Standard of Truth · For Litners

The Phebe Draper Palmer Brown Mailbag

Most episodes start with a Litner’s question. Send yours. If it makes the show, Richard reads it on air, possibly following along with his finger.

Send a question

Who was Phebe?

The mailbag is named for Phebe Draper, who also appears in the records as Phebe Palmer and Phebe Brown. She was born October 9, 1797, in Rome, New York, and died February 28, 1879, in Salt Lake City.

Three names, one woman, and no confusion whatsoever. Unlike the two Lucys.

Mailbag policies

Some real, some invented on air

The labor-email policy. Emails sent from labor get read. Check the box above.
Free content for quintuplets. A longstanding policy, established on the spot.
Missionaries. Premium episodes are free with a missionary email. Every missionary is assumed to be serving in Pittsburgh.
Friend of the show. A status that can be revoked, with demotion tiers down to “drive-by acquaintance of the show.”
Salutations. Creative ones are encouraged. “Dear Gerrit and What’s His Name” has been used.

Answered on air

Every question →

Season 6 · Episode 44 · Asked by Natalie

If Muhammad and Joseph Smith both got a gospel from an angel, doesn't Galatians 1:8 prove Joseph was false?

An Angel from Heaven Preaching Another Gospel (Galatians 1-8) Part 3 ▶ Hear the answer

Season 6 · Episode 43 · Asked by Elder Harris

“Now, for my question, in Brazil, many people know how to recite Our Father and other memorized prayers. But where does that culture come from? And why is it so dominant in the Catholic Church?”

The Lord's Prayer ▶ Hear the answer

Season 6 · Episode 42 · Asked by Natalie

Mormonism, started by Joseph Smith claiming an angel gave him a message. Islam started by Muhammad claiming an angel gave him a message.

An Angel from Heaven Preaching Another Gospel (Galatians 1-8) Part 2 ▶ Hear the answer

Season 6 · Episode 41 · Asked by Natalie

“Mormonism, started by Joseph Smith claiming an angel gave him a message. Islam started by Muhammad claiming an angel gave him a message.”

An Angel from Heaven Preaching Another Gospel (Galatians 1-8) Part 1 ▶ Hear the answer

Season 6 · Episode 40 · Richard

What stood out from the October 2026 general conference, and what does President Christofferson's talk on gambling mean for a show full of sports picks?

Please Refer to President Christofferson's October 2026 Conference Address ▶ Hear the answer

Season 6 · Episode 39 · Asked by Mackenzie

“He said after all you can do was a common phrase meaning something like despite all you can do.”

Saved By Grace After All You Can Do ▶ Hear the answer

Season 6 · Episode 38 · Asked by Elder Watson

“Elders say Cincinnati itself was cursed by Joseph Smith.”

Idiot or Liar - How to Spot a Bad Source Part 1 ▶ Hear the answer

Season 6 · Episode 37 · Asked by Elder Anderson

“Did they stop doing the ordinance completely after they left Nauvoo and before the St. George Temple was finished, or did they do the endowment somewhere else during that time?”

Exceptions Are God's to Make ▶ Hear the answer

Crack research staff case files

Some questions need research. Richard looks them up, on air or between episodes, and reports back.

When did microwaves arrive? Reported live, in “D&C 3, Part 2.”
When did P90X come out? Settled in “Can Satan Repent?”
What was the weather near Palmyra on possible First Vision dates? Charted at the Layton live event.

Hear the S2E9 report · 39:30 Hear the S2E16 report · 14:34 Hear the S2E17 report · 29:50 Hear the S2E30 report · 5:42 Hear the S2E33 report · 37:42 Hear the S2E35 report · 3:13 Hear the S2E44 report · 45:33 Hear the S3B1 report · 22:55 Hear the S3E6 report · 48:42 Hear the S3E8 report · 7:22 Hear the S3E11 report · 2:56 Hear the S3E26 report · 45:24 Hear the S3E35 report · 41:16 Hear the S3E38 report · 30:41 Hear the S3E39 report · 11:48 Hear the S3E46 report · 3:14 Hear the S3E48 report · 10:30 Hear the S4E2 report · 20:17 Hear the S4E3 report · 20:07 Hear the S4E6 report · 26:11 Hear the S4E8 report · 40:37 Hear the S4E11 report · 18:19 Hear the S4E12 report · 24:59 Hear the S4E13 report · 53:10 Hear the S4E18 report · 37:34 Hear the S4E22 report · 33:18 Hear the S4E24 report · 16:30 Hear the S4E27 report · 3:46 Hear the S4E28 report · 25:44 Hear the S4E30 report · 3:24 Hear the S4E31 report · 8:06 Hear the S4E31 report · 44:22 Hear the S4E32 report · 37:08 Hear the S4E34 report · 11:16 Hear the S4E35 report · 51:20 Hear the S4E36 report · 19:43 Hear the S4E37 report · 20:08 Hear the S4E38 report · 35:02 Hear the S4E41 report · 9:20 Hear the S4E50 report · 7:05 Hear the S4E51 report · 2:18 Hear the S5E1 report · 25:42 Hear the S5E2 report · 6:20 Hear the S5B8 report · 5:06 Hear the S5E8 report · 19:21 Hear the S5E12 report · 7:22 Hear the S5E15 report · 5:53 Hear the S5E24 report · 6:53 Hear the S5E25 report · 30:39 Hear the S5E28 report · 33:53 Hear the S5E34 report · 43:10 Hear the S5E39 report · 11:50 Hear the S5E42 report · 33:35 Hear the S5E43 report · 10:36 Hear the S5E45 report · 42:57 Hear the S5E49 report · 31:02 Hear the S5E53 report · 16:13 Hear the S6B1 report · 24:10 Hear the S6E2 report · 50:07 Hear the S6E3 report · 14:08 Hear the S6E6 report · 53:55 Hear the S6E7 report · 55:27 Hear the S6E8 report · 45:25 Hear the S6E9 report · 6:14 Hear the S6E10 report · 28:05 Hear the S6E12 report · 57:01 Hear the S6E18 report · 8:27 Hear the S6E23 report · 3:49 Hear the S6E25 report · 33:43 Hear the S6E26 report · 5:39 Hear the S6E28 report · 4:14 Hear the S6E30 report · 45:25 Hear the S6E32 report · 0:47 Hear the S6E35 report · 13:48 Hear the S6E38 report · 3:11 Hear the S6E38 report · 45:51 Hear the S6E41 report · 33:27 Hear the S6E43 report · 38:35 Hear the HPFOP S1E5 report · 12:33 Hear the JSR S1E5 report · 30:02 Hear the JSR S1E6 report · 14:40 Hear the HPFOP S1E9 report · 4:28 Hear the HPFOP S1E10 report · 4:28 Hear the HPFOP S1E11 report · 8:28 Hear the STC S2E20 report · 15:36 Hear the STC S5E4 report · 13:48