Standard of Truth Podcast – S6E5: Gadianton Robbers Part 3 (Brigham Young Sermon)

Date: January 29, 2026
Host: Dr. Gerrit Dirkmaat
Co-host: Dr. Richard Leduc

Episode Overview

The central theme of this episode is an exploration of Latter-day Saint teachings about evil spirits and the afterlife, focusing particularly on Brigham Young’s and Heber C. Kimball’s sermons about the continued influence of the Gadianton robbers' spirits. Dr. Dirkmaat and Dr. Leduc blend historical context, scriptural interpretation, and lively personal banter as they answer listener questions and dive into fascinating (sometimes unsettling) details about spirit world beliefs in early LDS thought.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Listener Q&A and Community Engagement

• Mailbag Questions: The hosts answer several listener emails, offering thoughtful advice and humorous commentary on topics ranging from mission experiences to doctrinal nuances. (05:29 – 23:26)
• Virtual Nauvoo Tours: Elder Ballard (Nauvoo West Mission) promotes virtual Nauvoo historical site tours led by missionaries via gimbal-mounted cameras, a resource for classes and families unable to visit in person. (09:03 – 14:32)
• Sports & Personal Anecdotes: True to their tone, the hosts weave in plenty of jokes and anecdotes about sports predictions, children, and podcast logistics.
  • “If you pass away, then this will turn into a behavioral economics podcast.” — (01:49, B)

2. Preparation for the Second Coming and Prophecy Speculation

• On Speculative End-times Books: Dr. Dirkmaat strongly cautions against relying on non-prophetic, speculative literature about the chronology of the Second Coming. He emphasizes focusing on prophetic counsel and personal preparation.
  • “If that was an essential thing for us to know, a prophet would be teaching it, because that's how prophets instruct us.” — Dr. Dirkmaat (31:28)
• Practical Counsel: The best preparation is spiritual readiness: “President Nelson told us, right? Read the Book of Mormon, go to the temple. That's the most important way.” (30:48)

3. The Spirit World: Teachings of Brigham Young & Heber C. Kimball

Brigham Young’s Sermon (June 22, 1856)

• Context: Wilford Woodruff records that Brigham Young’s sermon contained “the most interesting information, light, truth, and knowledge ever revealed by God through any apostle or prophet on earth.” (32:38 – 33:54)
• Key Points:
  • Evil Spirits Are Here: Both spirits who never received bodies (the third part cast out with Lucifer) and the disembodied spirits of deceased people mingle among the living on earth.
    • “They are still around us. Their condemnation is they can never have a tabernacle, but they seek to get into the tabernacle of all men.” — Brigham Young (34:15)
  • Post-mortal Opposition: Even after death, opposition continues—Joseph Smith faces adversaries in the spirit world, just as in mortality. (35:51)
    • “The wicked spirits will gather together against Joseph there, the same as here. But neither the devil nor the wicked have any power over him…” — (36:54, quoting Young)
  • Spirit World Proximity: Our departed loved ones are near us in the spirit world: “Our children and friends are all with us or near us.” (38:10)

Heber C. Kimball’s Teachings (1865)

• Wicked Spirits Remain Near Where They Die:
  • “The wicked die, and their spirits remain not far from where their tabernacles are.” — Heber C. Kimball (49:21)
• Gadianton Robber Spirits:
  • Kimball claims that parts of the Utah mountains are “doubtless the abode of the spirits of the Gadianton robbers, whose spirits are as wicked as hell and who would kill Jesus Christ and every apostle and righteous person that ever lived if they had the power.” (52:00)
• Practical Implications:
  • Evil spirits (including those of wicked mortals) tempt living people to all kinds of wrongdoing, from “little lies” to violence and even murder.
  • “It is by the influence and power of evil spirits that the minds of men are prejudiced against each other until they are led to do each other an injury and sometimes to kill each other.” — Heber C. Kimball (53:25)
• Personal Spiritual Experiences:
  • Kimball describes seeing “more devils than persons here today” while serving in England, identifying them as spirits of wicked men who while in mortality opposed God. (50:17)

4. Theological Takeaways

• Evil Is Real and Present: Both Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball stress the reality and activity of evil spirits—including those who were wicked in mortality—as an influence in this world.
  • “If you feel like it is really hard to do what's right...that's because there are apparently millions upon millions of evil spirits that are constantly in the unknown realm…trying to pressure you to do what's wrong.” — Dr. Dirkmaat (58:22)
• But We Have Power to Overcome: Righteousness, faith, and covenants protect against the influence of evil spirits. Drawing upon Joseph Smith’s experiences (First Vision, temptation surrounding the gold plates), the hosts reinforce that resisting evil comes through repentance, faith, and obedience to prophetic counsel (59:05 – 62:30).
  • “The promise is God has promised that we have power over those spirits if we maintain our righteousness.” — Dr. Dirkmaat (58:57)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Gadianton Robbers in Mormon Folklore:
  • “The atmosphere of many of the parts of these mountains is doubtless the abode of the spirits of the Gadianton robbers…” — Heber C. Kimball (52:00)
• Podcast Banter:
  • “Do you think that I could just take enough of your voice and create an AI You?” — Dr. Dirkmaat (02:14)
  • “If you pass away, then this will turn into a behavioral economics podcast.” — Dr. Leduc (01:49)
• Mailbag Humor:
  • “All I know about sports is what you guys share. So you know nothing about sports, then?” — Listener letter, (12:00)
• On Buying Walmart Flowers:
  • “If you're going to just pick up flowers, make sure that you can pull the Walmart receipt tag off of them before you hand them.” — Dr. Dirkmaat (44:17)
• On End Times Speculation:
  • “Read [speculative Second Coming books] with a dead sea level of grain of salt…” — Dr. Dirkmaat (31:28)
• Encouragement:
  • “If we can get to a place where we feel like we are continually repenting…then whether Jesus comes here or we go there, we should have peace.” — Dr. Dirkmaat (29:30)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Listener Mailbag & Virtual Nauvoo Discussion: 05:29 – 14:39
• Question: End Times Chronology Books: 22:41 – 31:35
• Brigham Young Sermon on Evil Spirits: 33:54 – 39:00
• Heber C. Kimball on Gadianton Robber Spirits: 49:21 – 54:35
• Summary and Practical Takeaways: 58:22 – 62:30

Tone & Style

The episode expertly balances historical rigor and doctrinal analysis with light-hearted humor and personal rapport. Listeners new to the podcast will find the hosts warm, approachable, and deeply knowledgeable, with an informal, lively tone that makes even heavy subjects engaging.

Summary Takeaway

This episode compellingly explores how 19th-century Latter-day Saint leaders conceptualized the influence of evil spirits after death—especially infamous ones like the Gadianton robbers. Listeners are encouraged not to dwell in fear, but to recognize both the reality of evil and the enduring power of righteousness, faith, and covenant-keeping. Embedded within is a call to focus on what prophets teach and to anchor preparation—in this life or the next—on Christlike living rather than sensational speculation.

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