Latter Day Struggles

Send us a Positive Review! In this special Office Hours recording, a couple dozen people joined Valerie to talk about the emotional experience that only the former devout Mormon will understand. Why does this weekend bring up so much? Listen to Val & four of the guests that attended this Office Hours recording as they talk about grief, loneliness, fear, and confusion. They hit topics that likely hit home with you too: about parenting and mixed faith marriage emotions...loss of simplicity, feeling left out of the celebratory mood, and other emotions typical of this weekend that many of us used to find connecting and meaningful in times gone by. Timestamps: 00:00 Tribute Episode Re Drop 01:45 Queerphobia Paradigms Preview 03:30 Why Share This Now 05:38 Office Hours Pop Up Intro 07:15 Conference Weekend Complexity 09:28 Loneliness In Faith Shift 13:37 Compassion And New Community 18:43 Grief Over Conference Changes 26:05 Existential Grief And Integration 31:57 Fear And Emotional Overload 35:18 Fear Of Disconnection 37:01 Differentiation In Mormon Families 37:55 Bookshelf Metaphor 39:07 Practice Compassionate Curiosity 41:49 Parenting In Mixed Faith 44:55 Collaborate With Your Partner 52:09 Create Conference Safe Space 54:09 Discernment Over Zeal 58:47 Closing Reflections 59:49 New Healing Group Format 01:01:46 Final Thanks And Goodbye Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! Just a quick announcement to start a process of changing my philosophy here on Latter Day Struggles. I care deeply about two things: YOU... And offering psychologically healing content for your Mormon faith expansion journey. If time or resources have ever been a barrier in joining one of my deeply healing groups--this upcoming pilot experiment group is for YOU. To all of you licensed and graduate level mental health workers out there who so loyally support me, please listen to this episode as well. I want to support each of you who do clinical mental health work with those in Mormon faith crisis. Listen here as I share a special gift to you as part of your tuition when you join this group. Finally, thank you all for your trust and support. I feel fortunate every day that I get to be in connection with such amazing humans. Please share this announcement with anyone in your circles who might benefit. I expect this group to fill quickly so don't hesitate if this work calls to you! Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome And Update 00:49 The Access Conundrum 02:55 No Quick Fixes 04:45 New Pilot Format 05:39 Curriculum Upfront 06:55 Ten Live Sessions 09:02 Affordability And Irony 11:13 Experiment And Invitation 12:25 Support For Clinicians 15:29 Scholarships And Gratitude 16:57 How To Join And Goodbye Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! Very few of us doubt that we have been profoundly impacted by the imprints of patriarchy in our early personality development. What most do not know is that this is not a 'life sentence'. In this episode Val walks through her passion, approach, and even a few specific activities built into her updated Healing from Patriarchy group curriculum. If you are not sure if this experience if for you, this episode is for you. If you are worried about sharing vulnerable things in a group, listen in and rest assured that all group members can participate as little or as much in the group processing activities. And most of all, if you are tired of doing faith crisis thing alone or only with angry people who offer no path to healing, this episode is your invitation to find your people and your peace. ** If you believe in Valerie's work and would like to contribute to a scholarship fund that helps others afford group healing work, please reach out at admin@latterdaystruggles.com to make a tax-deductible donation. ** If you need assistance to join a group, scholarships are sometimes available, pending donation participation from our listening community. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Overview 01:21 Why Groups Feel Risky 02:38 Patriarchy Group Opens Up 06:33 True Self Narratives 13:21 Who This Is For 21:41 What We Will Cover 27:04 New Exercises Preview 31:16 Polygamy Letter Healing 41:45 Logistics and Community 45:18 Final Invitation and Goodbye Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! Patriarchy impacts people at a soul-wrenching level, and perhaps no other group is more stricken than our LGBTQ+ community. Please join us for a re-drop of a beautiful episode looking at Carol Lynn Pearson's breathtaking book, Goodbye, I Love You, which Valerie references to describe a 5 messages internalized by LDS queer people AND 5 healing counterpoints- deep truths about the divine identities of our queer loved ones and selves. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Redrop Plan 06:20 Why Patriarchy Needs Context 10:49 Origins Jesus and Mormonism 15:45 Awakening and Upcoming Episodes 32:20 Re-drop Begins No More Goodbyes 38:25 Book Premise and Audience 41:27 Paradigm One Innate Worth 51:30 Paradigm Two Unconditional Love 01:03:25 A Father’s Blessing 01:11:15 Microaggressions and Doctrine 01:22:33 Attachment Theory Explained 01:29:44 Brad’s Heartbreaking Story 01:40:53 Raising Consciousness Hope 01:48:27 Final Review and Farewell Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! In this priceless short series, Val & Carol Lynn delve into Carol Lynn's deepest passion: feminism. Listen is as she delights us with stories about her unforgettable one-woman play "Mother Wove the Morning" and even moves into her amazing actress role and performs 2 of her characters! Then join Val & CLP as they talk about another version of 'baptisms for the dead'...the feminist version. You'll love these episodes and likely want to listen many times...they are vintage CLP! Timestamps: 00:00 Series Preview 10:53 Creating the Characters 17:57 Bravery and Backlash 28:40 Audience Impact 37:55 A Timely Renaissance 47:42 Notable Venues 56:43 Myths Rewrite the Feminine 01:05:46 War Erases the Feminine 01:13:24 Rachel and the Teraphim 01:22:41 Elizabeth Cady Stanton Speaks 01:35:45 Work for the Dead Reframed 01:43:51 From Patriarchy to Partnership 01:48:11 Where to Watch and Final Goodbye Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! In honor of our very beloved Carol Lynn Pearson (a bold, sassy woman and the dearest of mentors to me) I wanted to share this beautiful two-part conversation that we had early in the podcast. Listen in and take in what true wit, wisdom, courage, healthy personal authority and value of one's community looks like all wrapped up in one glorious woman. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro and Re-Release 03:29 Meet Carolyn Pearson 10:38 Writing as Calling 15:37 Goodbye I Love You Impact 23:08 No More Goodbyes and Facing East 42:18 Speaking Truth in the Church 48:46 Chakras Into Kingdoms 56:07 Repentance And Forgiveness 01:04:20 Guts Plus Heart Courage 01:11:37 Staying In The Church 01:21:56 Policy Pain And Testimony 01:31:44 Heavenly Mother And Creation 01:41:34 Paradigm Shift to Partnership 01:47:50 Men Dismantling Patriarchy 01:55:57 Writing and Creative Process 02:01:10 Kind and Brave in Marriage 02:11:14 The Love Map and Farewell Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! Join Val as her audience while she does a final run through on a topic that has come to be a passion project for her on Latter Day Struggles. In short, what can we do as faith-expanding people in and around the LDS church to ease the polarization between the fiery fundamentalist Mormon and the fiery Ex-Mormon? Oddly enough, these two "poles" exist as counterpoints to one another on the opposite extreme. If one pole chooses a "third way" balance is disrupted, and growth becomes more likely. We on the Mormon faith journey may not be able to impact all aspects on the extreme side of Mormon fundamentalism/ orthodoxy...but how we handle our own growth journeys CAN change a LOT. Listen in and let us know what you think! Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Sunstone Preview 01:26 Why Polarization Matters 05:20 The Growth Ladder Model 11:05 Healthy Mormon Fusion 14:55 Differentiation and Faith Crisis 19:55 Integration and Inclusion 26:54 When Growth Gets Stuck 27:56 Fixation in Orthodoxy 33:53 Chronic Differentiation Trap 45:58 Breaking the Polarization Dance 48:47 Processing Wisely in Crisis 58:57 Third Way Closing Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! Have you ever done something for the first time and feel that pit in your stomach as it approaches? Well, here at Latter Day Struggles, pretty much EVERYTHING that we do is a first! And it always brings that insecure "what have I gotten myself into?" sensation! This episode is Val's candid reflections about an evening shared with over a hundred "in person" and "streaming" loved ones who have experienced growth and healing with her. A bottom line? You might be experiencing growth and healing in some way through this podcast and platform. But you are also giving this gift of healing to Val and Nathan Hamaker. They thank you and love you. Hoping you enjoy Val's thoughts on the gift that this healing community is to her. Because of you. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Event Recap 01:06 Why Stories of Healing 04:25 Origin Story Artwork 06:08 Sharing Beyond the Room 08:19 Event Day Emotions 08:37 Three Audience Groups 13:04 Grief and Perspective Shift 16:56 Program Highlights and Readings 25:40 What It Meant to Me 29:24 Q&A Next Steps 34:24 Closing Gratitude Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! Lately there has been a lot of talk about the LDS disaffiliation crisis in the 21st century. Here at Latter Day Struggles we support open dialogue about what happening in our LDS homes and congregations. Please enjoy this special "audiobook" addition of a Latter Day Struggles series unpacking some groundbreaking research done by therapist Liz Macdonald exploring common LDS family dynamics shared by young adults whose disaffiliation experiences were the most challenging. We care about people all across the spectrum of faith in and around the LDS church. Taking research like this seriously could profoundly reshape our community in healthy ways. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome 03:54 Meet Liz and The Study 11:48 Method and Study Limits 22:03 Four Key Findings Overview 28:00 Disconnected From Self 52:20 Fear-Based Theology and Parenting 01:02:38 Conditional Love and Worthiness 01:12:42 False Self and Hidden Struggles 01:22:32 One-Way Communication and Fear 01:31:17 Blaming Outside Influences 01:40:20 New Episode Research Overview 01:57:49 Purity Culture and Shame 02:08:05 Adult Development and Compassion 02:20:19 Fear of Selfhood 02:30:25 High Demand Religion 02:44:22 Research Recap 02:52:12 Eight Stages Walkthrough 03:04:59 Parents Threatened by Growth 03:19:13 Fundamentalism and Safety 03:27:20 From Identity to Intimacy 03:34:37 Recommendations and Repair 03:41:27 Closing and Resources Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! In this episode Val digs into the concept of prophet worship [or any time humans hand over their discerning power to a formal authority figure] from the context of psychology and the “shadow”. While we tend to talk about our “shadows” from the context of that which we are ashamed of, sometimes we actually disown our greatest divine attributes. Tune in to this episode to learn why this happens and how to reintegrate our “golden shadows” back into our core identities. This conversation is an extension of Episode 447, so go back and listen if this intrigues you! Does the idea of awakening your core identity or "True Self" resonate with you ? If so, jump onto a waitlist to join Valerie’s next healing group that focuses on the awakening of one’s True Self core identity. This group is titled “Fundamentals of LDS Faith Crisis Healing” and the next group of this type begins spring of 2027! Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Setup 03:09 Traditional Shadow Basics 07:58 Golden Shadow Defined 09:27 Projection and Triggers 12:36 Golden Shadow Projection Example 17:07 How Outsourcing Happens 20:08 Official Carrier and the Cost of Imperfection 25:37 When Following the Prophet Doesn't Work 29:36 Reclaiming Discernment 32:22 Practicing and Giving Yourself Grace 35:52 Integration Not Overcorrecting 39:15 Closing Thoughts Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! In this episode Valerie tackles a seemingly contradictory pair of claims: The LDS church is experiencing record-breaking growth! The LDS church is experiencing record-breaking defection! Is one narrative simply not true? Interestingly, the answer is no, both narratives are true. Join Val as she unpacks these seemingly contradictory claims & breaks down how these claims reflect specific kinds of data collection. She also explores how these narratives are tracking two different demographics of people in different stages of faith and consciousness development. Valerie’s hope in episodes like this is to shine a light on normative human growth & development in the context of faith and to illustrate how the churches that do not understand or believe in stages of faith development only serve populations in [important but] earlier stages of growth & pathologize those in later stages, causing ever increasing levels of family fractures and institutional defection. PS: to read more & see the data, pick up a copy of download the book Torn: Why People We Love are Leaving the Church and What We Can Learn from Them by Jeff Strong, linked HERE. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Series Setup 02:45 Two Conflicting Narratives 04:16 Record Baptisms Data 06:17 Disaffiliation Statistics 12:01 Both And Explanation 14:03 Three LDS Demographics 14:21 Active Core Strengths 17:58 Disaffiliated Core Growth 22:30 Never Fully Affiliated 26:11 Stages of Faith Framework 29:26 Attachment Stage Church Fit 31:02 Differentiation and Homelessness 41:44 Integration and Compassion 44:20 Closing Reflections Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! Series Title: Torn: Why People We Love are Leaving the Church & What We Can Learn from Them [Part III of III] In this final episode of this beautiful series featuring guest author Jeff Strong & his bestselling book Torn: Why People We Love are Leaving the Church & What We Can Learn from Them, Val & Jeff cover four "culture imbalances" that thousands of disaffiliated LDS offered as reasons they could not grow in the context of the LDS church. Listen in to hear some sobering & important data that offers a more accurate narrative surrounding the current LDS dissafiliation crisis. As painful a this information might be for devout LDS loved ones, this information is vitally important. Can those who loved the church and want what is best for their faith- expanding families listen to their feedback and create safe harbor for those on unexpected faith journeys? The only way our LDS homes and wards can become this kind of community is to listen, learn, and trust the words and experiences of those who often only leave because they feel that thriving spiritually is not possible if they stay. Jeff's book Torn linked HERE Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 02:45 Why These Talks Matter 05:00 Unexpected Family Reversals 13:14 Why Culture Is Key 20:25 Imbalance One Who Belongs 28:53 Balancing Standards With Love 35:13 Transactional Faith Pitfalls 44:54 Map Not The Sea 50:57 Agency Versus Compliance 54:28 Trusting Individual Conscience 01:00:23 Pressure To Conform 01:03:15 Ubuntu And Closing Takeaways Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! Series Title: Torn: Why People We Love are Leaving the Church & What We Can Learn from Them [Part II of III] In this fascinating episode, guest author Jeff Strong & Valerie tackle several key points that Jeff courageously and gently addresses in his bestselling book Torn: Why People We Love are Leaving the Church & What We can Learn from Them. Today, Jeff & Val lay out several culture issues that are pressuring the need for churches to adapt-not because people are becoming less and less "spiritual"...but because evolution is an upward spiral and human beings entering new stages of faith development have different needs. If these needs are not acknowledged; or if they are vilified, shamed, or pathologized- they will go away. We are seeing this at record rates in the LDS church. Listen in as Jeff and Valerie clarify not only why so many lifelong multi-generational Latter Day Saints are leaving--but also share how spiritual growth/ differientiation & community belonging need not be mutually exclusive. Jeff's book Torn linked HERE Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Book Setup 01:38 Recap and Survey Numbers 03:13 Seeing and Humility 10:12 Culture as Soil Metaphor 15:44 Acceptance and Faith Stages 25:19 Fear to Hope and Growth 29:18 Four Storms Shaping Belief 37:19 Culture Change and Margins 45:44 Diversity and Balanced Energy 51:05 Next Episode Preview and Closing Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! Series Title: Torn: Why People We Love are Leaving the Church & What We Can Learn from Them [Part 1 of 3] In this three part series, Valerie is joined by Jeff Strong- friend, colleague, and author of the best-selling book Torn: Why People We Love are Leaving the Church & What We Can Learn from Them. In this opening episode, Jeff shares his personal experience as an LDS bishop and father at a crisis point in time when his missionary son disclosed that he was coming home and leaving the LDS church. In this moment, Jeff felt that everything was falling apart & in his own valley of the shadow, he could not meet his son where he was in his own valley of the shadow. The following 13 years comprising hundreds of interviews with disaffiliating Latter-day Saints & heartfelt soul-searching about the true meaning of faith culminates in this book: a Love Letter to the Devout Latter-day Saint who has a loved one who has left the faith. Please listen to this series & consider reading than then gifting Jeff's book to one of your loved ones who does not understand your spiritual journey. Together we can heal our community and build bridges of understanding & belonging. no matter where we are on the spectrum of faith. Jeff's book Torn linked HERE. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 02:07 Why Jeff Wrote Torn 02:56 Faith Crisis Sparks Research 06:16 Years of Writing and Rewrites 07:32 Who the Book Is For 11:07 Upstream vs Downstream Trauma 13:48 A Devout Reader’s Reaction 17:06 Mixed Faith Marriage Pain Point 20:24 Disaffiliation Numbers and Studies 28:36 Counter Narratives on Growth 29:52 Growth vs Activity Metrics 32:07 Convert Baptisms and Disaffiliation 33:04 Two Truths in Church Life 35:59 Four Waves Overview 38:11 Why Waves Feel Sequential 40:50 Upstream vs Downstream Pushback 43:54 Stages of Faith Transition 47:37 Belonging Over Belief 51:31 Success Stories of Inclusion 55:58 Bar Mitzvah Closing Story 58:27 Wrap Up and Next Episode Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! In this episode, Valerie & colleague Jana Spangler are guests on Dan Wotherspoon's Latter Day Faith podcast where they talk about a little known version of the human shadow. Many of us know about the 'classic shadow'...you know...parts of ourselves that we are ashamed of and seek to hide. What about parts of ourselves that we also hide...even though they are our our strengths, our superpowers and even manifestations of our unique spiritual gifts & attributes? Listen in as Dan, Jana, and Valerie discuss why people in general tend to have and hide "golden shadows" and as they explore some reasons why the LDS population might manifest unique "golden shadows" as a consequence of LDS theology and tradition. Timestamps: 00:00 Meet the Hosts 00:48 Where to Find Val 01:24 Jana’s Coaching Work 02:18 Shadow Work Basics 03:44 What Is Golden Shadow 04:58 Projection and Admiration 07:15 Fear of Your Light 10:09 Sacred Examples of Calling 13:12 Spotting Golden Shadow 18:43 Therapy Approach and Safety 21:41 Patriarchy and Buried Identity 29:25 Grief Forgiveness and Family 31:56 Grieving Without Confronting 32:51 Shame and the Not Me Boundary 35:50 Holding Complexity With Kids 37:07 Critical Thinking Both And 38:33 Mormon Theology and Sin Scripts 46:55 Inner Work and Quiet Practices 52:55 Golden Shadow and Authority 59:33 Reclaiming Discernment and Closing Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! Series Title: "Latter Day Missionaries": A Mental Health Resource for LDS Missionaries & their Families [Part II of II] In this episode Dr. Bryson Ensign joins Valerie again to unpack OCD & scrupulosity in the LDS mission field. This episode first explores how Dr. Bryson covers OCD/scrupulosity in his "Mental Health Training Center". It also explores how this resource could be lifesaving tool for the missionary as well as a crucial resource for the parents of full-time missionaries concerned about their child's wellbeing and not knowing how to help when their child is far away and struggling with various mental healthy issues. Find additional information on Dr. Ensign's program HERE. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome Back Intro 00:44 Why Missions Get Complicated 03:11 Mental Health Training Center Overview 07:00 Why Missionaries Are Vulnerable 10:15 Parents Need Support Too 15:52 Steady Parenting Skills 20:39 Pivot to OCD Scrupulosity 23:42 How Each Lesson Works 30:32 Bryson Mission Story 35:04 When Scrupulosity Gets Reinforced 38:21 Healthy vs Unhealthy Faith 39:52 Parents Spot the Signs 42:43 Accountability Partner Plan 44:32 Lesson Flow Overview 45:38 OCD Basics Explained 49:16 Scrupulosity on a Mission 55:23 Why Missions Trigger It 58:51 Three Practical Tools 01:04:30 Where to Get Help 01:07:38 Specialized OCD Treatment 01:09:51 Final Thanks and Wrap Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! Series Title: "Latter Day Missionaries": A Mental Health Resource for LDS Missionaries & their Families [Part I of II] Do you know anyone who experienced issues with anxiety, depression, homesickness, getting along with that annoying companion, or struggles with shame and perfectionism on their LDS mission? Was that you? Your child? If you have been touched in any way with the LDS mission experience and would like a resource that is worth its weight in gold, this series is for you. In today's episode you will meet Dr. Bryson Ensign, a former LDS missionary and psychiatrist in training who has dedicated countless hours creating a resource that he wishes he had on his own mission. As a devoted listener to the Latter Day Struggles podcast, Bryson shares a passion with Valerie to help those in and around the LDS faith with issues of mental well being that are often not understood (and therefore not addressed ) at the institutional level. This episode shares his vision, sense of call, and an overview of his program. The next episode walks you through an entire segment of his curriculum (dealing with scrupulosity on the LDS mission). Enjoy! Find additional information on Dr. Ensign's program HERE. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 02:48 Bryson's Background and Faith 07:24 Why Mission Mental Health 10:56 Program Overview: Latter Day Missionaries 16:01 Mental Health Training Center 20:36 Lesson Topics and Tools 28:19 Designed for Every Faith Stage 33:13 Holding Complexity: Obedience, Shame, and Mental Health 36:13 Systemic Challenges and Early Returns 40:30 Real Stories: Missionaries Suffering in Silence 46:10 The Church, Mental Health, and Cultural Change 51:16 Personal Call and Inspiration 57:52 Next Episode: Scrupulosity Preview 01:00:00 Closing and Resources Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! Series Title: Religion IS Political [Part VII of VII] This final episode of this series is our response to the point of view that Jesus did not ‘get political’. Jesus (and each of us) cannot avoid being political. We state our “politics” with each stance to either uphold or resist dominator hierarchies. And Jesus’ whole ministry can be defined by resistance to any system that placed the life of any human being over the life of any other human being. Listen to this episode to answer for yourself the following questions: Did the actual Jesus of Nazareth embody radical love for all human beings and speak strongly and often about very "political" topics? Or did claim neutrality in a way that left those of his time uncertain about how he felt about authoritarian power structures and their treatment of "the least of these"? Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Series Finale 02:06 Recap of Episodes One to Six 05:01 Liberation Jesus or Empire Mascot 06:42 Scripture Lenses and Competing Jesuses 08:47 Jesus of Nazareth vs Christ of Empire 12:48 Refusing Power and Inner Kingdom 20:30 Flattening Margins and Social Norms 27:58 Good Samaritan and Bad Laws Today 34:42 Challenging Religious Gatekeeping 40:05 Taking Jesus Name Through Action 43:23 Love Over Fear God Image 47:06 Closing Thanks and Fellowship Invite Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! Hey listeners of the Latter Day Struggles podcast! Join Val in this bonus episode as she answers audience questions that will help you feel like you've come to the right place for psychologically sound resources and community on your LDS faith expansion journey. We're not about burning anything down. We are about bridging. Building. Expanding. Transcending. Including. Becoming. In this bonus episode Val answers a couple of questions about relationship struggles that inevitably come up when our relationship with the LDS church is evolving. She also shares her vision for the future of the LDS church if faith expanding people continue to gather and practice a more radical, inclusive, and non-polarized love than currently exists in our present LDS culture as groups gather at the opposite poles. To be a part of a movement that actively practices critical thinking and personal growth--join Valerie & others leading out in a new way to manifest what true faith expansion is. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Purpose 02:07 How We Are Different 05:09 Beyond Binary Healing 07:45 Transcend and Include 12:18 Monday vs Friday Episodes 14:32 Friday Spiritual Expansion 21:57 Live Fellowship Overview 24:36 Fellowship Topics and Schedule 30:11 Upcoming Mission Mental Health Series 34:52 Why Groups Matter 42:52 Talking Across Ladder Rungs 52:15 Enrollment and Closing Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! Series Title: Religion IS Political [Part VI of VII] In this episode Val & Nathan break down what religious institutional silent is communicating in times of social unrest. Don't miss this episode or series if you want to more deeply understand why religions are simply never neutral! They are loudly communicating what they stand for when they choose silence over speaking truth to power. Timestamps: 00:00 Series Recap Setup 02:12 Religion Meets Politics 05:24 Legitimacy vs Transformation 06:59 Silence Equals Complicity 08:48 Why Churches Stay Quiet 13:23 Truth Claims Block Reform 20:05 Faith as Moral Reform 26:01 Rethinking Prophets 29:37 Prophetic Not Partisan 31:30 Closing and Next Episode Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! Series Title: Religion IS Political [Part V of VII] In this episode exploring the intersection of religion and politics, Val & Nathan explore several specific areas where politics and religion are addressing the exact same fundamental questions around human dignity & worth; justice & injustice; and the appropriate use of power. They then compare how these fundamental issues are confronted in real time on a world stage as Politician Donald Trump and Religious Leader Pope Leo XIV prove powerfully that politics and religion cannot be dissociated but must dialogue in order to find common ground in questions of human value, safety, and basic dignity. They also each demonstrate (through their respective approaches and value systems) two very different levels of human moral & consciousness development. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Setup 00:33 Religion Meets Politics 02:33 Same Core Questions 06:21 Human Dignity and Rights 11:22 Consciousness Development and Political Behavior 13:35 When Laws Protect the Wrong Values 14:40 Christian Nationalism and the LDS Church's Silence 20:42 LDS Shadow History and the Epstein Files 22:52 Justice and Accountability 26:07 Power Morality and Resistance 28:18 Rosa Parks and Inner Authority 30:03 Early Faith vs Transformation 33:08 Follow the Leader vs Follow the Divine Within 33:21 Elder Gilbert, ICE Raids, and LDS Silence 35:07 Legitimacy as the Highest Value in Mormonism 41:45 Pope Leo vs Trump 51:33 Episode Wrap and Next Steps Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! Series Title: Religion IS Political [Part IV of VII] In this episode Val & Nathan continue to build a case that it is impossible for religious systems to be "neutral" on political issues. They explore how society evolves as religions & political systems engage in the dance of shaping and being shaped by one another and how in every era brave individuals lead out in inviting social change & can come from either spiritual realm as both politics & religions confront how to dignify human life. They also talk about how some churches lead the charge of social justice (confronting longstanding dominator hierarchies) and some churches are society's great "feet draggers" (defending dominator hierarchies). Why the feet-dragging? And why do the "feet draggers" often finally begrudgingly jump on the enlightenment train? Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Series Setup 01:44 Legitimacy vs Transformation Religions 05:43 Silence and Power Structures 09:42 Why Churches Cannot Condemn 11:37 Article of Faith 12 Obedience 13:54 Moral Consequences and Neutrality 18:38 Religion and Politics Interwoven 19:55 Civilizational Development Framework 22:50 Center of Gravity in Mormonism 24:13 Leading Edge Reformers 25:54 Civil Rights Awakening 27:52 Laws Versus Hearts 30:17 Legitimacy Church Trap 31:19 Pressure Forces Change 37:06 BYU And Wyoming Seven 39:27 Social Capital And Attrition 42:47 Patriarchy Next Frontier 44:17 God Beyond Hierarchy 47:18 Why Churches Catch Up 48:03 Spiraling Toward Transformation 49:00 Next Episode Preview Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! Series Title: Religion IS Political [Part III of VII] In this episode Val & Nathan go more "macro" and explain how churches (just like human beings and human civilizations) go through stages of development and that a church will choose its stances of "significant moral consequence" accordingly. In short, if a church is focused on earlier stage legitimacy--its all about preserving its favorite form(s) of dominator hierarchy. If the church has matured into a focus on personal transformation--it moves towards a stance of dismantling dominator hierarchies. And it is in moments of social unrest that one can see more clearly where a church is developmentally. Listen in and keep in mind--both type of church are necessary and serve a role in the development of the human race. As these topics are explored, it is fundamental to the growth of our culture at large to recognize that later stages of development (in the human being and in the church) are built on earlier stages of development. So lean into this, even if it's uncomfortable! Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Series Setup 00:46 Recap Political Neutrality 02:35 Statement Versus Practice 06:42 Why the Silence Now 08:51 Faith Leaders Speaking Up 14:20 Solidarity Over Self Preservation 20:32 Legitimacy Seeking Religion 27:59 Transformation Seeking Religion 31:18 Jesus Versus Christian Nationalism 32:43 Personal Stakes and Closing Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! Series Title: Religion IS Political [Part II of VII] In this episode Val & Nathan walk through the last several decades and map issues of high and low LDS political involvement, offering a template for what the church feels is significant enough to merit their active public statements, financial resources, active instruction to LDS membership regarding the vote. What the church deems "of significant moral consequence" (per their official statement of neutrality) and what is deemed not morally significant enough to comment on in times of social unrest makes for very interesting conversation. Join Val & Nathan as they unpack this highly relevant topic in an effort to make sense of this phenomenon, which they realize is anything but neutral. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Series Setup 00:19 Recap Political Neutrality 02:42 Follow the Leader Tension 03:45 LA Churches Speak Out 05:26 Stated vs Observed Neutrality 06:31 High Engagement Moral Issues 11:40 Low Engagement Justice Issues 16:29 Matthew 25 Reality Check 19:47 2026 Silence and Current Events 23:16 Doctrine and Covenants 98 26:48 Silence as Endorsement 29:13 Next Episode Preview and Wrap Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! In this Bonus Episode, Val answers some piling up questions about the power of healing that uniquely happens in the Latter Day Struggles Fundamentals of LDS Faith Crisis Healing Groups that hundreds of you have experienced in the past 3+ years. A few of the questions that she answers: **What is the difference between your Faith Crisis Healing groups and your new Live Fellowship Group? **How are they different than other platforms where people meet and talk? **How are these groups different than other platforms where people meet and talk? **Are both-gendered groups effective? **Should I do a faith crisis healing group instead of therapy? I am_____________ (fully active, all of the way out, etc., etc.,) Am I Good fit? Interested in grabbing the very last seat of the ONLY 2026 group of this kind? Click below to enroll! **If watching this in the future, check out https://valeriehamaker.com/support-groups/ and see what is available. If no groups are registering, contact admin@latterdaystruggles.com and get added to a wait list! Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Q&A Setup 01:45 Why Only One Group 02:48 Live Event Announcement 05:48 Book and 2026 Plans 07:25 Live Fellowship Explained 12:52 Who Joins the Groups 15:58 What Has Changed 21:45 Platform Difference and Curriculum 25:16 Why Mixed Gender Groups 29:54 Groups Versus Therapy 31:59 Am I a Good Fit 35:15 Closing and Next Steps Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! Series Title: Religion IS Political [Part I of VII] Anyone else noticing religious leaders from some faith traditions throughout the world speaking out against more and more egregious forms of US government-imposed violence, force, exploitation of power, and unaccountability at levels unfathomable until only recently? And other churches, LDS included choose silence and stand by a formal stance of neutrality at this moment. This series might be one of the more important and relevant of this podcast as Val & Nathan take you step by step towards their conclusion that religion and spirituality is and always will be political and politics is an expression of one's level of spirituality. Join them each week for this six-part series hopefully giving you words to make sense of your discomfort over silence in the face of harm and injustice. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Series Intro 00:42 Why Church Silence Matters 03:32 Six Episode Roadmap 05:02 Personal Take on Neutrality 07:02 Prop 8 and Moral Exceptions 09:08 Isolationism and Autonomy 13:34 Reading the Official Statement 20:51 Initial Reactions and Agreement 23:33 Conscience vs Real Practice 27:44 Mitt Romney as Case Study 30:42 Obedience and Hierarchy Thread 35:12 Immigration Example and Wrap Up 39:21 Closing and Next Episode Tease Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! Series Title: An Exploration of the Idea of "Normal" within the LDS Church [Part II of II] In this episode Val breaks down a couple of concepts that are NEVER talked about--the difference between "normal" in a family, church, or any collective and what is "normative" in that same group. NORMAL = "what we do around here that keeps things stable", whereas NORMATIVE = what is developmentally on track to help a person thrive? When these two concepts clash--yikes. And when your "normative" growth isn't understood, you DO look very "abnormal"...and maybe even sinful, rebellious, prideful, and lost. Listen in to have your mind blown a little today! Timestamps: 00:00 Unexpected Episode Setup 00:50 Guesting on Pioneer Paradox 02:17 Myth of Normal in Mormonism 03:07 Defining Normal 06:30 Defining Normative 09:09 When Normal Isn’t Healthy 11:52 LDS Culture of Conformity 13:42 Markers of Mormon Normal 19:08 Labels for Nonconformists 23:30 Faith Journey as Growth 26:08 Normative Developmental Shifts 31:05 Reconstruction and Inner Authority 34:04 Closing Encouragement Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! Series Title: An Exploration of the Idea of "Normal" within the LDS Church [Part I of II] In this fun collaboration with Casey & Will of the Pioneer Paradox Podcast, Val comes on wearing her "psychologist's hat" to talk about concepts within the LDS faith that seem normal until one squints and realizes that maybe they are common but definitely not 'normal'. Listen in as they walk through four common phenomenon within Mormondom that may be common ways to view the world but are not necessarily 'normal'. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Italy Trip 03:14 Myth of Normal Setup 06:23 Nature and Feminine Flow 08:40 Scouting and Rites of Passage 13:29 Canoe Covenant Story 18:30 Rituals as Meaning 20:59 Finding Your Inner Voice 24:26 Normal vs Normative 28:32 Boundaries and Growth 32:15 Certainty Sets Up Doubt 35:29 Exclusivity Blocks Wisdom 39:54 Parenting Critical Awareness 44:52 Mixed Faith Family Pain 50:29 Tribal Narratives Outsiders 56:30 Choose People Over Church 01:00:34 Decouple God From Church 01:04:42 Closing Thanks And Farewell Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! In this episode Valerie introduces you to Mark Crego, fellow Latter-day Saint seeker, whose own many-decades-long faith journey led him to create a not-for-profit organization to help those in faith crisis in the LDS church get the resources they need. In the episode Mark's passion to help others is fueled by the memory of being a young man with questions and nowhere to take them and no community to normalize (or even celebrate) his growth. Those who do not have resources or a supportive community while on the LDS faith journey often suffer from mental health issues, relationship distress, isolation, and shame. Learn how to be a part of a movement that makes sure that NO ONE experiences their most vulnerable spiritual awakening moments alone and concurrently supports professionals who have devoted their careers to creating communities of healing for the Latter-day Saint seeker. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:43 Mark’s Faith Journey Origins 04:00 Why Faith Journey Foundation Exists 05:22 Susan Hinkley and Related Projects 06:11 Valerie on Normalizing Faith Growth 10:20 Finding Neutral Support Beyond Church Systems 15:40 Faith Crisis as Identity Formation 18:59 How Valerie and Mark Met 19:18 Valerie's Origin Story with Latter Day Struggles 23:20 The Miracle of Finding Faith Journey Foundation 26:52 Scholarships and How to Get Help 30:54 Funding Model and Supported Projects 35:20 Sustainable Care and Paying Professionals 37:01 Other Communities and Projects FJF Supports 38:28 Valerie on Criticism of Paid Faith Work 40:14 Compassion Doesn't Mean Free Labor 44:14 Closing Invitation and Final Thoughts Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! Hey Latter Day Struggles! Due to your many requests—we are dropping a Latter Day Struggles series in “audiobook” format. You can enjoy the entire narrative arc in a single, uninterrupted format! Enjoy the experience as things 'click' into place as you take in this 'audiobook'! Please let us know what is happening within you as you transcend and include Mormonism one series at a time! As a bonus drop, we have prepared one of our favorite series titled, "Community Healing: How our Greatest Wounds & our Greatest Healing Happens through Human Relationship" for you! Enjoy this deep dive. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Reset 10:32 Faith Crisis Isolation 16:00 Shunning and Going Underground 27:53 Finding Support Groups 36:38 Quotes on Group Healing 48:56 Trust the Healing Process 56:17 Roadmap Out of Chaos 01:01:19 Witnessed Healing in Relationship 01:13:25 Beyond All In or Out 01:21:22 Curriculum True Self to Rebirth 01:27:37 Relationships and Patriarchy Work 01:35:08 Hope Through Community 01:42:07 Introducing the True Self 01:59:37 Gnostics and Inner Authority 02:16:18 Love Over Fear 02:26:10 Sharing True Self Statements 02:45:22 Grief and Identity Shift 02:56:20 Writing the True Self Statement 03:03:02 Love Based Spiritual Growth 03:16:25 A Healthier Faith Relationship 03:23:23 Men Patriarchy and Identity 03:31:52 Reclaiming the Core Self 03:39:51 True Self Statement Practice 03:44:26 Welcome to Eden Poem 03:54:16 Community Stories Begin 04:11:37 Community and Belonging 04:46:17 Seeing Pain Not Ideas 04:53:18 Final Invitation to Heal Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! In this follow up episode on recent LDS news that women are now allowed to serve in Sunday School presidencies, Val & Nathan pivot to the peculiar part of the announcement prohibiting no "mixed-gender" presidencies and share the outcome of their exploration of this odd move. Upon deeper reflection, the move seems less about worries about slippery slopes towards sexual iniquity and possibly more about preserving another kind of slippery slope--the one that disrupts what some feel is the "natural order of the universe". If a female formally presides over a male in one realm of the LDS church, what could this possibly lead to? Listen in as we propose that moves of this nature is proof that ultimately an all male priesthood must be surrendered...even if excruciatingly slowly...if the LDS church is going to survive in the long run. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Context 02:09 Reading the New Policy 02:46 First Reactions and Jokes 04:54 Why Mixed Gender Feels Weird 5:51 Relief Society President and Bishop — Mixed Gender Already Exists 08:21 Loyalist Perspective Brainstorm 09:32 Women Under Men in Leadership 11:09 Nathan's BYU Co-Mission Leader Experience 13:33 Men Under Women and Shame 15:53 Two Existential Questions the Church Dodged 17:14 Presiding and Priesthood Questions 19:13 Can Women Practice Revelation Without Male Approval? 22:49 Priesthood as Human Construct — "All or None of Us Have It" 25:12 Keys vs Duties Explained 28:12 Baptism Witnesses — A Case Study in Power Shifts 29:47 Power and Control Creep 32:39 Family Proclamation Implications 35:23 Women Leading Faith Journeys at Home 37:38 Joseph Smith Gave Women Blessings — Then They Were Taken Back 39:25 What Reforms Might Come Next 44:21 Closing Thoughts and Farewell Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! Series Title: Straight Talk on Patriarchy and Harm [Part II of II] In this episode Val & Nathan lay out a several reasons why they feel that the LDS church is not able to address the strong correlation between its patriarchal structure, s*xual abuse & s*xual abuse under-reporting. The foundation of this struggle is a refusal to question the divinity of patriarchy...which leads to the patterns outlined in this episode. Please note--episodes of this nature are intended to be "hard on system, soft on people." Val & Nathan maintain that no person is actively trying to harm others--but harm is the inevitable outcome of structures that will not confront their own shadows. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:16 Recap of Previous Episode 01:00 Nathan's Faith Journey and Institutional Critique 02:43 The Harm of Institutional Patriarchy 05:11 Centralized Authority and Its Consequences 07:38 Theological Justifications and Their Flaws 11:45 The "Ship vs. People" Metaphor 15:20 Patriarchy in the Book of Jacob 17:38 Patterns of Abuse and Institutional Response 21:15 Science vs. Religion: Reconciling Evidence 25:30 Handling Abuse Internally 30:41 Legal Counsel and Institutional Protection 35:32 Credibility Issues and Reporting Abuse 38:45 Women Reporting to Women: Limitations 41:24 Conclusion and Call for Change Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! In this episode I respond to your requests to explore the March 2026 Church news release announcing that women can now serve in ward Sunday School presidencies, and how this is linked to stages of psychological/faith development. Please share this episode if it resonates! Link to the church's announcement can be found HERE. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and context 01:21 Gratitude and reflection 03:58 Reading the news release 07:52 What we will cover 09:04 Big picture framing 11:43 Liminal perspective reactions 16:59 Loyalist perspective reactions 19:58 Faith development stages 24:08 Leadership tension and paths 27:01 Beyond black and white 28:14 Real Reform Or Optics 29:05 Why Change Is Slow 31:10 Gradualism Explained 32:55 Lincoln And Strategy 37:37 Applying Gradualism Today 39:36 Women Priesthood Forecast 41:08 Near Enemy Concept 45:43 Near Enemy In Practice 48:41 Divine Authority Corner 52:11 Continuing Revelation Tension 56:17 Community And Next Steps 58:25 Closing Reflections Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! Series Title: Straight Talk on Patriarchy and Harm [Part I of II] In this episode I read to you a shocking and brilliant article that I wish every Latter-day Saint can hear. This is a tough topic but one where reform will not touch until we start looking it in the eye. Please listen and share this article. Thank you to the Dialogue Foundation and to the author Suzanne E. Greco, whose trailblazing work may eventually be instrumental in preventing countless LDS women and girls from future harm. She wrote the article. I read the article. Please do your part and share the article (via the podcast or linked HERE!) Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Context 00:26 Upcoming Episode Preview 03:31 Reading the Article: Confronting Men's Violence 05:26 Author's Background and Article Introduction 06:26 Article Reading: Violence Against Women in LDS Church 11:11 Personal Story of Abuse 14:56 Credibility Issues and External Validation 19:59 Global Perspective on Violence Against Women 25:38 Utah Statistics and Under-Reporting 28:38 Male Ecclesiastical Leaders as First Responders 32:38 Challenges and Solutions 33:18 Solution One: Legal Changes and Clergy-Penitent Laws 38:31 High-Profile Cases and Institutional Betrayal 42:58 Solution Two: Women's Ministry and Male Protection Racket 46:23 Solution Three: Training and Education 48:23 DARVO Tactics and Victim-Perpetrator Dynamics 52:52 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! One thing that Val is always juggling is how to do it all and maintain her sense of humor, high commitment to play, and overall sanity. She loves running the podcast, the groups, and squeezes work with amazing LDS faith-journeying individuals and couples between the cracks (which is a highlight of her week!) Fitting it all in can become tricky, which is why she has been looking for the 'just right' person to help with individuals & couples in Utah looking for a mental health worker with the stamp of approval from Val at Latter Day Struggles. In today's episode you will meet Heather Sundahl, the newest member of Valerie's Latter Day Struggles team. Heather is a licensed mental health worker, a resident of Utah and strongly endorsed by Valerie as someone you can trust on your faith expansion journey. If you loved their laughter, tears (mostly Val!) and banter, you'll love knowing that Heather plans to come on a few times a year to tackle tough topics with Val relevant to your healing and growth. Jump over to latterdaystruggles.com if you're from Utah and want to work with Heather. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome And Guest Intro 01:01 Heather Background And Mentors 04:07 Early LDS Gender Messages 07:03 BYU Awakening Moment 09:58 Storytelling And Exponent Two 12:27 Becoming A Therapist 14:23 Healing Through Narrative 17:42 Owning Faith Narratives 19:18 Eve And Going Off Script 21:35 Life Beyond The Script 25:47 Navigating Church Tensions 26:57 Community Over Purity 28:05 Permission to Be Honest 29:05 Jesus as the Anchor 29:23 Self Care for LDS Women 31:24 Beyond Constant Sacrifice 33:51 Therapy Approach and Boundaries 35:33 Staying or Leaving the Church 39:02 Trusting Your Inner Compass 43:43 Faith Journeys and Belonging 49:08 Honoring Mormon Identity 51:14 Closing Vision and Next Steps Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! We've heard it a thousand times...and probably have said it a few times ourselves. "The ________will never change." You fill in the blank..."The world will never change" or "the church will never change"...and yet they do. How does evolution actually happen? This "bonus episode" is a download that Val had over the weekend after asking herself why she was doing this platform. The answer to her question is what you will hear in this episode. In short, the only way anything ever changes is when a small group of people gather and use their synergy to productively heal themselves and thoughtfully agitate for change in their worlds. Its how it has always been and always will be. Listen in and decide if you are someone who wants to be a part of the change that is already underway in our world right now. "We Shall Be Known" by MaMuse Timestamps: 00:00 Bonus Episode Check In 00:32 Existential Questions 02:01 Live Fellowship Vision 03:56 Awakening Or Breakdown 05:54 Labor Pains of New Consciousness 07:05 Thesis Antithesis Synthesis 09:51 Seekers As Change Agents 11:19 Why Side Communities Matter 12:48 Community for Healing and Growth 14:53 Early Church Example 20:02 Feminine Divine and Equality 21:35 Institutions Retrench 26:08 Laboratories of Expanding Consciousness 30:07 Transformation In Groups 34:51 Who This Is For 36:16 Needs The Fellowship Meets 42:45 How Live Fellowship Works 48:40 Founding Group Details 53:36 Song And Great Turning 58:07 Enrollment And Scholarships 01:00:14 Closing Thanks Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! In this episode Val is joined by Jana Riess, author and researcher of the LDS spectrum of experience and Jason Bergman, former BYU professor & faculty member. Together they discuss the many facets of the Clark Gilbert call to the Q12 of the LDS church. In this conversation Jason contrasts his experience on the BYU faculty both before and during Gilbert's leadership and candidly shares the painful and life altering impact Gilbert's fervor for loyalty and conformity of LDS orthodoxy had on him and his career. They also explore the possibility that well-intended loyalty to tradition can actually fracture lives, families, and even the potential good that churches can do in the long run--especially when loyalty to old ways end up getting in the way of further light and truth hiding in plain sight. Join them for another bold, courageous, and candid conversation inviting spiritual growth in and around the LDS church. Jana's Salt Lake Tribune Article Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Guests 00:36 Why This Topic Matters 01:55 Jana Riess Research 03:42 Jason BYU Background 07:20 Mixed Reactions Online 12:11 Why Gilbert Stands Out 17:27 Culture Warrior Defined 27:12 Polarization and Autonomy 35:53 BYU Orthodoxy Crackdown 40:43 Honor Code Turmoil Timeline 43:58 Choosing to Leave BYU 44:56 Faculty Fear and Silence 47:15 Big Tent Tensions 49:14 Incognito Faculty Support 52:41 Loyalty Oath Explained 58:33 Surveillance and Dismissals 01:00:35 Hiring and Worthiness Filters 01:02:52 Growth Versus Orthodoxy 01:07:31 Data on Same Sex Marriage 01:10:02 What BYU Lost 01:17:44 Evolution One Funeral 01:20:46 Gerontocracy and Mini Me 01:22:07 Final Thanks and Farewell Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! Join us for this one-time-only recording of our FIRST Latter Day Struggles "Live Fellowship"! What is this, you ask? Valerie has decided to offer a gathering place for those on the LDS and surrounding faith expansion journey wanting consistent (2x/month!) connection with her to go deeper into the mind & heart expanding content on both the Monday and Friday tracks of the Latter Day Struggles podcast. In this opening gathering, Valerie explored with those in attendance how both The Family Proclamation to the World and the call of Clark Gilbert to the Q12 are reflections of a historical moment and a choice point that all organizations confront as they grow. The question? Do we adapt to a more connected and pluralistic world that is experiencing an awakening of light and truth? Or do we double down in fear-based conformity? This amazing interactive Fellowship Live episode gives you a taste of how your faith journey can move beyond a passive listening experience and towards active healing and connection with other seekers like yourself. Jump in now and you can become a founding shaper of the first cohesive and intentional community of individuals whose LDS faith journey was an entry point into their greatest spiritual growth and evolution. If you listened and this is for you, jump into the Latter Day Struggles LIVE FELLOWSHIP by clicking on the link below and enroll. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome: Why Seeing Faces Matters 00:51 Building a Faith-Expansion Community 02:33 What a "Sangha" Is 04:14 How the Fellowship Works 05:23 What This Space Is (and Isn't) 07:43 Ground Rules: Staying with Growth 09:28 Why Context Heals 10:48 The Family Proclamation & Clark Gilbert 13:57 America and the LDS Church as Parallel Institutions 15:52 Master Narratives & Threatened Identity 19:38 Retrench or Adapt: The Choice Point 27:00 Discussion: Authoritarian Systems vs. Healthy Communities 32:54 Pocket Communities Over Polarization 34:08 Seeing the System with Compassion 37:50 Why Narrative Change Feels Threatening 40:00 High-Level Language vs. Real-Life Details 42:42 Moving Beyond Fixed Rules 46:45 Transcend & Include 51:37 Rethinking Prophecy 56:13 Our Role in the Larger Awakening 01:00:16 Closing: Breakout Groups & What's Next Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! Series Title: What does the Family Proclamation Mean to You? [Episode II of II] This episode of Latter Day Struggles continues a two-part conversation about the LDS Church's Proclamation on the Family, examining the tension between claims of unchanging doctrine and the historical reality of doctrinal evolution. Petrey demonstrates through historical analysis that LDS teachings on gender, sexuality, marriage, and family have repeatedly changed over time—from positions on interracial marriage and the priesthood ban, to birth control prohibitions, plural marriage, conversion therapy for LGBTQ individuals, and women wearing pants. The conversation highlights how church leaders have consistently taught that their current positions were "unchanging doctrine" until those positions eventually changed, creating a pattern that contradicts claims of doctrinal fixity. Petrey offers a constructive framework for understanding doctrine as historically contingent and evolving—consistent with the LDS concept of continuing revelation—rather than eternally fixed. The Family Proclamation Op Ed by Taylor Petrey Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and Welcome 00:19 - Overview of the Proclamation to the Family 01:19 - Recap: Last Week's Discussion 01:31 - Defining Doctrine and Authority 02:08 - What Does 'Doctrine' Mean to Members? 03:48 - The Salvational Weight of Doctrine 05:31 - Elder Rasband's Talk and Proclamation Analysis 09:40 - Historical Changes in LDS Doctrine 11:41 - Race, Interracial Marriage, and Doctrinal Change 13:14 - Birth Control and Plural Marriage 15:11 - History vs. Faith-Promoting Narratives 17:34 - Redefining Doctrine: Making Space for Change 20:06 - Conversion Therapy and Evolving LGBTQ Positions 22:31 - Holding Contradictory Positions Simultaneously 25:31 - Challenges of Authoritarianism in the Church 28:09 - Religious Authority Across Denominations 32:33 - Who Defines History vs. Who Defines Doctrine? 34:22 - Doctrine as Continuing Revelation 35:15 - Concluding Thoughts and Future Directions Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! Series Title: What does the Family Proclamation Mean to You? [Episode I of II] Welcome to this two-part series where Valerie welcomes returned guest scholar Taylor Petrey to discuss the LDS Church's Family Proclamation to the World as it reaches its 30th anniversary. The heart of the episode centers on Taylor's controversial Salt Lake Tribune opinion piece in September 2025 (linked below) arguing that The Family Proclamation should be understood as commentary rather than revelation or unchanging doctrine. This characterization sparked significant pushback from conservative church members who insisted the document represents eternal, unchanging truth. Taylor and Valerie explore the complex and often inconsistent ways that the LDS Church uses terms like doctrine, revelation, policy, and commentary, noting how these categories shift depending on context and speaker. They discuss how the proclamation itself has been reinterpreted over time and set you up for the second part of their conversation where they dive deeply into the changing interpretations themselves. The Family Proclamation Op Ed by Taylor Petrey Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:11 Discussing the Family Proclamation 01:48 Cultural and Political Context 04:20 Historical Background of Family Proclamations 07:04 The 1995 Proclamation and Its Impact 13:21 Opinion Piece and Public Reaction 24:43 Controversy and Clarifications 27:57 Historical Changes in Church Teachings 28:33 Modern Reinterpretations of Doctrine 30:42 Balancing Eternal Truths and Continuing Revelation 32:58 The Controversy of Words and Authority 36:15 Revelation vs. Policy: A Case Study 38:10 The Fluidity of Revelation 43:45 The Role of Commentary in Church Doctrine 48:20 Setting Up for the Next Episode 51:36 Final Thoughts and Conclusion Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! Have you ever listened to a Latter Day Struggles episode and wanted nothing more than to talk about it but no one is around or would understand? Have you noticed that while your heart is growing faster than ever, your relationships are changing just as fast? Val has noticed that this podcast community has served not only to help you make sense of your LDS faith journey but also has created friendship networks that are life enriching in ways no one could have imagined. So why not expand our reach and create more places to connect and find healing + community? Listen in today for all of the details on the new biweekly LIVE FELLOWSHIP: a place where you go to join live discussions on current podcast topics with Valerie & then make new friends on a healthy LDS faith journey in your own region. What could be better? A few details: Join Val for 24 Live Fellowship gatherings a year + recordings if you miss out! Jump into the FREE Inaugural LIVE Fellowship on 2/18 at 9:30a PST! All who enroll by 2/28/26 get an extra month tacked onto their annual enrollment, compliments of Val :). Already in the Friday Fellowship as an annual member? Your tuition will be applied towards the upgrade (plus an extra discount!) New to all Fellowship Opportunities? Friday Fellowship content is INCLUDED with your annual tuition! Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 01:12 Announcement of Live Fellowship 01:36 Understanding the Faith Crisis 04:12 Overview of Learning Tiers 04:42 Monday Episodes Explained 06:20 Reframing LDS Doctrine & Theology 08:34 Friday Fellowship Deep Dive 12:30 Transcending & Including Mormonism 14:01 Introduction to Live Fellowship 17:12 Growth and Processing Groups 19:27 Individual Consulting Services 20:30 Why Create the Live Fellowship? 23:50 The Importance of Community 26:10 Forming Side Communities 28:30 Regional Breakout Groups 32:10 Differences: Live Fellowship vs. Depth Groups 34:00 Patriarchy Healing Curriculum 36:08 Logistics and Launch Details 37:00 First Session: Proclamation to the Family 38:30 Second Session: Transcendence & Inclusion 40:00 Recordings & Accessibility 41:00 Scholarships & Faith Journey Foundation 41:37 Final Thoughts and Call to Action 45:10 Ken Wilber Quote on Consciousness 47:30 Individual Transformation & Cultural Change 49:00 Closing Remarks Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! In this episode Nathan & I pause to honor the impact that Ken Glenn had on us at this time of his early and tragic passing. In this episode we share many examples that prove that the traditionally believing [Ken] and the… shall we say...less traditionally believing…[us!] LDS can co-exist, when vulnerability, love, and curiosity are chosen over judgment. We love you Ken. Thank you for showing us Christ-like love even if you did not fully understand our work. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and New Beginnings 00:53 Transition to YouTube 02:52 Memorializing a Mentor 06:17 Ken Glynn's Impact 09:54 Personal Stories of Ken 13:16 Ken's Humility and Kindness 14:14 Early Leadership Challenges 19:29 Parenting and Church Dynamics 20:10 Parental Decisions and Church Conflicts 22:53 Podcast Beginnings and Community Reactions 24:04 A Touching Tennis Meet Encounter 29:32 Mission Preparation and Temple Challenges 40:31 A Heartfelt Tribute to Bishop Ken Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! In this episode I respond to your requests to explore President Dallin Oaks' desire that LDS girls get married younger. As a bonus, I propose a counter-solution to. the current LDS mixed-faith marriage crisis that does not involve pressuring younger marriage (and its well-documented risk factors) on LDS young adults. Please share this episode if it resonates! Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Overview 00:18 Valerie's Analysis of Early Marriage 02:00 President Oaks' Comments and Valerie's Response 09:10 Exploring the Motivations Behind Encouraging Early Marriage 13:50 Risks and Drawbacks of Early Marriage 25:04 Correlation Between Temple Marriage and Divorce Rates 28:40 Concerns of Church Leadership 31:34 The Marriage Crisis in the Church 32:22 Challenges of Mixed Faith Marriages 33:30 Theological Strain and Parenting in Mixed Faith Marriages 34:44 Historical Context and Faith Crises 36:42 The Push for Early Marriage 39:24 Differentiation of Self and Its Importance 45:06 The Impact of Early Marriage on Development 57:43 Proposing a New Approach to Faith Journeys 01:01:15 Final Thoughts and Call to Action Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! With well over a million downloads since its first drop in March of 2022, the Latter Day Struggles podcast has established itself the place to find peace, healing, community, and words to describe your Latter-day Saint faith and trust crisis. It is where thousands have come to realize that deep within themselves is a True Self capable of mapping out their own spiritual journey and integrating their Latter-day Saint background into this journey on their own terms. In this "Best of Latter Day Struggles" episode, Valerie establishes herself as a Latter-day Saint mental health professional with a unique capacity to love her LDS faith enough talk about the beliefs and practices that are causing harm to members of the church worldwide. The bottom line? Healthy spiritual wellbeing is correlated with healthy mental health. If my church beliefs and practices are making me sick in any way--these beliefs need to be courageously examined. To those of you who have been on this journey since Valerie started the podcast (the "OGs") and to those who just learned about it last week and do not know where to start--pleasea enjoy this classic episode that got Latter Day Struggles on the map and has led to the healing of thousands of people in LDS faith crisis in the past 3 years. Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction and Overview 02:06 – Four Stages of Faith Development 04:28 – Moving Beyond Stage 1 08:06 – Limitations of Stage 2 12:02 – Moving Toward Stage 4 14:43 – Contextualizing Faith Traditions 15:28 – Stages in World Religions 16:01 – Institutional Roles in Faith Development 16:32 – Supporting Complexity and Skepticism 18:00 – Therapist’s Perspective 19:02 – Healthy Family Systems and Faith Development 20:48 – The Role of Adolescence 22:01 – Ownership of Belief 24:43 – The Dangers of Over-Resistance 26:37 – Richard Rohr's Perspective on Faith Development 28:34 – Transitioning to Complexity 31:49 – Hope Beyond Skepticism 34:07 – Institutional Challenges 36:58 – Misconceptions About Atonement 38:44 – Institutional Self-Reflection 40:09 – Marginalization and Fear-Based Narratives 43:00 – Letters from Listeners: Shock and Isolation 46:59 – Ambivalence and Hope in Skepticism 50:03 – Understanding Faith Development Stages 53:45 – Creating True Community 56:00 – Transitioning Through Chaos 57:30 – The Emptiness Stage 59:00 – Achieving True Community 01:01:00 – Maintaining True Community 01:03:00 – Conclusion and Call to Action Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review! Series title: Mormon Faith Crisis—Progression, Not Pathology [Part III of III] In this episode Valerie welcomes back friend and researcher Jeff Strong for the third installment of their series exploring Jeff's research learning about the actual experiences of thousands of Latter-day Saints. The theme that came through? Massive amounts of TENSION. Today they go deeper into six distinct kinds of Latter-day Saints and highlight that one type, "the protector" is disproportionately rewarded while other types are often silenced and squeezed to the margins and sometimes out of the church altogether. They unpack how an ignorance of the true diversity of 21st Century LDS membership is causing crippling harm to families and the church itself and emphasize the power that could come if we all understood and supported one another as a truly open and welcoming 'body of Christ'. Timestamps: 01:04 – Understanding Cultural Differences 01:57 – Stages of Faith and Identity Segments 03:38 – Framework for Understanding Differences 08:00 – Setting Up the Segment Discussion 09:36 – Overview of the Six Segments 14:30 – Personal Examples of Segment Fluidity 16:19 – Avoiders and Their Journey 18:30 – The Spectrum of Development 21:15 – Disaffiliation and Its Complexities 22:50 – The Public Narrative vs. Reality 24:43 – Conformity and Control in Religious Communities 26:33 – Fear vs. Love Orientation 28:13 – Focus on Protectors 33:40 – The Need for Balance and Integration 35:02 – Balancing Different Attributes in Church Culture 39:30 – The Dangers of Fear-Driven Leadership 41:40 – The Role of Fear and Love in Leadership 44:00 – The Impact of Historical Persecution 50:00 – Everyday Conflicts and Growth Opportunities 53:14 – Final Thoughts on Growth and Development Support the show Make a Tax Deductible Donation Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group Download Free Resources Visit our Website