Episode Overview

Theme:
This episode of Standard of Truth, hosted by Dr. Gerrit Dirkmaat with co-host Richard Leduc, pauses its usual deep dive into 19th-century Latter-Day Saint history to reflect on two current events: the passing of President Russell M. Nelson and the tragic, violence-motivated attack on Latter-Day Saints in Michigan. The hosts intertwine personal experiences of religious bigotry with an exploration of President Nelson’s legacy and teachings—especially on being peacemakers in the face of hatred.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Reflecting on President Nelson’s Life and Legacy

• The hosts join the chorus of those honoring President Nelson after his recent passing, acknowledging tributes elsewhere may be more comprehensive but offering heartfelt insights from their unique perspective.

• Dr. Dirkmaat recounts limited but meaningful professional interactions with President Nelson through the Joseph Smith Papers Project, emphasizing Nelson’s kindness, insight, and early aversion to the term "Mormon."

  • "President Nelson was always very kind and insightful in the comments he provided… you could tell that was percolating with him for a while because, you know, we were writing [for] an academic audience. And so, of course, the term Mormons used all the time." (30:31)

• President Nelson’s legacy is highlighted across multiple dimensions:

  • Push for better understanding and transparency in Latter-Day Saint history (e.g., Joseph Smith Papers, Saints volumes, new Church manuals, rewording of scripture headings, supporting a new biography of Joseph Smith).
  • Major doctrinal and organizational changes, including the Restoration Proclamation, increased focus on temple worship, and cultural guidance (“peacemakers,” “think celestial,” “letting God prevail”).
  • Leadership during a period of global crisis (COVID-19) and social change, leaving the Church stronger and more expansive.

Notable Quote

• "I think President Nelson's legacy, and like all legacies, you only really find them out in the decades that follow… President Nelson left a lasting mark and we'll know 30 years from now how things like the Restoration Proclamation… or his devotion to a greater understanding of church history… play out." (39:26)

2. Latter-Day Saint Experience with Religious Bigotry

• Dr. Dirkmaat shares vivid and personal accounts of anti-Mormon bias throughout his academic career, especially during his time at the University of Colorado. He reflects on both casual and institutionalized bigotry, relating it to broader cultural trends.

  • "[My professor] told me when he found out I was writing on a Mormon topic, before he found out I was a Mormon, the first words he said to me were, 'Oh, you're writing about Mormons, huh? Man, I hate Mormons. My wife especially hates Mormons.'" (08:34)
  • "I am stunned at just the casual hatred there is for Mormons." — (citing his dissertation chair, 12:24)

• These stories underline the enduring uniqueness and outsider status of the Latter-Day Saint community, even among self-proclaimed tolerant or progressive groups.

• Discussion extends to the recent Michigan tragedy, where post-attack responses exposed persistent societal prejudice. The hosts contrast the public’s focus on whether Latter-Day Saints are “real Christians” versus expressing sympathy or grief.

  • "…if their first reaction to people being murdered is, 'Well, they're not real Christians,' you're not close to Jesus. You're not close to Jesus at all. You just like to say words." (18:42)

3. The Call to Be Peacemakers—Learning from President Nelson and Early Church Leaders

• The hosts emphasize President Nelson’s counsel to be peacemakers, especially in the face of hate and tragedy.

  • Richard points to President Nelson’s talks on forgiveness, peace, and confidence before the Lord as personal anchors.
    • "One of them is that 'Peacemakers' talk. And the other is the most recent talk… about having confidence before the Lord… The role the temple plays in that… And also a video about the joy of forgiving others…"(22:00)

• Dr. Dirkmaat underlines the struggle to respond with peace, referencing both Jesus’s and Brigham Young’s examples of restraint and charity in the face of violence.

  • "Brigham Young refuses because he knows that if he sends them that there's going to be violence and that people are going to die… In that moment, Brigham Young chose peace rather than violence…"(32:26)

• They discuss the scriptural and prophetic admonition to love and forgive even those who revile or persecute, situating this as central evidence of true Christian discipleship.

  • "The greatest evidence that you are coming closer to Jesus, and maybe it's the greatest evidence that I'm not, is that you have love for other people even when they don't love you and even when they revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely." (31:16)

4. The Nature of Christian Disputes and LDS Identity

• The episode addresses the recurring complaint that Latter-Day Saints are “not Christians,” dissecting the theological roots (debates over the nature of Christ, the Trinity, the Nicene Creed) and exposing internal Christian diversities.

  • "It's hilarious that the argument that Latter-Day Saints aren't Christians stems from the fact that we don't believe in the same nature of Jesus… Meanwhile, a Calvinist Christian believes the nature of Jesus is that he pre-selected who would be saved… On the other hand, an Arminian or a Methodist opinion is that every single person could be saved…"(49:20)

• Hosts encourage members to find peace and personal affirmation in their distinct beliefs rather than feeling diminished by external invalidation.

  • "Always remember that though it's meant as an invective, though it's meant to hurt you when people say that you're not a Christian, you can also turn around and wear it as a badge of pride because you know in whom you worship…"(53:50)

5. President Nelson’s Communicative Impact and "Viral" Teachings

• Richard observes that many of President Nelson’s phrases and themes ("Think Celestial", "Let God Prevail", "Covenant Path", "Peacemakers") quickly gained widespread popularity—possibly fueled by social media and also Nelson’s clear, memorable teaching style.

  • "He had a way of being able to communicate something that was very memorable from the talk… It just seemed like, I mean… every conference there was one." (41:20)

• Dr. Dirkmaat attributes this to both the amplification power of modern media and President Nelson’s “master educator” approach, distilling messages into memorable takeaways.

6. The Test of Forgiveness—Ultimate Example in Christ

• The episode closes on the challenge and necessity of forgiveness, quoting President Nelson on Jesus's example: forgiving those who persecuted and killed Him, recognizing their ignorance, and extending that same expectation to Latter-Day Saints today.

  • "There is no one who deserved his treatment or to be mocked less than the perfect Son of God, who in the moment he is on the cross, is there to take the sins of the people who are mocking and making fun of him while they are watching him die…" (54:58)

• The hosts invite listeners to defend the rights and worship of all people, even and especially those who do not extend the same courtesy in return, elevating this as a mark of true discipleship and faithfulness to Christ.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I am stunned at just the casual hatred there is for Mormons." — Dirkmaat’s dissertation chair [12:24]
• "…if their first reaction to people being murdered is, 'Well, they're not real Christians,' you're not close to Jesus. You're not close to Jesus at all. You just like to say words." — Garrett Dirkmaat [18:42]
• “The greatest evidence that you are coming closer to Jesus… is that you have love for other people even when they don't love you and even when they revile you and persecute you…” — Garrett Dirkmaat [31:16]
• "Brigham Young chose peace rather than violence. The sheriff wanted violence, and he chose peace." — Garrett Dirkmaat [32:26]
• "Always remember that though it's meant as an invective, though it's meant to hurt you when people say that you're not a Christian, you can also turn around and wear it as a badge of pride because you know in whom you worship." — Garrett Dirkmaat [53:50]
• "There is no one who deserved his treatment or to be mocked less than the perfect Son of God… who in the moment he is on the cross, is there to take the sins of the people who are mocking and making fun of him while they are watching him die." — Garrett Dirkmaat [54:58]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [01:05] Tribute and personal reflections on President Nelson
• [06:09] Experiences of anti-Mormon sentiment in academia
• [12:24] The uniqueness of social acceptance of anti-Mormon bias
• [16:11] Initial response to Michigan tragedy and reflections on societal prejudice
• [22:00] President Nelson’s teachings on charity, virtue, and peacemaking
• [31:16] The gospel of peace and historical examples (Brigham Young)
• [39:26] Evaluating the legacy of Latter-Day Saint Church presidents over decades
• [41:10] President Nelson’s “viral” conference phrases and teaching style
• [49:20] Christian doctrinal differences and LDS distinctiveness
• [53:50] Finding personal affirmation amid external invalidation
• [54:58] Christ’s and President Nelson’s example of forgiveness

Conclusion

This deeply personal and historically informed episode blends current events with spiritual counsel. Through humor and vulnerability, Dirkmaat and Leduc offer listeners context, encouragement, and a call to Christlike peacemaking—even in a world marred by misunderstanding and hatred. President Nelson’s legacy is honored most in their challenge to love, forgive, and choose peace, no matter the prevailing winds.