The Iron Rod Podcast

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 constrain, 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

Modern Mormon doctrine emphasizes the need for families to be sealed together for eternity through certain temple ordinances beyond baptism. In this episode we explore what the scriptures have to say about sealing and trace the history of the Law of Adoption that has morphed over time to what is practiced today.

Spoiler alert: Once you listen to this podcast you will know why Utah is the world epicenter of pyramid schemes.

Scriptures cited include:
Mosiah 5:15
Alma 34:35
D&C 68:12, 76:52-53, 1:8-9
Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30
2 Corinthians 1:22
2 Nephi 33:15
Helaman 10:4-11

Modern Mormonism teaches that Elohim is the name of the Father, and Jehovah is the name of Jesus before his earthly ministry. This is taught in the temple and from the pulpit. But it’s not taught from the scriptures. In this episode, we review how the scriptures use Elohim and Jehovah to consistently paint a dramatically different picture than what the LDS Church paints. We also review the how this doctrine changed over the course of 75 years until it finally stabilized on what we know today.

Key Scriptures:
Deuteronomy 6:4, 13:1-5, 28:13-14
Exodus 15:11, 20:1-3
Judges 10:11-13
Joshua 22:22, 24:19
1 Kings 8:23, 9:3
Jeremiah 7:11, 23:18
Psalms 97:9
John 1:1-3, 2:16, 10:29, 14:28, 17:11
Isaiah 42:8, 45:5
Moses 4:2
Philippians 2:5-11
Ezekiel 1:1-3
Ether 3:14, 4:12
3 Nephi 1:14
Mosiah 3:5, 7:27, 13:34, 15:1-5
Mormon 5:17, 9:12
Moses 1:6
JST Luke 10:22

The Lord teaches us in scripture that tithing is to be used primarily for the poor. In this episode, we explore how we can come to know the Lord through dealing justly with the poor who will always be among us. We also discuss how we are actually stealing form the poor through our corrupted tithing system and share how we personally have chosen to address this situation.

Scriptures cited include:

Matthew 7:22-23
JST Matthew 25:11
D&C 112:24-26
Jeremiah 22:16
Psalms 140:12
Deuteronomy 15:11
Psalms 41:1
Proverbs 14:21
Proverbs 28:27
James 1:27
Mormon 8:35-37
2 Nephi 13:12-15
2 Nephi 28:12-14
Matthew 25:31-45
D&C 119
D&C 52:40
D&C 104:18
D&C 38:35
D&C 83:6
D&C 85:3
JST Genesis 14:37-39
Proverbs 22:22-23