Latter Day Struggles

Valerie Hamaker
  • 4.5 (844)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

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. 2D AGO

    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 hr

  2. 6D AGO

    395: We Need to Stop Calling Growth a Sin in the LDS Church

    Send us a Positive Review! 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 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

    51 min

  3. 12/22/2025

    393: Quiet Conflict: What the Research Reveals About Active LDS Members

    Send us a Positive Review! 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 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

    1h 6m

  4. 12/15/2025

    391: Why Mental Health Workers Became the Black Sheep of the 21st Century Church

    Send us a Positive Review! 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 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

    50 min

  5. 12/08/2025

    389: Faith & Feminism: Valerie's Vision & Maxine’s Musings

    Send us a Positive Review! 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 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

    58 min

  6. 12/05/2025

    BONUS EPISODE: Why the LDS Church is Vulnerable to Underreporting of Child S*x Abuse & What to Do

    Send us a Positive Review! 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 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

    1h 32m

  7. 12/01/2025

    387: Mission Eligibility Age Dropped to 18 for LDS Young Women: A Conversation with Dr. Julie Hanks

    Send us a Positive Review! 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 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

    55 min

  8. 11/24/2025

    385: Honoring Relationships AND your Nervous System Over the Holidays

    Send us a Positive Review! 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 – Vale 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

    51 min
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About

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. 

Information

  • Creator
    Valerie Hamaker
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    269
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Latter Day Struggles
  • Show Website
    Latter Day Struggles

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