The Iron Rod Podcast

The office of Presiding Patriarch was introduced in the 1830’s when Joseph Smith Sr. was ordained to that office and told that he and his posterity would hold that office. In D&C 124, the Lord specifies the duties of that office and called Hyrum to the office of Presiding Patriarch after the death of his father. Upon the death of Hyrum, efforts began immediately to minimize and marginalize the Presiding Patriarch, until in 1979 the leadership just got rid of the office. In addition to discussing what the office is supposed to be, and what that means for us today, we also reveal the traditionally accepted date of the introduction of the Presiding Patriarch is wrong, and how the actual date fits perfectly into the downgraded-church timeline.

D&C 124:28, 91-96, 123-143

D&C 104

D&C 107:39

Matthew 23:15

D&C 2 tells us that the Priesthood will be revealed by the hand of Elijah. But the scriptural record tells us nothing about Elijah conferring priesthood by hand to Joseph. The one conferral of priesthood by the hand of an angel we have record of is John the Baptist conferring the priesthood of Aaron. In this episode, we look at the scriptural links between Elijah and John the Baptist and discuss radical concepts introduced in the Inspired Version of the Bible. We kick the episode off with an email from a bishop, and a discussion about birthday parties.

Birthday parties:

Matthew 14:1-11

Mark 6:21-29

Matthew 23:5-7

Matthew 20:25

D&C 2

James 5:17-18

JST Genesis 14:26-32

Helaman 10:5-12

Helaman 11:4-6

Joseph Smith History 1:68-74

D&C 110:12-16

Luke 7:28

John 1:19-22

Mark 9:1-13

Luke 9:30

Matthew 17:1-13

Luke 1:15-17

D&C 84:28

D&C 98:16

Hebrews 9:27

D&C 45:60-61

D&C 42:14-15

D&C 43:56-58

HC 1:341, 4:425

The scriptures give fairly specific descriptions of the duties of a bishop, and as we discussed last week, that the bishop should be paid for his duties. This week we review just what the scriptures dictate that a bishop should do, and compare that with what the current role of the bishop is.

1 Timothy 3:1-6
Titus 1:5-9
1 Peter 2:25
Acts 1:20
D&C 41:9-10
D&C 42:30-35, 71-73
D&C 46:11-27
D&C 48:6
D&C 51:1-6, 10-15
D&C 57:15
D&C 58:17-20
D&C 64:37-40
D&C 85:1
D&C 68:13-24
D&C 84:29
D&C 90:30
D&C 107:72
D&C 119:1-2
D&C 120:1
Malachi 4
D&C 20:45
D&C 46:2
Moroni 6:9
Matthew 23:11-12
Luke 22:24-27
D&C 72:9-12

Mormonism has a complicated relationship with paying church leaders. We have scriptures that condemn priestcrafts and the Church has often bragged about not having a paid clergy. Yet the church also defends paying Church leaders a “living stipend”. This episode searches out what the scriptures have to say, a reveals that the D&C commands that some leaders be paid while others must not be paid…the only problem is today’s Church does the exact opposite!

2 Nephi 26:29-31

D&C 105:5

Numbers 18:

Luke 9:1-6

Matthew 10:5-11

Acts 3:1-9

Luke 10:1-9

1 Timothy 6:8

Acts 18:1-4

1 Corinthians 9:1-18

Mosiah 18:24-28

Mosiah 27:5

Alma 1:26

Alma 30:32-34

Alma 31:35-38

Alma 8:19-21

3 Nephi 13:25-34

D&C 24:18

D&C 84:77-91

D&C 70:12-14

D&C 107:68

Lectures on Faith 6:7

HC 2:300

D&C 42:71-73

The modern LDS church teaches that within temples we can receive ordinances beyond baptism that are necessary for our salvation. These ordinances are so sacred that they aren’t even mentioned in the scriptures, yet we are told that they have been revealed to prophets in every dispensation since Adam. This week we explore these claims and test them against what the scriptures teach. Could millions of people truly be suffering under delusion?

2 Thessalonians 2:10-11

2 Nephi 26:23

Isaiah 45:19

Isaiah 48:16

2 Nephi 9:41

D&C 110:9

D&C 124:28, 39, 40

Jeremiah 23:10

Isaiah 48:1

3 Nephi 12:33-37

Moses 5:29

Isaiah 28

Isaiah 1

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

Moroni 10:30-31

Isaiah 52:5

D&C 63:61-63

Isaiah 5:13

D&C 85:7

Daniel 7:21-22

Hosea 8:14

Scripture teaches that the Gospel at its core is very simple. Jesus himself declared His doctrine to be faith, repentance and baptism (of water and fire) and then stated that “more or less” than this cometh of evil. In this episode we delve into the many scriptural evidences of the simplicity of the Gospel and begin to contrast these scriptural teachings with the complexity of  current LDS doctrine.  This episode is required listening in preparation for our next episode which will discuss the LDS temple endowment ceremony.

D&C 10:67-68

3 Nephi 11:35-40

D&C 39:5-6

3 Nephi 18:10-12

Mormon 7:8-10

Matthew 11:28-30

D&C 22

Mormon 9:23

2 Peter 3:15-16

Lectures on Faith 1:12

Galatians 3:6

Lectures on Faith 7:7

D&C 45:8

Alma 33:2

Ephesians 2:4

Romans 5: 1-11

2 Nephi 32:3-7

Jacob 4:14

Galatians 1:6-8

2 Nephi 28:14

2 Corinthians 11:3-4

D&C 42:12

D&C 66:2

D&C 124:28

Daniel 7:21-22

D&C 76:51-54

Moroni 10:7, 32-33

Perhaps one of the most iconic practices of modern Mormonism is the prohibition of alcohol, tobacco, coffee, and tea. Failure to adhere to the current interpretation is grounds for disciplinary action and considered a sign a spiritual weakness. Yet is wasn’t always so. Not only does the modern interpretation conflict with the original interpretation during the life of Joseph Smith, it also conflicts with other scriptures. This week’s episode discusses what the scriptures say, and what happened historically to go from a word of wisdom given not by commandment or by constraint, to an absolute requirement for coming unto Christ through baptism.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17
Matthew 15:17-20
Leviticus 10:8-11
Deuteronomy 14:26
Judges 9:13
Psalm 104:14-15
Isaiah 5:11
Proverbs 23:20
Ephesians 5:18
1 Peter 4:3
Colossians 2:16-20
Romans 14:13-21
1 Timothy 3:8
1 Timothy 5:23
Luke 7:33-34
Joel 1:5
Acts 3:13-15
Matthew 9:17
D&C 89
D&C 27:2-4
1 Corinthians 11:20-22
History of the Church 2:369, 2:378, 5:8; 2:406, 4:330; 7:101
Journal of Discourses 8:361, 16:238, 9:35,

Pilate famously asked, “What is truth?” It’s a relevant question for our day and age as we are faced with contradictions between what is preached from the pulpit and what is written in scripture. Watcher makes a special appearance this week to discuss how we can identify the false traditions we inherit, and how we can correct course when our navigators are pointing us in the wrong direction.

Key scriptures:
3 Nephi 11:39-40
D&C 88:77-78
Hosea  4:5-6
D&C 93:39
D&C 84:54-55
Ephesians 2:20
1 Timothy 4:1
2 Timothy 2:15
2 Thessalonians 2:11
Isaiah 28:15
2 Nephi 27:25
2 Nephi 28
Mormon 8
Ether 4
Deuteronomy 31:28-29
2 Nephi 3:5
D&C 45:28

One modern doctrine that is repeated quite often is that the leaders of the LDS Church cannot lead the people astray. Even if they wanted to, God would take away their agency and end their lives before allowing them to lead the people astray. While this doctrine is taught from the pulpit as an absolute promise from God, the scriptures have something different to say about the leaders in the last days. We review what God has spoken through his ancient prophets about the latter-day shepherds and leaders of the house of Israel.

2 Nephi 28:14
2 Nephi 13:12
2 Nephi 19:14-16
D&C 33:4
2 Nephi 26:29-31
Isaiah 28:7
3 Nephi 23:1-3
Jeremiah 50:6
Amos 2:4
Jeremiah 16:19
D&C 123:7-8
D&C 109:32, 62
Isaiah 28:14-15
Micah 3:5-7
Isaiah 5:5-6
2 Nephi 28:20-21
Isaiah 30:9-11
Ezekiel 14
Isaiah 56:9-12
Jeremiah 23
D&C 84:54-58
Mark 12:24
Alma 33:2
D&C 10:63
Hosea 4:6
2 Nephi 27:35
3 Nephi 16:10-12
Jeremiah 5:30-31
D&C 64:38