Three Prophecies Joseph Smith Got Wrong

Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon Church, claimed to speak for God—but what happens when those prophecies don’t come true? In this episode, we examine three specific prophetic claims made by Joseph Smith that completely failed the biblical test of a true prophet. From doomed cities that never fell, to a failed mission to sell Book of Mormon copyright in Canada, to a temple that was never built—these aren’t just footnotes in history. They raise serious questions about the foundation of Mormonism. And we’ll end by looking at what the Bible says about how to spot a false prophet.

Key Topics Covered:

• The failed prophecy about New York and Boston’s destruction
• The embarrassing Canadian copyright revelation that went nowhere
• The unfulfilled temple prophecy in Independence, Missouri
• Why these weren’t just offhand comments—but repeated and reinforced by LDS leaders
• What Deuteronomy 18 says about failed prophecy

--

The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday.

Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.

Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.

Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.

Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.

Donate Now