Summary of "Standard of Truth" Podcast – Episode S5E7: D&C 10 Part 1

Released on February 13, 2025, "Standard of Truth" is a podcast hosted by Dr. Gerrit Dirkmaat, an associate professor of Church History and Doctrine at BYU. The podcast aims to help Latter-Day Saints better understand their history and strengthen their faith by delving into the Doctrine and Covenants (D&C) and the revelations received by Prophet Joseph Smith.

1. Episode Introduction and Hosts' Banter

The episode begins with light-hearted banter between the hosts, Dr. Gerrit Dirkmaat and Dr. Richard Leduc, as they express astonishment at reaching Doctrine and Covenants Section 10 after numerous previous sections.

• Dr. Richard Leduc (00:43): "Hello, Garrett. Thanks for having me back on Search these Commandments. I can't believe. Here we are, Doctrine and Covenants, Section 10. Can you even believe it? We've made it this far."

• Dr. Gerrit Dirkmaat (01:08): "It's crazy. It's as if the entire Doctrine and Covenants is passing by us, as if a whirlwind. And we can barely keep up at the breakneck pace which we have set for ourselves."

2. Navigating Through the Doctrine and Covenants

The hosts discuss their progress through the Doctrine and Covenants, contemplating the extensive content ahead and the potential need to abbreviate their studies.

• Dr. Dirkmaat (03:43): "The reality is that there's a lot on some of these sections. There are some that we can cover. I mean, frankly, we could spend hours on every one of them. So this is just a brief overview."

They highlight the complexity and depth of the sections they are covering, particularly Sections 18, 19, and 20, indicating the intensive nature of their study.

3. Understanding Section 10: Historical and Contextual Analysis

Dr. Dirkmaat delves into the intricacies of D&C Section 10, focusing on its ambiguous dating and the challenges historians face in pinpointing its exact origin.

• Dr. Dirkmaat (04:07): "Doctrine of a Section 10, for starters, is a little bit ambiguous in its dating. Now, part of our problem is that the first page of this manuscript is missing..."

He explores the discrepancy between various sources placing the revelation in 1828 and 1829, discussing its relation to the translation of the Book of Mormon and the loss of 116 pages.

4. The Abridgment of Revelations and Textual Revisions

The conversation shifts to the concept of abridged revelations within the Doctrine and Covenants. Dr. Dirkmaat explains how multiple revelations are sometimes combined into a single section for brevity, using Section 42 as an example.

• Dr. Dirkmaat (15:25): "But Joseph Smith clearly does not believe this. You don't need, I mean, you don't have to be a member of MENSA to realize that Joseph Smith doesn't believe that Scripture cannot be amended."

They discuss Joseph Smith's approach to revising scriptures for clarity and doctrinal alignment, contrasting it with Protestant views that regard scripture as unchangeable.

5. Comparative Theology: Protestantism vs. Catholicism

The hosts engage in a theological discussion comparing Protestant and Catholic perspectives on scripture and tradition, highlighting the flexibility within Latter-Day Saint scripture.

• Dr. Leduc (16:48): "Oh, no, no. But the reason I wanted to make sure is not C H E R R Y like a chair. That's a person that screams when you say abridgment."

• Dr. Dirkmaat (19:08): "But for Protestants, Scripture only. Only Scripture can speak for God. Only Scripture can give you what the truth of God actually is."

They emphasize that Joseph Smith viewed scripture as a living document subject to revelation and amendment, contrasting with the Protestant belief in the Bible's fixed and unchangeable nature.

6. The Book of Mormon and the Loss of the 116 Pages

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the mysterious loss of 116 pages of the Book of Mormon and the implications of this event.

• Dr. Dirkmaat (26:50): "The Book of Mormon ends up being roughly 600 pages. You're talking roughly what, 20% of what would have been in the book is gone because someone steals the pages from Martin Harris."

They analyze how this loss affects the narrative and theological foundations of the Book of Mormon, exploring Mormon's role as an abridger and the continuity between the large and small plates of Nephi.

7. Theological Implications and Faith Strengthening

Dr. Dirkmaat connects the historical analysis to faith, illustrating how understanding these revelations and their context can strengthen believers' faith.

• Dr. Dirkmaat (43:15): "What a faith promoting, not that Mormon needs any more faith, but what a faith promoting thing it is. To be like exactly the way that the prophet said it was going to happen is exactly what happened."

He underscores the prophetic fulfillment as a cornerstone for faith, linking ancient revelations to contemporary belief systems.

8. Conclusion and Teasing Future Content

As the episode nears its end, the hosts acknowledge the depth of the material covered and tease the continuation of their analysis in future episodes.

• Dr. Dirkmaat (61:32): "Now, we are out of time here, so we're probably going to have to make this a part one, but thank you so much for joining us."

They conclude by highlighting the ongoing relevance of D&C Section 10 and the unanswered questions surrounding the lost pages, inviting listeners to stay tuned for further exploration.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Dr. Richard Leduc (00:43): "I can't believe. Here we are, Doctrine and Covenants, Section 10. Can you even believe it? We've made it this far."

• Dr. Dirkmaat (04:07): "We can barely keep up at the breakneck pace which we have set for ourselves."

• Dr. Dirkmaat (15:25): "But Joseph Smith clearly does not believe this. You don't need, I mean, you don't have to be a member of MENSA to realize that Joseph Smith doesn't believe that Scripture cannot be amended."

• Dr. Leduc (16:48): "Oh, no, no. But the reason I wanted to make sure is not C H E R R Y like a chair. That's a person that screams when you say abridgment."

• Dr. Dirkmaat (19:08): "But for Protestants, Scripture only. Only Scripture can speak for God. Only Scripture can give you what the truth of God actually is."

• Dr. Dirkmaat (26:50): "The Book of Mormon ends up being roughly 600 pages. You're talking roughly what, 20% of what would have been in the book is gone because someone steals the pages from Martin Harris."

• Dr. Dirkmaat (43:15): "What a faith promoting, not that Mormon needs any more faith, but what a faith promoting thing it is."

• Dr. Dirkmaat (61:32): "Now, we are out of time here, so we're probably going to have to make this a part one, but thank you so much for joining us."

Key Takeaways

• Doctrine and Covenants Section 10: The hosts provide an in-depth analysis of Section 10, discussing its ambiguous dating, historical context, and its relation to the Book of Mormon's translation and the loss of 116 pages.

• Abridgment and Revision of Scriptures: They explore how revelations were abridged and revised, emphasizing Joseph Smith's view of scripture as a living document open to amendment through revelation.

• Theological Perspectives: A comparative discussion on Protestant and Catholic views highlights the unique Latter-Day Saint approach to scripture and tradition.

• Book of Mormon's Lost Pages: The mystery of the lost 116 pages is examined, underscoring its significant impact on the Book of Mormon's narrative and doctrines.

• Faith and Prophetic Fulfillment: The episode reinforces the importance of prophetic fulfillment in strengthening faith, illustrating how historical revelations align with contemporary beliefs.

For those who haven't listened to the episode, this summary encapsulates the critical discussions and insights shared by Dr. Dirkmaat and Dr. Leduc. The episode intricately weaves historical analysis with theological discourse, offering listeners a comprehensive understanding of Doctrine and Covenants Section 10 and its profound implications within Latter-Day Saint history and faith.