Mormon Discussion Podcast

Today guest host Brittney Hartley sits down with Bill Reel from Mormon Discussions Podcasts and discusses his current relationship with Mormonism.  In this 2 hour interview Bill tackles what got him to this place as they discuss many of the important moments along this journey.  They tackle where he is at currently including where his wife and kids are with the Church.  He finishes by speaking to...

Today On Mormon Discussion, We discuss Seers.  What is a Seer within the Old Testament.  How does the Book of Mormon frame such a word.  What is Jesus as heard through the D&C stating?  How about Moroni as a spiritual post-mortal being?  How does the modern Church today define a Seer?  And lastly is the statement that “President Monson is a Seer” different from “we sustain Pr...

Haley Wilson Lemmon sits down with us today to discuss the Joseph Smith translation of the Bible .   Haley worked with BYU Professor Thomas A Wayment in looking into what possible sources Joseph Smith used in his Bible translation.  The major discovery here was that Joseph Smith “direct borrowed” or plagiarized heavily from Adam Clarke’s Commentary in order to carry out his Bible...

This Episode is Audio from outside the Mormon Discussion Podcasts.  This is a sermon from another faith on “Stages of Faith”. We revisit a series where we have taken audio where those of other faiths work to explain and teach the stages of faith.  Today is the Rock Creek Here is a sermon given in their Church on the Stages of Faith The post PREMIUM: Stages of Faith: Rock Creek appeared...

The Church has claimed to be the “Gold Standard” on handling of Sexual Abuse.  They have also said that “No religious organization has done more” than they have to prevent and respond to abuse.  The Church has also stated that “While clergy-abuse cases continue to grab headlines, the Church has had almost no child abuse problems with its clergy.”  Yet we know from data points like this...

Today I want to talk about Wisdom.  Wisdom seems to come from exposing ourselves in a vulnerable way to others especially those who are diverse and unique from us.  It is when we look for truth outside of our bubbles that we begin to open ourselves up to real wisdom.  That when we live in small groups or live isolated lives that we are defensive of differences rather than looking for truth.  We ta...

With the recent MormonLeaks audio regarding MTC president self admitting he sexual abused others , it became necessary to speak out about sex abuse and the unhealthiness here inside the Church.  I start by telling some stories from my growing up and tie into how good Mormonism was for 17 year old me.  I then explain how slowly over time I came to barely hanging on in hopes the Church would choose...

Are Modern Prophets the same as Ancient Prophets and Ancient Apostles?  Today we dissect three audio quotes of Elder Oaks where he seems to acknowledge and validate that they are not.  That while Ancient Apostles and prophets were witnesses of a manifestation of some sort in regards to their witness of Christ while Modern Prophets have essentially zero direct contact with the Savior.  Are Modern l...

Elder Oaks is on record testifying that we not not accept the teachings and statements of a given leader.  These quotes show up at other times as well from other leaders.  Strangely it is Elder Oaks who seems most accustomed to stating things which no other leader cares to tackle and certainly not all 15 of them.  On today’s episode we tackle the peculiar teachings of Elder Oaks and the very...

Today we sit down with Sam Young and discuss his effort to protect Latter-day Saint children.  Sam shares the why of his involvement in this issue, what he is doing to accomplish this, what would need to change, and how the Church is reacting.  We talk about transparency, forthrightness, and the shielding of this institution from vulnerability by its leaders.  Sam Young is courageous and is standi...

Today we hang out with Loni Lamm and discuss her faith journey and the journey of her family.  She has an interesting story to tell.  Some of her story including her time as an up and coming singer and her diverse experience in place like California will take on new ground.  But more importantly the majority of her story is our story.  She puts into words a telling of a faith journey that is your...

Today we hang out with Loni Lamm and discuss her faith journey and the journey of her family.  She has an interesting story to tell.  Some of her story including her time as an up and coming singer and her diverse experience in place like California will take on new ground.  But more importantly the majority of her story is our story.  She puts into words a telling of a faith journey that is your...

Today I sit down with Jaxon Washburn.  Who is Jaxon?  Only one of the stronger voices coming out of younger generation of Mormons.  We tackle the idea of Prophets, Scripture, the LGBT issue and others in an effort to see how the younger generation is beginning to re-frame Mormonism.  What does the future look like?  If we base that ideal off voices like Jaxon, it is certainly kinder, more empathet...

Today on Mormon Discussion, Bill Reel ties together several facets playing out in his own life and in his Church regarding the LGBT Issue.  How it is playing out in his wrestle with Mormonism, How it is playing out in his family & Friendships, How the Church is slowly coming around, How some leaders are giving a double message privately and publicly and the harm that it does, How the Church ge...

Today we sit down with Tony Ortega, a journalist who has covered Scientology for over 20 years.  We talk about the mechanisms of Scientology and contrast and compare them with some of the mechanisms Mormonism.   We cover topics like how both religions handle dissenters, what gives the members certainty with their respective religion, interviews to establish loyalty, Sea Org vs Missionary Program,...

This is an audio recording of a Fireside held in Southern Utah on January 13 2018 on Joseph Smith’s polygamy.  We share the accounts of the plural wives of the Prophet Joseph Smith in their very words.  Going through multiple accounts one begins to see a pattern appear.  Religious pressure, rhetoric to each women that gives the impression they are the first being approached to “start t...

People are constantly trying to figure out how they can be in Mormonism while trying to reconcile where they stand versus where the Institution stands.  In spite of the fact that the Church has always struggled to define itself, it’s history, it’s theology, and even the Word of God when it isn’t; we still seem to try to mesh our lives with the standards and interpretations i...

PT 2 Bill Reel  is widely known within the Mormon podcast world as a fellow traveler on the road many of us have found ourselves on—often quite reluctantly. At one time, we have thrived within Mormonism. It contributes greatly to our identity, and provides our primary social group. It helps shape our thinking and character in ways we don’t often reflect upon. We have everything figured out. Our re...

PT 1 Bill Reel  is widely known within the Mormon podcast world as a fellow traveler on the road many of us have found ourselves on—often quite reluctantly. At one time, we have thrived within Mormonism. It contributes greatly to our identity, and provides our primary social group. It helps shape our thinking and character in ways we don’t often reflect upon. We have everything figured out. Our re...

Today we tell the story of Lucy Walker, plural wife of the prophet Joseph Smith.  We tell her story and then spend time exploring who has spiritual experiences, whether they can be trusted specifically when one us under stress, pressure, and sleep deprivation.  Then we explore the spiritual experiences of those of other faiths and in the end speak to a theological conundrum regardless of which way...

This is a audio recording of Bill Reel’s presentation and Q&A to a Post Mormon group in Southern Utah on December 10th 2017.  It includes me spending approximately 35 minutes telling my story, how I have reconciled the messiness, and why development is so important to the human experience.  Then the last hour and ten minutes I try my best to be vulnerable to the questions, concerns, and...

Today’s Episode is split into three segments.  In segment #1 Bill Reel addresses guilt and shame and shares an experience from his personal life.  In segment #2 Bill makes a plea on behalf the Mormon Discussion team in order to keep this work going.  And Bill concludes by addressing the criticism that he no longer leads with faith Liturgists Podcast on Shame  Brene Brown on Vulnerability Bre...

A good friend of mine.  Smart, informed, wise, and just so happens to be a woman.  She makes this connection in the scriptures.  She sees how the women of the New Testament are operating differently from the men in regards to how they treat the mortal body of Jesus.  What is the degree of care and concern they have for the Savior, How do the disciples react to such interaction, and most importantl...

Today I sit with my friend Chris Bloxham and using the recent Elder Holland retraction as a springboard to discuss just how much of Mormonism’s faith promoting narrative is untrue and deeply built on myth and fable. We tackle stories like the Brigham Young transfiguration, Lorenzo Snow seeing Jesus in the Temple, Seagulls and Crickets, the Sweetwater crossing, elevators in the Salt Lake Temple, Mo...

Mormon Discussion Halloween Edition.  Today we sit down with Zach Derr and discuss ghost and spirit stories within Mormonism.  We talk about how some of these are explainable but that others seem to be beyond explanation.  We talk of myth and our need to give explanations for things we otherwise can’t explain.  We talk about how the information age has in only a few decades made us much less...