The “Never Friends” Story and Its Origin A later family-based tradition claims that Brigham Young and John Taylor were essentially “never friends.” One version, printed in an appendix titled “Never Friends: Brigham Young and John Taylor” in The John Taylor Papers (by Samuel W. Taylor and Raymond W. Taylor, descendants of John Taylor), relates the … Read more
Introduction The episode continues answering listener questions related to Church authority, specifically how leadership titles functioned in early Latter-day Saint history and how these roles evolved after Joseph Smith’s death. Several emails revisited earlier discussions on the meaning of “general authorities,” the structure of the First Presidency during the Prophet’s lifetime, and how succession unfolded … Read more
A Conversation Between Two Worlds of Theology In this episode of the Standard of Truth podcast, two Latter-day Saint historians—Dr. Garrett Dirkmaat and Dr. Richard LeDuc—examine clips from Pastor John MacArthur, one of the most influential Calvinist preachers of modern times. The conversation becomes a window into two dramatically different theological universes: the Calvinist world … Read more
Translation Order of the Book of Mormon The episode opens with a question about how we know the order in which Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon. No formal statement survives in which Joseph directly explains the sequence. Instead, historians reconstruct it from contextual evidence—most importantly, the revelation now known as Doctrine and Covenants … Read more
Background on Brigham Young’s Devotion to Joseph Smith Brigham Young is one of the clearest historical examples of complete loyalty to Joseph Smith. His writings, journals, and published sermons consistently show: He did not test Joseph’s revelations against prior scripture. If Joseph Smith taught something—difficult or new—Brigham accepted it as revelation from God. He initially … Read more
The examination of unreliable sources reveals significant misconceptions surrounding the practice of animal sacrifice, necessitating a critical evaluation of the cultural and ethical implications associated with this ritual. Origin of the Accusations Against the Smith Family Rumors that Joseph Smith or his family engaged in ritual or “satanic” practices trace back mainly to hostile 19th-century … Read more
Background of the Event In November 1843, a Latter-day Saint baptism in England resulted in the drowning of a woman named Sarah Cartwright. The tragedy became the subject of later storytelling and embellished retellings, including a dramatic quote attributed to Sarah prior to her baptism. Primary Latter-day Saint Source The core Latter-day Saint account originates … Read more
Question About the Illuminati and the Temple A missionary reported teaching a family whose father once investigated the Church and had prepared for baptism. Before his baptism, he watched an illegal video of the temple endowment online. Disturbed by what he saw and by perceived similarities to other religious rites, he asked a member why … Read more