Standard of Truth Podcast – Season 6 Episode 9: “Prepare, Don’t Predict the Second Coming”
Release Date: February 26, 2026
Host: Dr. Garrett Dirkmaat (with Dr. Richard Leduc)

Episode Overview

This episode centers on a crucial gospel principle: rather than trying to forecast the Second Coming of Jesus Christ using signs, rumors, or speculative “insider” quotes, faithful Latter-day Saints should focus on personal preparation by following the teachings of living prophets and keeping core covenants. Dr. Dirkmaat and Dr. Leduc address recent trends—particularly in online spaces—of speculation and anxiety about the Second Coming, pushing back on the idea that such predictions are spiritually fruitful or doctrinally justified. The episode also features the familiar, lighthearted banter and listener mail, but comes to a focused, earnest climax on the need for steady, faith-filled discipleship.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Humorous Banter & Listener Catch-Up

• Japan Stories: Dr. Leduc recounts a recent trip to Japan with his family, complete with anecdotes about language learning, local culture, and his son Parker’s impromptu date at a Tokyo fish market.
  • “He didn’t care about any Shinto shrines or temples. All he was doing was just, his nose was in a Japanese book.” (Dr. Leduc, 02:33)
• Church in Japan: Leduc shares an embarrassing moment tripping on the steps at a Japanese church—"I thought there were three [steps]. And so I walked the plank and face planted in front of 200 lovely Japanese saints." (04:49)
• Listener Shoutouts: Recognition for devoted families in Tucson and Independence, MO, with a running joke about the podcast’s “popularity” in obscure LDS communities worldwide.

2. Listener Mailbag

• Wide-ranging listener questions dominate the first half, often sprinkled with regional Idaho humor (“thrifty nickel” classified paper, farm life, and local in-jokes).
• 13-year-old listener Owen asks: why do many Christians say Christ’s name in vain, despite the commandment? Dr. Dirkmaat explains that most religious, practicing Christians do avoid this out of reverence, though everyone is imperfect—“You’ll find that fervent Christians pretty universally are offended by someone using the name of deity in a pejorative way.” (29:07)

3. Misuse of Prophetic Teachings About the Second Coming

Deep Dive: “Joseph Smith on Knowing the Day and the Hour”

• Context: A listener (Curtis from Magrath, Alberta) asks about a Joseph Smith quote circulated online suggesting that a prophet could/would know the date of the Second Coming.
• Critical Analysis of Sources:
  • The only source of the “secret revealed to a prophet” idea in Joseph Smith’s 6 April 1843 discourse is the James Burgess account—but Burgess wasn’t present at the sermon; he arrived in Nauvoo days later (45:57).
  • No other contemporaneous scribes or published versions contain that phrasing.
  • “So, is it more likely that Joseph said it and literally every other person recording it, including, you know, the official publication, left it out? Or is it more likely that Burgess misunderstood, misheard, or got it secondhand?” (Dr. Dirkmaat, 45:58)

Dangers of End-Time Predictions in Latter-Day Saint Culture

• Rise of YouTube/Facebook “prophets”: Dr. Dirkmaat expresses concern that podcasts and videos leveraging end-time speculation prey on fears and drive engagement for profit or attention, often using suspect sources:

  • “There is one thing that all of these YouTube prophets and podcasting... have in common, and that is they have all been wrong. And they are consistently wrong.” (Dr. Dirkmaat, 36:56)
  • “If the church thought that selling stock was a signal that you were supposed to use for the second coming, how do you think you would find out about that? ...Not from the Salt Lake Tribune.” (35:22)

• How Prophets Actually Instruct Us to Prepare:

  • President Nelson and President Oaks counsel: go to the temple, read the Book of Mormon, seek the Spirit.
  • “You won’t ever actually know [the specific sign]. So speculating—‘the church sold a bunch of stock’ means a comet is coming—that’s not how doctrine works.” (Dr. Dirkmaat, 38:42)
  • “Unless the current prophet is the one saying, ‘Hey, this solar eclipse is the sign of the Second Coming,’ I will just instead try to work to make myself slightly better than I was yesterday. I’ve got enough issues with my own ability to live the commandments.” (Dr. Dirkmaat, 52:46)

• Spiritual Dangers of Speculation:

  • “If you find yourself more enamored with a YouTube video about the Second Coming than you are about what the prophets are currently saying, that’s time for a course correction.” (61:52)
  • Past obsession with end-times predictions has led members into apostasy when events don’t line up (“Ask the Millerites what the downside of that is”). (45:57, 62:44)
  • “If there is anything in your life that you find yourself caring more about than what the prophets of God are saying, cut it out of your life. Political, social, whatever it is—Satan is going to use that as a tool to try to pull you away from the core of the gospel.” (73:59)

4. Final Testimony and Encouragement

• Dr. Dirkmaat closes with heartfelt counsel and a testimony of Christ and the prophetic leadership of the Church.
  • “All I can say is, as there are so many of you going through hard times, the great promise of the gospel of Jesus Christ is there will come a time when there will be no more tears forever. And everything you are suffering will eventually end.” (77:45)
  • Preparation for the Second Coming—or one’s own meeting with the Savior through death—should not be rooted in anxiety or frantic speculation, but in daily faithfulness and discipleship.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “Japan is great. The food is great. The people are great. The transportation is great. ...You can’t find a trash can anywhere ever. They don’t exist. But somehow it’s cleaner than here.” – Dr. Leduc (01:10)
• “[Parker] didn’t care about any Shinto shrines or any Buddhist temples. All he was doing was just his nose was in a Japanese book.” – Dr. Leduc (02:33)
• “It took two days to get there and negative an hour and a half to get back.” – Dr. Leduc on “time travel” via the International Date Line (15:46)
• “You’ll find that fervent Christians pretty universally are offended by someone using the name of deity in a pejorative way.” – Dr. Dirkmaat (29:07)
• “There is one thing that all of these YouTube prophets and podcasters have in common, and that is they have all been wrong.” – Dr. Dirkmaat (36:56)
• “If the church thought that selling stock was a signal ... I am going to go out on a limb and venture that the church doesn't think you should find out anything about the Second Coming from the Salt Lake Tribune.” – Dr. Dirkmaat (35:22)
• “Preparation for the Second Coming means doing what the prophets actually say—go to the temple, read the Book of Mormon, live the gospel. Not becoming an amateur astronomer or SEC investigator.” – (51:32–52:46 summary)
• “The great promise of the gospel of Jesus Christ is there will come a time when there will be no more tears forever. ...Whether that second coming is 400 years from now or four days from now or four minutes from now, the important part is whether or not you are striving to live the gospel.” – Dr. Dirkmaat (77:45–78:29)

Important Timestamps for Reference

• Japan Trip Stories & Church in Tokyo: 01:04 – 05:13
• Mailbag (Idaho Stories, Thrifty Nickel, Listener Owen): 16:21 – 29:07
• Using the Lord's Name in Vain – Christian Perspectives: 26:37 – 30:43
• Listener Question: Joseph Smith Quote & Second Coming: 31:42 – 45:58
• Deep Dive: Second Coming Speculation Dangers: 36:56 – 64:50
• Testimony and Final Thoughts on Faithful Preparation: 73:59 – 78:29

Structure & Tone

• Lighthearted, self-deprecating humor and personal storytelling dominate the early segments, aligning with the podcast’s typical friendly and accessible tone.
• Deep, earnest gospel teaching and warning against the misuse of prophecy and doctrinal speculation forms the core of the episode’s “sermon,” delivered in a sincere, accessible, sometimes passionate manner.
• Affirming, hopeful conclusion—the focus is not fear, but faith.

Takeaways for Listeners

• The Second Coming is certain, and we are to prepare, not predict.
• Beware of voices outside of current prophets claiming “special” insight; their speculations often breed anxiety and disappointment.
• Personal discipleship—not anxiety over signs—builds the faith necessary to meet Christ, whenever that may be: “Everyone listening is far more likely to have their Second Coming because they die and meet Jesus, than because Jesus comes tomorrow.” (52:47)
• The gospel promises ultimate healing, hope, and wholeness for those who endure and trust Christ, whatever the timeline of His return.

This episode is indispensable listening for Latter-day Saints navigating a noisy, speculation-filled world—reminding them to trust the living prophets over “secret” knowledge and to root faith in daily connection to Jesus Christ, not in anxiety or social media trends.