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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 – Valerie’s Reflections on Growth and Vulnerability

46:49 – Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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Are you curious about what has happened in the minds and hearts of the Hamakers eight months post-resignation from the LDS church due to the waves that this podcast has made throughout the world for the past couple of years?  

Well, one thing that happened changed Val's life and is now changing hundreds of Latter Day Struggles Podcast listener's lives too.  It all started the day Val opened up a  book that became a portal to an entire universe of deeper-stage LDS faith crisis healing.   This new orientation is psychologically sound, as spiritually robust as they come, and is somewhat involved; but its healing philosophy can be summed up in three words: transcend & include.  

Join Val and Nathan in this Q&A episode, where they walk through some questions that you might have if you have noticed a pivot in their Friday Fellowship content and want to know what you might be missing. 

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:41 Exploring Transcend and Include

01:51 Addressing Listener Questions

04:23 The Origins of the Podcast

06:59 Navigating Faith and Theology

12:06 The Middle Path and Personal Growth

18:43 Introduction to Ken Wilber's Work

28:22 Understanding Our Place in the Universe

29:31 The Concept of Transcend and Include

31:58 Faith and Consciousness Evolution

34:15 Challenges in Embracing Past Selves

42:51 The Importance of Compassion and Healing

50:52 Podcast Structure and Community Support

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Series Title: Unpacking LDS Polygamy Developments in 2025 [Part II of II]

Join Valerie and Jana Spangler as they finish their conversation about the fascinating currents of 2025 surrounding polygamy in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In this episode they dissect the release of a new gospel topic essay solidifying Joseph Smith's role as the originator of polygamy, the provocative digitization of a John Taylor revelation, and analyze President Oaks' recent mentions of Heavenly Mother(s) in a public address. With insightful analysis and a call for self-discernment, they offer listeners both a historical exploration and a heartfelt guide to navigating these complex issues.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:21 Discussing Polygamy in 2025

01:44 New Gospel Topic Essay on Polygamy

03:52 Joseph Smith and the Origins of Polygamy

07:42 The Church's Narrative and Modern Movements

14:14 John Taylor's Revelation on Polygamy

20:33 Polygamy in Church History

22:21 Transparency and Church History

26:40 Gender Equality in the Church

31:47 Heavenly Mother and Polygamy

36:09 Differentiation and Personal Faith

41:22 Embracing Complexity and Holiness

43:28 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

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Unpacking LDS Polygamy Developments in 2025 [Part I of II]

Join Valerie and her guest Jana Spangler in the next two Monday episodes as they delve into the complexities of polygamy within the Mormon church, focusing on the year 2025 when several significant events around this topic unfolded. 

They discuss how early Mormon history, particularly Joseph Smith's revelation on polygamy, has impacted the faith journey of many members. Additionally, they explore the recent polygamy-related additions to the 'Come Follow Me' manual and what this means for teaching younger generations about this challenging subject.  

The conversation extends to practical advice for LDS church-attending parents and teachers navigating the the polygamy topic with children both at home and at church, with a focus on fostering critical thinking both in children and in the adults who are shepharding them in their spiritual growth and development. This episode promises a thoughtful examination of faith, history, and the ongoing struggle to reconcile and/or let go of difficult Mormon doctrines.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:17 Discussing Polygamy in 2025

05:34 Historical Overview of Polygamy

15:18 Polygamy's Impact on Modern Faith

32:19 Personal Reflections on Polygamy

43:42 Controversy and Church Teachings

50:58 Questioning Narratives and Personal Feelings

51:21 Teaching Complex Ideas to Children

53:01 Gender Dynamics in Religious Teachings

58:20 Revised Teachings on Polygamy

01:11:37 Parental Guidance and Critical Awareness

01:23:17 Balancing Structure and Flexibility in Faith

01:35:38 Concluding Thoughts and Future Topics

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Series Title: A Two-Hundred Year Old Mirror: How the Faith Expansion Journey has Always Made Christian Leadership Sweat! [Episode II of II]

In this thought-provoking episode, Valerie and guest Casey McFarland dive into part two of their series comparing the dynamics between orthodox leadership and progressive membership in both the early Christian church and in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

They explore the discovery of the Gnostic Gospels and how their divergent beliefs sparked friction with orthodox leaders of the time. The conversation addresses the parallels between historical and contemporary challenges, such as the struggles around authority, the role of women, and the push and pull between rigidity and progressive thought.  

The fascinating conclusion:  What we are experiencing is utterly predictable, has happened before, and is more about the frictions around community, cohesion, and the inevitability that some souls much grow...even in a correlated space! 

Did you hear their announcement about the Latter Day Struggles 2026 trip to Italy?  Listen in and catch up if you didn't!  

 Previous episodes referenced: 

 159:  LDS University Students Pressured to Not Ask Hard Questions

 160:  Why Scientific & Academic Inquiry IS Spiritual Seeking!

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:20 Comparing Modern and Early Christian Dynamics

01:12 Recap of Last Episode

01:21 The Gnostic Gospels and Early Christian Writings

03:45 Role of Women and Educated in Early Christianity

06:40 Evolution of God and Spiritual Development

07:38 Historical Parallels in Religious Thought

10:38 Authority and Questioning in Faith

18:11 Modern Reflections on Historical Religious Tensions

24:54 Inclusivity and Development in Faith Traditions

26:42 Contradictions in Logic and Authority

28:16 The Role of Satan in Early Christian Debates

31:30 Personal Experiences and Institutional Authority

34:05 The Struggle for Inner Authority and Faith Development

38:27 The Tension Between Tradition and Progress

50:15 Invitation to Italy: Exploring Early Christian History

53:38 Closing Remarks and Future Plans

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