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Latter Day Struggles

Valerie Hamaker

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. 

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  • 24 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 1 hr 8 min
  • English

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Episodes 24

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  • May 4 · 34 min

    431: LDS Strategic Political Engagement & the Upholding of Traditional Male Power Structures

    Send us a Positive Review! Series Title: Religion IS Political [Part II of VII] In this episode Val & Nathan walk through the last several decades and map issues of high and low LDS political involvement, offering a template for what the church feels is significant enough to merit their active public statements, financial resources, active instruction to LDS membership regarding the vote. What the church deems "of significant moral consequence" (per their official statement of neutrality) and what is deemed not morally significant enough to comment on in times of social unrest makes for very interesting conversation. Join Val & Nathan as they unpack this highly relevant topic in an effort to make sense of this phenomenon, which they realize is anything but neutral. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Series Setup 00:19 Recap Political Neutrality 02:42 Follow the Leader Tension 03:45 LA Churches Speak Out 05:26 Stated vs Observed Neutrality 06:31 High Engagement Moral Issues 11:40 Low Engagement Justice Issues 16:29 Matthew 25 Reality Check 19:47 2026 Silence and Current Events 23:16 Doctrine and Covenants 98 26:48 Silence as Endorsement 29:13 Next Episode Preview and Wrap Support the show Join Our Healing From Patriarchy Support Group 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

  • May 2 · 38 min

    BONUS EPISODE: Tired of Feel Stuck, Angry & Alone?

    Send us a Positive Review! In this Bonus Episode, Val answers some piling up questions about the power of healing that uniquely happens in the Latter Day Struggles Fundamentals of LDS Faith Crisis Healing Groups that hundreds of you have experienced in the past 3+ years. A few of the questions that she answers: **What is the difference between your Faith Crisis Healing groups and your new Live Fellowship Group? **How are they different than other platforms where people meet and talk? **How are these groups different than other platforms where people meet and talk? **Are both-gendered groups effective? **Should I do a faith crisis healing group instead of therapy? I am_____________ (fully active, all of the way out, etc., etc.,) Am I Good fit? Interested in grabbing the very last seat of the ONLY 2026 group of this kind? Click below to enroll! **If watching this in the future, check out https://valeriehamaker.com/support-groups/ and see what is available. If no groups are registering, contact admin@latterdaystruggles.com and get added to a wait list! Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Q&A Setup 01:45 Why Only One Group 02:48 Live Event Announcement 05:48 Book and 2026 Plans 07:25 Live Fellowship Explained 12:52 Who Joins the Groups 15:58 What Has Changed 21:45 Platform Difference and Curriculum 25:16 Why Mixed Gender Groups 29:54 Groups Versus Therapy 31:59 Am I a Good Fit 35:15 Closing and Next Steps Support the show Join Our Healing From Patriarchy Support Group Sept 9th FREE Pop-Up Patriarchy Group Trial 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

  • April 27 · 43 min

    429: Is the Mormon Church Politically Neutral?

    Send us a Positive Review! Series Title: Religion IS Political [Part I of VII] Anyone else noticing religious leaders from some faith traditions throughout the world speaking out against more and more egregious forms of US government-imposed violence, force, exploitation of power, and unaccountability at levels unfathomable until only recently? And other churches, LDS included choose silence and stand by a formal stance of neutrality at this moment. This series might be one of the more important and relevant of this podcast as Val & Nathan take you step by step towards their conclusion that religion and spirituality is and always will be political and politics is an expression of one's level of spirituality. Join them each week for this six-part series hopefully giving you words to make sense of your discomfort over silence in the face of harm and injustice. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Series Intro 00:42 Why Church Silence Matters 03:32 Six Episode Roadmap 05:02 Personal Take on Neutrality 07:02 Prop 8 and Moral Exceptions 09:08 Isolationism and Autonomy 13:34 Reading the Official Statement 20:51 Initial Reactions and Agreement 23:33 Conscience vs Real Practice 27:44 Mitt Romney as Case Study 30:42 Obedience and Hierarchy Thread 35:12 Immigration Example and Wrap Up 39:21 Closing and Next Episode Tease Support the show Join Our Healing From Patriarchy Support Group 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

  • April 20 · 44 min

    427: When Normal Growth Feels Like Rebellion

    Send us a Positive Review! Series Title: An Exploration of the Idea of "Normal" within the LDS Church [Part II of II] In this episode Val breaks down a couple of concepts that are NEVER talked about--the difference between "normal" in a family, church, or any collective and what is "normative" in that same group. NORMAL = "what we do around here that keeps things stable", whereas NORMATIVE = what is developmentally on track to help a person thrive? When these two concepts clash--yikes. And when your "normative" growth isn't understood, you DO look very "abnormal"...and maybe even sinful, rebellious, prideful, and lost. Listen in to have your mind blown a little today! Timestamps: 00:00 Unexpected Episode Setup 00:50 Guesting on Pioneer Paradox 02:17 Myth of Normal in Mormonism 03:07 Defining Normal 06:30 Defining Normative 09:09 When Normal Isn’t Healthy 11:52 LDS Culture of Conformity 13:42 Markers of Mormon Normal 19:08 Labels for Nonconformists 23:30 Faith Journey as Growth 26:08 Normative Developmental Shifts 31:05 Reconstruction and Inner Authority 34:04 Closing Encouragement Support the show Early Bird Special- Healing From Patriarchy Support Group 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

Showing 21–24 of 24 episodes