S5E53 Merry Christmas and Dead and in Hell Part 10, the Finale

Standard of Truth Podcast

S5E53 – "Merry Christmas and Dead and in Hell Part 10, the Finale"

Date: December 25, 2025
Hosts: Dr. Gerrit Dirkmaat & Dr. Richard Leduc

Overview

This Christmas episode of Standard of Truth brings a festive close to the long-running "Dead and in Hell" series, humorously bridging holiday cheer with the colorful history of Latter-day Saints in early Utah. Dr. Dirkmaat and Dr. Leduc exchange heartfelt anonymous gifts before diving into the finale of the feud between Brigham Young and government officials, the persistent "dead and in hell" accusation, and the broader message of redemption in Latter-day Saint belief. The episode balances laughter, deep dives into original historical sources, and a touching testimony of the meaning of Christmas.

Christmas Gift Exchange & Listener Notes (00:01–11:45)
The Utah Territory Controversy: Judges, Accusations, and Allegiances (11:46–27:55)
Primary Sources: Firsthand Accounts & Public Perceptions (27:56–35:28)
Origins and Evolution of "Dead and in Hell" (35:29–43:57)
Brigham Young's Defense & Theological Context (43:58–49:21)
The Latter-day Saint View of Hell & Christmas Testimony (49:22–end)

1. Christmas Gift Exchange & Listener Notes (00:01–11:45)

Key Highlights:

The episode opens with festive banter about combining Christmas and the series theme, "Who's dead and in hell?" (01:03–01:37)
Hosts open anonymous Christmas gifts from a superfine listener who signs as "Dirk Moss," referencing an inside joke from their first episode:

“I don’t know who you are. I love you. I’m a little scared that you know my address, but also, thank you so much. That is super thoughtful.” — Dr. Dirkmaat [07:20]
Gifts are hyper-personalized and allude to podcast inside jokes: Johann Tetzel indulgence coasters (“When a coin in the coffer rings, a soul from Purgatory springs”), custom Idaho keychain, and much-desired gift cards to Jersey Mike’s and Mod Pizza.
Discussion of putting “Yoo Hoos” out for delivery drivers, with playful skepticism and eventual proof via blurry security camera video — a recurring joke about generosity and evidence (“I feel that the video... there's better evidence of Sasquatch.” — Dr. Leduc [09:58]).

Memorable Quote:

“Maybe Christmas is knowing who’s burning in hell because they were mean to the Mormons. That’s how Dr. Seuss ended it originally.” — Dr. Dirkmaat [01:37]

2. The Utah Territory Controversy: Judges, Accusations, and Allegiances (11:46–27:55)

Key Discussion Points:

Recap of the Utah Territory's federal judges and officials: Lemuel Brandebury, Perry Brocchus (humorously called "Brocas"), and B.D. Harris. All claim to have fled Utah due to Mormon hostility—an assertion Dirkmaat dismantles with context.
Brigham Young’s practical response: When Harris arrives late with official forms, Young simply conducts the census himself to keep governance functioning—an action Harris later declares illegitimate.
Officials, facing a lack of opportunity for personal gain and low support, manufacture a narrative of Mormon lawlessness and persecution to justify abandoning their posts and slandering the Saints upon return east.
Dr. Dirkmaat highlights the manipulation at play and notes the depth required to unearth the details—a dig at armchair experts:

“My guess is, unless you’ve written a master’s thesis on Perry Brocchus, you haven’t read this.” [15:59]

Notable Segment:

Willard Trowbridge Snow’s letter recounts tracking the fleeing officials to a steamer, observing their behavior, and hilariously noting Brocchus’s flamboyant spending—culminating in Brocchus stiffing the captain on payment:

“So apparently this guy is wining and dining three times a day in the expensive cabin... and just took off without paying the bill.” [27:42]

3. Primary Sources: Firsthand Accounts & Public Perceptions (27:56–35:28)

Key Insights:

Zerubbabel Snow, the only judge who stayed, privately writes to defend the conduct of the Latter-day Saints. His letter, published by a local newspaper, debunks the charges of lawlessness and bias (e.g., that only Mormons serve on juries—when in fact, half the jurors in a key trial were non-Mormons).
Snow stresses the normalcy and effectiveness of governance under challenging frontier conditions:

“No person has been driven from this territory, no man’s property or person has been violently assailed or anything of that kind… as good order prevails here as in any place as I ever was in, in the same number of inhabitants.” — Zerubbabel Snow [34:14]
Dirkmaat likens anti-Mormon exaggerations to perennial stereotypes of marginalized groups and lampoons how easy it was for critics to make baseless accusations.

Notable Moment:

Discussion of the absurdity of “jury of your peers” when non-Mormons numbered so few—yet Mormons still ensured half the jury in some cases were outsiders, “grabbing people from immigrant trains.”

4. Origins and Evolution of "Dead and in Hell" (35:29–43:57)

Key Discussion Points:

Retells how President Zachary Taylor’s death became tied to Brigham Young via wild rumors that Young declared Taylor “dead and in hell.”
Traces the rumor’s path: first “the Mormons said it,” then “Brigham said it,” to which Young eventually responds:

“First of all, I didn’t even say it… but also, Zachary Taylor is dead. So what do you want me to do about this?” — Dr. Dirkmaat paraphrasing Brigham Young [38:54]
Young’s real point: it was (and is) commonplace for preachers to declare profligate leaders bound for hell—why wouldn’t a Mormon preacher have the same religious right?
Analytical aside: Brigham Young uses the controversy to defend not only himself but the right of religious leaders to speak out.

Memorable Quote:

“I have just as good a right to say that President Taylor is in hell as to say that any other miserable sinner is there… Was Taylor any more flesh than flesh and blood? I have as good a right to canvass him in a religious point of view as I have to canvass the peasant upon the dunghill.” — Brigham Young, as quoted by Dirkmaat [41:03]

5. Brigham Young's Defense & Theological Context (43:58–49:21)

Key Insights:

As federal troops approach (1857 “Utah War” crisis), Brigham Young gives perhaps his most strident sermons, affirming allegiance to the Constitution but condemning “corrupt administrators”:

“We will be controlled by them if they will be controlled by the Constitution… All we have ever asked is for our constitutional rights.” — Brigham Young [44:46]
Strong language (“Polk... is now weltering in hell with old Zachary Taylor, where the present administrators will be soon if they do not repent”) is paired with defense of Latter-day Saints’ rights—not a blanket condemnation of America.
Dirkmaat gives historical analysis, noting that most territorial appointees were government cast-offs, supporting Young’s complaints about outsider interference.

Memorable Moment:

Modern comparison: Sending washed-up political “one-hit wonders” to govern the Saints; extended with playful music band banter—keeping tone light.

6. The Latter-day Saint View of Hell & Christmas Testimony (49:22–end)

Key Discussion Points:

Dirkmaat demystifies Brigham Young's statements about “hell,” clarifying that Latter-day Saints do not believe in a permanent, fiery Protestant hell. Instead, “hell” is spirit prison—a temporary state, not an eternal punishment.

“Brigham Young is not saying he is for trillions upon trillions of years going to be writhing in the agonies of hell, because Brigham Young doesn’t believe that hell even exists [in that way]...” [49:32]
Connects the doctrine to Christmas: the core of Latter-day Saint belief is universal resurrection and salvation through Christ—a message unique in its scope and mercy.
Concludes with moving testimony of Jesus Christ, his condescension, the atonement, and the support Christ offers all who suffer—tying the historical discussion to the spiritual heart of Christmas:

“The greatest gift obviously will always be that an immortal, omnipotent God became like us and suffered for me and took upon him all of our sins and all of our weaknesses and all of our sicknesses.” — Dr. Dirkmaat [50:44]
Direct address to listeners feeling alone, under attack, or discouraged—a pastoral moment of connection and hope.

Notable Quotes & Moments

On the “Dead and in Hell” theme:

“I could go on. Clearly, I could go on. We could have Dead and in Hell, Part 95. The podcast could be called Dead in Hell, Merry Christmas.” — Dr. Dirkmaat [43:41]
Christmas Testimony:

“I testify to you, the Lord Jesus Christ died for you. And he didn’t just take upon him your sins, but he did. So if what you’re laboring in is sin, it can be taken from you. But he also took your sufferings and your sicknesses so that he can succor you, so that he can provide the amount of help that you need to make it through your terrible gethsemane.” — Dr. Dirkmaat [52:04]

Final Thoughts

Despite the comic title and irreverent running jokes, this finale beautifully blends Latter-day Saint history, Christmas spirit, and a deeply felt message of faith. Dirkmaat and Leduc deftly use primary sources, humor, and personal reflection to give context to oft-misquoted accusations, draw out the humanity in historical figures, and testify of Christ’s redemptive love. Both newcomers and longtime listeners will find understanding, encouragement, and a few hearty laughs in this holiday episode.

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