Latter Day Struggles

By Valerie Hamaker

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Category: Mental Health

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Subscribers: 30
Reviews: 0
Episodes: 243

Description

The Latter Day Struggles Podcast addresses beliefs and issues within the LDS faith that are challenging to talk about but vital to discuss for those trying to navigate their relationship in or around the church. Valerie and her guests invite psychological maturity, theological health, and institutional integrity. 


Episode Date
345: Heavenly Momma Drama: Navigating Fear & Embodying Faith
Jul 07, 2025
343: Not Fragile Like a Flower, Fragile Like a Bomb
Jun 30, 2025
341: Candid Conversation about Current LDS Patriarchal Structure & its Correlation to Child Abuse Risk
Jun 23, 2025
339: Patriarchal Church Structures & Heightened Risk of Violence/Abuse in Marriage
Jun 16, 2025
337: Patriarchy & its Connection to LGBTQ+ Violence and Abuse
Jun 09, 2025
335: Patriarchy and the Deeply Embedded "Female Fear Factory"
Jun 02, 2025
333: Patriarchy & Harm: Proven Connections to Abuse & Violence
May 26, 2025
331: Why Very Few Shout: "The Emperor Has No Clothes!"
May 19, 2025
329: The Official Faith Crisis Report: A Backstage Pass with Greg Prince
May 12, 2025
327: Jesus Eats with "Outcasts" to Embody that HE Knows No Outcast
May 05, 2025
325: Why Jesus Likely Couldn't Care Less about Church Handbooks & Creeds
Apr 28, 2025
323: Sometimes Love Uses a Microphone
Apr 21, 2025
321: The Feminine Divine in the Mormon Cosmos with Kathryn Sonntag & Taylor Petrey
Apr 14, 2025
319: "Queering" Ideas about Heavenly Mother in the Mormon Cosmos
Apr 07, 2025
317: Ideas on a Heaven Large Enough for All Loving Connection
Mar 31, 2025
315: Forgive Them, For They Know Not What They Do
Mar 24, 2025
313: Not Willing to be Burned at the Stake Center
Mar 17, 2025
312: Why Gender-based Wounds Can Only be Healed in Mixed-Gender Communities
Mar 14, 2025
311: By the Mouths of Four Witnesses: Community Healing in LDS Faith Crisis
Mar 10, 2025
310: A "Masculine" Man's True Self Journey Home to His Healthy Feminine
Mar 07, 2025
308: "I Am Not My Ability to Bear Children": A Tender Journey Towards True Self Discovery
Feb 28, 2025
307: On the Process of Awakening to Our Worthiness as the Factory Setting
Feb 24, 2025
306: "I Didn't Think Feeling This Safe was Possible in a Group of People"
Feb 21, 2025
305: What? I Belong Here No Matter What I Believe?
Feb 17, 2025
303: Alone Together: Redefining Masculinity & Femininity to Heal LDS Marriages
Feb 10, 2025
301: What Patriarchies Teach Men about Weakness & Vulnerability
Feb 03, 2025
299: What Happens When Collaboration & Connection are Neglected at Church
Jan 27, 2025
297: Two Wings of the Same Bird: Rediscovering Masculine & Feminine Energies
Jan 20, 2025
295: On LDS "Loyalists", "Leavers" & Everyone In Between! with Jana Riess
Jan 13, 2025
293: How the Powerhouses on "At Last She Said It" Found Their Backbones & their Voices
Jan 06, 2025
291: LDSP CLASSIC! Women Worldwide Vote "Opposed" to Institutional Claims of Female Authority
Dec 30, 2024
289: LDSP CLASSIC! Feminine Visions, Divine Love, and Differentiation with Fiona Givens
Dec 23, 2024
287: Why Patriarchal Men Cannot Tolerate Critique
Dec 16, 2024
285: Why Patriarchal Men See the World Transactionally
Dec 09, 2024
283: Patriarchy and its Connection to Low Empathy in Men
Dec 02, 2024
281: A Fascinating History of Feminism in the LDS Church
Nov 25, 2024
279: Strategies to Heal Mixed-Faith LDS Couples
Nov 18, 2024
277: My Faith Journey Actually Made our Marriage Stronger
Nov 11, 2024
275: An LDS Marriage in the Valley of the Shadow
Nov 04, 2024
273: 6 Crucial Questions When Evaluating Information
Oct 28, 2024
271: Introducing a NEW GROUP: Growing up in a Patriarchy!
Oct 21, 2024
269: When a Family Trusts Their Mom's Faith Journey
Oct 14, 2024
267: Will My Adult Children Reject Me as I Grow?
Oct 07, 2024
265: Leaning into the Messy of Uncertainty in Actual Life
Sep 30, 2024
263: How you Know You ARE Spiritually Growing Up!
Sep 23, 2024
261: Differentiation as Key to Wise Decision Making w/ Dr Julie Hanks
Sep 16, 2024
259: Not Fearing Others’ Faith Journeys: A Crucial Conversation with Faith Matters
Sep 09, 2024
257: Creating Communities of Unconditional Belonging with Aubrey Chaves
Sep 02, 2024
255: Returning to the Cave: Facing Inner & Outer Conflict on the Enlightenment Journey
Aug 26, 2024
253: From Darkness to the Light: Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" & Latter-day Saint Faith Journeys
Aug 19, 2024
251: Fostering Environments for Growth & Interdependent Thinking in the LDS Church
Aug 12, 2024
249: A Modern Map for Psychological Growth in our Latter-day Saint Community
Aug 05, 2024
247: Processing Former Spiritual Experiences after LDS Faith Crisis
Jul 29, 2024
245: Transaction as the "Pee Wee Level" of True Discipleship with Steve Young
Jul 22, 2024
243: Why a Call for Loyalty is a Red Flag
Jul 15, 2024
241: How Neuroscience Validates the Need for U.S. Prison Reform with Fiona Givens
Jul 08, 2024
239: How Christians Became Sinners with Fiona Givens
Jul 01, 2024
237: Near Enemy Behaviors that Creep into Missionary Work & Marriage
Jun 24, 2024
235: What is a "Near Enemy" & Why Exposing Near Enemies Matter
Jun 17, 2024
233: How Some Religious Teachings May Cause Anxiety & Harm Self Worth
Jun 10, 2024
231: Unlearning Beliefs about a Disappointed God to Heal from Scrupulosity
Jun 03, 2024
229: Rewriting LDS Women’s History of Motherhood
May 27, 2024
Bonus!
May 26, 2024
227: The Harder the Better? with "At Last She Said It!"
May 20, 2024
225: Finding Feminine Wisdom through the Cycles of Nature w/ Kathryn Sontag
May 13, 2024
223: Learning to Look at a Tree & Find Both Sides of God w/ Kathryn Sontag
May 08, 2024
221: Supporting Spiritual & Relational Wellness if Stepping Away from the Church w/ Dr Julie Hanks
Apr 29, 2024
219: Challenging Sacrament Exclusion for Any Reason
Apr 22, 2024
217: Sacrament Practices Across Time & Spiritual Tradition
Apr 15, 2024
215: Musket Fire, Academic Freedom, & Concerns about Scientific Progress at BYU
Apr 08, 2024
213: LDS Women Claim Their Worth by Not Engaging in Semantics Games
Apr 01, 2024
211: Women Worldwide Vote "Opposed" to Institutional Claims of Female Authority
Mar 25, 2024
209: Unshackling Shame-LDS Faith Journey Brings Se*ual Healing
Mar 18, 2024
207: Healing Ideas & Harmful Ideas about the Use of Scripture
Mar 11, 2024
205: Exploring Disaffiliation Family Crisis Because the LDS Church is a ‘Covenant’ Religion
Mar 04, 2024
203: When Love, Faith Journeys & Fear Collide in an LDS Family
Feb 26, 2024
201: The Church’s Responsibility to See Whom They have Cast Out
Feb 19, 2024
199: Redefining God as Fundamental to Healing LDS Faith Crisis
Feb 12, 2024
197: A Story of Humanity, Reconciliation, & Spiritual Empowerment w/ Dan Wotherspoon
Feb 05, 2024
195: Expanding Truths Through Interfaith Learning w/ Jana Spangler
Jan 29, 2024
193: Navigating LDS Activity, Differentiation, & Healthy Boundaries w/ Dr. Julie Hanks
Jan 22, 2024
191: Temple Recommend Process as a Forum to Grant/Withhold Spiritual Privileges
Jan 15, 2024
189: Temple Worship Throughout the World & in Many Faith Traditions Worldwide
Jan 08, 2024
187: Demystifying LDS Hierarchy & Corporate Politics w/ Greg Prince
Jan 01, 2024
BONUS: Navigating Mixed-Faith Parenting, Isolation in Faith Crisis, and Decisions to Stay or Go
Dec 31, 2023
185: On Science/Faith, Prop 8, LGBTQ+ w/ Greg Prince
Dec 25, 2023
183: Progress, Pretense & the Gender Politics of the LDS Chapel Seating Chart
Dec 18, 2023
181: Post September Six: One Who Wandered but Was Not Lost w/ Maxine Hanks
Dec 11, 2023
179: ‘Women and Authority’: A Feminist Work of Art w/ Maxine Hanks
Dec 04, 2023
177: Advocating for Diligent Parents Called “Weak Links”
Nov 27, 2023
175. Why Human Suffering is Not Punishment from God w/ Adam Miller
Nov 20, 2023
173: Grace as the Original Intention of God-NOT the Backup Plan! w/ Adam Miller
Nov 13, 2023
171: Celebrating Lavina Fielding Anderson’s Vision for a More Inclusive Church
Nov 06, 2023
167: Raising Kids with a Deep & Broad Spiritual Worldview
Oct 23, 2023
165: A Seminary Teacher Who "Gets" What LDS Youth Need to Thrive Spiritually
Oct 16, 2023
163: Parenting Adolescents in/around the LDS Church w/ Dr. Julie Hanks
Oct 09, 2023
BONUS: FREE Post-General Conference Group Processing Opportunity
Oct 06, 2023
161: Young Adults Want the Hard Conversations w/ Patrick Mason
Oct 02, 2023
159: LDS University Students Pressured to Not Ask Hard Questions
Sep 25, 2023
157: The Spiritual Dangers of Magical Thinking w/ Christian Kimball
Sep 18, 2023
155: LDS Church as Neither Magic Kingdom nor Evil Empire w/ Christian Kimball
Sep 11, 2023
153: The State of LDS Faith Crisis Ten Years Post 2014 Official “Faith Crisis Report” Research
Sep 04, 2023
151: In Search of Mother God w/ Carol Lynn Pearson
Aug 28, 2023
149: Sociopolitical Forces that Led to Ezra Taft Benson's "To the Mothers in Zion"
Aug 21, 2023
147: Protecting Those on the Margins Out Loud
Aug 14, 2023
145: When & Why Diverse People Becomes Marginalized
Aug 07, 2023
143: How & Why Some People Oppress Others
Jul 31, 2023
141: Gender, Sexuality, & Mormonism's Participation in Modern Politics
Jul 24, 2023
139: A History of the Evolving Definition of a Legitimate LDS Marriage
Jul 17, 2023
BONUS: How to subscribe to Friday Latter Day Struggles Episodes
Jul 14, 2023
137: When 'Quick Conversion' Leads to Attrition Rather than Growth
Jul 10, 2023
135: Shrinking Missionary Force Means Shrinking LDS Church
Jul 03, 2023
134: Impressive LDS Church Growth in Africa, With some Caveats
Jun 30, 2023
133: LDS Growth Not Exponential as Predicted. Why?
Jun 26, 2023
131: Choosing Love & Healing Over Silence & Fear
Jun 19, 2023
130: More Latter-day Saint stories of overcoming queerphobia
Jun 16, 2023
129: How Someone Like You Can (or Maybe Did) Overcome Queerphobia
Jun 12, 2023
127: When it Feels Like Your Spouse Chooses the Church over Your Marriage
Jun 05, 2023
125: Feminine Visions of Julian of Norwich w/ Fiona Givens
May 29, 2023
124: Five Components of Mature Spirituality
May 26, 2023
123: A Study of Immature Versus Maturing Spirituality
May 22, 2023
122: On the LDS Faith Expansion Journey & the Painful Loss of Community
May 19, 2023
121: On the LDS Faith Expansion Journey & Cynicism Spirals
May 15, 2023
Episode 120: The White Male’s Creation of the White Male God
May 12, 2023
119: Is Your God Disappointed, Demanding, & Punishing?
May 08, 2023
118: The Unbelievability of Mystic Texts Throughout Time w/ Paul Toscano
May 05, 2023
117: The Book of Mormon Was Never about LDS "Truth Claims" w/ Paul Toscano
May 01, 2023
116: Harm Done in Oversimplifying the Book of Mormon w/ Taylor Petrey
Apr 28, 2023
115: The Book of Mormon: Myth or History? w/ Taylor Petrey
Apr 24, 2023
114: Exploring Different Interpretations on "Peacemakers Needed" Address
Apr 21, 2023
113: A Call for Non-Hierarchical "Grassroots" Revelation w/in the LDS Church
Apr 17, 2023
112: When Past & Present Prophecy is Contradictory
Apr 14, 2023
111: Processing General Conference During/Post Faith Crisis
Apr 10, 2023
110: This Might be One Reason Why Second Hour at Church is Challenging
Apr 07, 2023
109: The Slippery Slope of Self Justification
Apr 03, 2023
108: Is Your Marriage on Life Support Due to Your Faith Journey? Listen Here for Support!
Mar 31, 2023
107: Can a Marriage Survive After one Partner Departs from their Plan of Eternal Orthodoxy?
Mar 27, 2023
106. Including Your Queer Self (or Loved One) in God’s Eternal Family Plan
Mar 24, 2023
105: When a Too-Small Eternal Family Theology Crumbles around Your Beloved Queer Child
Mar 20, 2023
104: How LDS Marriage Theology Complicates Growth Potential for the Mixed-Faith Couple
Mar 17, 2023
103: A Single Woman’s Perspective on the LDS Theology of Eternal Marriage
Mar 13, 2023
102: Personal Battles with Fear & Shame Due to LDS Eternal Marriage Theology
Mar 10, 2023
101: The Personal & Relational Impact of Patriarchy & Eternal Polygamy Theology
Mar 06, 2023
100: Unprogramming the Dependency & Gender-Role Based Model of LDS Marriage/Family
Mar 03, 2023
99: Does Fear & Shame Motivate Belief & Practice?
Feb 27, 2023
98: We do NOT ‘Consider the Matter Closed’—Tithing Wealth, Transparency, & Accountability
Feb 24, 2023
97: The Toxic Twin Towers of Patriarchy & Polygamy
Feb 20, 2023
96: A Focus on those on the Margins: Gender/Sexual Minorities & Singles
Feb 17, 2023
95: Our Primary Task in Life is Not Marriage!
Feb 14, 2023
94: Claiming Spiritual & Psychological Agency as Women in/around a Patriarchal Church
Feb 10, 2023
93: Understanding a Healthy Dynamic Between Church Leaders & Members
Feb 06, 2023
92: Closed Channels of Communication & its Impact on Some LDS Members
Feb 03, 2023
91: Ways to Actively Protect & Support our Queer Youth at Church
Jan 30, 2023
90: The Sacred Queerness of Dawn, Dusk, & Even Jesus w/ Blair Ostler
Jan 27, 2023
89: A Queer Mormon’s Walk through the Valley of the Shadow w/ Blair Ostler
Jan 23, 2023
88: God is So Tired of Being an Old White Guy
Jan 20, 2023
87: On Superiority Complexes & Christian Nationalism
Jan 16, 2023
86: On the Power of Money & Confronting the Cult of Innocence
Jan 13, 2023
85: On Colonization, Company Men, & Christianity as an Infant Religion
Jan 09, 2023
84: Christianity: Reasons to Stay & Reasons to Leave
Jan 06, 2023
83: How Early Faith Crisis Divides the Human Brain
Jan 02, 2023
82: The Discomfort of Seeing our Former Self Righteousness
Dec 30, 2022
81: Temple Symbolism & the Hero's Journey w/ Jodi England Hansen
Dec 23, 2022
80: On Your Faith Journey & Your Many Births, Deaths & Rebirths
Dec 19, 2022
79: On Waking up to Constricted Intellectualism & Cognitive Biases
Dec 16, 2022
78: On Maturing Spiritually as Parents & Letting Go of Control
Dec 12, 2022
77: Answers to Tough Questions about Authentically Navigating LDS Membership w/ Carol Lynn Pearson
Dec 09, 2022
76: Two Images of the One God
Dec 08, 2022
75: Matriarchal Blessing
Dec 08, 2022
74: Jesus Remembered
Dec 07, 2022
73: Growing up Godly
Dec 07, 2022
72: The Case of the Disappearance of our Mother God
Dec 06, 2022
71: I Live in a Motherless House
Dec 06, 2022
70: An Hour with Mormonism’s Own Joan of Arc, Carol Lynn Pearson
Dec 05, 2022
69: BYU-Idaho Faculty Member & the Current University Climate
Dec 02, 2022
68: Former BYU Professor's Arrival at Love over Loyalty
Nov 28, 2022
67: Is a Mandate for Unity of Belief Helping or Hurting Us?
Nov 25, 2022
66: Se*ual Thoughts, Feelings & Expressions: Tattoos, Piercings
Nov 21, 2022
65: Light, Discernment, Media & Pornography Talk
Nov 18, 2022
64: Expanding Concepts of Loving Self, Others, & God
Nov 14, 2022
63: A Psychological Look at Combative Discourse
Nov 11, 2022
62: Jesus was a Model of Christ-Centered Activism
Nov 07, 2022
61: Healthy Atonement Theology & the Healing of Lifelong Se*ual Sin
Nov 04, 2022
60: Imagine an Atonement Theology Free of Fear, Shame & Hustle
Oct 31, 2022
59: What You'll Experience in a Latter Day Struggles Growth & Processing Group
Oct 31, 2022
58: We're Not Actually More Special than "the World"
Oct 28, 2022
57: Strength of Youth Time Machine
Oct 24, 2022
56: Are the Young Women's & Young Men's Themes Healthy Identity Statements?
Oct 21, 2022
55: On the Deep Psychological Costs of Institutionalized Queerphobia
Oct 17, 2022
54: Why Science May Pressure Policy Change on Homosexuality
Oct 14, 2022
53: On Patriarchy & the Feminine Face of God
Oct 10, 2022
52: Recommendations to Help Those Suffering in LDS Faith Crisis
Oct 07, 2022
51: The Perpetual Cycle of Disaffection in LDS Crisis
Oct 03, 2022
50: A Sobering View of Stages of Crisis
Sep 30, 2022
49: Who, What & Why of LDS Faith Crisis
Sep 26, 2022
48: An Overview of the 2014 Official LDS Faith Crisis Report
Sep 23, 2022
47: Processing the Trauma and Grief of Faith Crisis
Sep 19, 2022
46: The History & Context of "The Prophet Will Never Lead You Astray"
Sep 16, 2022
45: Please Stay in Your Lane, Bishop
Sep 12, 2022
44: On Skepticism of Having Your Children Baptized
Sep 09, 2022
43: Mormon Women's History & the ERA: A Case of Subservience Over Conscience
Sep 05, 2022
42: Why Humans & Latter-day Saints are Lulled by the Status Quo
Sep 02, 2022
41: On Paranoia, Misdirected Worship & Image Management
Aug 30, 2022
40: On Overstepping on Personal Life Choices
Aug 26, 2022
39: On Accountability Struggles, Performance Focus, & Unspoken Rules
Aug 22, 2022
38: Standing up Against Chicken Patriarchy
Aug 19, 2022
37: The Current Culture of Mandated Missionary Service
Aug 16, 2022
36: On the Associated Press's Recent S*x Abuse Underreporting Article
Aug 11, 2022
35: The Shadow of Joseph's Polygamy & its Ongoing Institutional Reverberations
Aug 07, 2022
34: Sunstone Symposium: A Weekend Experiencing Big-Tent Mormonism at its Finest
Aug 02, 2022
33: HIGHEST RATED EPISODE: Stages of Faith Development, Why We are Stuck, How to get Unstuck
Jul 28, 2022
32: Honoring One Gay Man's Reasons for Staying
Jul 26, 2022
31: On Finally Becoming an "Adult" of God
Jul 22, 2022
30: On Finding Our Voices & Advocating for Christ-Like Change
Jul 19, 2022
29: On Moving Away from Judgement in the Second Half of Life
Jul 15, 2022
28: On the "Cafeteria Approach" to Spirituality & its Value
Jul 12, 2022
27: The "If/Then" Temptation: Resisting the Urge to Oversimplify the Complex
Jul 08, 2022
26: Dad's Contribution to Mom's Numbness
Jul 01, 2022
25: Why Moms Might Feel Numb
Jun 28, 2022
24: On Inverted Spiritual Value Systems: Facial Hair, Piercings, etc.
Jun 24, 2022
23: PRIDE: On Honoring or Interfering with Another's Essential Identity
Jun 22, 2022
22: On Spiritual Rigidity, Word of Wisdom, & Gandhi as a Work in Progress
Jun 17, 2022
21: On Temple Marriage & the Weight of Family Tradition
Jun 13, 2022
20: Dissent as the Greatest Catalyst of Systemic Integrity
Jun 10, 2022
10: On Normalizing & Honoring Separate Faith Journeys in LDS Marriage
Jun 06, 2022
19: On Speaking the Truth, Even When My Voice Shakes
Jun 05, 2022
18: Why Consent-Only Cultures Do Not Thrive
Jun 03, 2022
17: Dissent as Core to Personal Revelation
May 27, 2022
16: Dissent as the Backbone of Our Spiritual Maturation
May 20, 2022
15: Dissent as Fundamental to Consent
May 13, 2022
14: Are We Really Encouraged to Use our Free Agency?
May 06, 2022
13: Does Disaffiliation Lead to 'Spiritual Death'?
Apr 29, 2022
12: Do you Speak Up? Walk Away? Suck it Up? or Check Out?
Apr 25, 2022
11: On Feeling Mutual Respect & its Relationship to Strong Leadership
Apr 22, 2022
9: On the Harm of Ignoring the Feminine Divine
Apr 08, 2022
8: On General Conference, Complicated Feelings & LDS Faith Expansion
Mar 31, 2022
7: On Church Callings...Can They be a Problem?
Mar 23, 2022
6: On Patriarchy's Impact on Healthy Development
Mar 14, 2022
5: On the Value of Doubting Our Doubt
Mar 11, 2022
4: On Doubt as Valuable to True Belief
Mar 09, 2022
3: On Owning Our Mistakes
Mar 07, 2022
2: On "Bad" Thoughts
Mar 04, 2022
1: Is Gods Love Contingent on Righteousness?
Feb 22, 2022