Mormon Discussion By Bill Reel

Today we talk about the Flood.  Noah, the Ark, the animals, etc….  The trouble with this topic is that a Global Flood seems so unreasonable and full of problems and a local flood is full of deep glitches as well.  We attempt to talk about both sides, sift through the problems and contradictions and see if we […] The post 142: The Flood and its Barriers to Faith appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today’s episode deals with Section 132 of the D&C.  We talk about the introduction of polygamy, the angel with the drawn sword, and Joseph’s adherence with the revelation.  While Critics accuse Joseph Smith of creating section 132 to fulfill his sexual needs and while apologists proclaim the revelation is from God and that criticism should… Read More »141: Handshakes and Drawn Swords The post 141: Handshakes and Drawn Swords appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today we sit down with Chris Reeve, a dear friend of mine, and we discuss Church Discipline.  We hit this topic from a historical perspective and build from there.  We speak about scriptural relevance for Church discipline, how while wanting a big tent, the tent must still exists.  We talk about Early Church leaders who […] The post 140: Chris Reeve: Church Discipline appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today I sit down with Greg Kearney.  Greg is both a Mormon and a Mason and today we discuss the connection between the two in the LDS Endowment.  Many Latter-Day Saints are caught off guard when they  discover that the LDS Endowment is very interconnected with Masonry and its ritual.  Today we address this connection […] The post 139: Greg Kearney: Mormonism & Masonry appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today I share 8 of Derek Clegg’s songs with commentary.  If you wish to download his music for free check out here Become a Premium Subscriber: Monthy:  $3 Yearly:  $25  $50  $100  $250Support the podcast by purchasing from Amazon HERE. The post 138: Derek Clegg’s Music appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today we talk about rameumptom and how we use the pulpit in Church.  The Zoramites used the rameumptom as a place to stand and proclaim to God their gratitude for making them more favorable and as a soapbox for proclaiming one’s “rightness” and “Righteousness”.  We take a look as our culture in terms of talks and testimonies […] The post 137: Our Own Little Rameumptoms appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today I sit down with Faith Development Author, Margaret Placentra Johnston.  We discuss here book, Faith Beyond Belief: Stories of Good People Who Left Their Church Behind.  Margaret hits on so many points of faith transition that will ring familiar to your journey.  Taking beliefs more allegorical, dealing with tension, Trusting your truth over the […] The post 136: Margaret Placentra Johnston: Faith Beyond Belief appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today I read Spencer Fluhman’s talk “Faith in the Past: Church History in an Information Age” At the end I share a few thoughts about what the main takeaways were.     Become a Premium Subscriber: Monthy:  $3 Yearly:  $25  $50  $100  $250Support the podcast by purchasing from Amazon HERE. The post 135: Spencer Fluhman’s talk “Faith In The Past” appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today Jon Westover returns to the Podcast to have a discussion with me regarding Theories of Development.   We Discuss James Fowler’s Stages of Faith, William G. Perry’s Scheme of Cognitive and Ethical Development, and Jon Paulien’s Stages of Religious Faith.  We talk about the Dark Night of The Soul and how one can safely […] The post 134: Jon Westover and Bill Reel on Faith Transitions appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today I sit down with Brian Whitney, LDS Scholar.  Brian has worked with the Church History Department, has worked with Community of Christ on historical projects, and has his own project “Mormonism In Context”.   He truly is one of the up and coming young LDS scholars in Mormonism.  Brian talks about his website and […] The post 133: Brian Whitney: Mormonism In Context appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today we discuss Elder Ballard’s 2001 October Conference Talk “Doctrine of Inclusion” and we add to it with Elder Oak’s recent conference talk in October 2014, “Loving Others and Living with Differences”.   Using these talks we try to dispel some cultural things we do as Mormons that hurt others and marginalize unnecessarily.  Inclusion is a […] The post 132: Doctrine of Inclusion appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

A short recap of the Vegas Trip.  So Awesome… To Clay & Heather and Chris & Dawn – Thank you so much.  You were so Gracious.  Tracey – I am so glad to have spoken to you and to get to know you. To all three families, you have such awesome kids.  To the 35ish who showed up […] The post 131: Short Recap of the Trip to Vegas appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today we sit down with LDS author and scholar Samuel M. Brown, author of “In Heaven As It Is On Earth”.  We talk about death in Joseph Smith’s culture, Alvin’s Death, Treasure Hunting and Sacrificial circles, and unique views of death that would be strange to us but the norm for Joseph’s culture. http://samuelbrown.net/ Find […] The post 130: Samuel Brown: Holy Dying appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today we talk about James Fowler’s Stages of Faith but we do so using two perspectives that have built on Fowler.  As a background for our episode we use the following articles http://www.faithformationlearningexchange.net http://www.thebattleofarmageddon.com/stages_of_faith.pdf With these as a backdrop we will discuss how hard the Dark Night of the Soul is but also show it […] The post 129: Dark Night of the Soul appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today I sit down with Jeff Olsen, who share with us his Near Death Experience and how it has affected him and his faith.  We talk generally about NDE’s (Near Death Experiences) and what we are to make of them.  Are they real?  Is it the Brain firing synapses as one last ditch effort to […] The post 128: Jeff Olsen: Near Death Experiences appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

How concerned should we be with Mormonism’s historical truth claims?  Are we missing the point entirely by debating historocity? Today Guest Host Jon Young talks with Adam Miller about his popular post “Letter to a CES Student”, a response to Jeremy Runnels’ “Letter to a CES Director.”  Unlike debunking efforts at FairMormon, Miller’s response is […] The post 127: Adam Miller: Letter to a CES Student appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Ryan Boothe joins us again today for another episode of “Stage 4 Mormons”.  Ryan has a unique knack for hitting subjects in a unique way that helps us gain insight into this Fowler’s Stage 4, that many of us find ourselves in.  My heart was pricked by some of what he says and I pray […] The post 126: Stage 4 Mormons: Episode 3 appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

We hear the Leaders testify with certainty that they and the Church are led by Christ.  We have had some leaders approach language that implies they have seen Christ.  We also receive teachings that seem to offend, sadden, and even possibly harm us.  How are we to reconcile A Church led by Christ with teachings that […] The post 125: Reconciling Special Witnesses appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today I sit down with Mark (Not his real name as it has been changed to protect his identity).  He is a young man who is getting ready to go on his mission shortly.  He also happens to be gay.  He tells his story.  When he knew, Coming out to Family, and how they have […] The post 124: Faithfully Courageously Mormon appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today Guest Host Jon Young sits down with Ty Mansfield and discusses Same Sex Attraction, how we as a Church culture handle LGBT issues, Ty’s personal journey and how he has persevered on his own spiritual journey.  Ty’s spiritual struggle and need to separate the gospel from culture in the church is a story all of […] The post 123: Ty Mansfield: A Spiritual Journey with Same Sex Attraction appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.