Latter Day Struggles

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In this follow up episode on the heels of her guest collaboration with the At Last She Said It podcast, Valerie delves much deeper into a topic that is key to our process of deciding when sacrifice and suffering is "good" as opposed to when it is unnecessary and unhealthy. 

A key to discerning between "good hard" and "bad hard" is our ability to think complexly. This episode tackles what a complex thinking skills are, how to detect them in ourselves, in others, and how to cultivate them. 

Faith journeys are fertile ground for developing complex thinking skills but this is not guaranteed. Listen to this episode to learn so much more! 

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In this thought-provoking episode Valerie is the guest on the fabulous podcast "At Last She Said It" with hosts Cynthia Winward and Susan Hinckley. In this conversation this dynamic trio dives deep into the challenging concept of "good hard" vs. "bad hard" within the LDS community. 

They highlight the crucial difference between actions driven by fear and shame versus those fueled by love and personal choice. Through heartfelt personal experiences and some critical reflections, Susan, Cynthia, and Val emphasize honoring one's inner compass, advocating for spiritually meaningful paths shaped by personal empowerment and most importantly, they challenge each of us to rethink the valorization of suffering, advocating instead for balanced, joyful living aligned with the true gospel of Jesus Christ. 

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Series Title: The Feminine Divine, Nature, & Radical Healing [Part I of IV]

In this final episode of this four-part series featuring the beautiful book "The Mother Tree", Valerie and guest author Kathryn Knight Sonntag conclude their conversation linking the symbolism of the tree to the balance and unity found when femininity and masculinity are allowed to occupy collaborative wholeness. 

This episode culminates with an examination of the branches of a tree as spaces of dynamic growth, revelation, and transformation, emphasizing that heaven can be found on earth as we each see ourselves as capable of connecting with the divine through the wisdom found in our roots and the courage found in our unfolding life's experiences. 

This conversation is not only a deep dive into spiritual symbolism but also a call for spiritual and psychological wholeness within our Latter-day Saint community, which suffers on many levels from the absence of an embrace of the feminine divine. 

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Series Title: The Feminine Divine, Nature, & Radical Healing [Part III of IV]

In this enlightening conversation, Valerie and special guest author Kathryn Sonntag delve deeper into the enriching concepts presented in "The Mother Tree: Discovering the Love and Wisdom of Our Divine Mother." 

In this episode they continue using the metaphor of a tree to help us understand how to find personal wholeness through the integration of the masculine and the feminine. 

Kathryn relates the trunk of the tree to 1) our mortal existence, 2) to the present and, 3) to the sacred nature of the earth and its deeply feminine cycles of birth, death, and rebirth as chief evidence that the divine indeed is deeply feminine. 

Join us next time as we conclude our series on "The Mother Tree," where we will further delve into how the integration of our divine masculine and feminine energies can lead to a richer, more harmonious personal and spiritual life.

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Series Title: The Feminine Divine, Nature, & Radical Healing [Part II of IV]

In this enlightening episode Valerie and special guest author Kathryn Knight Sonntag delve deep into the integration of the feminine divine, exploring its essential role in achieving spiritual wholeness within the context of the LDS Church. 

In this series they discuss Kathryn's book "The Mother Tree," which symbolically represents the feminine divine through the archetypal structure of the tree, breaking down how the roots, the trunk, and the crown can be a metaphor for achieving fully integrated personal growth inclusive of the feminine and masculine within each of us. 

This episode focuses on the "roots" and the importance of personal "root work" or personal shadow work in our quest for wholeness...a type of depth work that is generally avoided in masculine systems and structures. 

This conversation challenges listeners to confront and integrate these neglected aspects of spirituality, advocating for a balanced embrace of both masculine and feminine traits as exemplified by figures like Eve and Jesus Christ, fostering a deeper, more holistic faith experience.

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Series Title: The Feminine Divine, Nature, & Radical Healing [Part I of IV]

In this enlightening part one of this new series Valerie welcomes author and feminist scholar Kathryn Knight Sonntag to explore the themes of growth, development, and spiritual connection through Kathryn's book, "The Mother Tree." 

Their discussion encompasses the significance of trees in various spiritual traditions, their representation of sacred spaces, and their role in depicting the interconnectedness of life and spirituality. They emphasize the potential for individual healing and growth through the integration of both feminine and masculine energies, reflecting on the challenges LDS women face in a male-dominated patriarchal culture. 

This episode is a compelling call to recognize and harmonize the masculine and feminine within ourselves and our LDS faith tradition for a more balanced and healing spiritual experience.

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In this compelling episode of Latter Day Struggles, Valerie is joined by guests Jody England Hansen and Maxine Hanks for a crucial discussion on the recent new requirements around the temple garment and how recent changes to the meaning, purpose, and requirements of the temple garment lead earnest members to question the appropriate role of a church involving itself so intimately in the details of the lives of its members.

Their discussion also centers around the historical evolution of temple garments from priestly vestments to everyday undergarments, questioning the theological shifts that have led to a complicated intersection between the symbolic and practical.

They also explore fraught issues related to gender, control, and the personal impact on women’s sense of agency and identity connected to the garment. The episode highlights personal stories and historical insights, underscoring the vital importance that *anything* symbolic in nature can only be holy if personal interpretation is invited and honored.

Please jump directly to episode 272 for a follow up conversation on ongoing changes to the Temple Garment and its implications to personal autonomy and spiritual health.  

This content is very sensitive and only for those most committed to the work of the Latter Day Struggles platform. The producers and guests of this episode desire that those listening know that their only desire is to invite health and healing to their LDS community through the contents of this discussion. Please subscribe to hear this and all Friday episodes. 

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In this episode Valerie is joined by friend and colleague Dr. Julie Hanks, where they discuss the emotional and psychological complexities of stepping away from the LDS faith for those who feel called to do so. 

They emphasize the importance of making this transition in a psychologically healthy manner, and how challenging this is to do in a climate where not a lot of resources are available and this decision is fraught with so much distress and loneliness. 

The discussion covers potential challenges such as navigating changes in relationships with family and the larger community, managing internalized beliefs and fears, and the grief that accompanies leaving one's spiritual community. 

 Note: Valerie and Julie are not prescribing leaving (or not leaving) the LDS church. They wish to support their LDS and surrounding community in psychologically-thriving independent of church membership or attendance status. 

For those interested in exploring how to stay involved in the LDS faith in psychologically healthy ways, please listen to episode 193 of Latter Day Struggles. 

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Series Title: A Deeper Look at the Sacrament [Part IV of IV]

In this final episode of this series rethinking a more expanded and inclusive view of the LDS sacrament belief and practice, Val and Nathan look at some of the strange and unusually rigid practices that have crept into the Sunday morning service itself. 

They explore how certain types of rigidity might have evolved as a way to communicate the vital importance of this spiritual practice but how rigidity actually tends to prevent communion with God--not enhance it. 

Join them as they review several examples of how overly rigid prescriptions have become commonplace in the practice of LDS sacrament services and how we might imagine a healthier concept of communion that truly draws us closer to God, our spiritual communities, and our own higher selves. 

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Series Title: A Deeper Look at the Sacrament [Part III of IV]

In this profound episode 3 [of a four-part series] Valerie and Nathan engage in a crucial discussion on the implications of withholding the sacrament for any reason within the LDS Church. They challenge the harmful practice of using the sacrament as a disciplinary measure, which can reinforce feelings of both public and internalized shame and unworthiness. They emphasize the importance of inclusivity in all spiritual practice and the spiritual damage done (to the denied individual, their families, and the faith community) as a result of the practice of withholding the sacrament. In Friday's concluding episode of this series, Val and Nathan get more granular, reflecting on several aspects of the culture and practice around LDS sacrament administration (everything from exactly worded prayers to the proper uniform and beyond) calling for a more compassionate and understanding church culture that truly reflects the generous and loving nature of the divine.

Info on how to subscribe to listen to Friday’s episode is directly below. See you there!———

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