Latter Day Struggles

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Join us for this one-time-only recording of our FIRST Latter Day Struggles "Live Fellowship"!  

What is this, you ask?  Valerie has decided to offer a gathering place for those on the LDS and surrounding faith expansion journey wanting consistent (2x/month!) connection with her to go deeper into the mind & heart expanding content on both the Monday and Friday tracks of the Latter Day Struggles podcast.  

In this opening gathering, Valerie explored with those in attendance how both The Family Proclamation to the World and the call of Clark Gilbert to the Q12 are reflections of a historical moment and a choice point that all organizations confront as they grow.  The question? 

  Do we adapt to a more connected and pluralistic world that is experiencing an awakening of light and truth? Or do we double down in fear-based conformity? 

This amazing interactive Fellowship Live episode gives you a taste of how your faith journey can move beyond a passive listening experience and towards active healing and connection with other seekers like yourself.   

Jump in now and you can become a founding shaper of the first cohesive and intentional community of individuals whose LDS faith journey was an entry point into their greatest spiritual growth and evolution.  

If you listened and this is for you, jump into the Latter Day Struggles LIVE FELLOWSHIP by clicking on the link below and enroll.  

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome: Why Seeing Faces Matters 

00:51 Building a Faith-Expansion Community 

02:33 What a "Sangha" Is 

04:14 How the Fellowship Works 

05:23 What This Space Is (and Isn't) 

07:43 Ground Rules: Staying with Growth 

09:28 Why Context Heals 

10:48 The Family Proclamation & Clark Gilbert 

13:57 America and the LDS Church as Parallel Institutions 

15:52 Master Narratives & Threatened Identity 

19:38 Retrench or Adapt: The Choice Point 

27:00 Discussion: Authoritarian Systems vs. Healthy Communities 

32:54 Pocket Communities Over Polarization 

34:08 Seeing the System with Compassion 

37:50 Why Narrative Change Feels Threatening 

40:00 High-Level Language vs. Real-Life Details 

42:42 Moving Beyond Fixed Rules 

46:45 Transcend & Include 

51:37 Rethinking Prophecy 

56:13 Our Role in the Larger Awakening 

01:00:16 Closing: Breakout Groups & What's Next

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Series Title: What does the Family Proclamation Mean to You? [Episode II of II]

This episode of Latter Day Struggles continues a two-part conversation about the LDS Church's Proclamation on the Family, examining the tension between claims of unchanging doctrine and the historical reality of doctrinal evolution.

Petrey demonstrates through historical analysis that LDS teachings on gender, sexuality, marriage, and family have repeatedly changed over time—from positions on interracial marriage and the priesthood ban, to birth control prohibitions, plural marriage, conversion therapy for LGBTQ individuals, and women wearing pants. 

The conversation highlights how church leaders have consistently taught that their current positions were "unchanging doctrine" until those positions eventually changed, creating a pattern that contradicts claims of doctrinal fixity. Petrey offers a constructive framework for understanding doctrine as historically contingent and evolving—consistent with the LDS concept of continuing revelation—rather than eternally fixed. 

The Family Proclamation

Op Ed by Taylor Petrey

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction and Welcome 

00:19 - Overview of the Proclamation to the Family 

01:19 - Recap: Last Week's Discussion 

01:31 - Defining Doctrine and Authority 

02:08 - What Does 'Doctrine' Mean to Members? 

03:48 - The Salvational Weight of Doctrine 

05:31 - Elder Rasband's Talk and Proclamation Analysis 

09:40 - Historical Changes in LDS Doctrine 

11:41 - Race, Interracial Marriage, and Doctrinal Change 

13:14 - Birth Control and Plural Marriage 

15:11 - History vs. Faith-Promoting Narratives 

17:34 - Redefining Doctrine: Making Space for Change 

20:06 - Conversion Therapy and Evolving LGBTQ Positions 

22:31 - Holding Contradictory Positions Simultaneously 

25:31 - Challenges of Authoritarianism in the Church 

28:09 - Religious Authority Across Denominations 

32:33 - Who Defines History vs. Who Defines Doctrine? 

34:22 - Doctrine as Continuing Revelation 

35:15 - Concluding Thoughts and Future Directions

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Series Title:  What does the Family Proclamation Mean to You? [Episode I of II]

Welcome to this two-part series where Valerie welcomes returned guest scholar Taylor Petrey to discuss the LDS Church's Family Proclamation to the World as it reaches its 30th anniversary.

The heart of the episode centers on Taylor's controversial Salt Lake Tribune opinion piece in September 2025 (linked below) arguing that The Family Proclamation should be understood as commentary rather than revelation or unchanging doctrine. This characterization sparked significant pushback from conservative church members who insisted the document represents eternal, unchanging truth. 

Taylor and Valerie explore the complex and often inconsistent ways that the LDS Church uses terms like doctrine, revelation, policy, and commentary, noting how these categories shift depending on context and speaker. They discuss how the proclamation itself has been reinterpreted over time and set you up for the second part of their conversation where they dive deeply into the changing interpretations themselves. 

The Family Proclamation

Op Ed by Taylor Petrey

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:11 Discussing the Family Proclamation

01:48 Cultural and Political Context

04:20 Historical Background of Family Proclamations

07:04 The 1995 Proclamation and Its Impact

13:21 Opinion Piece and Public Reaction

24:43 Controversy and Clarifications

27:57 Historical Changes in Church Teachings

28:33 Modern Reinterpretations of Doctrine

30:42 Balancing Eternal Truths and Continuing Revelation

32:58 The Controversy of Words and Authority

36:15 Revelation vs. Policy: A Case Study

38:10 The Fluidity of Revelation

43:45 The Role of Commentary in Church Doctrine

48:20 Setting Up for the Next Episode

51:36 Final Thoughts and Conclusion

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Have you ever listened to a Latter Day Struggles episode and wanted nothing more than to talk about it but no one is around or would understand?  Have you noticed that while your heart is growing faster than ever, your relationships are changing just as fast?  

Val has noticed that this podcast community has served not only to help you make sense of your LDS faith journey but also has created friendship networks that are life enriching in ways no one could have imagined.   

So why not expand our reach and create more places to connect and find healing + community?  

Listen in today for all of the details on the new biweekly LIVE FELLOWSHIP: a place where you go to join live discussions on current podcast topics with Valerie & then make new friends on a healthy LDS faith journey in your own region.  

What could be better?  A few details:  

• Join Val for 24 Live Fellowship gatherings a year + recordings if you miss out!
• Jump into the FREE Inaugural LIVE Fellowship on 2/18 at 9:30a PST!
• All who enroll by 2/28/26 get an extra month tacked onto their annual enrollment, compliments of Val :).  
• Already in the Friday Fellowship as an annual member?  Your tuition will be applied towards the upgrade (plus an extra discount!) 
• New to all Fellowship Opportunities? Friday Fellowship content is INCLUDED with your annual tuition! 

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

01:12 Announcement of Live Fellowship

01:36 Understanding the Faith Crisis

04:12 Overview of Learning Tiers

04:42 Monday Episodes Explained

06:20 Reframing LDS Doctrine & Theology

08:34 Friday Fellowship Deep Dive

12:30 Transcending & Including Mormonism

14:01 Introduction to Live Fellowship

17:12 Growth and Processing Groups

19:27 Individual Consulting Services

20:30 Why Create the Live Fellowship?

23:50 The Importance of Community

26:10 Forming Side Communities

28:30 Regional Breakout Groups

32:10 Differences: Live Fellowship vs. Depth Groups

34:00 Patriarchy Healing Curriculum

36:08 Logistics and Launch Details

37:00 First Session: Proclamation to the Family

38:30 Second Session: Transcendence & Inclusion

40:00 Recordings & Accessibility

41:00 Scholarships & Faith Journey Foundation

41:37 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

45:10 Ken Wilber Quote on Consciousness

47:30 Individual Transformation & Cultural Change

49:00 Closing Remarks

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In this  episode Nathan & I pause to honor the impact that Ken Glenn had on us at this time of his early and tragic passing.  

In this episode we share many examples that prove that the traditionally believing [Ken] and the… shall we say...less traditionally believing…[us!] LDS can co-exist, when vulnerability, love, and curiosity are chosen over judgment.    We love you Ken.  Thank you for showing us Christ-like love even if you did not fully understand our work.  

Timestamps: 

00:00 Welcome and New Beginnings 

00:53 Transition to YouTube 

02:52 Memorializing a Mentor 

06:17 Ken Glynn's Impact 

09:54 Personal Stories of Ken 

13:16 Ken's Humility and Kindness 

14:14 Early Leadership Challenges 

19:29 Parenting and Church Dynamics 

20:10 Parental Decisions and Church Conflicts 

22:53 Podcast Beginnings and Community Reactions 

24:04 A Touching Tennis Meet Encounter 

29:32 Mission Preparation and Temple Challenges 

40:31 A Heartfelt Tribute to Bishop Ken

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In this episode I respond to your requests to explore President Dallin Oaks' desire that LDS girls get married younger.  As a bonus, I propose a counter-solution to. the current LDS mixed-faith marriage crisis that does not involve pressuring younger marriage (and its well-documented risk factors) on LDS young adults.  

Please share this episode if it resonates!  

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Overview

00:18 Valerie's Analysis of Early Marriage

02:00 President Oaks' Comments and Valerie's Response

09:10 Exploring the Motivations Behind Encouraging Early Marriage

13:50 Risks and Drawbacks of Early Marriage

25:04 Correlation Between Temple Marriage and Divorce Rates

28:40 Concerns of Church Leadership

31:34 The Marriage Crisis in the Church

32:22 Challenges of Mixed Faith Marriages

33:30 Theological Strain and Parenting in Mixed Faith Marriages

34:44 Historical Context and Faith Crises

36:42 The Push for Early Marriage

39:24 Differentiation of Self and Its Importance

45:06 The Impact of Early Marriage on Development

57:43 Proposing a New Approach to Faith Journeys

01:01:15 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

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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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