October 02, 2025

The Reed Smoot Hearings: When Mormon Prophets Tell The Truth

2 hours 16 minutes

Mormonism Live uncovers the explosive history of the Reed Smoot Hearings (1904–1907)—a time when Mormon leaders, including President Joseph F. Smith, were forced to testify under oath before the United States Senate. What happens when prophets, seers, and revelators can no longer hide behind the pulpit and instead must answer blunt questions from skeptical senators under oath and penalty of perjury?

We’ll walk you through:

Why the hearings began and why the nation was riveted.

Joseph F. Smith’s shocking admissions about polygamy, revelation, and his business empire.

The contradictions between what Church leaders told the U.S. Senate versus what they taught faithful members in Utah.

Scandals, evasions, and the unforgettable moment when the Prophet declared: “I have never pretended to… have received revelations.”

The cultural and political fallout that permanently changed Mormonism and shaped its path toward assimilation in American society.

This is Mormon history like you’ve never seen it: senators grilling prophets, prophets evading and confessing, and the whole nation watching.

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The post The Reed Smoot Hearings: When Mormon Prophets Tell The Truth appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

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