Latter Day Struggles

Valerie Hamaker
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The Latter Day Struggles Podcast addresses beliefs and issues within the LDS faith that are challenging to talk about but vital to discuss for those trying to navigate their relationship in or around the church. Valerie and her guests invite psychological maturity, theological health, and institutional integrity. 

  1. 4日前

    409: The Family Proclamation: Living Document or Unchanging Doctrine?

    Send us a Positive Review! 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 Support the show Support the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Access $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Gift a Scholarship Download Free Resources Visit our Website

    42 分鐘

  2. 2月9日

    407: Is the Family Proclamation a Commentary or a Revelation?

    Send us a Positive Review! 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 Support the show Support the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Access $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Gift a Scholarship Download Free Resources Visit our Website

    53 分鐘

  3. 2月2日

    405: Announcing: Biweekly LIVE Fellowship! More Healing & New Connection

    Send us a Positive Review! 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 Support the show Support the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Access $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Gift a Scholarship Download Free Resources Visit our Website

    52 分鐘

  4. 1月26日

    403: A Tribute to our Former Bishop, Ken Glenn

    Send us a Positive Review! 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 Support the show Support the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Access $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Gift a Scholarship Download Free Resources Visit our Website

    48 分鐘

  5. 1月19日

    401: A Response to Dallin Oaks' Desire for LDS Girls to Marry Younger

    Send us a Positive Review! 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 Support the show Support the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Access $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Gift a Scholarship Download Free Resources Visit our Website

    1 小時 5 分鐘

  6. 1月12日

    399: This Classic Episode Put Latter Day Struggles on the Map of Faith Crisis Healing

    Send us a Positive Review! 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 Support the show Support the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Access $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Gift a Scholarship Download Free Resources Visit our Website

    1 小時 12 分鐘

  7. 1月5日

    397: What Happens When Only One Kind of Latter-day Saint is Allowed to Exist in the Church

    Send us a Positive Review! 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 Support the show Support the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Access $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Gift a Scholarship Download Free Resources Visit our Website

    59 分鐘

  8. 1月2日

    396: UNLOCKED for All Listeners: Shifting the Focus from Abortion to Preventing Unwanted Pregnancy!

    Send us a Positive Review! 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 Support the show Support the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Access $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Gift a Scholarship Download Free Resources Visit our Website

    1 小時 1 分鐘
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關於

The Latter Day Struggles Podcast addresses beliefs and issues within the LDS faith that are challenging to talk about but vital to discuss for those trying to navigate their relationship in or around the church. Valerie and her guests invite psychological maturity, theological health, and institutional integrity. 

資料

  • 創作者
    Valerie Hamaker
  • 活躍年份
    2022年 - 2026年
  • 單集
    276
  • 分級
    兒童適宜
  • 版權
    © 2026 Latter Day Struggles
  • 節目網站
    Latter Day Struggles

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