Standard of Truth Podcast

Host: Dr. Gerrit Dirkmaat (with Richard)
Episode: S5B9 Kristy’s KorneЯ – D&C 91 Part 2
Date: August 21, 2025
Topic: The Apocrypha, Latter-day Saint History, and Doctrine & Covenants 91

Episode Overview

This episode continues the discussion on the Apocrypha, focusing on its historical context, its reception among early Latter-day Saints, and Joseph Smith's revelation about it in Doctrine & Covenants section 91. Dr. Dirkmaat and Richard examine shifting attitudes toward the Apocrypha in Protestantism and Mormonism, explore specific examples of its use among early Saints, and reflect on how D&C 91 uniquely positioned the Latter-day Saints in the ongoing debate about extra-biblical scripture.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Apocrypha in Joseph Smith’s World

• Protestant views were highly antagonistic to the Apocrypha, often viewing these books with deep suspicion as relics of Catholicism.
• Early American Bibles (including Joseph Smith's) commonly contained the Apocrypha, but by the 1830s, American Protestants increasingly demanded their removal, associating them with "Popish" superstition.

Quote:
"[Protestants] are viewing the apocrypha very, very, very negatively. And it’s almost a race to the bottom … who is more a true Bible-believing Christian and who doesn’t have any of these fetters of old traditional Catholicism binding their Protestantism."
— Dr. Dirkmaat [00:50]

2. Early Latter-day Saints and the Expansion of Scripture

• New converts, mostly ex-Protestants, came to the Church already predisposed to additional scripture after accepting the Book of Mormon.
• There’s a marked desire for new revelation: Saints wrote to Joseph Smith asking if he had obtained other lost books (e.g., the Book of Jasher).
• The Apocrypha and books like 2 Esdras had special resonance due to themes about lost tribes, the Second Coming, and the establishment of Zion.

Quote:
"You already have a predisposition to believe that God has scripture that’s outside of the bounds of the Bible… and, in fact, the Book of Mormon discusses the various different records that there are."
— Dr. Dirkmaat [03:16]

Story:
The dedication of the land of Zion by Sidney Rigdon referenced language directly from 2 Esdras, showing its perceived authority among the Saints.
[06:20 - 09:45]

3. Why Second Esdras Captivated the Saints

• 2 Esdras describes the gathering of Israel, the Second Coming, and especially the fate of the lost ten tribes—central obsessions in early Mormonism.
• Passages about the lost tribes leaving Assyria to find a land “where never mankind dwelt” paralleled Latter-day Saint narratives about a covenant people gathering and founding Zion.

Quote:
"So to a latter-day saint, this explanation that the 10 tribes not only leave Assyria, but with the determination that they’re going to… serve God like they never did in their own land… so much is that ideology a part of Latter-day Saint belief…"
— Dr. Dirkmaat [16:25]

4. Doctrine & Covenants 91: Revelation on the Apocrypha

• Joseph asked the Lord if he should translate the Apocrypha as part of the Bible translation project.
• Received D&C 91 in March 1833: The Apocrypha has many true things (mostly translated correctly), but also things "which are not true, which are the interpolations by the hands of men," and it is "not needful" for Joseph to translate them (see full reading at [22:30]).
• The revelation also teaches that anyone reading the Apocrypha should do so by the Spirit to discern truth from error.

Key Passage Read:

"There are many things contained therein that are true and it is mostly translated correct. There are many things contained therein that are not true, which are the interpolations by the hands of men... Whoso readeth it, let him understand."
— D&C 91, read by Dr. Dirkmaat [22:52]

Insight:
This neutral position satisfied neither fervent Protestant anti-Apocrypha sentiment, nor Saints eager for more translated scripture—a position described as "the worst" for popularity, but a sign of authenticity for a real revelation. [24:15-28:15]

5. Schisms and the Brewsterite Crisis

• The ambiguous status of the Apocrypha enabled new offshoots, notably the Brewsterite movement, which claimed to receive new revelations purporting to be lost books of the Bible.
• James Brewster presented his "revelations" to Joseph Smith, who forcefully rejected them:

Quote:
"The Lord told me that book was not true. ... If God ever called me or spoke by my mouth or gave me a revelation, he never gave revelations to that Brewster boy or any of the Brewster race."
— Joseph Smith, as quoted by Dr. Dirkmaat [35:30]

• The Brewsterites attracted followers and even drew public mockery from media hostile to the Latter-day Saints.

Notable Moment:
An Illinois newspaper sarcastically wrote:
"The Nauvoo Times and Seasons, Lieutenant General Joseph Smith’s organ ... has given notice that no one but the said Lieutenant General Joseph Smith is permitted to be inspired and that the work in question is a perfect humbug. In this last particular, we fully concur with Joe."
— Illinois Journal, as paraphrased by Dr. Dirkmaat [37:55]

6. Changing Latter-day Saint Attitudes and Modern Legacy

• Over the decades, as printed Bibles in America omitted the Apocrypha, Latter-day Saints gradually stopped reading or engaging with it. Knowledge of its contents faded.
• Today, most Latter-day Saints are unfamiliar with the Apocrypha, though official church guidance still encourages approaching it as uplifting but non-canonical literature.

Quote:
"There are very few of our listeners who have ever really read the Apocrypha. And that’s not an indictment on anyone... It wasn’t in my [Bible growing up]."
— Dr. Dirkmaat [41:13]

• The Church’s official statement:
  “These books are often valuable in linking Old and New Testaments and are regarded in the Church as useful reading. ... The Apocrypha can benefit those enlightened by the Spirit.”
  — Read by Richard from Guide to the Scriptures (LDS.org) [42:32]

7. Enduring Lessons and Application

• The Apocrypha is almost unique among non-canonical ancient books in being affirmed by revelation as containing truth (if read with the Spirit).
• Saints are encouraged to "seek wisdom out of the best books," and the Apocrypha is validated as containing spiritual benefit, though not part of the official canon.
• The episode concludes with encouragement to seek out the Apocrypha for context, understanding, and potential spiritual insights.

Quote:
"It is one of the few books that exists outside of the Bible that you have a revelation from God declaring has truth in it."
— Dr. Dirkmaat [43:37]

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote / Moment | Speaker | |---|---|---| | 00:50 | “It’s almost a race to the bottom … who hates it more… who doesn’t have any of these fetters of old traditional Catholicism binding their Protestantism.” | Dr. Dirkmaat | | 03:16 | "You already have a predisposition to believe that God has scripture that’s outside... the Bible." | Dr. Dirkmaat | | 16:25 | "This explanation that the 10 tribes… went to serve God like they never did… that ideology is a part of Latter-day Saint belief." | Dr. Dirkmaat | | 22:52 | (reading D&C 91): "There are many things contained therein that are true and it is mostly translated correct." | Dr. Dirkmaat | | 35:30 | "The Lord told me that book was not true… if God ever called me or spoke by my mouth... he never gave revelations to that Brewster boy." | Joseph Smith (via Dirkmaat) | | 41:13 | "There are very few of our listeners who have ever really read the Apocrypha... it wasn’t in my [Bible growing up]." | Dr. Dirkmaat | | 43:37 | "It is one of the few books… a revelation from God declaring has truth in it." | Dr. Dirkmaat | | 50:13 | "Catholics today still hold the Apocrypha to be scripture. …There’s about a billion of them who believe the Apocrypha to be Scripture." | Dr. Dirkmaat |

Timeline of Important Segments

• 00:00–03:15 – Recap and framing: Protestant hostility towards the Apocrypha; Latter-day Saint openness to new scripture
• 06:20–09:45 – Sidney Rigdon’s Zion dedication and Apocrypha in Latter-day Saint rituals
• 10:00–16:50 – Detailed look at 2 Esdras and its theological importance
• 22:30–28:30 – Doctrine & Covenants 91: reading and analysis; why it pleased neither side
• 30:35–38:04 – Brewsterite schism, Joseph repudiates Brewster’s claims, and 19th-century media reactions
• 41:00–46:50 – What the Church currently says about the Apocrypha, its legacy, and encouragement to seek knowledge
• 50:00–End – Summary comparisons: Catholic, Protestant, and Latter-day Saint positions today

Takeaways

• The Latter-day Saint relationship with the Apocrypha has shifted significantly due to historical, cultural, and publishing practices.
• D&C 91 provided a uniquely nuanced stance, affirming spiritual value but declining to canonize or translate further.
• Today, the Apocrypha is largely unknown among Latter-day Saints, but it remains officially affirmed as worthwhile if approached with the Spirit.

For Further Exploration:

• Seek out the Apocrypha online or in reference Bibles.
• When studying related Latter-day Saint topics (e.g., gathering of Israel, Zion), consider looking at relevant passages in 2 Esdras and other apocryphal books for historical context.
• Reflect on the question: What does the way we handle disputed scripture say about our openness to ongoing revelation?

End of Summary