Standard of Truth

They joke about reincarnation and sports before diving into where souls go after death. They compare readings of the thief on the cross, Peter’s line about preaching to spirits in prison, and R.C. Sproul’s take. Joseph Smith’s 1843 sermon reframing paradise, prison, and a single spirit world is a major focus. They also touch on baptism for the dead, resurrection, and why bodies matter for spirits.

They debate college football lines and the VIG before teasing a fundraiser for temple trips to Kenya. They tackle the hardest criticism of belief: suffering and why a good God allows pain. The discussion moves to premortal life, agency, and LDS views of the spirit world. Local folklore about Brigham Young warning of Gadianton robbers sparks a spooky look at spirits in southern Utah hills.

We begin the episode with a loving tribute to President Holland and move on to a discussion of a fraudulent email that was sent out to many members of the Church representing itself as an email coming from the Church while making a series of false claims. We also discuss a litner's email about Joseph Smith’s successor and a tremendous scientific experiment on YooHoo performed by a litter in Fairbanks, Alaska.   Link to the YooHoo Scientific Experiment: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-Tg5QE6bRRpsRC_yg7rG82uXzC__dk2m?usp=sharing   Standard of Truth Tour dates for the summer of 2027: ⁠ https://standardoftruth.com/tours ⁠ 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

In this episode, we wrap up D&C 24, but not before detouring through the agricultural merits of buckwheat and the theological weight of consecration.   Gerrit reflects on President Holland’s haunting admonition “If you knew what I know, you would run.” and connects it to Oliver Cowdery’s call to speak as with the voice of a trumpet.    Standard of Truth Tour dates for the summer of 2027: ⁠ https://standardoftruth.com/tours ⁠ 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

Explore the dramatic events surrounding the Book of Moses, including a mob's desperate act to stifle baptisms by tearing down a dam and attempting to kidnap a woman with power of attorney. Discover the intense persecution faced by early Saints in Colesville, highlighted by a heroic constable's intervention during a violent confrontation. The conversation dives into cosmic doctrines and how the Book of Moses challenged existing Christian beliefs, making for a fascinating discussion on early church dynamics and revelations.

Join the hosts as they wrap up a thrilling 10-part exploration of who is dead and in hell, complete with humorous Christmas banter and unexpected gifts! Hear wild stories of Yoo-Hoo pranks for delivery drivers and compelling listener contributions. Delve into historical insights on territorial disputes in Utah and witness Willard T. Snow's scandalous account of fugitives. Finally, contemplate deep themes of salvation and the Atonement, all while celebrating the joy of Christmas and personal testimonies of faith.

It’s the end of the year, the Spotify “Wrapped” flexing is in full swing, and Richard LeDuc is fresh off hosting a Hanukkah party that looked suspiciously like a full-blown ward social. Gerrit trys to solve the greatest unsolved case of 2025: why Richard’s “most played song” is Massachusetts by the Bee Gees… a song he swears he has never listened to. After a quick stop at the Phoebe Draper Palmer Brown Mailbag, they jump back into who is Dead and in Hell. Gerrit continues the story of Judge Perry Brocchus’s infamous Bowery speech in 1851, where what was supposed to be a simple patriotic appeal for a Washington Monument donation turns into a full-blown scolding of the Saints for criticizing the U.S. government. The discussion covers why Brocchus’s argument lands so badly with a people who had lived through Missouri and Nauvoo, how Brigham Young responds with one of his sharpest lines (“profoundly ignorant or willfully wicked”), and how the fallout gets weaponized in hostile newspaper coverage accusing the Saints of sedition and rebellion. 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: ⁠ 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  

Dive into the fraught history of polygamy as Gerrit discusses the contentious debates between Joseph Smith III and Joseph F. Smith. Explore whether the Smith family was aware of plural marriages and the compelling evidence that emerged after Joseph's death. Discover the political landscape of early Utah, ignited by Judge Brocchus's ill-fated conference speech. The hosts also reflect on the empathy required for understanding pioneers who practiced polygamy and how these legacies affect modern descendants.

This discussion dives deep into D&C Section 137, exploring Joseph Smith's faith regarding his brother Alvin's eternal status. They reflect on the emotional impact of Alvin's untimely death before the arrival of the golden plates and the unsettling claims of his damnation at his funeral. The hosts investigate doctrinal contradictions and emphasize how the doctrine of baptism for the dead reconciles Alvin's fate. They also encourage listeners to trust in revelation and exhibit faith amid unanswered questions while sharing personal stories of spiritual longing.

In part three we talk about some of the differing accounts surrounding just how and when Joseph Smith died at Carthage, including the less-well known William Daniels account that claimed Joseph had been executed by a firing squad after he hit the ground. ⁠Subscribe to our free newsletter⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com/⁠⁠ Please visit our website at ⁠⁠www.standardoftruth.com⁠⁠ If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: ⁠⁠questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com