Standard of Truth

Nov 14 2024 200 ep. 61 mins 237
Standard of Truth Podcast artwork

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.

  Religion & Spirituality
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Questions About Eternal Sealings

Nov 14 2024 65 mins  
In this episode, Gerrit’s dander is way up as we focus on a question from a litner about celestial marriage. A wonderful sister who was baptized later in life has a husband who has no desire to join the Church, and she wanted to know the opportunity for eternal marriage for people like her. Gerrit shares a quote from Joseph Smith about those who “die in Jesus Christ” Standar

Sidney Rigdon’s Apostasy Part 3

Nov 07 2024 82 mins  
In this episode, we begin with a discussion of academic procrastination and how desperate Richard’s dissertation committee is to read about implied referrals. We look at Rigdon’s movement away from the teachings of the Prophet Joseph. Gerrit shares the things Rigdon was saying publicly verses things he shared privately showing how Sydney was not being an honest broker. Stand

Sidney Rigdon’s Apostasy Part 2

Oct 31 2024 69 mins  
In this episode, we begin with a discussion of the impact of Sydney Rigdon’s tarring and feathering injuries on his mental health. We then move to Sydney Rigdon’s attack on Joseph Smith and the Quorum of the Twelve and his founding of the Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite). Standard of Truth Tour dates for the summer of 2025: ⁠https://standardoftruth.com/tours/⁠ Missou

Sidney Rigdon’s Apostasy Part 1

Oct 23 2024 73 mins  
In this episode, Gerrit discusses the claim that President Joseph Fielding Smith destroyed pages of Joseph Smith’s history so that the saints wouldn’t be upset with some of the things found in the history. Gerrit also destroys Sydney Rigdon’s claims to lead the Church after the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith. THANK YOU to all of those who donated to Sweetwater Rescue. Yo

Following the Prophet Joseph Smith After his Death

Oct 17 2024 55 mins  
In this episode, we read a couple of missionary emails and talk about why the Church is mocked. We discuss our experience at the premier of the movie 6 Days in August and go on to talk about how Brigham Young follows the Prophet Joseph Smith and his teachings after Joseph and Hyrum’s death. Link to The Prodigal Son: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meBiSt4NgkI⁠ Standard of

Six Days in August

Oct 10 2024 71 mins  
In this episode, we begin with a celebration of the Milwaukee, Wisconsin temple. We play everyone’s favorite game “Fun with General Conference”. We discuss the historical context behind the movie Six Days in August which is a dramatization of the succession crisis after the murder of Joseph Smith. Six Days in August Trailer: https://youtu.be/8JcNJzfDtyY?si=Fa7lKg2yUyOaATpd

Standard of Truth Tour, the People Cry Out

Oct 06 2024 27 mins  
In this bonus episode, we play a recording that we did on the 2024 standard to tour in Palmyra. We hear the comments of tour participants and the things that they liked the most about the tour. We hope that you enjoy this bonus episode and that you are having a lovely conference weekend. Standard of Truth Tour dates for the summer of 2025: ⁠https://standardoftruth.com/tours/⁠

The Essential Answers to the Most Important Questions Part 2

Oct 02 2024 92 mins  
In this episode, we continue a deeper theological discussion of the problem of evil and what happens to the billions upon billions of people who never hear the name Jesus let alone be given the opportunity to accept Him. Gerrit’s dander is way up. In fact, in this episode on the Gerrit Dander Meter we are at a 93. Is that high? We have no frame of reference but 93 sure seems high

The Essential Answers to the Most Important Questions Part 1

Sep 26 2024 93 mins  
In this episode, we discuss the theological impact of the restored gospel on Christianity. Most if not all of us have family or friends that have had a crisis of faith over some aspect of the church, church, history, or doctrine. Many of these people leave the church while still having a strong love and belief in Jesus Christ. We discussed the false choice that exists between the t

Super Special Secret Source on Polygamy?

Sep 19 2024 75 mins  
In this episode, Gerrit discusses a book that was randomly sent to a litner, Joseph Smith Revealed: A Faithful Telling: Exploring an Alternate Polygamy Narrative. Gerrit provides an academic breakdown of the arguement taking it apart piece by piece. Richard provides a slightly less comprehensive review by calling the book stupid. In these highly charged political times The Standar