Latter Day Struggles

100: Unprogramming the Dependency & Gender-Role Based Model of LDS Marriage/Family

03 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Psychological Health Check on LDS Theology of Marriage & Family [Part V of XII]In this very personal next ...

99: Does Fear & Shame Motivate Belief & Practice?

27 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Psychological Health Check on LDS Theology of Marriage & Family [Part IV of XII]In this fourth part of the...

98: We do NOT ‘Consider the Matter Closed’—Tithing Wealth, Transparency, & Accountability

24 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Join Valerie in her analysis of the recent breaking news regarding the financial settlement between the LDS church and the U...

97: The Toxic Twin Towers of Patriarchy & Polygamy

20 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Psychological Health Check on LDS Theology of Marriage & Family [Part III of XII]In this third of a multi-...

96: A Focus on those on the Margins: Gender/Sexual Minorities & Singles

17 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Psychological Health Check on LDS Theology of Marriage & Family [Part II of XII]In this second of a multi-...

95: Our Primary Task in Life is Not Marriage!

14 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Psychological Health Check on LDS Theology of Marriage & Family [Part I of XII]In this multi-part series, ...

94: Claiming Spiritual & Psychological Agency as Women in/around a Patriarchal Church

10 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!This episode was recorded for "The Sisterhood Podcast" recently and takes a deep dive into issues of womanhood, LD...

93: Understanding a Healthy Dynamic Between Church Leaders & Members

06 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Analysis of E. Hamilton “Why a Church? [Part II of II]In this episode, Valerie looks a psychological lens to...

92: Closed Channels of Communication & its Impact on Some LDS Members

03 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Analysis of E. Hamilton “Why a Church? [Part I of II]In this special episode Valerie and Nathan respond to t...

91: Ways to Actively Protect & Support our Queer Youth at Church

30 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: An Exploration of Queer Mormon Theology [Part III of III]In this final episode in this series honoring Blaire ...

90: The Sacred Queerness of Dawn, Dusk, & Even Jesus w/ Blair Ostler

27 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: An Exploration of Queer Mormon Theology [Part II of III]Join Valerie and author, theologian, and scholar Blair...

89: A Queer Mormon’s Walk through the Valley of the Shadow w/ Blair Ostler

23 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: An Exploration of Queer Mormon Theology [Part I of III]In this beautiful episode, Blaire Ostler joins Valerie ...

88: God is So Tired of Being an Old White Guy

20 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Do I Stay Christian? Book Analysis [Part V of V]In each of these episodes, Val and Nathan go through McLaren’...

87: On Superiority Complexes & Christian Nationalism

16 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Do I Stay Christian? Book Analysis [Part VI of V]Welcome to part IV of our exploration of Brian McLaren’s bo...

86: On the Power of Money & Confronting the Cult of Innocence

13 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Do I Stay Christian? Book Analysis [Part III of V]In each of these episodes, Val and Nathan go through McLaren...

85: On Colonization, Company Men, & Christianity as an Infant Religion

09 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Do I Stay Christian? Book Analysis [Part II of V]In each of these episodes, Val and Nathan go through McLaren’...

84: Christianity: Reasons to Stay & Reasons to Leave

06 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Do I Stay Christian? Book Analysis [Part I of V]This is part one of a five part series analyzing Brian McLaren...

83: How Early Faith Crisis Divides the Human Brain

02 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Journey Out of Orthodoxy [Part II of II]This episode is part II of Valerie and Nathan’s reflections on their...

82: The Discomfort of Seeing our Former Self Righteousness

30 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Journey Out of Orthodoxy [Part I of II]In this episode, Val and Nathan share a recording from Valerie's f...

81: Temple Symbolism & the Hero's Journey w/ Jodi England Hansen

23 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Join Val in this beautiful conversation with Jody England Hansen as together they explore the complexities of membership in ...

80: On Your Faith Journey & Your Many Births, Deaths & Rebirths

19 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!In this episode Val and Nathan open up with a refresher courses on the theories of faith development that have impacted thei...

79: On Waking up to Constricted Intellectualism & Cognitive Biases

16 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!In this episode Val and Nathan review several common cognitive biases that many Christians worldwide struggle with due to th...

78: On Maturing Spiritually as Parents & Letting Go of Control

12 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!In this episode Nathan and Val draw from the wisdom of Jungian scholar James Hollis and his insights about truly evolved par...

77: Answers to Tough Questions about Authentically Navigating LDS Membership w/ Carol Lynn Pearson

09 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Tribute to the Life & Poetry of Carol Lynn Pearson [Part VIII of VIII]In this Q&R episode Valerie asks...

76: Two Images of the One God

08 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Tribute to the Life & Poetry of Carol Lynn Pearson [Part VII of VIII]For these mini-episodes I will be sho...

75: Matriarchal Blessing

08 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Tribute to the Life & Poetry of Carol Lynn Pearson [Part VI of VIII]For these mini-episodes I will be show...

74: Jesus Remembered

07 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Tribute to the Life & Poetry of Carol Lynn Pearson [Part V of VIII]For these mini-episodes I will be showc...

73: Growing up Godly

07 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Tribute to the Life & Poetry of Carol Lynn Pearson [Part IV of VIII]For these mini-episodes I will be show...

72: The Case of the Disappearance of our Mother God

06 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Tribute to the Life & Poetry of Carol Lynn Pearson [Part III of VIII]For these mini-episodes I will be sho...

71: I Live in a Motherless House

06 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Tribute to the Life & Poetry of Carol Lynn Pearson [Part II of VIII]For these mini-episodes I will be show...

70: An Hour with Mormonism’s Own Joan of Arc, Carol Lynn Pearson

05 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Tribute to the Life & Poetry of Carol Lynn Pearson [Part I of VIII]Carol Lynn Pearson said,  "maybe ...

69: BYU-Idaho Faculty Member & the Current University Climate

02 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Following the recent Salt Lake Tribune article titled "BYU-I Instructors fired for failing 'ecclesiastical clearan...

68: Former BYU Professor's Arrival at Love over Loyalty

28 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!In this episode Valerie interviews former BYU professor and current lover of people, education, music, truth, and personal i...

67: Is a Mandate for Unity of Belief Helping or Hurting Us?

25 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title:  2022 Strength of Youth Pamphlet Health Check [Part VII of VII]This episode rounds out the complete analysis ...

66: Se*ual Thoughts, Feelings & Expressions: Tattoos, Piercings

21 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title:  2022 Strength of Youth Pamphlet Health Check [Part VI of VII]Join Val and Nathan in this deep dive into the ...

65: Light, Discernment, Media & Pornography Talk

18 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title:  2022 Strength of Youth Pamphlet Health Check [Part V of VII]In this episode Val and Nathan break down the se...

64: Expanding Concepts of Loving Self, Others, & God

14 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title:  2022 Strength of Youth Pamphlet Health Check [Part III of VII]In this episode Valerie and Nathan tackle the ...

63: A Psychological Look at Combative Discourse

11 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Analysis of E. Corbitt: Christ-Centered Activism [Part II of II]In this follow up episode, Valerie conceptuali...

62: Jesus was a Model of Christ-Centered Activism

07 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Analysis of E. Corbitt: Christ-Centered Activism [Part I of II]In this special episode, Nathan and Val respond...

61: Healthy Atonement Theology & the Healing of Lifelong Se*ual Sin

04 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!In this episode Valerie walks you through her own experience with many, many of her own clients who tenaciously refuse to be...

60: Imagine an Atonement Theology Free of Fear, Shame & Hustle

31 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series: 2022 Strength of Youth Health Check [Part III of VII]In this episode Val and Nathan focus on the section in the pamp...

59: What You'll Experience in a Latter Day Struggles Growth & Processing Group

31 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Due to the large number of enquiries I have received about joining a space-limited support group, this short episode will an...

58: We're Not Actually More Special than "the World"

28 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title:  2022 Strength of Youth Pamphlet Health Check [Part II of VII]In this episode tackling the fresh new For the ...

57: Strength of Youth Time Machine

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title:  2022 Strength of Youth Pamphlet Health Check [Part I of VII]Join Nathan and Val in this walk down "For ...

56: Are the Young Women's & Young Men's Themes Healthy Identity Statements?

21 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Join Valerie and Nathan as they break down the Young Women's and Young Men's Themes from the perspective of health...

55: On the Deep Psychological Costs of Institutionalized Queerphobia

17 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!In this episode Valerie validates those who are struggling with some current policies that are wounding our sexual and gende...

54: Why Science May Pressure Policy Change on Homosexuality

14 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!In this episode Valerie talks to those of you out there whose faith and trust crises are at least in part due to issues arou...

53: On Patriarchy & the Feminine Face of God

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!In this episode Valerie is interviewed by Kate Gregory, host of the growing podcast "In Her Image".  The main sub...

52: Recommendations to Help Those Suffering in LDS Faith Crisis

07 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Faith Crisis Report [Part V of V]In this closing episode of this information-packed series, Valerie and Nathan...

51: The Perpetual Cycle of Disaffection in LDS Crisis

03 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Faith Crisis Report [Part IV of V]In this episode Nathan and Valerie break down what the researchers call the ...

50: A Sobering View of Stages of Crisis

30 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Faith Crisis Report [Part III of V]Join Valerie and Nathan breaking down the fascinating research done by a te...

49: Who, What & Why of LDS Faith Crisis

26 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Faith Crisis Report [Part II of V]In this content-packed episode, Val and Nathan go deeper into the LDS Faith ...

48: An Overview of the 2014 Official LDS Faith Crisis Report

23 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Faith Crisis Report [Part I of V]In this episode Valerie sets the stage for a detailed analysis of a report co...

47: Processing the Trauma and Grief of Faith Crisis

19 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!In this episode Valerie addresses a listener's request to address her faith crisis grief from a psychological perspecti...

46: The History & Context of "The Prophet Will Never Lead You Astray"

16 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Join Nathan and Valerie as they tackle another listener question.  In this episode they address that haunting and refusing-...

45: Please Stay in Your Lane, Bishop

12 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!In this episode Valerie and guest co-host and fellow relationship therapist Brannon Patrick talk about the goodness and badn...

44: On Skepticism of Having Your Children Baptized

09 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!In this episode Valerie and Nathan tackle an excellent and challenging question from one of you listeners regarding how to h...

43: Mormon Women's History & the ERA: A Case of Subservience Over Conscience

05 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!In this episode Valerie walks you through a historic tragedy to demonstrate what happens when a community is trained to obey...

42: Why Humans & Latter-day Saints are Lulled by the Status Quo

02 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!In this episode Nathan and Valerie break down some research called the "Systems Justification Theory" that shines ...

41: On Paranoia, Misdirected Worship & Image Management

30 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Diagnosing Spiritual Abuse [Part III of III]Nathan and Valerie break down 3 more indicators of a system (churc...

40: On Overstepping on Personal Life Choices

26 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Diagnosing Spiritual Abuse [Part II of III]Nathan and Valerie break down 3 more indicators of a system (church...

39: On Accountability Struggles, Performance Focus, & Unspoken Rules

22 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Diagnosing Spiritual Abuse [Part I of III]Nathan and Valerie break down 9 consistent markers of spiritually ab...

38: Standing up Against Chicken Patriarchy

19 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!In this episode Valerie honors feminist writer Kynthia Taylor and unpacks an excerpt from her essay called "The Trouble...

37: The Current Culture of Mandated Missionary Service

16 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Join Valerie and Nathan as they break down a variety of missionary-service related topics, including the following: What&ap...

36: On the Associated Press's Recent S*x Abuse Underreporting Article

11 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!In this episode, Valerie free-associates about her weekend spent reading, studying and thinking about the recent AP article ...

35: The Shadow of Joseph's Polygamy & its Ongoing Institutional Reverberations

07 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Did you miss the AMAZING Sunstone Symposium 2022?  No worries!  In this episode you'll catch at least one lecture!  ...

34: Sunstone Symposium: A Weekend Experiencing Big-Tent Mormonism at its Finest

02 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Imagine attending an LDS meeting where people from the extremes of belief and practice come together and enjoy one another&a...

33: HIGHEST RATED EPISODE: Stages of Faith Development, Why We are Stuck, How to get Unstuck

28 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Can't make it to the Sunstone Symposium 2022?  Join Valerie on this episode as she walks you through one of her Sunsto...

32: Honoring One Gay Man's Reasons for Staying

26 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Join Val as she breaks down one gay man's reasons for staying in the LDS church.  This episode highlights the reality ...

31: On Finally Becoming an "Adult" of God

22 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Join Valerie in her analysis of Zina Petersen's progressively new lyrics to the classic primary hymn "I Am a Child...

30: On Finding Our Voices & Advocating for Christ-Like Change

19 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Join Val and Nathan as they break down the research findings regarding why people finally overcome their tribal desire to “...

29: On Moving Away from Judgement in the Second Half of Life

15 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Join Valerie as she shares some words of wisdom straight from one of her spiritual heroes, father Richard Rohr.  In this ep...

28: On the "Cafeteria Approach" to Spirituality & its Value

12 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!In this episode, Valerie pushes back on the common belief in the LDS church that the "a la carte" approach to gosp...

27: The "If/Then" Temptation: Resisting the Urge to Oversimplify the Complex

08 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!In this episode, Val and Nathan share how in the church we sometimes use the transitive property of logic to draw sweeping c...

26: Dad's Contribution to Mom's Numbness

01 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: When Mom Feels Like a Robot [Part II of II]Join Val in a brief follow up to her last episode discussing the ne...

25: Why Moms Might Feel Numb

28 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: When Mom Feels Like a Robot [Part I of II]Join Valerie in this episode as she breaks down a typical client tha...

24: On Inverted Spiritual Value Systems: Facial Hair, Piercings, etc.

24 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Join Valerie and Nathan as they address a podcast listener's question regarding "rules" about a variety of dr...

23: PRIDE: On Honoring or Interfering with Another's Essential Identity

22 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Join Val and Nathan as they share some thoughts on why gender and sexuality is a topic that brings up strong feelings in jus...

22: On Spiritual Rigidity, Word of Wisdom, & Gandhi as a Work in Progress

17 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Join Valerie and Nathan this week as they riff about obedience to rules as opposed to obedience to conscience and highlight ...

21: On Temple Marriage & the Weight of Family Tradition

13 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Join Valerie and guest host Brannon as they talk about a struggle brought into Valerie's therapy practice where a bride...

20: Dissent as the Greatest Catalyst of Systemic Integrity

10 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: The Sanctity of Dissent [Part V of V]In this final episode on Valerie and Nathan's series on the sacred n...

10: On Normalizing & Honoring Separate Faith Journeys in LDS Marriage

06 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Join Brannon and Val in this comical and true-to-life (and perhaps familiar sounding) struggle between two spouses juggling ...

19: On Speaking the Truth, Even When My Voice Shakes

05 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Join Valerie and Nathan as they talk about recent incidents related to their talking about dissent in the LDS faith.   The...

18: Why Consent-Only Cultures Do Not Thrive

03 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: The Sanctity of Dissent [Part IV of V]Join therapist Valerie Hamaker and her husband Nathan as they tackle the...

17: Dissent as Core to Personal Revelation

27 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: The Sanctity of Dissent [Part III of V]In this episode Val and Nathan address the consent/dissent idea as core...

16: Dissent as the Backbone of Our Spiritual Maturation

20 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: The Sanctity of Dissent [Part II of V] In this episode they break how dissent is sacred as it is essential to...

15: Dissent as Fundamental to Consent

13 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: The Sanctity of Dissent [Part I of V]Do you want fast-food-like religion, quick, simple, uncomplicated, black-...

14: Are We Really Encouraged to Use our Free Agency?

06 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Join Val and Brannon this week as they talk about the gift of agency and how in principle it is taught as a concept fundamen...

13: Does Disaffiliation Lead to 'Spiritual Death'?

29 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!In this episode, join Brannon and Valerie as they answer this question with an emphatic "NO" and develop this comp...

12: Do you Speak Up? Walk Away? Suck it Up? or Check Out?

25 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!In this episode Valerie looks at an idea of organizational psychologist Adam Grant regarding 4 choices people make when conf...

11: On Feeling Mutual Respect & its Relationship to Strong Leadership

22 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!In this episode Val and Brannon look at the example of Winston Churchill and talk about what made him a truly great leader. ...

9: On the Harm of Ignoring the Feminine Divine

08 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Join Brannon and Val as they look at how history has been trying to demonize and then erase the feminine divine for thousand...

8: On General Conference, Complicated Feelings & LDS Faith Expansion

31 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Join Valerie and Brannon this week as General Conference weekend approaches and they riff about the nostalgia of General Con...

7: On Church Callings...Can They be a Problem?

23 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!In this episode, Valerie and Brannon break down the "subtle mandate" of church callings.  They talk about how pri...

6: On Patriarchy's Impact on Healthy Development

14 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Join Valerie and Brannon as they talk about Valerie’s experience awakening to the impact that patriarchy has had in her ow...

5: On the Value of Doubting Our Doubt

11 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Is Doubt a Sin? [Part II of II]In this episode Brannon and Valerie talk about the importance of doubt.  They ...

4: On Doubt as Valuable to True Belief

09 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Is Doubt a Sin? [Part I of II]In this episode Brannon and Valerie talk about the importance of doubt.  They b...

3: On Owning Our Mistakes

07 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!In this episode Valerie and Brannon dig into the recent incident regarding LDS Young Men's General Leader Brad Wilcox&a...

2: On "Bad" Thoughts

04 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!What are bad thoughts?In this episode Brannon and Valerie discuss "bad thoughts".  They talk about how trying to ...

1: Is Gods Love Contingent on Righteousness?

22 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Positive Review!Welcome to the Latter Day Struggles Podcast where we strive to talk about things that are connected to your LDS-related fait...