Standard of Truth Podcast: S5E6 "Stillbirths and Miscarriages" Summary
In the sixth episode of Season 5, titled “Stillbirths and Miscarriages,” hosts Dr. Gerrit Dirkmaat and Dr. Richard Leduc delve into one of the most profound and sensitive topics faced by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS): the grief and unanswered questions surrounding miscarriages and stillbirths. Released on February 6, 2025, this episode offers a heartfelt exploration of faith, church history, and personal suffering.
Handling Listener Emails
The episode begins with Dr. Dirkmaat and Dr. Leduc addressing the influx of listener emails, sharing anecdotes about humorous and heartfelt correspondence from missionaries and members alike. They emphasize the challenge of responding to the sheer volume of messages, mentioning they receive approximately 100 emails weekly, a number that has since grown. Dr. Leduc humorously notes, “[00:45] B: Hello, Garrett. We'll just jump right into the Phoebe Draper Palmer Brown mailbag. No pleasantries.”
A Heartfelt Listener's Plea
The core of the episode centers around a poignant email from a listener named Loretta, who grapples with the loss of three miscarried children. She writes, “[03:15] A: Wrong. No, that makes sense,” leading into her detailed account of the emotional turmoil and lack of satisfactory answers from church leaders regarding the eternal fate of her lost children.
Dr. Dirkmaat shares his personal connection to Loretta’s pain, revealing his own wife Angie’s experiences with miscarriages. He empathizes deeply, stating, “[13:45] A: Yeah, that's, you know, and we're not good fathers.”
Historical and Doctrinal Insights
The hosts transition to a scholarly discussion, analyzing historical church doctrines related to the soul’s existence and the implications for stillbirths and miscarriages. They reference early Christian fathers like Tertullian and Clement of Alexandria, who believed that the soul is created at conception. Dr. Dirkmaat explains, “[10:56] A: We have hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of missionaries that are listening that are in the drive...”
Brigham Young's teachings are scrutinized, particularly his stance that the spirit enters the body when a mother feels fetal movement. Dr. Dirkmaat cites Young’s Journal of Discourses, noting, “[09:01] B: yes, yes. Dr. Dirkmaat adds: “...the movement of a child inside of the mother in this sermon from 1859, that. That was never published.”
Joseph Smith’s Struggles with Unanswered Questions
A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to Prophet Joseph Smith’s own struggles with unanswered questions about suffering and the afterlife. Dr. Dirkmaat highlights Joseph’s distress over his brother Alvin’s death and his delayed comfort regarding the celestial kingdom. He states, “[50:49] B: How do...” and continues to elaborate on Joseph’s emotional and theological turmoil.
Dr. Leduc adds, “[50:50] A: You think he feels? If you think about the fact that anyone is in Missouri because he, as a prophet of God, received a revelation commanding people to go settle in Missouri...”
They discuss the contradictions in Joseph Smith’s revelations, such as the initial belief that baptism was necessary for entry into the celestial kingdom versus later teachings that offered a more inclusive understanding through baptisms for the dead. This paradox exacerbated Joseph’s suffering, as illustrated when Dr. Dirkmaat reflects, “[50:50] A: You think he feels?...”
Reflections on Suffering and Faith
Towards the episode's conclusion, Dr. Dirkmaat offers solace rooted in faith and the teachings of the Church. He acknowledges the limitations of providing immediate answers but emphasizes the hope found in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. “[14:00] B: Yeah, I, I don't know how you make time for it all...”
He reassures listeners that, despite the present anguish, there is a promise of eventual recompense and joy: “[14:06] A: Sasha, that's very kind... Every tear is dried, every heart aching, wrenching, painful thing that we have experienced is taken from us and we have a perfect joy.”
Conclusion
Dr. Dirkmaat and Dr. Leduc conclude by reiterating their sympathy for those enduring profound loss and suffering. They underscore the importance of faith and the belief in a future where all sorrows will be alleviated, aligning with Joseph Smith’s teachings on the resurrection and eternal life. “[14:06] A: Sasha, that's very kind...”
This episode of Standard of Truth serves as both a compassionate dialogue and an academic exploration of complex doctrinal issues, providing listeners with a deeper understanding of how the LDS faith addresses one of life’s most heart-wrenching realities.