Mormon Stories Podcast
@mormonstories·310K subscribers·2.7K videos
Excommunicated for Openly Disbelieving Joseph Smith's Polygamy - Karen Hyatt | Ep. 2096
Posted
December 18, 2025
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December 18, 2025
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4:59:50Now PlayingIn this in-depth conversation, John sits down with Karen Hyatt to explore her lifelong faith journey in the LDS Church and the research that ultimately led to her excommunication. Karen shares her background as a devoted member -convert parents, mission service, leadership roles, and decades without doubt –before explaining what prompted her to closely examine Doctrine and Covenants 132 and the history of polygamy.
Karen explains why she ultimately rejected D&C 132, why she believes Joseph Smith did NOT practice polygamy, and how she responds to accusations of bias or conspiracy thinking.
Karen also walks through the personal and institutional consequences of speaking publicly: compiling and sending her research to the Apostles (and their wives!), creating videos, disciplinary councils, losing her temple recommend, and being barred from paying tithing –while still choosing to attend church and value her ward community. The episode examines broader themes of authority, misinformation, prophetic fallibility, confirmation bias, and whether faith can exist without institutional silence.
To find a PDF version of her book click here
Show notes can be found on the Mormon Stories blog here
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