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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
Thursday Aug 14, 2025
Thursday Aug 14, 2025
We record this episode in front of a live studio audience in the air-conditionless conference room of the Palmyra Inn. We conclude our discussion on atheism and discuss another YouTube clip of a Christian theologian that attempts to soften the mainstream Christian understanding of hell.
Gerrit Dandometer: 867,003
Kristy’s KorneЯ (Last Minute Lesson Prep): Gerrit discusses D&C 88
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If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com
Clips played on the show came from the following YouTube videos:
What Is Hell ACTUALLY? Bible Expert Wes Huff Explains - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq64jDI5gA0
Arguments For Atheism Tier List - https://youtu.be/s_5vfQE6_yE?si=-nWylNO1qiuVy-Wb
Thursday Aug 07, 2025
Thursday Aug 07, 2025
In this episode, we continue our discussion of atheist arguments against the existence of God. We primarily talk about the problem of evil, and Gerrit discusses a point that both the atheist and Christian miss, which is that despite the suffering in this life, the suffering in the next life is much worse, and there is no opportunity for justice for the majority of God’s creations.
Gerrit Dandometer: most controlled we have seen Gerrit in some time, but toward the end gets up to 402,836
Kristy’s KorneЯ (Last Minute Lesson Prep): Gerrit discusses the miraculous nature of the D&C 87 and the prophecy of the coming Civil War
Sign up for our free monthly email (seldom monthly): https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com
If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com
Clips played on the show came from the following YouTube videos:
John MacArthur: Why Does God Allow So Much Suffering and Evil? - https://youtu.be/UTRm1go2Qw4?si=nwkqn18hic6HB7sw
If God, Why Evil? | Dr. Frank Turek - https://youtu.be/V2eNyrknOAk?si=FaUq0z1bcl9XMrJ1
Arguments For Atheism Tier List - https://youtu.be/s_5vfQE6_yE?si=-nWylNO1qiuVy-Wb
Alex O’Connor UNLOADS on Catholic Apologist: "Your God Let This Happen?" - https://youtu.be/9gND_uHQtlY?si=n49K5tjR_gcO5sLP
Thursday Aug 07, 2025
Thursday Aug 07, 2025
In one of the most astounding feats of prophecy, Joseph Smith received this revelation from the Lord on Christmas Day, 1832. It astonishingly predicts with great clarity the coming and horrific nature of the American Civil War.
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If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com
Thursday Jul 31, 2025
Thursday Jul 31, 2025
In this episode, we review Christmas hymns in Joseph Smith’s time and begin the evaluation of atheist arguments against the existence of God and the Christian rebuttals that often leave a believer wanting.
Gerrit Dandometer: For most of the episode, we held Gerrit below 100,000, but at the end, we spiked to over 726,499
Kristy’s KorneЯ (Last Minute Lesson Prep): Gerrit discusses verses 45 and 46 from D&C 84 as a counter to the Christian idea of total depravity from the idea of Original Sin.
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If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com
Thursday Jul 24, 2025
Thursday Jul 24, 2025
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.
Early Stewardship Agreement for Consecrated Land:
https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets/f8edb331-484b-4f4a-9b99-0138932c0075/0/1?lang=eng
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
Thursday Jul 24, 2025
Thursday Jul 24, 2025
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 Protestant denominations eventually reversed course under cultural pressure.
Gerrit Dander Meter: 373,641
Kristy’s KorneЯ (Last Minute Lesson Prep): We ran out of time, so this will be a separate mini-bonus episode
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If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com
Thursday Jul 17, 2025
Thursday Jul 17, 2025
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.
Gerrit Dander Meter: 901,284 (scale was previously 1 to 10, but we felt it lacked the precision required and therefore changed it to 1 to 1,000,000)
Kristy’s KorneЯ (Last Minute Lesson Prep): Gerrit reads a letter from Stephen Burnett claiming that all the witnesses deny ever seeing the Golden Plates (additional context for D&C 80). Best of luck commenting on this in Sunday School, Sis.
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If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com
Thursday Jul 10, 2025
Thursday Jul 10, 2025
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 excerpt from a Brigham Young sermon relating to D&C 76. We hope that you raise your hand in class and read the entire thing.
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If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com
Thursday Jul 03, 2025
Thursday Jul 03, 2025
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
Sign up for our free monthly email (almost never monthly): https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com
If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com
Thursday Jun 26, 2025
Thursday Jun 26, 2025
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.
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