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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
Saturday Apr 19, 2025
Saturday Apr 19, 2025
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 Savior who deeply desires us to avoid suffering through sincere repentance. Gerrit also draws on connections between biblical texts and early Christian writings, including Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, and Hippolytus.
Most importantly, this episode underscores the Savior's desperate plea for repentance, not out of wrath, but from a profound desire to spare His children from unimaginable suffering. This message of compassion and redemption is especially powerful during the Easter season, and a reminder of the incredible depth of Christ’s love and the hopeful promise of forgiveness and spiritual renewal.
Sweetwater Rescue Temple Project: Helping the Saints of Lithuania get to the Helsinki, Finland Temple https://www.sweetwaterrescue.org/current
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Thursday Apr 17, 2025
Thursday Apr 17, 2025
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-day Saints in pre-war Nazi Germany. We also discuss the latest Sweetwater Rescue project, taking Saints from Lithuania to the Helsinki, Finland Temple, and answer a litner’s question about how Martin Harris got the money to pay for the printing of the Book of Mormon
Sweetwater Rescue Temple Project: Helping the Saints of Lithuania get to the Helsinki, Finland Temple https://www.sweetwaterrescue.org/current If you would like to donate, please click on the link: https://www.sweetwaterrescue.org/donate
Ensign Peak Foundation: https://ensignpeakfoundation.org/subscribe-to-our-publications/
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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 Apr 10, 2025
Thursday Apr 10, 2025
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.com
Thursday Apr 03, 2025
Thursday Apr 03, 2025
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 Theology:
S1E15 - D&C 93 and the Nature of God Part 1
S1E16 - D&C 93 and the Nature of God Part 2
S1E17 - D&C 93 and the Nature of God Part 3
S2E50 - Are "Mormons" Christian? Part 1
S2E51 - Are "Mormons" Christian? Part 2
S2E52 - Are "Mormons" Christian? Part 3
S3E1 The Trinity and the Nature of God
S4E21 The Arian Controversy - Did God the Father Create Jesus?
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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 Mar 27, 2025
Thursday Mar 27, 2025
In this episode, we revisit a popular format of playing a clip and listening to Gerrit's dander levels increase. We have 6 clips and we get through one and a half of them. The audio discusses the big theological questions from the perspective of Calvinism. The episode ends with a quote from Brigham Young on the beauty of the Plan of Salvation for ALL of God's children.
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If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com
Monday Mar 24, 2025
Monday Mar 24, 2025
In this bonus episode, we dive into the Standard of Truth Bracket standings. We also cover vital spiritual matters like… groin sensitivity in NCAA officiating, listening to the Tabernacle Choir on the Vegas Strip, and why missionary door approaches like “You wouldn’t want to hear this, would you?” are slightly less effective than you’d think.
We also read missionary emails from all over the world—from Panama to Brazil to the frozen missions of Iceland. We even tackled some serious Church history questions, including Joseph Smith’s Civil War prophecy and how to respond to the tired claim that “organized religion has done more harm than good.”
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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 Mar 20, 2025
Thursday Mar 20, 2025
In this episode, we discuss the revelation that established the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon. We explore how the Three Witnesses were chosen, what the Book of Mormon says about future witnesses and how it shaped this moment, the miraculous event where the angel of the Lord revealed the plates, sword of Laban, and Liahona, why the testimony of these men remained firm—even when they later turned against Joseph Smith, and how critics have tried to explain away the witnesses—and why their arguments fail.
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If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com
Monday Mar 17, 2025
Monday Mar 17, 2025
In this bonus episode we dive into missionary emails and March Madness. We talk about the hundreds of missionary emails we have received and discuss the best litner names for the bracket buster challenge. There is still time so please click on the link below and join us in the Standard of Truth Bracket Buster Challenge.
Standard of Truth NCAA Bracket (password = rice) https://fantasy.espn.com/tc/sharer?challengeId=257&from=espn&context=GROUP_INVITE&edition=espn-en&groupId=1d5c280f-2dc4-4104-8176-cc1fa81237f6&joinKey=3767b450-8248-37f2-b8f2-84f7a5625440
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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 Mar 13, 2025
Thursday Mar 13, 2025
In this episode, we discuss the potential problems associated with using ChatGPT and other AI as a source. The topics we review are Abraham Lincoln’s views on religious liberty, polygamy, and the witnesses of the Gold Plates.
Standard of Truth NCAA Bracket (password = rice)
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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 Mar 06, 2025
Thursday Mar 06, 2025
Gerrit also takes on a listener question about why modern prophets don’t declare "Thus saith the Lord" like in early revelations.
Standard of Truth NCAA Bracket (password = rice)
https://fantasy.espn.com/tc/sharer?challengeId=257&from=espn&context=GROUP_INVITE&edition=espn-en&groupId=1d5c280f-2dc4-4104-8176-cc1fa81237f6&joinKey=3767b450-8248-37f2-b8f2-84f7a5625440
Sign up for our free monthly (that doesn’t go out 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