Podcast Summary: Standard of Truth S5E45 - "Changes to the Section Headings and Polygamy"

Date: October 30, 2025
Hosts: Dr. Gerrit Dirkmaat (GD) & Dr. Richard Leduc (RL)

Episode Overview

This episode explores recent historical changes to the section headings of the Doctrine & Covenants, the implications of those changes (with a particular focus on plural marriage), and related Church history context. Dr. Dirkmaat and Dr. Leduc provide insight into how and why these changes were made, help listeners understand their faith’s history on a deeper level, and clarify common misunderstandings—especially regarding polygamy. The hosts also manage, with their trademark humor and asides, to weave in personal anecdotes, listener correspondence, and call for charity via Sweetwater Rescue.

1. Personal Anecdotes and Charity Updates

Timestamps: 00:35 – 16:26

• RL recounts a trip to Church history sites (Liberty Jail, Adam-ondi-Ahman, Haun’s Mill), reading the Hyrum Smith affidavit about Mormon persecutions in Missouri—a deeply sobering experience.
  • “...it’s the most terrible thing you'll ever read in your life.” (GD, 03:37)
• Transition to a comic/tragic event: RL’s car is broken into during a Kansas City Chiefs game, losing valuables, passport, headphones, etc. This segues into lighthearted banter about leaving sports games early to “beat traffic.”
• RL shares about Sweetwater Rescue—a charity aiding global Saints to attend the temple, with “every dollar literally goes to getting a Latter-day Saint to the temple, not to an overhead...” (GD, 13:50)
  • Upcoming fundraiser: eat at “Hug Hess” (Utah restaurants) Nov 6–8; 34% of proceeds to Sweetwater Rescue's Kenya Nairobi Temple initiative.

2. Christie’s Corner: Unpacking D&C Section 124

Timestamps: 16:29 – 26:09

Key Points

• Section 124 is a “gigantic revelation” laying out ordinances for the Nauvoo Temple (endowment, washings/anointings, baptisms for the dead).
• Doctrine Flexibility: The Lord says some temple things are revealed specifically for the "dispensation of the fulness of times." (D&C 124:41)
  • “There are at least some things revealed that actually have not been revealed before...for the dispensation of the fullness of times.” (GD, 16:43)
  • Takeaway: Don’t stress if ceremonies change over time—they are intended to be adapted for new dispensations and peoples.
• The Nauvoo House: Verses 111–119 outline the building of a hotel/event center for economic/work relief of poor Saints—intended as a form of welfare employment.
  • “Part of the purpose of God giving this revelation...is this early attempt to provide [for] the poor of the Church through work...the origin” of employment-based welfare, akin to DI. (GD, 25:18)

3. Listener Email & Community Engagement

Timestamps: 26:09 – 36:24

• Listener "John" from Texas emails about his family’s Church experiences, LDS history interests, and his son on a mission. The email is read at length with commentary and jokes from hosts.
  • “Your podcast has made me go from not really interested in church history to wanting to learn and understand more and more and even American history.” (Listener “John”, 35:35)
  • RL and GD riff on Idaho towns (“we’re big in Atomic City”, 32:04) and misadventures in March Madness bracket predictions.
• John’s reflection: Since listening, his testimony of Joseph Smith has grown “like the light of the sun compared to the light of the stars of my prior testimony...” (34:27)
• The email segues into hosts discussing the importance of learning true history and answering challenging gospel questions thoughtfully.

4. Main Content: Changes to D&C Section Headings

Timestamps: 36:24 – 66:16

a) Background on Changes

• In October 2025, the Church released updates—mostly to D&C headings; a few to Book of Mormon chapter summaries.
• The majority of changes are later in D&C, reflecting historical clarifications made possible by the completed Joseph Smith Papers project.
  • “Most of the changes now...is to the second half of it. And look, some of them are just minor...” (GD, 38:44)
• Many 2013 changes focused on early D&C chapters, based on Joseph Smith Papers findings up to that point.

b) Types of Changes

• Chronological detail: Dates and timeframe corrections, e.g., “July 20, 1833” replaces “July 1833” in Section 98.
• Contextual Clarification: E.g.,
  • D&C 121–123 now explicitly indicate these are excerpts from longer letters written by Joseph Smith. (41:35)
  • “...most people...are surprised. They’re like, it [D&C 121] does [come from a larger letter]? Now it’s directly in the section heading...” (GD, 41:21)
• Doctrinal Clarification:
  • Law of Consecration vs. Tithing (Section 119 & 120)
    • Headings now clarify that tithing did not replace the law of consecration.
    • “The law of consecration...that you’re willing to give everything to God that God asks for is part of being a Saint...it wasn’t terribly accurate [to treat it as replaced].” (GD, 48:21)
  • Section 98: now notes temporal proximity to Jackson County expulsion.

c) Substantive Updates Addressing Misunderstandings

• Polygamy (Section 132):
  • Old heading: “Evidence indicates that some principles...were known to the prophet as early as 1831.”
  • New heading: “Evidence indicates some...were known by the prophet earlier.”
  • The change removes the specific 1831 date due to lack of definitive documentary support (such as direct revelation manuscripts from then), as most evidence involves later (but still pre-1843) discussions and secondhand recollections.
    • “...Joseph could have been thinking about these things as early as translating the Book of Jacob in the Book of Mormon in 1829...One of the reasons why I think 1831 became...problematic is a lot of that...was tied to what W.W. Phelps claimed happened in July of 1831...” (GD, 53:09)
  • RL anticipates critics seizing on this as “softening.” GD responds:
    • “There is nothing new. These arguments that Joseph Smith never taught or practiced polygamy...those were all made by the Reorganized Church...Guess who no longer makes those arguments? The Reorganized Church.” (GD, 62:52)
    • “The very women that they claim they care about, they will call liars because they say that God told them to practice plural marriage. So please don't fall under that seduction. I know it’s seductive.” (GD, 60:20)

d) Theological and Historical Guidance

• Reminder: discomfort with polygamy is natural and understandable, but historical and doctrinal evidence is unequivocal.
  • “If you’re not uncomfortable with it...that’s very weird, because in America...polygamy is seen as something...horrifically wrong, always...it is a very natural reaction to feel uncomfortable about plural marriage.” (GD, 59:38)
• The problem with “comfort theology”: sometimes, critics seduce believers away from truth by confirming what they want to hear. GD powerfully warns listeners to stay anchored to actual prophetic teachings.
  • “When we have discomfort...that’s when someone can...say...they found that Joseph Smith never practiced polygamy...and [then] they’ll go on to malign the dozens and dozens...who testified that Joseph Smith taught them...” (GD, 60:13)
  • “The prophet of God is the only person who has the ability to determine what scripture is and what the doctrine of the Church is. And that prophet and every prophet since Joseph Smith has said that section 132 is a revelation from God and a scripture.” (GD, 64:09)

5. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If you want to look smart in Sunday School...Christie’s Corner exists for it to seem like you have a depth of understanding...” (GD, 16:41)
• “Every dollar literally goes to getting a Latter-day Saint to the temple, not to an overhead...If listening to this podcast hasn’t taught you that you can create something with literally no money and no administrative support, this is it.” (GD, 13:50)
• “There are very good people, believing people, who themselves are very uncomfortable with polygamy. Look, every person should be uncomfortable with polygamy.” (GD, 59:34)
• “Please don't fall under that seduction. I know it’s seductive. It’s the most seductive when someone is telling you exactly what you want to hear...” (GD, 61:04)
• “The prophet of God is the only person who has the ability to determine what scripture is and what the doctrine of the Church is.” (GD, 64:17)

6. Episode Structure & Tone

• Tone: Warm, humorous, candid, and deeply faithful; the hosts blend personal storytelling and Church history expertise, never shying from difficult topics but framing them with doctrinal conviction and charity.
• Structure:
  • Opening banter and anecdotes (including RL’s Kansas City misfortune and Sweetwater Rescue update)
  • Christie’s Corner: deep dive on D&C 124 (temple, evolving ordinances, early LDS welfare)
  • Listener correspondence—building community, testimony
  • Commentary and analysis on changes to scripture headings, with a focus on law of consecration/tithing and polygamy
  • Exhortation to anchor faith in true historical study and prophetic authority

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode:

This episode demystifies why and how the Church updates scriptural headings—always to clarify, not to “cover up”—and provides a model of how to faithfully grapple with challenging history. It is a robust resource for understanding both recent changes and enduring questions about the law of consecration, polygamy, and the living nature of Latter-day Saint revelation. The hosts’ candor and humor make even the most serious topics approachable for believing members seeking deeper faith and understanding.