Mormon Discussion Podcast

In this episode we discuss the ‘NONES’.  What are the reasons people are leaving the institutional Church in droves and how does this fit in with Mormonism.  We use a podcast episode from Progressive Spirit , titled “David Kinnaman, You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving the Church…and Rethinking Faith”.  In the episode the results of a massive study are shared regar...

Today’s episode is my Gospel Essentials lesson on Obedience (Chapter 35 in the Gospel Principles Book).  We talk about Obedience as the First Law of Heaven, Fowler’s Stages of Faith, Exceptions to the Rule, and most importantly our Inner Authority and that authority as the ultimate source of truth.  I offer these as examples of how to bring an out-of-the-box, nuanced Mormonism into you...

Today Suzette Smith shares the talk she gave at a recent Exponent II retreat.  Exponent II is a Mormon Feminist Magazine that give voice to the Female Perspective.  Suzette Shares her spiritual journey and touches on the feminine divine.  Resources: “Telling the Story of Grief” by Julie Lefgren Exponent II Blog, May 5, 2016 “Claiming Space” by Margaret Olsen Hemming Exponen...

Today we sit down with LDS biblical scholar, Julie Smith.  We discuss her book “As Iron Sharpens Iron”.  We talk about dealing with contradictions in scripture, how to interpret biblical stories that seem to be something less than literal, and we talk about how we as a faith need to mature in how we include better biblical scholarship into our faith. Purchase Julie’s Book HERE &n...

We are 1 year removed from “the Policy”.  What does the Data tell us?  How has it affected my family?  What has been the aftermath?  And most importantly Where do we have yet to go?  On the 1 year anniversary…. we explore this and more. The post 240: November 5th 2016 – 1 Year From The Policy appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel .

Today I sit down with Richard Ostler.  Just released as the Bishop of a Young Single Adult Ward, Richard sits down with us to share what it means to be inclusive and to love without limits.  He recently was featured in Jana Riess’ column titled “What one bishop offers Mormons who don’t ‘know’ the church is true” .  Richard unabashedly is a LGBT ally and an advocate for better und...

Today we talk about the gift of the Holy Ghost.  The question is have we defined a theology that can be defended in terms of those who have the gift of the Holy Ghost having an increased access to spiritual connection over the rest of the world?  Is the Gift of the Holy ghost discernibly something more than the experience that non-mormons are having within their various faith traditions?  We try t...

A shift in my public tone has occurred.  That tone has been below the surface for some time.  I worry that listeners may be turned off by what they perceive as my having gone off the reservation in terms of faithfulness.  I fear people in such a perception may feel one less place of sanctuary to explore their faith journey while still looking to feed their faith.  Today is about “Why I stay&...

Today we sit down McArthur Krishna, one of the authors of Our “Heavenly Family, Our earthly Families”.  We talk about Heavenly Mother, the role of women in scripture, the importance of gender equality in the stories we tell, and a inclusive definition of family.  We also talk about her adventure of a life and the curveballs that life throws. Get the Books: Our Heavenly Family, Our Eart...

My shelf crashed around the age of 32.  I was serving as a Bishop well late into my second year of that calling.  No one knew…. not my Stake President, not my counselors, not even my wife.  I had many a sleepless nights and tried every solution I could to find the kind of peace that allowed me to maintain my prior beliefs.  There was an ebb and flow to my faith.  Finding way stations along t...

Today we dissect a talk given at BYU on July 12th 2016 by Michael Goodman.  He talks about the proper way to seek truth.  There is much in this talk to be praised and I think Brother Goodman moves the ball in a positive direction.  That said I also think there are several flawed ideas within it that we find ourselves swimming in at the very present.  We dissect his talk and praise where I think he...

Today we tell a true story about a fascinating Chicken named Mike.  There are several points to such a tale.  False Assumptions, doubting that things are possible, perspective on Shiz from the Book of Mormon, and lastly the idea that too many of us Mormons turn our brains off when we go to Church.  Today in honor of each of these we tell the incredible story of Miracle Mike.  The reading comes str...

Today I sit down with Jon Ogden, author of “When Mormons Doubt: A Way To Save Relationships And Seek A Quality Life”.  We talk about his own journey as well as the book.  We discuss his premise that Truth and Beauty are different and that truth is often confused for beauty and that each has there own path to discovery. https://www.amazon.com/When-Mormons-Doubt-Relationships-Quality-ebo...

Today we sit down with Corbin Volluz and discuss the nuts and bolts of the Adam/God Doctrine.  We talk about what Brigham taught, How widely it was taught and implemented, How Leaders and apologists have attempted to explain it, and How leaders have attempted to make it disappear.  Once you understand this issue in full it becomes clear that the Church has no choice but to eventually own up and ac...

When we think of issues that are barriers to faith, we often think of issues such as Joseph Smith’s Treasure Digging, the Book of Abraham, Stones & Hats, and Prophetic Errors…. yet for me the two biggest are a Global/Local Flood and the Tower of Babel.  We talked about the flood in episode #142  and today we talk about the tower of Babel.  While apologists are wanting us to edge ca...

Today We discuss the Anti-Christ Korihor in Alma Ch. 30.  We talk about half truth that he teaches, Korihor’s illegal arrest, the value of some of what he said, and what differentiated his doubt and behavior and sign seeking from that of Thomas in the New Testament.    Thanks for listening!!!! The post 229: Team Korihor appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel .

To the Orthodox Believer who thinks that outside Joseph Smith’s leg surgery that we know very little.  This gets more complex than that.  We actually know a lot more about Joseph’s youth and some of his experiences.  We hope you enjoy this chance to better understand the early life of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Most of us know the basic story.  Joseph was born in Sharon Vermont on Dec 2...

This one was painful to do.  Yet if we are ever going to become Zion we need to be able to honestly look at ourselves in the mirror.  Do we have the traits of an unsafe group?  Do we have a safe space for folks to develop faith within?  Today I tackle what general warning signs of a potentially unsafe and unhealthy group looks like and where Mormonism falls definitively short.  We may be the Lord&...

To the Orthodox Believer who still holds belief that Doctrine in our faith equals Truth.  Or the idea that when the prophet speaks or when all 15 top leaders are unified that we have certainty that God has spoken.   It may not be that simple.  Lets explore. I validate that Doctrine in the Church as a word has been unanimously used by our culture and even officially within our Church to mean absolu...

For the Orthodox Believer who holds that everyone needs to join Mormonism in order to be be exalted by God, It is not that simple.  Let’s explore. We often refer to our Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as “The Only True and Living Church with Which the Lord is Well Pleased” We also speak at great Length about being the only place God has Authorized its chil...

Today I talk a little about Eastern Philosophy and discussion of the Eastern Principle of “The Way”.  We Americanize Jesus and we Mormonize Jesus but we fail to Easternize him and understand him in the context of his culture.  When we do this we better understand what he is asking of us and why a flawed church is necessary.  Today I talk to those who have stepped away from the Church o...

Included here is the PDF Transcript of my July 2016 Sunstone Presentation : Handshakes and Drawn Swords.  The audio may be added at a future point.   PDF of the Presentation The post Sunstone Presentation July 2016: Handshakes & Drawn Swords appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel .

Today I sit down and explain why I maintain faith in Jesus Christ.  I share my grapple with the historical Jesus and why logically and spiritually I throw in with Jesus.  I hope this is helpful in your journey to lead with faith. youtube.com/watch?v=QeY8lndPsdE The post 223: Throwing In With Jesus appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel .

Today I sit down with Mormon Philosopher Adam Miller.  It’s his third time on the program and we talk about his newest book “Future Mormon”.  We talk about various aspects of the book which he wrote to his children and to future members of the Church.  What will the future of Mormonism look like?  Time will tell but till then we can hope in the next generation of Mormons’ a...

  I sit down with Chris and Clay again and this time we are dissecting the First Vision and all that surrounds it.  We talk about the four First Hand accounts and their discrepancies as well as similarities.  We explore the historical context of each account, who the audience is, what factors into why Joseph perhaps shapes each account the way he does.  We talk about the valid reasons to see...