Milagre 
Context of the Pre-Reformation Catholic Church In the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance (1300s–1500s), the Catholic Church was simultaneously expanding worldwide and experiencing significant internal tensions. Historically: The Church was rapidly growing through Spanish and Portuguese expansion into the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Literacy rates in Europe were low; the Bible existed only in … Read more
Martin Luther: Background and Spiritual Crisis Martin Luther, originally preparing for a career in law, entered monastic life after surviving a violent thunderstorm, during which he vowed to devote himself to God. Inside the Augustinian monastery: Luther practiced intense discipline and self-denial. Despite his efforts, he believed he could not overcome sin through personal righteousness. … Read more
Did God the Father Create Jesus? Introduction This episode explores one of the most consequential theological debates in Christian history: the Arian Controversy. Long before Joseph Smith prayed in the woods of upstate New York, Christians had wrestled for centuries over the identity of Jesus Christ and His relationship to God the Father. The dispute … Read more
The Reformation’s Suspicion Toward Crosses and Religious Images In the centuries following the Protestant Reformation, many Protestant groups viewed crosses, crucifixes, icons, and religious statues with deep suspicion. Reformers believed the medieval Catholic tradition of venerating images violated the Second Commandment, and that centuries of devotion to saints, relics, and symbols had drifted into idolatry. … Read more
Podcast Introduction and Focus on Historical Questions This episode of the Standard of Truth podcast opens with the familiar introduction to Dr. Garrett Dirkmaat and Dr. Richard LeDuc. The hosts frame the show as a blend of early Latter-day Saint history, original source analysis, and doctrinal context—approached with faith, expertise, and humor. The episode moves … Read more
The Origins of Christmas (Christmas Extravaganza) in Christian Tradition The celebration now known as Christmas has its roots in the early development of Christian worship in Europe. The very word “Christmas” is derived from the term Christ-Mass, the Catholic mass dedicated to commemorating the birth of Christ. As Christianity spread across medieval Europe, holy days … Read more
Joseph Smith’s Relationship with Local Churches After the First Vision After the religious excitement surrounding the revivals in Manchester, a local preacher attempted to unify the denominations. Lucy Mack Smith recorded that members of the family were inclined to join, but Joseph would not. She recounted him saying he felt no desire to attend meetings … Read more
Great Apostasy The importance of effective communication cannot be overstated in fostering understanding and collaboration across diverse groups. It serves as the foundation for building strong relationships and achieving common goals. Mission Preparation: The Apostasy and the Need for Restoration Purpose of the Episode This episode, originally recorded as part of a “Joseph Smith … Read more
Understanding What History Can and Cannot Prove (How Can We Know) Historians can evaluate documents, determine when they were written, and understand how earlier generations interpreted them. However, they cannot prove spiritual claims, such as whether Paul truly saw Jesus or whether Joseph Smith received revelation. History can only confirm that: Paul claimed repeatedly to … Read more
Introduction This episode begins with a listener’s question about whether animals have an afterlife and eventually transitions into a doctrinal exploration of hero worship, prophetic authority, apostasy, and the Lord’s revealed system for preventing spiritual deception. Although these subjects seem unrelated at first glance, both center on foundational Latter-day Saint teachings about the nature of … Read more