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.
Episodes
In this episode, we dive into listener questions about Catholic doctrine and why every Latter-day Saint chapel does not have a crucifix. Gerrit walks through Catholic doctrine, including venial vs. mortal sin and purgatory’s purpose. We discuss the history of the Christian cross as a symbol, tracing how early Protestants saw it as Catholic idolatry, why Joseph Smith and early Saints avoided it, and how ...
We didn’t have room for Kristy’s KorneЯ in our regular episode this week, but never fear, we’ve cut a fresh bonus episode devoted often overlooked D&C 83.
What happens to consecrated property when landholders pass away? We dig into original 1830s stewardship contracts, make temple recommend parallels, and BYU Honor Code analogies.
In this episode, we start with an email from an Australian missionary in Croatia and a bishop requesting a good Kristy’s KorneЯ. We continue our defense of accusations against the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles with a good old-fashioned discussion of Cochranite spiritual wifery in Saco, Maine, in the early 1800s.
In this episode, we finally share the identity of Bill the Adulterer, and Gerrit provides context of Abraham Lincoln playing Dixie after the North’s victory in the Civil War. We answer a litner’s email where verifiably false claims against early Church leaders seem to get Gerrit’s dander is fully up. Who knew that would be a trigger for Dr. Dirkmaat
Gerrit Dander Meter: 11
Kristy’s KorneЯ (Last Minute Lesson Prep): Gerrit reads an ...
We record this episode in the shadow of the Keokuk, Iowa Walmart in front of a live studio audience. We have some fun with litners on the Standard of Truth Tour and Gerrit answers an email about everyone’s favorite doctor, veteran, adulterer, and liar John C. Bennett.
Kristy’s KorneЯ (Last Minute Lesson Prep): D&C 74
Martin Luther's disgust with the used car salesmen of indulgence peddlers, Johann Teztel, drive him to cross the religious Rubicon and nail his 95 theses to the door. The Protestant Reformation is about to explode.
If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com
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Before we dive headfirst into Martin Luther we spend a little time talking about a few of his predecessors. We discuss the impact that Augustine of Hippo (354-430), John Wycliffe (1328-1384), and Jan Huss (1369-1415) had on Christian thought. We also discuss the merits of throwing people out of windows as a solution to your problems.
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In this episode, we discuss whether or not God created the Dodge Dart. Marcion also had a question about whether or not the God of the Old Testament was the same as Jesus. His heretical arguments lead to the formation of the accepted Christian canon.
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We begin the episode with Richard recounting a personal spiritual experience at a sacrament meeting in Fruita, Colorado… home of Mike the Headless Chicken. We then answer a litner’s question: Was Hyrum Smith an apostle? We discuss Hyrum’s unique role in the Church, drawing from Doctrine & Covenants 124 and the Council of Fifty minutes. Gerrit walks through the complexity of 19th-century Church leade...
In this episode, we receive another email from an expecting mother and discuss whether Sir Isaac Newton dabbling in wizardry. We also talk about loved ones who go through a faith crisis and Gerrit shares experiences from the frontlines of faith conversations.
Kristy’s KorneЯ (Last Minute Lesson Prep): We introduce a new stinger and Gerrit gives a couple of nuggets for D&C 54
Standard of Truth Tour dates for the summer of 2026:...
Revisit this classic episode, now rereleased as a bonus, for a reminder that even in the Restoration's earliest years, the gospel was already colliding with the religious fringe.
We go back to early 1831 and unpack one of the most unusual revelations in the D&C 49. Directed to the now all-but-extinct Shaker community, this revelation responds directly to a faith group that believed Jesus had already returned… as a woman.
What b...
In this episode, we discuss a cornucopia of issues from our Hindu and Buddhist friends to claims of sex trafficking by the New York Times. It takes about 45 minutes, but Gerrit’s dander is up. In fact, Gerrit’s dander has never been higher.
Kristy’s KorneЯ (Last Minute Lesson Prep): D&C 49 discussion about Shakers Standard of Truth Tour dates for the summer of 2026: https://standardoftruth.com/tours/ Missouri/Nauvoo – Ju...
In this episode, we hope the litners will also enjoy a heartfelt shout-out to Elder Crum, Elder Crum, possibly a third Elder Crum and his Deseret flag sewing companions, a reflection on the doctrine of intelligence from D&C 93, and a deeper exploration into the Latter-day Saint rejection of creation ex nihilo.
Kristy’s KorneЯ (Last Minute L...
This episode begins with a high-stakes battle of identity between Richard and his more successful French Canadian biochemist doppelgänger. Things escalate quickly to NBA heartbreak, papal betting odds, and whether Calvinist theologians would bet on a Pope “if predestination already picked the winner.” Gerrit helps Kristy prepare her Mother’s Day sacrament meeting talk and then we discuss shared visionar...
In this episode we answer another email written by a litner in labor. We discuss grace and how do Latter-day Saints understand it differently than other Christians. Along the way we also have a heated debate over how to pronounce “pecan” and discuss what a terrible parent Richard is as he tries to justify missing his son’s MTC drop-off and return.
In this episode, we review General Conference 2 weeks late with a segment we like to call “Fun with General Conference”. Gerrit answers a litner question about how the Book of Mormon was distributed and Joseph and Hyrum’s preaching to the Native Americans. Richard’s dander is way up after reading a question about Mary Magdalene. Gerrit provides the history of the genesis of Mary’s bad reputation. As always, we depart slightly from ...
In this Easter special, we explore the profound teachings about the Savior's suffering in Gethsemane and its eternal implications. We discuss how early Latter-day Saints grappled with the concepts of repentance, eternal punishment, and the infinite nature of Christ's atonement. We also explore the radical truths in D&C 19 that challenge the prevailing 19th-century Protestant beliefs by emphasizing a...
In this episode, we dive into a discussion about misconceptions surrounding "The Sound of Music," particularly the differences between the movie and the original Broadway play. The conversation then transitions to a look at an upcoming groundbreaking publication in the Latter-day Saint Historical Studies journal, featuring newly uncovered secret police files on the treatment of Latter-...
This week, Gerrit and Richard discuss the powerful symbolism of Elijah’s appearance during Passover and its profound connection to both Jewish traditions and Latter-day Saint teachings.
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If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast...
In this episode, we explore a listener’s question: Are Latter-day Saints Christians if they don’t believe in the Trinity? Gerrit unpacks the theological and historical roots of Trinitarian Christianity, oneness Pentecostalism, and modalism and explains why other Christians often say Latter-day Saints “worship a different Jesus.” We also discuss Nephi’s reminiscent account in the small plates.
Episodes Discussing Trinitarian Theol...
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