Episodes

  • The Essential Answers to the Most Important Questions
    Sep 26 2024

    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 teachings that come through revelation in the restoring gospel and mainstream Christianity. We play several audio clips from sermons trying to explain away mysteries of God to his nature, the problem of evil, and the fact that the vast majority of the earth’s population will burn in the fires of hell. Gerrit provides insight and ends with a beautiful sermon by the prophet Joseph Smith.

    Joseph Smith’s teaching on the salvation of mankind referenced by Gerrit: https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/times-and-seasons-15-april-1842/10?highlight=goes%20to%20hell

    Standard of Truth Tour dates for the summer of 2025: https://standardoftruth.com/tours/

    Missouri/Nauvoo – June 22nd through June 28th

    Palmyra/Kirtland – August 3rd through August 9th

    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

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    1 hr and 33 mins
  • Super Special Secret Source on Polygamy?
    Sep 19 2024

    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 argument 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 Standard of Truth Podcast finally takes a controversial stance. We stand with Connecticut against the 3rd Amendment. Cynical people may say that we are only doing this for website traffic, but they are all James Madison apologists.

    In addition, never in the history of words has anyone read anything as poorly as Richard read the emails from the Phoebe Draper Palmer Brown Mailbag on this episode. If you have ever thought you might share The Standard of Truth Podcast with friends or family, we recommend that you do not share this episode.

    Standard of Truth Tour dates for the summer of 2025: ⁠https://standardoftruth.com/tours/⁠

    Missouri/Nauvoo – June 22nd through June 28th

    Palmyra/Kirtland – August 3rd through August 9th

    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

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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • Secret Ways to Prepare for the Second Coming
    Sep 12 2024

    We continue our discussion on President George Albert Smith’s apocalyptic vision and Gerrit shares other quotes and warnings from modern prophets on how to prepare for the great calamities and signs of the times of the Second Coming. In addition, Richard accused Gerrit of being wealthy enough to have the Disney Channel in his youth. Richard is proven incorrect as the cartoon Gummi Bears originally appeared on NBC from 1985 to 1989, season 5 was on ABC, and only aired on the Disney Channel with season 6 and in syndication up to 1997.

    Alvin and the Chipmunks “Wall” Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BLIzbBbXHI

    Standard of Truth Tour dates for the summer of 2025: https://standardoftruth.com/tours/

    Missouri/Nauvoo – June 22nd through June 28th

    Palmyra/Kirtland – August 3rd through August 9th

    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

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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • George Albert Smith’s Apocalyptic Vision - S4E36
    Sep 5 2024

    The Standard of Truth Podcast is nothing if not hip to the kids and current social media trends. Recently a recollection of an apocalyptic vision attributed to George Albert Smith has been making its way around the interwebs. In this episode, we go through the vision and the original source.

    BYU archived source: https://archives.lib.byu.edu/repositories/ltpsc/resources/upb_mss6105

    Standard of Truth Tour dates for the summer of 2025: https://standardoftruth.com/tours/

    Missouri/Nauvoo – June 22nd through June 28th

    Palmyra/Kirtland – August 3rd through August 9th

    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

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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Changes to the Aaronic Priesthood
    Aug 29 2024

    The episode begins with a TREMENDOUS amount of gratitude for those who donated to Sweetwater Rescue’s fundraiser to help Latter-day Saints in Rio Gallegos get to the temple (https://www.sweetwaterrescue.org). Gerrit answers litner’s questions about the changes made to Aaronic Priesthood offices and responsibilities.

    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

    Standard of Truth Tour dates for the summer of 2025: https://standardoftruth.com/tours/

    Missouri/Nauvoo – June 22nd through June 28th

    Palmyra/Kirtland – August 3rd through August 9th

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    1 hr and 36 mins
  • Sweetwater Rescue
    Aug 22 2024

    Gerrit is asked for his favorite story from Church history, leading to a discussion of the rescue of the Willie and Martin handcart companies at the Sweetwater River. Richard talks about the organization Sweetwater Rescue and their goal to help people get to the temple. He shares a miraculous story about saints in southern Argentina and the work being done to help them.

    Sweetwater Rescue website: ⁠https://www.sweetwaterrescue.org⁠

    President Hinckley's conference address about the Sweetwater Rescue: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYS6rohbE4k⁠

    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

    Standard of Truth Tour dates for the summer of 2025: ⁠https://standardoftruth.com/tours/⁠

    Missouri/Nauvoo – June 22nd through June 28th

    Palmyra/Kirtland – August 3rd through August 9th

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    59 mins
  • Theory for the Origin of the Book of Mormon
    Aug 15 2024

    Attacking the Book of Mormon is a staple of anti-Mormon commentary, however, the fact that it exists creates a problem. There are many theories about the origin of the Book of Mormon that attempt to explain it away and in this episode, we explore a lesser-known theory. Gerrit also makes a definitive statement that Joseph Smith did not steal the line “I have dreamed a dream” (1 Nephi 8:2) from the 1980 musical Les Misérables. Gerrit also sets up the context of one of his favorite stories from Church history.

    Standard of Truth Tour dates for the summer of 2025: ⁠https://standardoftruth.com/tours/⁠

    Missouri/Nauvoo – June 22nd through June 28th

    Palmyra/Kirtland – August 3rd through August 9th

    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

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    1 hr
  • Questions About Joseph Smith
    Aug 8 2024

    We start the episode by providing an answer to a litner’s email, if they could choose the date for their child to be born, what date from Church history would Gerrit choose. We then go on to answer the following questions about Joseph Smith from a missionary’s email: What was Joseph Smith’s education? What was Joseph’s military service? What were Joseph’s financial circumstances? What were some of the radical teachings from the Prophet Joseph Smith?

    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

    Standard of Truth Tour dates for the summer of 2025:

    Missouri/Nauvoo – June 22nd through June 28th

    Palmyra/Kirtland – August 3rd through August 9th

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    1 hr and 14 mins