Mormon Discussion Podcast

Today we begin a series that examines Stages of Faith from the perspective of other Religious denominations and their religious leaders.  I tried to find every audio discussion of “Faith Transitions” based in some way on a Fowler “Faith Stage Theory”.  Heads up some of these religious leaders are still biased and imposing their conclusion on what this journey looks like but I still think you will find value and validation in hearing about “Faith development” and the insights that each episode will add. Stages of Faith Faith development, like other kinds of human development, follows a pretty well-known developmental path. Everyone’s on a journey of faith somewhere, from non-faith to more seasoned or mature faith. In this message, Dr. Henry Cloud talks about being able to identify where you or people you love are in that journey, so we can understand what the tasks are for each step and so we don’t misunderstand ourselves, others, or God. http://www.willowcreek.org/   The post 217: Stages of Faith Series 4: Willow Creek appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Guest host Suzette Smith sits down today to interview Rachel Hunt Steenblik about Heavenly Mother, The LDS Gospel Topics Essay on Mother in Heaven, and Mormon Feminism in general.  This is a great discussion that embraces that Mormonism has so much potential to expand in various directions including conversation of the feminine divine. https://www.lds.org/topics/mother-in-heaven?lang=eng http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Mother_in_Heaven http://www.fairmormon.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2014/04/Kevin-Barney-MotherInHeaven.pdf http://religionnews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2015/06/Heavenly-Mother-Handout.pdf https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V41N04_133.pdf http://nathanrichardson.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2011/04/Nathan-Richardson-Heavenly-Mother-references.pdf https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/issues/133.pdf https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/pdf/081-49-51.pdf   The post 216: Heavenly Mother appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

In today’s episode two women Annikka and Charlene who are the believing spouses in a marriage where one side has serious doubts and went through a serious faith transition.  They share their thoughts and stories on what it means to be the believing spouse in a what becomes a mixed-faith marriage, the difficulties that arise, and how to support one another within them. The post 215: Supporting Spouses Of Those Who Doubt appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today I sit down with Alex Koritz.  We talk about his archaeologist general authority Grandfather, Mormon Archaeology, his Faith Journey, and his stint as the host of a Mormon Archaeology podcast. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_R._Hunter https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newark_Holy_Stones https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Lunas_Decalogue_Stone The post 214: Alex Koritz: Faith Journey and Mormon Archeology appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today we begin a series that examines Stages of Faith from the perspective of other Religious denominations and their religious leaders.  I tried to find every audio discussion of “Faith Transitions” based in some way on a Fowler “Faith Stage Theory”.  Heads up some of these religious leaders are still biased and imposing their conclusion on what this journey looks like but I still think you will find value and validation in hearing about “Faith development” and the insights that each episode will add. this episode – Paul D. Anderson – Stages of Faith (& Doubt) Grace Valley Fellowship gvf@gracevalleyfellowship.org 610-935-7960 www.gvfonline.org   The post 213: Stages of Faith Series 3: Grace Valley appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today’s episode deals with Stewardship.  This word is very strictly defined in Mormonism and it is used to draw lots of lines in the sand separating the faithful from the unfaithful, the righteous from the unrighteous.  Yet While leaders have drawn very direct lines, we look today to see if scripture upholds such definitive lines.   I hope you enjoy! The post 212: Rethinking Stewardship appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

The Book of Mormon is a fraud you say?  Joseph Made it up or stole the ideas from someone else?  If only it were that simple.  Today I sit down with two friends, Chris and Clay.  We talk about ways in which to corroborate a fraudulent narrative of the Book of Mormon.  Who could have been involved and how the narrative would have to flow based on who is in on it and who is being duped along with what it should look like if Joseph is truly plagiarizing sources to create a fictional work.  Is “The Book of Mormon” a fake?  Maybe… that conclusion certainly is reasonable.  Yet, as we explore in today’s episode, to create a coherent historical narrative that explains the ins and outs of how such a hoax could be pulled off seems to have just as many issues if not more than simply believing in the divine nature of the book.  The witnesses, Emma, Rigdon, Spaulding, View of the Hebrews, Late War, Savant, Genius, Photographic memory, and everything in between is explored in just over an hour……..  Is there room for faith?……  the choice was always yours! The post 211: Fraudulent Narrative of the Book of Mormon appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today we begin a series that examines Stages of Faith from the perspective of other Religious denominations and their religious leaders.  I tried to find every audio discussion of “Faith Transitions” based in some way on a Fowler “Faith Stage Theory”.  Heads up some of these religious leaders are still biased and imposing their conclusion on what this journey looks like but I still think you will find value and validation in hearing about “Faith development” and the insights that each episode will add. In Part we visit a sermon from the Covenant Church and Pastor Mike Hayes’ teaching on the book of Romans; Pastor John shares with us the 4 stages of faith that Abraham exhibited that set belief as what considered him righteous. The post 210: Stages of Faith Series 2: Covenant Church appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

This is the Sacrament talk I delivered on April 24, 2016 in my home ward.  I tried to show that testimony is more than knowing and in all its forms it should be honored.  I end bearing my testimony to show this nuance in action. Outline of the Talk In our faith we value our testimonies.  We value them so much that we set aside 1 week a month as sacred time to express those testimonies. How do we define a testimony and what is an acceptable testimony to have? concede up front that I am limited by the weakness of my own language as D&C 1 points out God speaks to us in the weakness of our own language What is a testimony? (Older Definition) A testimony is a spiritual witness given by the Holy Ghost. The foundation of a testimony is the knowledge that Heavenly Father lives and loves His children; that Jesus Christ lives, that He is the Son of God, and that He carried out the infinite Atonement; that Joseph Smith is the prophet of God who was called to restore the gospel; that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Savior’s true Church on the earth; and that the Church is led by a living prophet today. vs (newer Definition) A Testimony Is a Conviction, Knowledge, or Belief in a Truth “Pure testimony” (Alma 4:19) begins with pure belief. Your testimony is a spiritual witness of what you believe or know to be true (see D&C 80:4). When you share your testimony, the purest and most powerful parts will come from words like know, believe, and testify.  Even if you don’t know right now if everything about the Church is true, Heavenly Father will bless you and help you learn as long as you have a righteous desire to know and you sincerely try to learn. Notice how much softer more inclusive the newer definition is knowing – D&C 46 – to some it is given to know that Jesus is the christ There are many examples of those who know through out the scriptures.  To know is a gift from God.  Knowing is certainty and it is to have overwhelming evidence to back up faith – Hebrews 11:1, alma 32 is to hope in things that are true but of which the evidence is unseen alma begins to preach about the value of faith vs knowing and he begins to speculate that Faith is actually greater than knowing “blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without stubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe.”…..  is this faith? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for if a man knoweth a thing he hath no cause to believe, for he knoweth it.” Belief – 26 ¶And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. Hope – Hope is to continue on in spite of worry and concern pressing against such. Romans 8:24 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? Romans 5:5 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Christ seems to honor those who take a ” leap of faith” without knowing.  For those who don’t know and “only believe” Christ seems to be saying that such is praiseworthy and is to be honored. some go from feeling they have a “knowing” testimony to one of these other types and others start at hope and find themselves one day knowing.  our faith journies are individual and each stage is a gift from God not to be cast aside by ourselves or mocked by others whether one’s testimony is knowing, or faith, or belief, or perhaps hope it should be honored as a gift from god and we should spend little time gauging which is superior. A 14-year-old boy recently said to me a little hesitantly, “Brother Holland, I can’t say yet that I know the Church is true, but I believe it is.” I hugged that boy until his eyes bulged out. I told him with all the fervor of my soul that belief is a precious word, an even more precious act, and he need never apologize for “only believing.” I told him that Christ Himself said, “Be not afraid, only believe,”  –  There are many in our faith who don’t know.  I add my heartfelt assurance to that of Elder hollands.  Belief is precious.  And Hope is precious too If you cannot muster faith right now, begin with hope.  If you cannot say you know God is there, you can hope that He is. You can desire to believe.  That is enough to start. some quotes within our faith have taught where there is faith there can be no doubt.  May I offer the thought that for some of us doubt is the other side of the coin of faith.  to have faith is to move forward towards Christ in spite of doubt.  In spite of troubling thoughts, worries, and questions. While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? 36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. Testimony displaying all 4 in in application KNOW The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true in that applying its principles bear fruit in my life and the lives of others with an almost certainty in God as a loving heavenly father FAITH In the Lord Jesus Christ.  I do not know if he was historical or not but I can witness that I have been changed by his grace and cleansed by his mercy. in his atonement in the Book of Mormon as scripture in that applying its principles have and continue to bless my life BELIEVE in the restoration HOPE the Church is true that joseph smith was a prophet that families are together forever And I try to live my life true to my knowledge, faith, beliefs, and hope ITNOJCA The post 209: Sacrament Talk April 2016 Testimonies appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today we begin a series that examines Stages of Faith from the perspective of other Religious denominations and their religious leaders.  I tried to find every audio discussion of “Faith Transitions” based in some way on a Fowler “Faith Stage Theory”.  Heads up some of these religious leaders are still biased and imposing their conclusion on what this journey looks like but I still think you will find value and validation in hearing about “Faith development” and the insights that each episode will add. Today we start out with a brilliant one.  This is from the radio program “Revolutionary Spirituality” Marj Johnston is the Assistant Pastor at Westminster Congregational United Church of Christ in Spokane, Wa. In a return visit to the program, we will be discussing James Fowler’s book – Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning. This show originally aired on 11/16/09. Contact Information –www.westminsterucc.org or (509)-624-1366. The post 208: Stages of Faith Series 1: Revolutionary Spirituality appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.