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