots are still available: https://standardoftruth.com/tours/ If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: ⁠questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com Please visit our website at ⁠www.standardoftruth.com⁠

02-01
01:08:27

Susan Baker

This is so hard to listen to! I hope the reverb recording is a one off.

04-04 Reply

Larry Dickinson

getif. I I I II. I I well we can it iif me y or

09-22 Reply

Susan Baker

My cousin turned me on to your podcast last month. I have been spending hours with you every day, listening from the beginning, and when I get caught up, I may have to start over. My children have left the faith, one by one, and I'm thinking it's time to tell my returned missionary sons that they ought to spend at least as much time listening to you as they did to the antis. And, my daughter, who has degrees in history, poly-sci, and law, if she could get past her disdain for the Church's stand on a few issues, I think would love the expertise on 19th history that just flows freely.

08-08 Reply

ALISA DUNN

I hear lots of criticism that doesn't sound reasonable from you two. Any body knows you shouldn't trust a man who's just educated even after years, especially seeing what's happening now in the world now with marxism.

02-10 Reply

Matt Bowen

Excellent information, historical, factual, entertaining

01-29 Reply

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