Standard of Truth | S5E51: "Dead and in Hell Part 8 (and Official Declaration 1)"

Date: December 11, 2025
Host: Dr. Gerrit Dirkmaat
Guest: Dr. Richard Leduc

Episode Overview

This episode of the Standard of Truth continues the multi-part series "Dead and in Hell" (part 8), exploring the aftermath and controversies following early Latter-day Saint history, particularly focusing on the origins, secrecy, and eventual cessation of plural marriage (polygamy). The hosts also answer a detailed listener question about Emma Smith, Joseph Smith III, plural marriage, and Official Declaration 1, offering historical context drawn from primary sources and humor characteristic of the show.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Humor and Holiday Tangents (00:37–10:11)

• The episode kicks off with the hosts’ signature banter, focused on holiday traditions, giving out treats (specifically Yoohoo and odd candies) to delivery drivers, and sports betting jokes.
• They joke about whether anyone will ever take the offered Yoohoo, analogizing the situation to setting sports betting odds.

2. Christy's Corner: Listener Question on Plural Marriage and Official Declaration 1 (10:15–46:40)

Context and Listener Email (10:15–12:54)

• Listener "Adam" asks about Emma Smith's and Joseph Smith III's denials regarding Joseph Smith's practice of polygamy, questioning the extent of their knowledge and whether other close family members were aware.
• Sets up a segue to discuss Official Declaration 1 and its historical context.

Secret Practice and Denial of Polygamy (12:54–18:09)

• Joseph Smith III was a child (younger than 12) at Joseph’s death; likely unaware due to the clandestine nature of plural marriage in Nauvoo.
  • Quote (13:38): “Do 10 and 11 year olds…are they savvy enough to understand the things going on around them? Probably not, right?” — Dr. Dirkmaat
• William Smith (Joseph’s brother) later claimed Brigham Young invented polygamy, but contemporary evidence shows William himself practiced and entered into plural marriages in 1845.
  • Quote (17:14): “Claiming that plural marriage was never taught is a pretty hard argument to make when you were practicing it.” — Dr. Dirkmaat

Family Testimonies and Evolving Stance (18:09–37:15)

• Emma Smith: Publicly denied Joseph’s participation; however, insider eyewitness reports indicate she knew and even participated in plural marriages.
• Joseph Smith III & Denial:
  • Grew up believing polygamy was a grave sin—filtered all evidence through this lens, even as overwhelming evidence surfaced about his father’s involvement.
    • Quote (26:56): “Even if my father did teach and practice polygamy, if he did, then it was a sin.” — Dr. Dirkmaat summarizing Joseph Smith III
• Historiographical insight: Many break-off groups or rivals of Brigham Young were forced either to claim Joseph never practiced polygamy or, like Sidney Rigdon, that he did and this proved his apostasy.

Sources and Admissions from RLDS/CoC (30:11–37:15)

• RLDS (now Community of Christ) leaders like Zenas Gurley and William Marks admitted that Joseph taught plural marriage and that Emma participated.
• Over time, Joseph Smith III hedged his firm denials: if Joseph taught it, it was a mistake or sinful.
  • Quote (31:49): “There’s no possible way Joseph Smith received D&C 132 – if he did, then…it must have been either from man or of the devil.” — Dr. Dirkmaat reading Joseph Smith III

Summary of Reorganized Church Response (35:48–38:36)

• The RLDS/CoC eventually adopted a line that Joseph “experimented” with doctrines like polygamy and later abandoned them, a historically questionable assertion.

Faith, Sacrifice, and Judging Pioneer Experience (41:41–44:58)

• Modern discomfort with plural marriage should not overshadow or diminish the faith and sacrifices made by those who practiced it under the belief it was commanded by God.
  • Quote (42:37): “Instead of spending all of our time thinking about how hard it would be for us to live it, we should probably spend more of our time grateful that the same men and women…absolutely believed that it was something God wanted them to do.” — Dr. Dirkmaat

3. Official Declaration 1 and the End of New Plural Marriages (38:36–41:41)

• OD1 (1890) ended the practice of entering into new plural marriages in the U.S., but didn't immediately end all polygamous relationships; some continued in Canada, Mexico, and unofficially in the U.S. until Joseph F. Smith’s “Second Manifesto.”
• Not all men at the time honored the spirit of the OD1, requiring further clarifications and disciplinary actions.
  • Quote (40:44): “[Wilford Woodruff] has to publicly denounce some men in Utah who used the manifesto as a pretext to stop caring for wives that they didn’t like.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the burden of pioneer plural wives:
  "The people have sacrificed quite a bit... they were, and they sacrificed everything to do it." – Dr. Leduc (29:33)
• On denials by William Smith:
  "So is William Smith lying? I think you have to say demonstrably, yes, he's lying, because he himself practiced plural marriage." – Dr. Dirkmaat (17:02)
• On family feuds and Church leadership:
  "By the end of the 19th century, they are both at the heads of the churches that are attacking one another. Much more so the Reorganized Church is attacking the Church in Utah." – Dr. Dirkmaat (22:57)
• On generational perspective:
  "Frankly, the reality is that many of the people who feel the most upset about plural marriage actually owe their existence to a plural marriage at some point in their line." – Dr. Dirkmaat (44:14)

Segmented Timestamps

• [00:37–10:11] Holiday humor, Yoohoo and sports odds banter
• [10:15–46:40] Christy's Corner: Deep dive into Joseph Smith, Emma, RLDS positions, and polygamy
• [38:36–41:41] Official Declaration 1, the end of plural marriage, and ongoing aftereffects
• [41:41–44:58] Reflection on faith, judging the past, and honoring pioneers’ sacrifices

Dead and in Hell Part 8: Setting the Scene (46:47–66:17)

Judge Perry Brocchus, the Washington Monument, and Utah Politics

• [46:47–66:17]
  The hosts set up the main historical narrative (deferred to next episode due to time):
  • Judge Brocchus arrives in Utah, gives a (initially flattering) speech at General Conference about raising funds for the Washington Monument.
  • Uses political and biblical language; described as smarmy and reminiscent of a Broadway salesman (“Music Man” references abound—showing the hosts' comic style and use of historical pop culture).
• The real "Dead and in Hell" drama is deferred: Brocchus’s speech will provoke great controversy, noted as a “gigantic political disaster.”

Upcoming Features & Listener Interaction (66:17–68:43)

• Jokes about adding a JST (Joseph Smith Translation) sidebar to future episodes, inviting listener feedback.
• Playful allusions to the “constant stake auxiliary reorganizations” caused by Christy’s Corner, and imaginary promotions of prominent listeners.
• Plans to return to the main Dead and in Hell narrative and further historical analysis in the following episode.

Tone & Style

• The episode mixes rigorous Church history scholarship with quick banter, light sarcasm, and references to 20th-century pop culture (e.g., "Music Man," Simpsons).
• The hosts continually balance humor and reverence for the subject matter, especially in discussions of challenging topics like plural marriage.

Summary for New Listeners

This is one of the more detailed episodes for listeners interested in how plural marriage was viewed by early Church leaders’ families and how those views evolved and conflicted with abundant historical sources. The hosts make clear that while the cessation of plural marriage (OD1) is often seen as a “clean break,” the reality was far more complex, involving decades of adaptation, ongoing relationships, and shifting narratives, especially among break-off groups and descendants of Joseph Smith.

If you've never listened before, this episode delivers a frank, faith-based historical analysis with a trademark mix of levity, humanity, and sincerity toward the real saints who lived these extraordinary stories.