The Iron Rod Podcast

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

This week’s topic has several interesting angles: are the Holy Ghost and the Holy Spirit the same thing or different?  Is the Holy Ghost a personage? What is the gift of the Holy Ghost and how does one receive it? Can we receive it today? Not only do we answer those questions, but there’s also a special musical number by Searcher.

Picking up from last episode, Sidney has been excommunicated and Brigham Young, as head of the Quorum of the Twelve, begins to made rapid organizational changes in defiance of scriptural requirements. We cover those changes and the unintended consequences that continue to cause organizational changes even in 2019. We conclude with the conference in 1847 in which Brigham reconstitutes the First Presidency and some of the succession policies he made along the way to make sure the person he wanted became the third president of the church.

After the deaths of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, the church was uncertain who should take charge. Several candidates presented themselves as the right person, but the biggest challenge was between Sidney Rigdon, member of the First Presidency, and Brigham Young, member of the Quorum of the Twelve. On August 8, both men addressed the church and a vote was held, with Brigham the victor. Within a month, Sidney would be excommunicated by Brigham.

In this episode, we discuss the succession parameters given by the Lord in the Doctrine and Covenants and how there would have been no crisis if the scriptures and laws of the church had been followed. We also review the words of William Marks, president of the stake in Nauvoo, who defended Sidney during his excommunication trial.

Tradition teaches that the Melchizedek Priesthood was restored in 1829. Yet many documented sources indicate it happened in June 1831 during a conference at Morley Farm, and what was restored is different from what we have now. This episode discusses what the Melchizedek Priesthood really is and why the conference at Morley Farm deserves far more attention than it gets.

Some key scriptures cited:
D&C 107:2, 9-11, 21-22, 63-66
D&C 20:38-39
D&C 88:127
JST Genesis 14:26-36
Alma 13:1-13

The Joseph Smith Translation of Luke 12 make a significant change to some information Jesus provides his apostles. Whereas the KJV has Christ talk about a lord who could come in either the second watch or the third watch, the JST has him coming in the first watch, the second watch, and the third watch. And all times he comes as a thief in the night. This forms the basis of the Three Watches, and helps explain why the dispensation of the fullness of times has not yet arrived.

In this episode we show how many other scriptures support this Three Watch model, and also discuss related topics like Joseph Smith’s second commission, and why we should really call the 1830s the “Foundation” rather than the “Restoration”.

Some key scriptures mentioned in this episode:

Three Watches
Luke 12:37-38 / JST
Hebrew 9:16-17
Matthew 16:16-20
1 Nephi 14:1
Ether 4:6-7
2  Nephi 30 5-8
2 Nephi 3:5-15, 24
D&C 88:80-94
D&C 101:43-62

Foundation vs. Restoration
D&C 1:29-30
D&C 58:3-11
D&C 64:30-33
D&C 94:1
D&C 124:118
D&C 86:8-10
D&C 77:15
D&C 103:15-22
D&C 84:2-5
D&C 45:16-17, 40-42, 66-71

Our review of the Biblical prophecies about a latter-day prophet who stumbles is continued in this episode. We cover the allegory of the olive trees in Jacob 5, the marred servant prophecy by Isaiah and referenced by others, the atonement statute in Leviticus 16, and Zechariah’s prophecy about a servant with filthy garments.

Key scriptures:

1 Nephi 10:14
3 Nephi 21:9-11
Isaiah 52:13-15
Leviticus 16
Jacob 5
Zechariah 3 & 6:12-15

Joseph’s behavior after 1836 was significantly different than his behavior before 1836. It’s important to understand why this is. In this episode, we begin to look at the prophetic profile of Joseph that is contained in the Bible. This Biblical profile predicts a change in behavior, and with links in the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants, identifies Joseph Smith as the subject of the profile.

Key scriptures include:

2 Samuel 7:10-17
2 Nephi 27:5
Exodus 32:30-34
Numbers 20:12
Deuteronomy 32:51-52
Malachi 2:5-9, 11-15
Deuteronomy 18:15-22

Building off the previous episode that reviewed what the scriptures say and don’t say about polygamy, in this episode we test the doctrine espoused in Section 132 against the rest of the scriptures.

Some of the scriptures referenced in this episode:

The new and everlasting covenant: D&C 22:1, 66:2, 133:57

The Holy Spirit of Promise: D&C 68:7-12, 124:124

Can commit any sin and still be exalted: D&C 1:31, 2 Nephi 28:8

Teaching more or less comes of evil: 3 Nephi 11:38-40