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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

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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

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As we begin 2026 and the fourth year of the Latter Day Struggles Podcast, we wanted to say THANK YOU to ALL supporters of the podcast and platform! 
So please enjoy this Office Hours recording and a podcast episode that is one that is a must-listen! 
In this timely conversation Valerie tackles Elder Anderson's recent general conference talk on abortion. In one hour she goes from the macro issue of abortion itself and offers some thought-provoking concepts about NOT focusing on abortion and instead focusing on how abortion is the prevailing solution to unwanted pregnancy only because we live in a patriarchal society. 
She also proposes that LDS women have valid reasons to feel unique and acute transgenerational pain connected to marriage, s*exual misconduct, power, and self sacrifice.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Listener Appreciation and Office Hours Format

02:17 – Elder Anderson’s Address on Abortion

05:01 – Developmental Stages and Vulnerability

07:00 – Weaponization of Authority and Internalized Harm

12:56 – Masculine vs. Feminine Worldviews on Abortion

15:00 – Societal Support and Resource Gaps

17:00 – Upstream vs. Downstream Solutions

21:00 – Deeply Embedded Patriarchal Assumptions

25:00 – Legal and Economic Disparities

29:54 – Critique of Elder Anderson’s Address

34:00 – Theological Shadows and Generational Trauma

36:00 – Recommendations for Healthy Spirituality

45:20 – Listener Reactions and Broader Church Issues

50:00 – The Importance of Individual Discernment

53:00 – Reflections on Church History and Patriarchy

56:00 – Calls for Healing and Inclusion

59:05 – Final Thoughts and Encouragement

59:54 – Closing Remarks and Call to Action

60:14 – Podcast Network Acknowledgment

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Series title: Mormon Faith Crisis—Progression, Not Pathology [Part II of III]

In today's episode Valerie and guest researcher Jeff Strong explore why people in the same LDS congregation can experience church so differently, depending on where they are in their faith journey. They introduce Jeff’s model of six faith mindsets—seekers, cultivators, protectors, avoiders, connectors, and explorers—each representing valid and meaningful ways of engaging faith. 

The problem? That many of these healthy and normal ways of engaging with one's faith journey are pathologized within the LDS culture at both local and general levels. Valerie and Jeff hope that research like Jeff's and platforms like Latter Day Struggles will place growth where it actually belongs--as normal, natural, and precisely what each of us are here on this earth to do. 

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction and Welcome

00:22 – Series Overview and Jeff's Background

01:18 – Exploring Church Demographics and Tensions

02:45 – Review of Previous Episode

04:00 – Cultural Causes of Tension

05:30 – The Weight of Disaffiliation

07:00 – Research Methodology and Data Collection

07:58 – Strengths of LDS Culture

09:45 – Personal Reflections on Community

11:35 – Weaknesses of LDS Culture

13:20 – The Soil Metaphor for Culture

15:00 – The River Metaphor: Rigidity vs. Chaos

17:10 – The Impact of Cultural Rigidity

18:45 – The Struggle for Belonging

20:09 – Stages of Faith Development

22:00 – Simplicity and Complexity Explained

23:45 – Perplexity and Harmony Explained

25:30 – Faith Journeys and Community Reactions

27:00 – The Pain of Being Misunderstood

28:22 – Personal Faith Journeys

29:47 – The Garden of Eden Metaphor

30:47 – Pathologizing Growth in Faith

32:00 – The Need for Community Support

33:09 – Community and Belonging

33:52 – Brian McLaren's Model in Scriptures

35:30 – The Arc of Human Spiritual Growth

37:25 – Understanding Different Faith Mindsets

39:00 – Disparities in Perceptions of Christ-Centeredness

40:30 – The Loneliness of Nonconformity

42:04 – Introducing the Six Segments

44:00 – Descriptions of Each Segment

46:00 – The Dynamic Nature of Faith Mindsets

47:00 – Encouragement for Self-Reflection

48:24 – Conclusion and Next Steps

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Series title: Mormon Faith Crisis—Progression, Not Pathology [Part I of III] 

The data is rolling in and Wow…if you want to know what’s really on the hearts and minds of many active Latter-day Saints, this 3-part series is a GOLD MINE. 

Join Val and colleague Jeff Strong, prominent researcher on Mormon faith crisis as they begin to look at some of Jeff’s team’s large-scale surveys and in-depth interviews that detail how many active members quietly wrestle with internal conflict, misalignment, and a lack of belonging in their current LDS experience . 

Don’t miss this intro to a fascinating series! 

Follow along with the slides and data sets here!

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:19 Guest Introduction: Jeff Strong

01:00 Jeff’s Support and Early Conversations

01:37 Jeff's Background and Experience

03:00 Clarifying Jeff’s Professional and Research Credentials

04:26 Research on Disaffiliation

06:30 Personal Journey and Insights

08:04 The Start of the Research Journey

09:45 Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods

14:00 The Role of Culture in Missionary Experience

16:30 Returning Home and Continuing the Research

18:00 The Importance of Data in Understanding Faith Journeys

20:00 The Demographic of Faithful Questioners

23:30 Data Collection and Analysis

25:00 Key Themes: Testimony, Community, and Belonging

27:00 The Spectrum of Activity and Belief

29:00 Conflict Among Active Members

31:00 Exploring Discomfort in Church Culture

35:22 Quantifying Discomfort and Belonging

36:22 Comfort Levels with Church Culture

37:25 Culture vs. Doctrine: A Real Example

38:21 Personal vs. Cultural Priorities

39:30 Tension in Cultural and Personal Priorities

40:35 Navigating Faith Beyond Checklists

42:00 Stages of Faith and Cultural Tension

43:17 The Impact of Leadership and Tradition

45:00 Orthodox vs. General Membership Comfort

48:36 The Importance of Awareness and Inclusion

51:00 Normalizing Faith Transitions

53:00 The Role of Community in Faith Journeys

56:36 Concluding Thoughts and Future Discussions

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In this episode of Latter Day Struggles, Valerie and guest Maxine Hanks dive into the complexities of reform and personal wellness within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

This fascinating conversation explores the first-hand experience of two women whose influential work spans a half-century in the LDS spotlight. With this time-span as a reference point, they discuss how the focus of institutional reprimand and control has shifted from scholars to mental health professionals, especially mental health workers who publicly address complex issues at the intersection of identity development, mental health, and its connection to LDS theology and practice. 

Further, they explore the phenomenon of "diffuse policing," where in some wards and stakes, fellow members, rather than just church leaders, report and judge one another, leading to a sense of danger and exclusion within spiritual communities. Ultimately, they call for continued efforts to embody love, create safe spaces, and support the health and healing of all members, at every stage of the faith journey. 

Books Referenced in this episode:

"The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy" by Carol Lynn Pearson

"Women and Authority: Re-Emerging Mormon Feminism" by Maxine Hanks

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:49 Reflecting on Sacred Work

01:49 Comparing Different Eras

03:01 The Impact of the Internet

06:02 Public vs. Private Scholarship

09:09 Mental Health Workers Under Fire

14:07 Balancing Individual and Institutional Needs

18:38 The Role of Mental Health in Faith Journeys

24:18 The New Taboo: Mental Health and LGBTQ Issues

25:40 Identity and Wellbeing: A Personal Journey

27:31 The Role of Mental Health Workers in the Church

30:32 Institutional Insecurity and Individual Growth

33:09 Policing and Persecution Within the Church

37:35 The Erosion of Safe Spaces in the Church

45:20 The Greatest Danger to the Church Today

49:51 Concluding Thoughts: Embodying Love and Compassion

Additional Episodes Referenced:

Ep. 179 - 182: Maxine Hanks Life Story

Ep. 222, 272: Maxine Hanks and Jody England Hansen on the recent garment changes

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In this part one of a two-part conversation, Valerie is joined by Maxine Hanks for a deeply personal and reflective conversation exploring their parallel journeys as Latter-day Saint female thought leaders navigating faith transitions, church discipline, and personal empowerment. 

This episodes is more a tender conversation between two friends than an interview where both women share of the depths of the commitment to honor their higher selves, their experiences of honoring God’s work for them to do over institutional approval, and how they both draw strength from the historical echoes of their pioneering foremothers.

The episode also dives into the complexities of holding space for both one's truth and the perspectives of those who may see them as adversaries. Pull up a chair and join Val and Maxine for the next couple of Monday episodes about letting go, leaning into one’s purpose, and choosing love over fear. 

Books Referenced in this episode:

"The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy" by Carol Lynn Pearson

"Women and Authority: Re-Emerging Mormon Feminism" by Maxine Hanks

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:17 Reflecting on Past Episodes

01:18 Listener's Insight and Emotional Connection

03:27 Maxine's Perspective on Resilience

04:03 Deep Dive into Personal Experiences

04:46 Facing Church Discipline

06:13 Spiritual Guidance and Feminist Work

12:19 Connecting with Pioneer Foremothers

23:07 Healing Transgenerational Trauma

29:29 Navigating Institutional Challenges

32:59 Understanding Shadow Work

33:32 The September 1993 Purge

34:13 Spiritual Guidance and Resilience

35:04 Personal Reflections on Excommunication

36:24 Comparing Experiences

41:34 Holding Space for Different Journeys

45:16 The Impact on Families

47:24 Honoring Individual Paths

59:32 Resources for Further Exploration

01:00:59 Conclusion and Next Steps

 

Additional Episodes Referenced: 

Ep. 179 - 182: Maxine Hanks Life Story

Ep. 222, 272: Maxine Hanks and Jody England Hansen discussing the recent garment updates

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In today's BONUS EPISODE Val breaks down some ideas around why the LDS Church is uniquely vulnerable to the underreporting of child sex abuse.  While some of its issues will be vulnerabilities of all patriarchal systems, there are others that might be unique to the LDS church due to its history, doctrine, practices, and culture. 

 Listen in as Val walks through her own process of understanding this devastating phenomenon in hopes to evoke more dialogue and heighten awareness…which  is the only thing that brings about systemic reform in the long run.  In the end, looking that this phenomenon will serve the best interests of all parties involved, so please share this episode far and wide.  

Resources Referenced in this episode

From the Latter Day Struggles Podcast:

Patriarchy, Power and Gender Roles Resource Catalog

Episode 35, 36, 45, 98

6 Part Series - The Shocking Correlation Between Men Socialized in Patriarchies & Psychological/Spiritual Underdevelopment beginning on Episode 283

10 Part Series - In-depth Exploration of Patriarchy and its Correlation to Violence & Abuse beginning on Episode 333 

Other Resources:

Year of Polygamy- Episode 197 Polygamy, Mormonism, and Child Abuse

The Dialogue Journal- Confronting Men's Violence Against Women and Girls in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Suzanne E. Greco

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Join Valerie and therapist colleague Dr. Julie Hanks in this recording of a recent “Instagram Live” where they explored the recent breaking news from LDS Newsroom decreasing the eligibility age from 19 to 18 for young women interested in serving full-time missions. 

In this conversation Val and Julie tackle possible as variety of topics, including short term and long term social, cultural, and mental health drawbacks and benefits that might follow this policy change. They also address how skyrocketing attrition rates from women in patriarchal churches worldwide (and within the LDS church) might be connected to this shift in policy. 

Don’t miss this riveting discussion that continues to correlate the connection between psychological health and gender equality—a topic that these two heritage Latter-day Saint therapists have committed a great deal of their careers to highlighting for the benefits of the LDS Church and all connected to it.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction and Guest Introduction

01:29 – Implications of Mission Age Change

02:27 – Gender Roles and Patriarchy

03:30 – Strategic Motivations and Retention

04:51 – Personal Reflections on Mission Experiences

06:04 – Missions as Catalysts for Change

08:45 – Concerns About Early Marriage and Education

10:00 – Generational Differences and Faith Journeys

12:23 – Temple Access for Young Women

13:30 – Women Leaving Organized Religion

14:09 – Challenges and Opportunities for Church Evolution

16:00 – Paradox of Devotion and Faith Crisis

19:16 – Balancing Individuality and Community in Faith

20:30 – The Church’s Developmental Stage

22:21 – Potential for Organizational Change

24:00 – Normalizing Women’s Leadership

31:50 – Impact of Mission Age on Family Life

32:17 – Egalitarian Structure in the Church

33:32 – Women’s Leadership and Identity

35:30 – Birth Rate and Missionary Integration

37:00 – Economic Realities and Family Planning

39:39 – Mental Health Concerns for Young Missionaries

40:24 – Pressure and Autonomy in Missionary Service

42:00 – Stigma and Social Ranking

45:23 – Patriarchy and Gender Roles in the Church

47:15 – The Cost of Conformity

49:54 – Encouragement for Individual Choices

51:00 – Redefining Spirituality and Autonomy

52:39 – Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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If Episode 384 (the one right before this one!) addresses the larger psychological question of why the holidays & family events can be extra challenging and painful for those on the LDS faith expansion journey--then this episode answers the equally relevant follow up question:  What can I actually do to maximize my potential to feel present and grounded at these holiday events?  

In today's episode, Val focuses in on two prevalent kinds of LDS family systems that she has heard about over and over again in her work in LDS faith crisis/expansion: the authoritarian structure and her newly coined term, the 'adherent/apologetic' family structure.  

If either of these family structures ring a bell then her "four critical safety pillars"— might help you navigate these challenging family gatherings with grace for your own nervous system and grace for your doing-their best loved ones.   

Whether you're dealing with strict authoritarian dynamics or the anxiety-laden avoidance of adherent-apologetic families, Valerie's thoughtful strategies and encouragement will empower you to stay true to yourself while maintaining meaningful connections. Tune in to transform your holiday stress into an opportunity for growth and understanding.

Wait, there's more!  

**Want to catch the first part of this conversation and not a Friday Fellow?  Jump to the show notes for more info on how to catch this whole conversation!  

**Need more to prepare?  Val has prepared an ebook companion to episodes 384 and 385.  Jump to the show notes for more information on this excellent resource as well! 

 https://valeriehamaker.com/downloads/navigating-family-faith-during-the-holidays/

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction and Episode Overview.

00:44 – Navigating Family Dynamics During the Holidays

02:00 – The Impact of Faith Transitions on Family Interactions

03:00 – Context for the Episode and Friday Fellowship

04:00 – Understanding Different Family Structures

05:00 – The Psychology Behind Family Types

05:57 – Authoritarian Family Dynamics

07:04 – Adaptive Family Dynamics

08:00 – Navigating Adaptive Family Interactions

09:03 – Adherent Apologetic Family Dynamics

10:30 – Indirect Communication and Triangulation

12:31 – Practical Tips for Holiday Interactions

14:00 – The Importance of Personal Choice and Boundaries

16:51 – Pillar 1: Internal Safety

20:00 – Tools for Internal Safety

23:30 – Pillar 2: Relational Safety

27:00 – Strategies for Relational Safety

30:00 – Practicing Differentiation and Respect

34:52 – Pillar 3: Environmental Safety

36:30 – Setting Boundaries Around Participation
39:44 – Pillar 4: Exit and Recovery Safety

42:00 – Dealing with Post-Event Emotions
44:00 – Vale

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