

Standard of Truth
Dr. Gerrit Dirkmaat
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
Mentioned books

May 19, 2022 • 1h 12min
S2E20 Under the Banner of Heaven Part 2
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

May 12, 2022 • 1h 4min
S2E19 Under the Banner of Heaven Part 1
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

May 4, 2022 • 53min
S2E18 Zion Part 2
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

Apr 28, 2022 • 60min
S2E17 Zion Part 1
We discuss the importance of the doctrine of the establishment of the New Jerusalem and the way members reacted to the declaration that Independence, Missouri was the location for the city to be built.
If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at:
questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

Apr 21, 2022 • 50min
S2E16 American Ideology Part 2
We continue our discussion of underlying American ideologies from the Revolutionary War era, with a very deep dive (scuba gear required) on the ideology surrounding the Boston Tea Party.
If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at:
questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

Apr 14, 2022 • 47min
S2E15 American Ideology Part 1
In this podcast we answer some questions posed by listeners about sources covering the era. This leads into a discussion of American ideologies and how they will eventually both be held by believing members and used as a justification for violence enacted against the Saints, especially religious freedom. Colonies of Virginia and Massachusetts Bay are discussed, probably at too much length.
If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at:
questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

Apr 7, 2022 • 42min
S2E14 Freemasons Part 2
We continue our discussion of Freemasonry and the early Church. We talk about the claims antagonists make that the LDS temple ceremony is "stolen" from the Freemasons and provide additional context.
If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at:
questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

Mar 31, 2022 • 1h 1min
S2E13 Freemasons Part 1
Latter-day Saints have a unique history in relation to the Freemasonry movement that was especially popular in 19th Century America. We discuss the history of Freemasonry and Joseph’s earliest encounters with it.
If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at:
questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

Mar 24, 2022 • 1h 20min
S2E12 Abraham Lincoln and the Latter-day Saints Part 3
In our final podcast on the topic, we directly discuss some of the specific claims that have been made of a special relationship between Lincoln and the Book of Mormon and the Latter-day Saints.
If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at:
questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

Mar 17, 2022 • 1h
S2E11 Abraham Lincoln and the Latter-day Saints Part 2
In part two of our discussion of Abraham Lincoln and the Latter-day Saints we talk about Lincoln's election and the secession of the Confederate states and how the Saints in Utah reacted to the coming of the Civil War.
If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at:
questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com


