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 Series Title: Plato's Allegory of the Cave & the LDS Faith Expansion Journey [Part IV of IV] 

In this final, exclusive episode of a four-part series on Plato's “Allegory of the Cave”, Val and Nathan get more personal about how this allegory resonates with their own experiences. They share their thoughts on how spiritual development rooted in fear can hinder us from reaching true selfhood. 

They talk about some of the catalysts and “small fires” that ignited their own journeys toward enlightenment, and the complex, sacred, and sometimes lonely experiences they've had in that pursuit. Valerie and Nathan emphasize the importance of supporting others on a similar path, and the connections that can be forged in these growing, painful, expansion spaces. 

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 Series Title: Plato's Allegory of the Cave & the LDS Faith Expansion Journey [Part III of IV]

In this episode, Valerie and Nathan delve into how faith journeys can be compared to the transformative experience of seeing the sun for the first time and the internal and external struggle that comes with returning to the cave. How does the hero of Plato’s story reconcile his new perspective in his old surroundings? 

Val and Nathan discuss how enlightenment changes our perspective and ignites a desire to share new insights with others. While this desire may be well intentioned, it creates conflict and resistance when it is forced upon others.

In Friday’s episode, Val and Nathan talk specifically about how this allegory relates to the LDS faith journey and open up about some of the complexities that have come with their own spiritual awakenings. 

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Series title: Plato's Allegory of the Cave & the LDS Faith Expansion Journey [Part II of IV]

In part two (of this four part series), Valerie and Nathan continue to explore  Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” and the gradual steps in moving from distortion and darkness to enlightenment. 

They break down the individual elements described in the allegory, what they symbolize , and how these elements distort reality and hold us back from finding truth. They talk about why this process must be self driven, and while it may be terrifying, it ultimately leads to a greater capacity for growth and spiritual enlightenment. 

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Series title: Plato's Allegory of the Cave & the LDS Faith Expansion Journey [Part I of IV]

What could Plato and "The Matrix" possibly have in common??

In episode one (of this four part series), Val and Nathan discuss themes that echo throughout ancient philosophy and modern day society. They begin this series by introducing Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” and the symbolism throughout one man’s journey from darkness to light. 

Drawing parallels between Plato’s allegory and pop culture, (including movies and TV shows), Valerie and Nathan discuss universal truths on spiritual enlightenment, and the challenges that individuals face when transitioning from a world of shadows to one of truth and enlightenment. 

Val and Nathan set the stage for further exploration of Plato’s allegory in the upcoming episodes, promising to delve even deeper into its significance to the LDS faith journey. 

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Series Title: Vertical Development & the LDS Faith Journey with Ryan Gottfredson [Part IV of IV]

In this Advanced Content *Exclusive* and final episode of this series focused on better understanding the crucial importance of psychological (vertical) development within the context of the LDS church, Valerie and colleague Ryan Gottfredson apply all of the concepts tackled thus far in the the series to the potential of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were vertical development valued at every level of the church.  

Ryan emphasizes characteristics of the rare but incredibly powerful attributes of the most influential and respected leaders with whom he has worked as a consultant and shares the impact that a psychologically healthy leader has on those whom they lead and on the overall health of their organizations.  

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Series Title: Vertical Development & the LDS Faith Journey with Ryan Gottfredson [Part III of IV]

In this episode, Valerie and Ryan expand on the characteristics of a vertically developing mind. This episode highlights the characteristics of the most psychologically developed mind--characteristics that embody only 1% of the population!  

This "mind 3.0" values contributing to the world in meaningful ways, interdependent thinking, embracing vulnerability, and holding loving space for experiences and perspectives that vary (even in Sunday school!!).  

Val and Ryan also explore how and why trauma [individually, generationally, and systemically] stagnates vertical development.  

This series wraps up on Friday with an inspiring final episode that you don’t want to miss. Valerie and Ryan integrate these "big ideas" about vertical development into the Latter-day Saint setting and explore how a vertically developing membership and leadership could contribute to unprecedented relational and spiritual expansion and satisfaction in our faith community.  

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Series Title: Vertical Development & the LDS Faith Journey with Ryan Gottfredson [Part II of IV]

Welcome to this episode where Valerie and guest author and scholar Ryan Gottfredson dive deeper into how a focus on human psychological development can help individuals and organizations thrive.  

They discuss the progression of mind development from hyper-dependence (mind 1.0) to hyper-independence (mind 2.0), emphasizing the need for a healthier balance and the importance of reaching mind 3.0 (interdependence). 

A key focus in this episode is a respectful but candid look into how these developmental stages show up in a variety of ways in the operations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

Val and Ryan discuss the prevalence of mind 1.0 and mind 2.0 characteristics within the church at multiple levels and the likely impact that unresolved collective intergenerational trauma has on the church's ability to reach its developmental potential at present. They advocate for addressing these issues to enable the church and its constituents to interact ethically with one another and with the world at large.  

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Series Title: Vertical Development & the LDS Faith Journey with Ryan Gottfredson [Part I of IV]

In this opening episode [of a four-part series], Valerie welcomes organizational psychologist Ryan Gottfredson for a fascinating study of how our level of psychological development impacts how we (our loved ones, our friends, and our church!) navigate religion and spirituality.  

This episode is a broad overview of Ryan's scholarship, found in his book "The Elevated Leader" and sets the stage for their in-depth conversation in the following three episodes tackling each stage of vertical development and why so many don't reach their developmental potential. 

Throughout this series, Valerie and Ryan discuss the intersection of leadership, organizational behavior, and faith systems, highlighting the significance of holistic development in personal, family, and faith systems.  

The final episode integrates the concept of vertical development into specifics of the LDS church, offering insights into how a better understanding of human development might help our system support the growth and thriving of all connected to the church.  

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Series Title: Redefining Spiritual Experiences [Part II of II]

In this episode, Valerie and Nathan continue making sense of the struggle that many faith-expanding LDS (and surrounding) people have regarding past and present spiritual experiences. 

Sharing personal experiences of their own faith journeys, they open up about how their relationship to spiritual impressions, prayer, and personal revelation has moved from isolated experiences to more of an acknowledgement of ongoing divine connection. 

The episode ends with a conversation about how families can continue to work toward unity and community even when different family members' perspectives and interpretations of spiritual experience and personal revelation vastly differ. 

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Series Title: Redefining Spiritual Experiences [Part I of II]

In this episode of Latter Day Struggles, Valerie and Nathan respond to a very common question that people in early faith crisis often ask:  "What do I make of my former spiritual experiences?"  

This two part series tackles many aspects of this perplexing aspect of faith expansion.  Val and Nathan talk about the feelings of confusion that many feel about early faith defining experiences.  They talk about other feelings that come including mistrust in oneself, one's feelings, one's former answers, one's capacity to get guidance, and sometimes mistrust in God. 

They offer thoughts around how many of us were taught to discern truth and how the spiritual journey is all about working through past experiences, emotions, and interpretations of our experiences as necessary for our growth into spiritually complex beings.  

You definitely won't want to miss Part II in this Friday’s subscriber-exclusive episode either, where Valerie and Nathan delve deeper into how to move from a transactional relationship with God that was often connected to former spiritual experiences and how the faith journey is about expanding one's capacity to embody spiritual experiences rather than just having them.  

They also touch on how to navigate relationship impasses with others who cannot understand our journeys due to their own spiritual experiences.  

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