Mormon Discussion Podcast

On today’s episode we explore the mechanisms within Mormonism that deter you from speaking your truth.  We talk about the pressure to either soften your rhetoric or be silent all-together.  Once you grasp how pervasive such is, you may want to reconsider falling for it. The post Mormon Discussion: 313: Unhealthy Mechanisms That Deter You From Speaking Out appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

On today’s episode we explore the mechanisms within Mormonism that deter you from speaking your truth.  We talk about the pressure to either soften your rhetoric or be silent all-together.  Once you grasp how pervasive such is, you may want to reconsider falling for it. The post Mechanisms Of Silence And Changed Rhetoric appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today we get in a metaphorical hot air balloon and rise up to look at the 20,000 foot view of the culture of abuse within Mormonism at the present moment.  We use three issues to demonstrate that the Mormon Church has exercised unrighteous dominion in three areas.  We look at Sam Young’s effort to eliminate One on One interviews and questions of a sexual nature to the youth of the Church to show that the Church desires to protect its ability to shame and distort healthy boundaries of members of the Church as young as seven years old.  We also utilize McKenna Denson’s case against the Church to show the lengths the Church will go to protect its own and to cover up the abuse and trauma of others.  Lastly we look at the Church’s political influence over law enforcement, legislators, and the judicial system inside Utah.  Once you take the 20,000 ft view of these issues you begin to sense the deep unhealthiness that exists with the LDS Church in its abuse over members and its ability to utilize Utah government to cover up and shield itself from accountability from said abuse you begin to see the urgency of why things have to change. The post Mormon Discussion: 314: Culture of Unhealthiness appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

So many of the public voices have their sources for inside info.  I like them have mine.  Recently I was made aware of several potential announcements coming out from General Conference about about a week ago.  Today’s Episode dives into the Rumors that are out there, the Inside info I have, and the reasons why these changes would happen.  I am more certain about some of these, less certain about others, but for the nuanced, liberal, or non-believing Mormon such things make tolerating conference more bearable and almost interesting!!! 1.) Males and Females can go on Missions at 18 and serve 24 months: these combats the severe decline in the # of Missionaries serving. 2.) The One year waiting period across the board if one has a civil marriage first. – The removes the tension this is causing many and relieves one item on the shelf of some who step back due to Mormonism’s abusive mechanisms. 3.) Going to a 2 hour block as the standard.  This relieves those who are overly burdened in callings and it allows a ward to get by with less people due to the exodus of members.  It also allows those who don’t feel uplifted to more easily justify continued attendance. 4.) Missionaries to serve only in the country they live. 5.) for those going through the endowment for the dead, reducing the endowment session to 1 hour.  Again reducing the burden and boredom of younger members who lack the same blind commitment to the Church that their parents and grandparents had. 6.) This one seems mundane but is at the heart of the rumors.  The SLC Temple will close for a 5 year renovation.  If this one comes to pass, I trust the other 5 even if not implemented are being discussed in depth in top Church circles 7.) The temple interview made less rigid and less about keeping belief standards to accommodate a younger generation walking away from activity and adherence to Church standards. The post Mormon Discussion: 312: 2018 General Conference Rumors, Predictions, and Why!!! appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today we interview Krista Whipple, managing director of Youth Futures St. George Utah.   Youth Futures provides housing along with tools, resources, and education to both prevent and help Youth Homelessness in Utah and the St. George area specifically.  Mormon Discussion has teamed up with Youth Futures to help them raise money.  Mormon Discussion has donated $100 to the cause and will donate an additional $10 for every $100 donated by a listener.  You can donate today by visiting https://www.classy.org/give/106969/#!/donation/checkout   Once there enter “Bill Reel” on the line that says “Would you like to credit this donation to a specific fundraiser or team (optional)?” and Mormon Discussion will appear.  Then continue to fill out the donation information, click “Make Your Doantion” and wahlah…. you have contributed to a great cause.  If you live in Southern Utah and want to donate your time to helping prevent Youth Homelessness please click http://www.youthfuturesutah.org/index.php/get-involved/volunteer These kids need our help.  Thanks for your support!!! The post Mormon Discussion: 311: Youth Homelessness in Utah and What is Being Done – Youth Futures appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today on Mormon Discussion we take a collective look at Joseph Smith Productions via Translation – The Kinderhook plates – The Book of Abraham – The Book of Moses – The Inspired Translation of the Bible – The Book of Mormon Once we see that in every case the production is not what the Church claimed it was, we are left to redefine translation and to make space for less than historic relationship between us and the sacred texts of our faith. The post Mormon Discussion: 310: Translate, You Keep using that Word appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Radio Free Mormon and Bill Reel get together for a special Episode discussion on Elder Quentin L. Cook’s Face To Face On Church History.   While Elder Cook and Church Historians Matt Grow and Kate Holbrook attempt to tell the audience that Church history is faith building and that it can withstand scrutiny, a simple look at what they say and more importantly what they don’t say seems to deeply indicate otherwise.  There is even cameo Appearances by Elder Ballard, Church historian Steven Harper, and even a sound blip from the Jehovah’s Witnesses.  Sit back and buckle up as we learn that when it comes to Church leaders and the Church’s historians that “Nothin’ from nothin’ leaves nothin'”. The post Special Episode: The Dissection of Elder Quentin L Cook’s Face To Face On Church History appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today we dissect the Mormon Channel’s video titled “How to Answer Questions about Church History” hosted by  Amy Iverson where she interviews Steven Harper on how he as a Church Historian deals with tough issues within Church history. You might expect a Church historian who is on such a program due to his immersion and professional understanding of LDS Church History to use Church history to show that the tough questions have solid answers.  You might expect him to encourage members who come across a tough issue to dive deeper, to find original sources, or refer them to the Gospel Topic Essays, or at least the Joseph Smith Papers Project as he had a major hand in it.  You might expect him pick out a few tough issues and then show how a more informed understanding of Church history helps to sort these issues out.  BUT……  As you will see he does anything but this. – Notice his hesitancy to discuss the specifics of Church history.  He seems to, as a Church historian, not want to talk about Church history, and it feels his reason is he senses there is little there to build faith on. – Notice when asked if Church history has built faith and has resolved his questions he constantly deflects from answering such questions directly and imposes that his testimony is not based in Church history. – Notice his progression from A.) Questions always resolve themselves  B.) We have some questions that are yet unresolved but We have a lot of answers and I have faith the unresolved will yet be resolved.  C.) There are both several questions resolved as well as several questions unresolved.  D.) I have way more questions than answers and the more I learn Church history, the unresolved questions grow exponentially. and finally where he ends up E.) I hate to burst your bubble but dealing with the data causes us to reconstruct the Church in ways that have our faith in “what the Church is” being similar to how we reconcile Christmas after deconstructing the literalness of Santa Claus. While Amy imposes that Church history has been, to Steven Harper, “an illumination to his soul”.  Radio Free Mormon and Bill Reel’s analysis shows it to have been anything but. In the end it becomes obvious that not only does a Church historian avoid using Church history to resolve concerns, but also that he realizes avoiding Church history is the only way to tackle the difficult questions as to dive into the history is anything but faith promoting. The post How To Not Answer Questions On Church History With Steven Harper Part 2 appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today we dissect the Mormon Channel’s video titled “How to Answer Questions about Church History” hosted by  Amy Iverson where she interviews Steven Harper on how he as a Church Historian deals with tough issues within Church history. You might expect a Church historian who is on such a program due to his immersion and professional understanding of LDS Church History to use Church history to show that the tough questions have solid answers.  You might expect him to encourage members who come across a tough issue to dive deeper, to find original sources, or refer them to the Gospel Topic Essays, or at least the Joseph Smith Papers Project as he had a major hand in it.  You might expect him pick out a few tough issues and then show how a more informed understanding of Church history helps to sort these issues out.  BUT……  As you will see he does anything but this. – Notice his hesitancy to discuss the specifics of Church history.  He seems to, as a Church historian, not want to talk about Church history, and it feels his reason is he senses there is little there to build faith on. – Notice when asked if Church history has built faith and has resolved his questions he constantly deflects from answering such questions directly and imposes that his testimony is not based in Church history. – Notice his progression from A.) Questions always resolve themselves  B.) We have some questions that are yet unresolved but We have a lot of answers and I have faith the unresolved will yet be resolved.  C.) There are both several questions resolved as well as several questions unresolved.  D.) I have way more questions than answers and the more I learn Church history, the unresolved questions grow exponentially. and finally where he ends up E.) I hate to burst your bubble but dealing with the data causes us to reconstruct the Church in ways that have our faith in “what the Church is” being similar to how we reconcile Christmas after deconstructing the literalness of Santa Claus. While Amy imposes that Church history has been, to Steven Harper, “an illumination to his soul”.  Radio Free Mormon and Bill Reel’s analysis shows it to have been anything but. In the end it becomes obvious that not only does a Church historian avoid using Church history to resolve concerns, but also that he realizes avoiding Church history is the only way to tackle the difficult questions as to dive into the history is anything but faith promoting. The post How To Not Answer Questions On Church History With Steven Harper Part 1 appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today We sit down with Spencer Wright, author of “How To Think”, and discuss how Faith and Rational thought are actually opposites.  That as soon as we have to make allowances for less likely answers and solutions or even the moment we say “its possible” we have now begun irrational thinking.  Spencer helps us put words and framing to something we have sensed for a long time.  Which is that none of us should have to tolerate harm and trauma caused irrational thinking and Spencer gives us the tools to know the very moment the conversation has entered the irrational arena.  People are free to believe what they want, but never should we as a society allow segments of our society to be hurt or have trauma inflicted by those who use irrational thinking as their reasons. RESOURCES: https://www.facebook.com/HowToThinkBook/ Free E-copy of the Book “How To Think” Book on Amazon Kerry Muhlstein admitting starting with the conclusion – https://www.fairmormon.org/conference/august-2014/book-abraham-unnoticed-assumptions Book of Abraham explained simply The post Mormon Discussion: 309: Spencer Wright – Rational Thought and Bat Shit Crazy appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.