Standard of Truth Podcast: Season 2, Episode 28 - “Polygamy, Kind of… That’s Part of It Part 1”

Release Date: July 14, 2022
Host: Dr. Gerrit Dirkmaat
Guest: Professor Richard Leduc
Podcast Description: Standard of Truth aims to help Latter-Day Saints understand their history and strengthen their faith through historical insights into the early days of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Introduction and Academic Anecdotes (00:01 - 05:39)

Dr. Garrett Dirkmaat kicks off the episode by welcoming listeners and introducing Professor Richard Leduc as his co-host. The conversation begins with light-hearted banter about their challenging experiences with a particularly strict and demanding history professor during their college years.

• Dr. Dirkmaat Shares:
  “[00:01] …a young farm boy was able to establish a new church and grow it by way of visions, manifestations, and miracles.”

• Professor Leduc Recounts:
  “[00:38] …we’re gonna talk about polygamy a little bit.”

Their mutual recounting of the professor’s exacting standards and harsh grading policies sets a humorous yet relatable tone, illustrating the duo’s longstanding friendship and shared academic struggles.

• Notable Quote:
  • Professor Leduc [03:13]: “The class was brutal.”

This segment serves to humanize the hosts and establish a rapport with listeners by sharing personal stories of academic perseverance.

Transition to Polygamy and Historical Context (05:39 - 19:25)

After reminiscing about their academic past, Dr. Dirkmaat steers the conversation toward the episode's main topic: polygamy within the early Church.

• Dr. Dirkmaat [04:14]: “But anyway, this... must have fallen asleep...”

He elaborates on the complexity and multifaceted nature of polygamy, emphasizing that due to its intricate history and numerous perspectives, the podcast will only be able to cover a portion of it.

• Dr. Dirkmaat [16:22]: “...the topic we're going to talk about today touches on plural marriage.”

The discussion then shifts to a listener email from Stephen, inquiring about an 1831 supposed revelation of Joseph Smith concerning polygamy. This revelation, purportedly recorded by W.W. Phelps in an 1861 letter to Brigham Young, suggests that early Church leaders were instructed to take Native American wives to ensure the virtuousness of their posterity.

• Notable Quote:
  • Stephen’s Email [19:22]: “…reportedly includes the noteworthy comment about how the early elders were supposed to take unto themselves wives of the Lamanites and Nephites…”

Dr. Dirkmaat and Professor Leduc delve into the authenticity and reliability of this alleged revelation, highlighting its absence from the official Joseph Smith Papers and questioning the credibility due to its sole attribution to Phelps.

Analyzing the Purported 1831 Revelation (19:25 - 58:40)

Dr. Dirkmaat meticulously analyzes the text of the supposed 1831 revelation, pointing out inconsistencies and red flags that undermine its authenticity.

• Dr. Dirkmaat [20:41]: “...this is not a featured document in what would have been documents, Volume one documents, Volume two of the Joseph Smith Papers.”

He examines the document's structure, noting that Phelps claimed the revelation wasn’t written down at the time, yet his transcription includes versification and formal language typical of genuine revelations. This discrepancy raises doubts about its authenticity.

• Notable Quote:
  • Dr. Dirkmaat [48:26]: “...this is not written like it's the substance. This is written.”

The hosts discuss how Phelps’ memories, written years later, may have been influenced by subsequent events, such as the onset of the Civil War, which aligns with the content of the revelation. This retrospective influence calls into question the reliability of the document.

• Dr. Dirkmaat [51:05]: “...the coming of the American Civil War is a miraculous thing…”

Professor Leduc shares a personal anecdote about an Elder Perry speech, contrasting genuine contemporary records with retrospective accounts, further emphasizing the challenges historians face in authenticating such documents.

• Professor Leduc [26:49]: “It was about 10 years ago and he came and spoke and I've heard an apostle speak live maybe one other time.”

Historical Methodology and Source Reliability (58:40 - End)

Dr. Dirkmaat outlines the rigorous criteria used by historians to determine the authenticity of historical documents, comparing the purported revelation to the standards applied in compiling the Joseph Smith Papers. He underscores the importance of contemporary documentation and the pitfalls of relying on secondhand accounts.

• Dr. Dirkmaat [24:12]: “It was 40 years later.”

He employs a hypothetical exercise, encouraging listeners to attempt transcribing a recent sermon verbatim to illustrate the improbability of accurately recalling such detailed accounts without contemporaneous records.

• Dr. Dirkmaat [26:41]: “...write down word for word what the youth speaker in your ward said last Sunday.”

Through this, he reinforces the necessity of critical evaluation of sources, especially when singular claims lack corroborative evidence.

Conclusion and Upcoming Topics (58:40 - End)

As the episode draws to a close, Dr. Dirkmaat and Professor Leduc acknowledge the complexities surrounding the topic of polygamy and the challenges in addressing it comprehensively within the podcast format. They tease further exploration of the purported revelation in future episodes, promising deeper insights into its implications and historical context.

• Dr. Dirkmaat [61:36]: “Thank you for listening to the Standard of Truth podcast…”

They encourage listeners to stay tuned for the continuation of the discussion, promising to unravel more facets of polygamy and its historical underpinnings in subsequent parts.

Key Takeaways

1. Authenticity of Historical Documents: The episode emphasizes the importance of contemporary documentation in validating historical revelations, highlighting the dubious nature of the 1831 polygamy revelation attributed solely to W.W. Phelps.

2. Challenges in Historical Interpretation: Dr. Dirkmaat and Professor Leduc illustrate the complexities historians face when reconciling retrospective accounts with established historical records, especially concerning sensitive topics like polygamy.

3. Critical Evaluation of Sources: Listeners are encouraged to approach historical documents with a critical eye, understanding the potential biases and inaccuracies inherent in secondhand accounts.

4. Ongoing Exploration: The hosts commit to a thorough examination of polygamy within the Church's history, acknowledging its multifaceted nature and the necessity for careful scholarly analysis.

Notable Quotes

• Professor Leduc [03:13]: “The class was brutal.”
• Dr. Dirkmaat [16:22]: “...the topic we're going to talk about today touches on plural marriage.”
• Dr. Dirkmaat [24:12]: “It was 40 years later.”
• Dr. Dirkmaat [48:26]: “...this is not written like it's the substance. This is written.”

Conclusion

In this engaging episode of Standard of Truth, Dr. Garrett Dirkmaat and Professor Richard Leduc navigate the intricate and often contentious subject of polygamy within the early Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Through personal anecdotes, rigorous historical analysis, and critical examination of purported revelations, they provide listeners with a nuanced understanding of the challenges in uncovering and interpreting historical truths. The episode sets the stage for deeper exploration in future installments, inviting listeners to join them in unraveling the complexities of polygamy’s role in Church history.