Standard of Truth

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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

Sep 4, 2025

S5E37 Orson Hyde and the Prophecy of the Civil War Part 1

Sep 4, 2025

1hr 11 min

To celebrate the kickoff to the 2025 NFL season (Eagles -7.5 vs the Cowboys), we begin in the obvious place with a discussion of Orson Hyde’s letter to the Missouri Republican in 1861, providing commentary on the Civil War. They read an email from a litner who shares how she used to be afraid of Church history and how the podcast has given her confidence in the face of anti-Mormon garbage, and Richard shares his feelings on the idea of putting Gospel and Church history topics “on a shelf”…spoiler alert, he doesn’t like the expression.

Kristy’s KorneЯ (Last Minute Lesson Prep): We ran out of time. There is no way your Sunday School teacher will be getting D&C 94 through 97. Use any of the three-part rerelease from D&C 93 last week, and you should be in great shape.

Standard of Truth Tour dates for the summer of 2027: ⁠ https://standardoftruth.com/tours
Our 2026 tours are sold out, but if you would like to join us in the future, here is a link to our 2027 tours:
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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

Rex's Elders Quorum President's Show Notes:

•00:01:20 – Richard’s new glasses, carrots, and “big carrot conspiracy”

•00:03:40 – Football season talk (NFL & College)

•00:09:20 – Listener mailbag begins

•00:09:36 – Testimony of Emer Harris and family connections

•00:15:00 – Listener Danica’s email on family faith struggles and church history fears

•00:25:00 – Richard’s thoughts on “putting things on the shelf” vs. gaining testimony

•00:31:00 – Discussion of Lyman Johnson’s regret and the value of faith

•00:35:00 – Dawson’s email introducing Orson Hyde’s Civil War commentary

•00:37:00 – Civil War Prophecy context: hindsight bias and the problem of interpreting prophecy.

•00:39:00 – Challenges of Second Coming prophecies and people’s tendency to over-interpret.

•00:40:30 – Specifics of Joseph Smith’s prophecy: slavery, South Carolina, and secession.

•00:43:00 – Why hindsight makes the Civil War “seem obvious,” but it wasn’t.

•00:45:00 – South Carolina newspapers downplaying fears of a large-scale war.

•00:47:00 – Border state (Missouri) newspapers hoping for compromise to avoid war.

•00:51:00 – Virginia’s “scandalous” call for 10,000–20,000 militia—later dwarfed by actual numbers.

•00:53:00 – Historical context: the Nullification Crisis and its contrast with Joseph’s prophecy.

•00:55:00 – War of 1812 Hartford Convention—New England nearly seceding.

•01:00:00 – Hindsight bias analogy: Neville Chamberlain’s “peace for our time.”

•01:02:00 – Why critics’ arguments against Joseph Smith’s prophecy are hollow.

•01:05:00 – Civil War prophecy in early manuscripts and the Pearl of Great Price (1851).

•01:07:00 – Prophecy credibility, critics’ weak arguments, and final remarks.

Sep 2, 2025

S5B13 Sweetwater Rescue Lithuania - Interview with President Rissi

Sep 2, 2025

18 min

In this bonus episode, Richard has a conversation with President Rissi, the Lithuania District President, about the recent Sweetwater Rescue temple trip to the Helsinki, Finland Temple.

Church News Article:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2025/09/01/vilnius-lithuania-district-long-journey-helsinki-finland-temple/

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Our 2026 tours are sold out, but if you would like to join us in the future, here is a link to our 2027 tours:
https://standardoftruth.com/tours/