Podcast
Latter Day Struggles
Hosted by Valerie Hamaker · EN
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.
33episodes
Episodes
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451: A Changing Society is Starving for Religious Systems to Meet them Where they Are
4w ago00:59:23Tap to summarizeSend us a Positive Review!Series Title: Torn: Why People We Love are Leaving the Church & What We Can Learn from Them [Part II of III]In this fascinating episode, guest author Jeff Strong & Valerie tackle several key points that Jeff courageously and gently addresses in his bestselling book Torn: Why People We Love are Leaving the Church & What We can Learn from Them.Today, Jeff & Val lay out several culture issues that are pressuring the need for churches to adapt-not because people are becoming less and less "spiritual"...but because evolution is an upward spiral and human beings entering new stages of faith development have different needs. If these needs are not acknowledged; or if they are vilified, shamed, or pathologized- they will go away. We are seeing this at record rates in the LDS church. Listen in as Jeff and Valerie clarify not only why so many lifelong multi-generational Latter Day Saints are leaving--but also share how spiritual growth/ differientiation & community belonging need not be mutually exclusive.Jeff's book Torn linked HERETimestamps:00:00 Welcome and Book Setup01:38 Recap and Survey Numbers03:13 Seeing and Humility10:12 Culture as Soil Metaphor15:44 Acceptance and Faith Stages25:19 Fear to Hope and Growth29:18 Four Storms Shaping Belief37:19 Culture Change and Margins45:44 Diversity and Balanced Energy51:05 Next Episode Preview and ClosingSupport the showStories of Healing: Live Event July 30th in SLCSupport the showListen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODESFriday Episodes Annual Access $89Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10Valerie’s Support & Processing GroupsGift a ScholarshipDownload Free ResourcesVisit our Website
Transcribe →449: Torn: A Book Written to Help Your Devout Loved One Understand You
Jul 601:02:54Tap to summarizeSend us a Positive Review!Series Title: Torn: Why People We Love are Leaving the Church & What We Can Learn from Them [Part 1 of 3]In this three part series, Valerie is joined by Jeff Strong- friend, colleague, and author of the best-selling book Torn: Why People We Love are Leaving the Church & What We Can Learn from Them. In this opening episode, Jeff shares his personal experience as an LDS bishop and father at a crisis point in time when his missionary son disclosed that he was coming home and leaving the LDS church. In this moment, Jeff felt that everything was falling apart & in his own valley of the shadow, he could not meet his son where he was in his own valley of the shadow. The following 13 years comprising hundreds of interviews with disaffiliating Latter-day Saints & heartfelt soul-searching about the true meaning of faith culminates in this book: a Love Letter to the Devout Latter-day Saint who has a loved one who has left the faith. Please listen to this series & consider reading than then gifting Jeff's book to one of your loved ones who does not understand your spiritual journey. Together we can heal our community and build bridges of understanding & belonging. no matter where we are on the spectrum of faith.Jeff's book Torn linked HERE.Timestamps:00:00 Welcome and Introductions02:07 Why Jeff Wrote Torn02:56 Faith Crisis Sparks Research06:16 Years of Writing and Rewrites07:32 Who the Book Is For11:07 Upstream vs Downstream Trauma13:48 A Devout Reader’s Reaction17:06 Mixed Faith Marriage Pain Point20:24 Disaffiliation Numbers and Studies28:36 Counter Narratives on Growth29:52 Growth vs Activity Metrics32:07 Convert Baptisms and Disaffiliation33:04 Two Truths in Church Life35:59 Four Waves Overview38:11 Why Waves Feel Sequential40:50 Upstream vs Downstream Pushback43:54 Stages of Faith Transition47:37 Belonging Over Belief51:31 Success Stories of Inclusion55:58 Bar Mitzvah Closing Story58:27 Wrap Up and Next EpisodeSupport the showStories of Healing: Live Event July 30th in SLCSupport the showListen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODESFriday Episodes Annual Access $89Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10Valerie’s Support & Processing GroupsGift a ScholarshipDownload Free ResourcesVisit our Website
Transcribe →447: Why We Stay Small & Hide our Greatest Strengths from the World
Jun 2901:07:50Tap to summarizeSend us a Positive Review!In this episode, Valerie & colleague Jana Spangler are guests on Dan Wotherspoon's Latter Day Faith podcast where they talk about a little known version of the human shadow. Many of us know about the 'classic shadow'...you know...parts of ourselves that we are ashamed of and seek to hide. What about parts of ourselves that we also hide...even though they are our our strengths, our superpowers and even manifestations of our unique spiritual gifts & attributes? Listen in as Dan, Jana, and Valerie discuss why people in general tend to have and hide "golden shadows" and as they explore some reasons why the LDS population might manifest unique "golden shadows" as a consequence of LDS theology and tradition.Timestamps:00:00 Meet the Hosts00:48 Where to Find Val01:24 Jana’s Coaching Work02:18 Shadow Work Basics03:44 What Is Golden Shadow04:58 Projection and Admiration07:15 Fear of Your Light10:09 Sacred Examples of Calling13:12 Spotting Golden Shadow18:43 Therapy Approach and Safety21:41 Patriarchy and Buried Identity29:25 Grief Forgiveness and Family31:56 Grieving Without Confronting32:51 Shame and the Not Me Boundary35:50 Holding Complexity With Kids37:07 Critical Thinking Both And38:33 Mormon Theology and Sin Scripts46:55 Inner Work and Quiet Practices52:55 Golden Shadow and Authority59:33 Reclaiming Discernment and ClosingSupport the showStories of Healing: Live Event July 30th in SLCSupport the showListen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODESFriday Episodes Annual Access $89Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10Valerie’s Support & Processing GroupsGift a ScholarshipDownload Free ResourcesVisit our Website
Transcribe →445: LDS Missionary Work and OCD Scrupulosity
Jun 2201:13:42Tap to summarizeSend us a Positive Review!Series Title: "Latter Day Missionaries": A Mental Health Resource for LDS Missionaries & their Families [Part II of II]In this episode Dr. Bryson Ensign joins Valerie again to unpack OCD & scrupulosity in the LDS mission field. This episode first explores how Dr. Bryson covers OCD/scrupulosity in his "Mental Health Training Center". It also explores how this resource could be lifesaving tool for the missionary as well as a crucial resource for the parents of full-time missionaries concerned about their child's wellbeing and not knowing how to help when their child is far away and struggling with various mental healthy issues.Find additional information on Dr. Ensign's program HERE.Timestamps:00:00 Welcome Back Intro00:44 Why Missions Get Complicated03:11 Mental Health Training Center Overview07:00 Why Missionaries Are Vulnerable10:15 Parents Need Support Too15:52 Steady Parenting Skills20:39 Pivot to OCD Scrupulosity23:42 How Each Lesson Works30:32 Bryson Mission Story35:04 When Scrupulosity Gets Reinforced38:21 Healthy vs Unhealthy Faith39:52 Parents Spot the Signs42:43 Accountability Partner Plan44:32 Lesson Flow Overview45:38 OCD Basics Explained49:16 Scrupulosity on a Mission55:23 Why Missions Trigger It58:51 Three Practical Tools01:04:30 Where to Get Help01:07:38 Specialized OCD Treatment01:09:51 Final Thanks and WrapSupport the showStories of Healing: Live Event July 30th in SLCSupport the showListen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODESFriday Episodes Annual Access $89Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10Valerie’s Support & Processing GroupsGift a ScholarshipDownload Free ResourcesVisit our Website
Transcribe →443: Addressing Real Mental Health Needs for the Full-time LDS Missionary
Jun 1501:04:03Tap to summarizeSend us a Positive Review!Series Title: "Latter Day Missionaries": A Mental Health Resource for LDS Missionaries & their Families [Part I of II]Do you know anyone who experienced issues with anxiety, depression, homesickness, getting along with that annoying companion, or struggles with shame and perfectionism on their LDS mission? Was that you? Your child? If you have been touched in any way with the LDS mission experience and would like a resource that is worth its weight in gold, this series is for you. In today's episode you will meet Dr. Bryson Ensign, a former LDS missionary and psychiatrist in training who has dedicated countless hours creating a resource that he wishes he had on his own mission. As a devoted listener to the Latter Day Struggles podcast, Bryson shares a passion with Valerie to help those in and around the LDS faith with issues of mental well being that are often not understood (and therefore not addressed ) at the institutional level. This episode shares his vision, sense of call, and an overview of his program. The next episode walks you through an entire segment of his curriculum (dealing with scrupulosity on the LDS mission). Enjoy!Find additional information on Dr. Ensign's program HERE.Timestamps:00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 02:48 Bryson's Background and Faith 07:24 Why Mission Mental Health 10:56 Program Overview: Latter Day Missionaries 16:01 Mental Health Training Center 20:36 Lesson Topics and Tools 28:19 Designed for Every Faith Stage 33:13 Holding Complexity: Obedience, Shame, and Mental Health 36:13 Systemic Challenges and Early Returns 40:30 Real Stories: Missionaries Suffering in Silence 46:10 The Church, Mental Health, and Cultural Change 51:16 Personal Call and Inspiration 57:52 Next Episode: Scrupulosity Preview 01:00:00 Closing and ResourcesSupport the showStories of Healing: Live Event July 30th in SLCSupport the showListen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODESFriday Episodes Annual Access $89Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10Valerie’s Support & Processing GroupsGift a ScholarshipDownload Free ResourcesVisit our Website
Transcribe →441: The Politics of Jesus: Not Subtle, Not Silent, Not Neutral
Jun 800:51:12Tap to summarizeSend us a Positive Review!Series Title: Religion IS Political [Part VII of VII]This final episode of this series is our response to the point of view that Jesus did not ‘get political’. Jesus (and each of us) cannot avoid being political. We state our “politics” with each stance to either uphold or resist dominator hierarchies. And Jesus’ whole ministry can be defined by resistance to any system that placed the life of any human being over the life of any other human being. Listen to this episode to answer for yourself the following questions: Did the actual Jesus of Nazareth embody radical love for all human beings and speak strongly and often about very "political" topics? Or did claim neutrality in a way that left those of his time uncertain about how he felt about authoritarian power structures and their treatment of "the least of these"? Timestamps:00:00 Welcome and Series Finale02:06 Recap of Episodes One to Six05:01 Liberation Jesus or Empire Mascot06:42 Scripture Lenses and Competing Jesuses08:47 Jesus of Nazareth vs Christ of Empire12:48 Refusing Power and Inner Kingdom20:30 Flattening Margins and Social Norms27:58 Good Samaritan and Bad Laws Today34:42 Challenging Religious Gatekeeping40:05 Taking Jesus Name Through Action43:23 Love Over Fear God Image47:06 Closing Thanks and Fellowship InviteSupport the showStories of Healing: Live Event July 30th in SLCSupport the showListen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODESFriday Episodes Annual Access $89Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10Valerie’s Support & Processing GroupsGift a ScholarshipDownload Free ResourcesVisit our Website
Transcribe →BONUS EPISODE: Do you Want to Make a Difference? Join us!
Jun 500:55:35Tap to summarizeSend us a Positive Review!Hey listeners of the Latter Day Struggles podcast! Join Val in this bonus episode as she answers audience questions that will help you feel like you've come to the right place for psychologically sound resources and community on your LDS faith expansion journey. We're not about burning anything down. We are about bridging. Building. Expanding. Transcending. Including. Becoming. In this bonus episode Val answers a couple of questions about relationship struggles that inevitably come up when our relationship with the LDS church is evolving. She also shares her vision for the future of the LDS church if faith expanding people continue to gather and practice a more radical, inclusive, and non-polarized love than currently exists in our present LDS culture as groups gather at the opposite poles. To be a part of a movement that actively practices critical thinking and personal growth--join Valerie & others leading out in a new way to manifest what true faith expansion is.Timestamps:00:00 Welcome and Purpose02:07 How We Are Different05:09 Beyond Binary Healing07:45 Transcend and Include12:18 Monday vs Friday Episodes14:32 Friday Spiritual Expansion21:57 Live Fellowship Overview24:36 Fellowship Topics and Schedule30:11 Upcoming Mission Mental Health Series34:52 Why Groups Matter42:52 Talking Across Ladder Rungs52:15 Enrollment and ClosingSupport the showStories of Healing: Live Event July 30th in SLCSupport the showListen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODESFriday Episodes Annual Access $89Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10Valerie’s Support & Processing GroupsGift a ScholarshipDownload Free ResourcesVisit our Website
Transcribe →439: Religious Silence is Complicity in Times of Social Unrest
Jun 100:35:03Tap to summarizeSend us a Positive Review!Series Title: Religion IS Political [Part VI of VII]In this episode Val & Nathan break down what religious institutional silent is communicating in times of social unrest. Don't miss this episode or series if you want to more deeply understand why religions are simply never neutral! They are loudly communicating what they stand for when they choose silence over speaking truth to power. Timestamps:00:00 Series Recap Setup02:12 Religion Meets Politics05:24 Legitimacy vs Transformation06:59 Silence Equals Complicity08:48 Why Churches Stay Quiet13:23 Truth Claims Block Reform20:05 Faith as Moral Reform26:01 Rethinking Prophets29:37 Prophetic Not Partisan31:30 Closing and Next EpisodeSupport the showStories of Healing: Live Event July 30th in SLCSupport the showListen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODESFriday Episodes Annual Access $89Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10Valerie’s Support & Processing GroupsGift a ScholarshipDownload Free ResourcesVisit our Website
Transcribe →437: Whose Life is Worth Protecting? Politics & Religion Weight in 2026
May 2500:59:30Tap to summarizeSend us a Positive Review!Series Title: Religion IS Political [Part V of VII]In this episode exploring the intersection of religion and politics, Val & Nathan explore several specific areas where politics and religion are addressing the exact same fundamental questions around human dignity & worth; justice & injustice; and the appropriate use of power. They then compare how these fundamental issues are confronted in real time on a world stage as Politician Donald Trump and Religious Leader Pope Leo XIV prove powerfully that politics and religion cannot be dissociated but must dialogue in order to find common ground in questions of human value, safety, and basic dignity. They also each demonstrate (through their respective approaches and value systems) two very different levels of human moral & consciousness development. Timestamps:00:00 Welcome and Setup 00:33 Religion Meets Politics 02:33 Same Core Questions06:21 Human Dignity and Rights 11:22 Consciousness Development and Political Behavior 13:35 When Laws Protect the Wrong Values14:40 Christian Nationalism and the LDS Church's Silence 20:42 LDS Shadow History and the Epstein Files 22:52 Justice and Accountability 26:07 Power Morality and Resistance 28:18 Rosa Parks and Inner Authority 30:03 Early Faith vs Transformation 33:08 Follow the Leader vs Follow the Divine Within 33:21 Elder Gilbert, ICE Raids, and LDS Silence 35:07 Legitimacy as the Highest Value in Mormonism 41:45 Pope Leo vs Trump 51:33 Episode Wrap and Next StepsSupport the showStories of Healing: Live Event July 30th in SLCSupport the showListen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODESFriday Episodes Annual Access $89Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10Valerie’s Support & Processing GroupsGift a ScholarshipDownload Free ResourcesVisit our Website
Transcribe →435: Why Some Religions Drag their Feet even when the Rest of Society is Ready to Embody More Love?
May 1800:52:39Tap to summarizeSend us a Positive Review!Series Title: Religion IS Political [Part IV of VII]In this episode Val & Nathan continue to build a case that it is impossible for religious systems to be "neutral" on political issues. They explore how society evolves as religions & political systems engage in the dance of shaping and being shaped by one another and how in every era brave individuals lead out in inviting social change & can come from either spiritual realm as both politics & religions confront how to dignify human life. They also talk about how some churches lead the charge of social justice (confronting longstanding dominator hierarchies) and some churches are society's great "feet draggers" (defending dominator hierarchies). Why the feet-dragging? And why do the "feet draggers" often finally begrudgingly jump on the enlightenment train? Timestamps:00:00 Welcome and Series Setup01:44 Legitimacy vs Transformation Religions05:43 Silence and Power Structures09:42 Why Churches Cannot Condemn11:37 Article of Faith 12 Obedience13:54 Moral Consequences and Neutrality18:38 Religion and Politics Interwoven19:55 Civilizational Development Framework22:50 Center of Gravity in Mormonism24:13 Leading Edge Reformers25:54 Civil Rights Awakening27:52 Laws Versus Hearts30:17 Legitimacy Church Trap31:19 Pressure Forces Change37:06 BYU And Wyoming Seven39:27 Social Capital And Attrition42:47 Patriarchy Next Frontier44:17 God Beyond Hierarchy47:18 Why Churches Catch Up48:03 Spiraling Toward Transformation49:00 Next Episode PreviewSupport the showStories of Healing: Live Event July 30th in SLCSupport the showListen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODESFriday Episodes Annual Access $89Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10Valerie’s Support & Processing GroupsGift a ScholarshipDownload Free ResourcesVisit our Website
Transcribe →