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.
37episodes
Episodes
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409: The Family Proclamation: Living Document or Unchanging Doctrine?
Feb 1600:42:10Tap to summarizeSend 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 ProclamationOp Ed by Taylor PetreyTimestamps: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 DirectionsSupport the showSupport 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 →407: Is the Family Proclamation a Commentary or a Revelation?
Feb 900:53:05Tap to summarizeSend 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 ProclamationOp Ed by Taylor PetreyTimestamps:00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:11 Discussing the Family Proclamation01:48 Cultural and Political Context04:20 Historical Background of Family Proclamations07:04 The 1995 Proclamation and Its Impact13:21 Opinion Piece and Public Reaction24:43 Controversy and Clarifications27:57 Historical Changes in Church Teachings28:33 Modern Reinterpretations of Doctrine30:42 Balancing Eternal Truths and Continuing Revelation32:58 The Controversy of Words and Authority36:15 Revelation vs. Policy: A Case Study38:10 The Fluidity of Revelation43:45 The Role of Commentary in Church Doctrine48:20 Setting Up for the Next Episode51:36 Final Thoughts and ConclusionSupport the showSupport 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 →405: Announcing: Biweekly LIVE Fellowship! More Healing & New Connection
Feb 200:51:35Tap to summarizeSend 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 Welcome01:12 Announcement of Live Fellowship01:36 Understanding the Faith Crisis04:12 Overview of Learning Tiers04:42 Monday Episodes Explained06:20 Reframing LDS Doctrine & Theology08:34 Friday Fellowship Deep Dive12:30 Transcending & Including Mormonism14:01 Introduction to Live Fellowship17:12 Growth and Processing Groups19:27 Individual Consulting Services20:30 Why Create the Live Fellowship?23:50 The Importance of Community26:10 Forming Side Communities28:30 Regional Breakout Groups32:10 Differences: Live Fellowship vs. Depth Groups34:00 Patriarchy Healing Curriculum36:08 Logistics and Launch Details37:00 First Session: Proclamation to the Family38:30 Second Session: Transcendence & Inclusion40:00 Recordings & Accessibility41:00 Scholarships & Faith Journey Foundation41:37 Final Thoughts and Call to Action45:10 Ken Wilber Quote on Consciousness47:30 Individual Transformation & Cultural Change49:00 Closing RemarksSupport the showSupport 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 →403: A Tribute to our Former Bishop, Ken Glenn
Jan 2600:48:18Tap to summarizeSend 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 KenSupport the showSupport 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 →401: A Response to Dallin Oaks' Desire for LDS Girls to Marry Younger
Jan 1901:05:13Tap to summarizeSend 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 Overview00:18 Valerie's Analysis of Early Marriage02:00 President Oaks' Comments and Valerie's Response09:10 Exploring the Motivations Behind Encouraging Early Marriage13:50 Risks and Drawbacks of Early Marriage25:04 Correlation Between Temple Marriage and Divorce Rates28:40 Concerns of Church Leadership31:34 The Marriage Crisis in the Church32:22 Challenges of Mixed Faith Marriages33:30 Theological Strain and Parenting in Mixed Faith Marriages34:44 Historical Context and Faith Crises36:42 The Push for Early Marriage39:24 Differentiation of Self and Its Importance45:06 The Impact of Early Marriage on Development57:43 Proposing a New Approach to Faith Journeys01:01:15 Final Thoughts and Call to ActionSupport the showSupport 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 →399: This Classic Episode Put Latter Day Struggles on the Map of Faith Crisis Healing
Jan 1201:10:52Tap to summarizeSend 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 Overview02:06 – Four Stages of Faith Development04:28 – Moving Beyond Stage 108:06 – Limitations of Stage 212:02 – Moving Toward Stage 414:43 – Contextualizing Faith Traditions15:28 – Stages in World Religions16:01 – Institutional Roles in Faith Development16:32 – Supporting Complexity and Skepticism18:00 – Therapist’s Perspective19:02 – Healthy Family Systems and Faith Development20:48 – The Role of Adolescence22:01 – Ownership of Belief24:43 – The Dangers of Over-Resistance26:37 – Richard Rohr's Perspective on Faith Development28:34 – Transitioning to Complexity31:49 – Hope Beyond Skepticism34:07 – Institutional Challenges36:58 – Misconceptions About Atonement38:44 – Institutional Self-Reflection40:09 – Marginalization and Fear-Based Narratives43:00 – Letters from Listeners: Shock and Isolation46:59 – Ambivalence and Hope in Skepticism50:03 – Understanding Faith Development Stages53:45 – Creating True Community56:00 – Transitioning Through Chaos57:30 – The Emptiness Stage59:00 – Achieving True Community01:01:00 – Maintaining True Community01:03:00 – Conclusion and Call to ActionSupport the showSupport 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
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62: Jesus was a Model of Christ-Centered Activism
Nov 7, 2022Tap to summarizeSend us a Positive Review!Series Title: Analysis of E. Corbitt: Christ-Centered Activism [Part I of II]In this special episode, Nathan and Val respond to the recent address given by E. Corbitt claiming that all activism against the church is sinful, wrong, and motivated by evil intention. This could not be further from the truth. Val and Nathan address the following issues looking at the psychology of how to heal fractured relationship and the many ways healthy healing principles were not only not practiced, but (sadly) completely contradicted. Here is a rundown of what they addressed: A general misunderstanding of the nature of the suffering, hurt, betrayal, hopelessness, and pain that brings about activism [relational protest] of all sorts.A list of "what not to say" to someone who has experienced legitimate pain at the hands of an authority figure if healing is desired by both partiesAn explanation of how pain and suffering can be healed through legitimate acknowledgment of its reality (rather than a diminishing of its existence).The claim that activism is ALWAYS wrong in the context of religion.Several misinterpretations of scripture including the claim that prophets are 'made perfect in Christ'The claim that sustaining means exact alignment with prophets all of the timeThe claim that activism is a blanket rejection of Jesus Christ and the entire leadership and churchThe claim that activism does not bring about change in the church (because change sufficiently happens on its own) while also claiming that if activism is needed, it can be solved at the ward levelThe claim that activists are judgmental, narrow minded, and an echo-chamber of their own beliefs [wow].The idea that disagreement in any way causes contention and contention is always wrong. Val and Nathan also walk through multiple ways one might "check themselves" to see if they have caught what Elder Corbitt calls "ATC" and Valerie and Nathan take the test to see where they stand and how it feels. (PS They feel fine!)Take the test for yourselves and evaluate your own endeavors to align with love and goodness! Please SHARE this episode to help others make sense of this recent address and news article. Articles of this nature further divide rather than heal. As Christ-Centered Activists, we seek to be acknowledged, seen, and understood. This is how reconciliation happens.Helpful Links:PDF: ACTIVISM VS. DISCIPLESHIP: A Message for Chaplains of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by Brother Ahmad S. CorbittYouTube: Activism vs. Discipleship, Protecting the Valiant || Brother Ahmad S. CorbittBook referencedDo I Stay ChrisSupport the showSupport 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
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