Standard of Truth

In this episode, we talk about the way the Saints celebrated the 4th of July early in the Nauvoo period and the change that occurs after the murder of Joseph Smith. We have touched on this topic before, but this is a deeper dive into the treatment of the Saints and the national response to their protest. Gerrit also talks about a recent Church History tour he led and asks if there would be interest from the podcast listeners to go on a Standard of Truth History Tour in the summer of 2023. If you would be interested please click on the link below and let us know https://forms.gle/DRwr4oFbVgJ4tBww8 If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

In this episode, we continue our discussion of the revelations received by the Prophet Joseph Smith that never made it into the Doctrine and Covenants. We review revelations about referring to people in the church by their title, the way to prepare to receive manifestations and revelations after the Kirtland temple is dedicated, and when the saints should leave Kirtland. If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com  

There are many revelations that were received by the Prophet Joseph Smith that never made it into the Doctrine and Covenants. In this episode we review several of those revelations and discuss the lessons that can be applied to us today.  If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

In this episode, we discuss the aftermath of the W. W. Phelps article inviting black Latter-day Saints to join the Saints in Missouri. The mob destroys the Saint's printing press and threatens to kill them if they do not leave the county immediately. Roughly 1,200 Saints are driven from Jackson County in the winter of 1833. Plat of Zion https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/revised-plat-of-the-city-of-zion-circa-early-august-1833/1 If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

In this episode we discuss the spark of the violent reaction of Missourians toward Latter-day Saints in Jackson County in 1833.  In particular, we discuss the article in the Church's local newspaper, The Evening and the Morning Star, which was intended to help free black members navigate the anti black laws of Missouri as they immigrated to the city of Zion. The reaction of the anti black, anti Mormon Missourians is immediate and violent. Link to the W. W. Phelps article: https://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital/collection/NCMP1820-1846/id/5850/ If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

In this episode we resume our discussion of the Saints search for Zion in Missouri. We continue to discuss the events surrounding the Saints early attempts to build the city of Zion in Missouri. We focus on the reaction of Missourians to this influx of blasphemous outsiders and how their culture and history will lead to a violent expulsion. We also do a deeper dive into the law of consecration and land/property ownership as part of gathering in Zion. If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

We decided to tackle one of the great hot-button historical issues of the day…well, of Joseph Smith’s day anyway. We discuss the history of the Apocrypha and how controversy in Christianity led to Joseph Smith’s revelation on it. If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

In the second part of our examination of the claims made in the book Under the Banner of Heaven, we discuss the Mountain Meadows Massacre and the attempt of the author to claim that religious beliefs lead people to be more prone to violence.  Church's response to Under the Banner of Heaven in 2003: https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-response-to-jon-krakauers-under-the-banner-of-heaven If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

We have received multiple requests to talk about the new limited series Under the Banner of Heaven. While we are not film critics, the series is based on a book written by an outdoor adventurer/journalist and published in 2003.  We examine the claims made in the book that will likely be shown in the series.  Church's response to Under the Banner of Heaven in 2003: https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-response-to-jon-krakauers-under-the-banner-of-heaven If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

In this episode we continue our discussion of the aftermath of the declaration that Jackson County was the location for the prophesied New Jerusalem. Ezra Booth, a former Methodist minister who had joined the Church of Christ in Ohio, became disillusioned with both the location of Zion and other aspects of the Church on his journey to Missouri and becomes a very public apostate and critic. Also, difficulties between the members of the Church in Missouri and Ohio are described. If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com