Standard of Truth

In this week's episode, we continue to discuss the theology of the Prosperity Gospel. We play a clip from a Joel Olsteen sermon to help the listener understand how these ideas are also taught outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Gerrit shares several heartbreaking experiences from early Saints (Wilford Woodruff and Stillman Pond) who experience struggle after struggle and trial after trial despite being incredibly faithful and obedient. Gerrit ends with a quote from Joseph Smith where he talks about how, in the end, God will make up for all of our losses. 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

In this week's episode, we respond to a listener's email about the ideas surrounding Prosperity Gospel Theology. Gerrit begins with a discussion about paganism and the idea of worshiping a god for immediate gain as a contrast to Jesus saying that His Kingdom is not of this world. Gerrit also talks about how the notion that all of our suffering or all of our prosperity is directly connected to our level of righteousness can create faith crises. 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

In this week's episode, we conclude our discussion about the signs of the times. We start with an email from the Ebenezar Hazard Mailbag and discuss a book about the Second Coming written by Latter-day Saint authors mentioned in an earlier email. Gerrit shares several problematic statements made about the Second Coming and explains that while every day the Second Coming is closer than the day before, the Lord will let us know what we should do through his prophet and not through cryptic interpretations of well-intentioned people. Sign-ups for the Standard of Truth Tours are available. Please visit our website at www.standardoftruth.com to sign up to join us in June. If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com  

In this bonus episode, we talk about the details of the Standard of Truth Tour that Gerrit will be leading from Boston to Cleveland starting on Monday, June 5th, and going through Sunday, June 11th. We discuss some of the details of the tour and Gerrit shares additional information about the sites we will be visiting. The tour bus we have booked has room for 44 people and we have 20 spots remaining. Thank you for your interest and we hope to see you in June. Sign-ups for the Standard of Truth Tours are available. Please visit our website to sign up to join us in June of 2023 (Standard of Truth Tour) If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

In this week's episode, we continue our discussion about the signs of the times and the Savior's Second Coming. Gerrit discusses religious movements from history where the end of the world was predicted. He goes into detail on William Miller and the Great Disappointment of 1844. Gerrit shares a quote from Joseph Smith talking about the Millerite Movement and says that all that give exact times of the Savior's Second Coming are false teachers. Also, as assumed by many, Samuel Osgood's Estate refused to pay naming rights for the mailbag segment and Richard apologizes for the sports gambling jokes he made in Part 1 as he has been racked with the pains of a damned soul (Alma 36:16).  Sign-ups for the Standard of Truth Tours are available. Please visit our website at www.standardoftruth.com to sign up to join us in June. If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com  

In this week's episode, we discuss the signs of the times of the Savior's Second Coming. Gerrit discusses several quotes that are used when teaching about the Second Coming and provides historical context. Gerrit also describes how people use proof-texting to prove a point or win an argument. The episode ends with a Millerite tease, the worst tease in podcast history, that we will discuss in Part 2. Richard attempts to gain sponsorship for the opening mailbag segment to no avail. Sign-ups for the Standard of Truth Tours will be available next week. 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

In this episode, we give a tribute to a great friend who recently passed away. We discuss one of his favorite scriptures (D&C 58:4) and provide additional content for section 58 of the Doctrine and Covenants. This larger context leads to a discussion about trials and tribulations and the promised blessings from the Lord. We also discuss the faithfulness of Lydia and Edward Partridge. Gerrit may also take occasional pot shots at Independence Missouri.  If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

We are on remote coming to you from the Yucatán peninsula (or at least in the buffet line of a cruise ship off the coast of Cancun). In this episode, we discuss the ancient Mayan people as viewed through the eyes of Diego de Landa. We discuss his book from the 16th century and his belief on the origin of the Mayan people and their mode of baptism. We also discuss the Church’s position on where the Book of Mormon took place. Based on exhaustive archeological research Richard believes that he has found Pahoran’s mother-in-law’s sublet apartment.  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 Apocrypha. The podcast starts with a 19th-century Latter-day Saint view of the Apocrypha. Gerrit asks Richard a question where Richard has a 50% shot of getting it right… He gets it wrong. We also read from 2 Ezras and its reference to the lost 10 tribes and Zion being built up. This all provides the context for Joseph receiving the revelation for D&C Section 91. If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

We had some technical difficulties that prevented the podcast dropping on Thursday. We are sorry for that.  In the episode this week, 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