Standard of Truth Podcast Episode: S5B3 Bracket Update and 2026 Tour Dates Release Date: March 25, 2025
Introduction to the Bonus Episode
Dr. Garrett Dirkmaat and Dr. Richard Leduc open this bonus episode with a light-hearted acknowledgment of their accidental subscription to additional content. Despite the unintended subscription, they embrace the opportunity to engage with their audience in a more informal setting.
Bracket Challenge Update
The hosts delve into the ongoing "Brackets for Your Life Challenge," providing detailed updates on participant standings and notable performances.
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Participant Highlights:
- Hallie (Niece of Dr. Leduc): Achieved a tie for fifth place with a unique bracket strategy, "[...] she picked against Kansas, so she wants Kansas to be the champions, but then pick for them to lose." (01:34)
- Brent: Leading the competition with his bracket in the "99.9 percentile of all brackets submitted to ESPN," showcasing impressive accuracy. As Dr. Dirkmaat humorously notes, “He has the most points right now.” (02:31)
- Eric Orchard (Sacrilegious) and Moroni Day: Both have brackets within the "99 percentile," closely followed by Michael (Third String Delights), all securing top standings. (03:02)
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Current Standings:
- Dr. Leduc currently ranks 24th, tied with his son on a mission, reflecting on the competitive nature of the challenge. “[...] I have zero percent chance to win.” (03:35)
- Dr. Dirkmaat shares the suspense surrounding top contenders, emphasizing the competitive spirit: “Much like you were when you saw you were 24th.” (03:31)
Forecasting Future Bracket Outcomes
The conversation shifts to forecasting potential winners and assessing the likelihood of various brackets succeeding.
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Top Contenders:
- Phoebe Palmer's Fan: Holds a "4.9% chance to win," leading with Auburn's potential victory. “[...] they have a 4.9% chance to win.” (05:54)
- Other Noteworthy Brackets:
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Underdogs:
Dr. Dirkmaat encourages participants by highlighting that even those perceived as underdogs have a fighting chance, albeit slim: “So it is crazy how some people, you feel like you're completely out, but actually there's still a chance.” (10:23)
Personal Stories and Sports Commentary
The hosts share personal anecdotes related to sports, particularly focusing on their experiences watching BYU’s basketball games.
- BYU vs. Wisconsin Game:
- Dr. Leduc recounts the intense emotions during the dramatic victory: “[...] BYU wins in dramatic fashion against your, you know, your unofficial team, the Wisconsin Badgers.” (07:25)
- Discussions about questionable refereeing decisions lead to humorous exchanges about potential physical altercations: “You're going to get a knee in the groin, Garrett.” (08:17)
These segments add a relatable and entertaining dimension to the episode, showcasing the hosts' camaraderie and shared interests outside church history.
Announcement of 2026 Tour Dates
The podcast shifts focus to upcoming church history tours, providing listeners with essential information and logistical details.
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Tour Scheduling:
- Both tours are planned for June 2026 to accommodate family missions. Dr. Dirkmaat shares, “[...] we're going to try to do both of the tours in June next year.” (11:48)
- Specific Dates:
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Tour Logistics:
- Emphasis on early booking due to high demand: “[...] book it earlier rather than later. Just because we... have probably in the neighborhood of three dozen people who wanted to get on the tour this year.” (13:10)
- Description of tour activities, including significant walking at historical sites like the Sacred Grove and Hill Cumorah: “[...] hike up the hill Cumorah, there's a considerable amount of walking.” (32:14)
Dr. Dirkmaat encourages potential participants to prepare physically, highlighting the moderate activity level required: “[...] everyone should be in, you know, moderately good physical condition.” (32:39)
Listener Emails and Missionary Feedback
The hosts engage with their audience by reading and responding to emails from missionaries, offering support and addressing questions related to church history and personal testimonies.
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Elder Young (Florida Orlando Mission):
- Requests access to premium podcast content to assist with missionary work: “Can I have access to your podcast? I'm in the Florida Orlando Mission.” (14:46)
- Hosts respond warmly, reminiscing about their own missionary experiences and emphasizing the value of the podcast for missionary support.
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Elder Evanson (Brazil):
- Shares his enthusiasm for church history and requests permission to reference the podcast: “[...] I also would like to share a scripture that I think works really great for talking about complicated church history topics such as plural marriage.” (17:39)
- Hosts provide guidance on effective scripture references, such as Nephi 13:22, to address complex historical topics. “[...] anytime anyone asks us to talk about polygamy, we'll just reference that scripture.” (17:48)
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Elder Grant (Panama):
- Seeks advice on responding to criticisms that organized religion has caused more harm than good: “[...] more people have been killed and harmed in the name of organized religion than have been helped by it.” (24:39)
- Hosts offer a robust rebuttal, citing historical atrocities committed under atheistic regimes and the positive interventions of organized religion. Dr. Dirkmaat states, “[...] Joseph Smith... in part of what this guy has to say. He's claiming, well, organized religion's done more damage than it has good.” (26:06)
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Elder Bensley (Copenhagen, Denmark Mission):
- Requests premium podcast access to support his missionary work in Iceland: “[...] I know that I would appreciate having something to listen to as my companion and I make our regular, almost twice a week, one hour drive from where we serve in Selfoss, Iceland.” (30:37)
- Hosts acknowledge the growing international reach of their podcast and mention upcoming presentations celebrating LDS converts in Iceland. “[...] there's actually a presentation that's being done in Iceland that's involving some governor government officials.” (31:08)
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Jane's Inquiry:
- Asks about scheduling church history tours for 2026: “Hello, my good PhD friends. I'm just wondering if you have any church history tours scheduled for 2026.” (32:10)
- Hosts confirm the availability of tours in June 2026 and encourage early booking: “[...] essentially the entire month of June of 2026. And so they're not currently available. We'll get them available on the website here in the next month or so.” (32:53)
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Randall's Feedback and Inquiry:
- Provides comprehensive feedback on the podcast's impact on his faith and suggests topics for future episodes, particularly Joseph Smith’s prophecies: “[...] my son... thinks Joseph Smith was a false prophet, since not all of his prophecies have come true.” (36:32)
- Hosts respond vigorously, defending Joseph Smith’s prophetic accuracy and addressing misconceptions about his Civil War prophecy. Dr. Dirkmaat elaborates, “[...] Joseph is dead on. Correct. On 30 years before they happen.” (40:22)
Discussion on Joseph Smith's Civil War Prophecy
Randall raises questions about Joseph Smith’s prophecy concerning the American Civil War and Great Britain’s involvement. The hosts provide an in-depth analysis to clarify and defend the prophecy's validity.
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Clarifying the Prophecy:
- Dr. Dirkmaat explains that Joseph Smith accurately predicted the severe nature of the Civil War, including international involvement: “[...] it's really easy for someone today to say, well, I mean, everyone knew that if Hitler came to power that he was gonna... but of course, everyone didn't know it then because it hadn't happened yet.” (40:22)
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Historical Context:
- Emphasizes the unprecedented scale and brutality of the Civil War compared to previous conflicts, countering claims that the prophecy was vague or inaccurate.
- Highlights the desperation of the South in seeking British support, contradicting assertions that such efforts were nonexistent or insufficient.
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Defending Prophetic Accuracy:
- Dr. Dirkmaat asserts, “[...] Joseph Smith is dead on. Correct. On 30 years before they happen.” (40:22)
- Addresses the anti-Mormon viewpoint by demonstrating the prophecy’s fulfillment, thereby reinforcing Joseph Smith’s role as a true prophet.
Shout Outs and Listener Interactions
The hosts acknowledge and celebrate their listeners’ contributions and support through personalized shout-outs.
- Hiram’s Mention:
- Hiram from Texas expresses gratitude for the podcast’s impact: “[...] he wants a simple shout out on one of yalls free episodes so I can flex to my friends and family about my new claim to fame.” (47:28)
- Hosts commend Hiram’s dedication and encourage him to commence his mission with enthusiasm: “[...] He has a great network that of people that support you now get on your mission.” (48:49)
Conclusion
Dr. Dirkmaat and Dr. Leduc wrap up the episode by reiterating their appreciation for listener engagement and encouraging the audience to share the podcast with others who might benefit from its content. They emphasize the importance of understanding church history to strengthen faith and build a deeper connection with the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Notable Quotes:
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Dr. Richard Leduc on Hallie's Bracket Strategy:
“[...] she picked against Kansas, so she wants Kansas to be the champions, but then pick for them to lose.”
01:34 -
Dr. Dirkmaat on Brent’s Performance:
“He has the most points right now. His bracket is in the 99.9 percentile of all brackets submitted to ESPN.”
02:31 -
Dr. Leduc on Personal Ranking:
“I have zero percent chance to win.”
03:35 -
Dr. Dirkmaat on Tour Preparation:
“Everyone should be in, you know, moderately good physical condition.”
32:39 -
Dr. Dirkmaat on Civil War Prophecy:
“Joseph Smith is dead on. Correct. On 30 years before they happen.”
40:22 -
Dr. Leduc on Listener Randall:
“[...] my testimony of calling Joseph Smith... has been strengthened.”
35:56
For detailed discussions and insights from this episode, listeners are encouraged to tune into the Standard of Truth podcast hosted by Dr. Garrett Dirkmaat and Dr. Richard Leduc. Whether you're following the bracket challenge, planning to join a historical tour, or seeking answers to complex church history questions, this episode offers a wealth of information and engaging conversation.