Latter Day Struggles

Send 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 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

Send 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

Send us a Positive Review!Series title: Mormon Faith Crisis—Progression, Not Pathology [Part III of III]In this episode Valerie welcomes back friend and researcher Jeff Strong for the third installment of their series exploring Jeff's research learning about the actual experiences of thousands of Latter-day Saints.  The theme that came through?  Massive amounts of TENSION.  Today they go deeper into six distinct kinds of Latter-day Saints and highlight that one type, "the protector" is disproportionately rewarded while other types are often silenced and squeezed to the margins and sometimes out of the church altogether.  They unpack how an ignorance of the true diversity of 21st Century LDS membership is causing crippling harm to families and the church itself and emphasize the power that could come if we all understood and supported one another as a truly open and welcoming 'body of Christ'.  Timestamps:01:04 – Understanding Cultural Differences01:57 – Stages of Faith and Identity Segments03:38 – Framework for Understanding Differences08:00 – Setting Up the Segment Discussion09:36 – Overview of the Six Segments14:30 – Personal Examples of Segment Fluidity16:19 – Avoiders and Their Journey18:30 – The Spectrum of Development21:15 – Disaffiliation and Its Complexities22:50 – The Public Narrative vs. Reality24:43 – Conformity and Control in Religious Communities26:33 – Fear vs. Love Orientation28:13 – Focus on Protectors33:40 – The Need for Balance and Integration35:02 – Balancing Different Attributes in Church Culture39:30 – The Dangers of Fear-Driven Leadership41:40 – The Role of Fear and Love in Leadership44:00 – The Impact of Historical Persecution50:00 – Everyday Conflicts and Growth Opportunities53:14 – Final Thoughts on Growth and DevelopmentSupport 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

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 Format02:17 – Elder Anderson’s Address on Abortion05:01 – Developmental Stages and Vulnerability07:00 – Weaponization of Authority and Internalized Harm12:56 – Masculine vs. Feminine Worldviews on Abortion15:00 – Societal Support and Resource Gaps17:00 – Upstream vs. Downstream Solutions21:00 – Deeply Embedded Patriarchal Assumptions25:00 – Legal and Economic Disparities29:54 – Critique of Elder Anderson’s Address34:00 – Theological Shadows and Generational Trauma36:00 – Recommendations for Healthy Spirituality45:20 – Listener Reactions and Broader Church Issues50:00 – The Importance of Individual Discernment53:00 – Reflections on Church History and Patriarchy56:00 – Calls for Healing and Inclusion59:05 – Final Thoughts and Encouragement59:54 – Closing Remarks and Call to Action60:14 – Podcast Network AcknowledgmentSupport 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

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 Welcome00:22 – Series Overview and Jeff's Background01:18 – Exploring Church Demographics and Tensions02:45 – Review of Previous Episode04:00 – Cultural Causes of Tension05:30 – The Weight of Disaffiliation07:00 – Research Methodology and Data Collection07:58 – Strengths of LDS Culture09:45 – Personal Reflections on Community11:35 – Weaknesses of LDS Culture13:20 – The Soil Metaphor for Culture15:00 – The River Metaphor: Rigidity vs. Chaos17:10 – The Impact of Cultural Rigidity18:45 – The Struggle for Belonging20:09 – Stages of Faith Development22:00 – Simplicity and Complexity Explained23:45 – Perplexity and Harmony Explained25:30 – Faith Journeys and Community Reactions27:00 – The Pain of Being Misunderstood28:22 – Personal Faith Journeys29:47 – The Garden of Eden Metaphor30:47 – Pathologizing Growth in Faith32:00 – The Need for Community Support33:09 – Community and Belonging33:52 – Brian McLaren's Model in Scriptures35:30 – The Arc of Human Spiritual Growth37:25 – Understanding Different Faith Mindsets39:00 – Disparities in Perceptions of Christ-Centeredness40:30 – The Loneliness of Nonconformity42:04 – Introducing the Six Segments44:00 – Descriptions of Each Segment46:00 – The Dynamic Nature of Faith Mindsets47:00 – Encouragement for Self-Reflection48:24 – Conclusion and Next StepsSupport 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

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 Welcome00:19 Guest Introduction: Jeff Strong01:00 Jeff’s Support and Early Conversations01:37 Jeff's Background and Experience03:00 Clarifying Jeff’s Professional and Research Credentials04:26 Research on Disaffiliation06:30 Personal Journey and Insights08:04 The Start of the Research Journey09:45 Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods14:00 The Role of Culture in Missionary Experience16:30 Returning Home and Continuing the Research18:00 The Importance of Data in Understanding Faith Journeys20:00 The Demographic of Faithful Questioners23:30 Data Collection and Analysis25:00 Key Themes: Testimony, Community, and Belonging27:00 The Spectrum of Activity and Belief29:00 Conflict Among Active Members31:00 Exploring Discomfort in Church Culture35:22 Quantifying Discomfort and Belonging36:22 Comfort Levels with Church Culture37:25 Culture vs. Doctrine: A Real Example38:21 Personal vs. Cultural Priorities39:30 Tension in Cultural and Personal Priorities40:35 Navigating Faith Beyond Checklists42:00 Stages of Faith and Cultural Tension43:17 The Impact of Leadership and Tradition45:00 Orthodox vs. General Membership Comfort48:36 The Importance of Awareness and Inclusion51:00 Normalizing Faith Transitions53:00 The Role of Community in Faith Journeys56:36 Concluding Thoughts and Future DiscussionsSupport 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

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 HanksTimestamps:00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:49 Reflecting on Sacred Work01:49 Comparing Different Eras03:01 The Impact of the Internet06:02 Public vs. Private Scholarship09:09 Mental Health Workers Under Fire14:07 Balancing Individual and Institutional Needs18:38 The Role of Mental Health in Faith Journeys24:18 The New Taboo: Mental Health and LGBTQ Issues25:40 Identity and Wellbeing: A Personal Journey27:31 The Role of Mental Health Workers in the Church30:32 Institutional Insecurity and Individual Growth33:09 Policing and Persecution Within the Church37:35 The Erosion of Safe Spaces in the Church45:20 The Greatest Danger to the Church Today49:51 Concluding Thoughts: Embodying Love and CompassionAdditional Episodes Referenced:Ep. 179 - 182: Maxine Hanks Life StoryEp. 222, 272: Maxine Hanks and Jody England Hansen on the recent garment changesSupport 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

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 HanksTimestamps:00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:17 Reflecting on Past Episodes01:18 Listener's Insight and Emotional Connection03:27 Maxine's Perspective on Resilience04:03 Deep Dive into Personal Experiences04:46 Facing Church Discipline06:13 Spiritual Guidance and Feminist Work12:19 Connecting with Pioneer Foremothers23:07 Healing Transgenerational Trauma29:29 Navigating Institutional Challenges32:59 Understanding Shadow Work33:32 The September 1993 Purge34:13 Spiritual Guidance and Resilience35:04 Personal Reflections on Excommunication36:24 Comparing Experiences41:34 Holding Space for Different Journeys45:16 The Impact on Families47:24 Honoring Individual Paths59:32 Resources for Further Exploration01:00:59 Conclusion and Next Steps Additional Episodes Referenced: Ep. 179 - 182: Maxine Hanks Life StoryEp. 222, 272: Maxine Hanks and Jody England Hansen discussing the recent garment updatesSupport 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

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 episodeFrom the Latter Day Struggles Podcast:Patriarchy, Power and Gender Roles Resource CatalogEpisode 35, 36, 45, 986 Part Series - The Shocking Correlation Between Men Socialized in Patriarchies & Psychological/Spiritual Underdevelopment beginning on Episode 28310 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 AbuseThe Dialogue Journal- Confronting Men's Violence Against Women and Girls in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Suzanne E. GrecoSupport 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

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 Introduction01:29 – Implications of Mission Age Change02:27 – Gender Roles and Patriarchy03:30 – Strategic Motivations and Retention04:51 – Personal Reflections on Mission Experiences06:04 – Missions as Catalysts for Change08:45 – Concerns About Early Marriage and Education10:00 – Generational Differences and Faith Journeys12:23 – Temple Access for Young Women13:30 – Women Leaving Organized Religion14:09 – Challenges and Opportunities for Church Evolution16:00 – Paradox of Devotion and Faith Crisis19:16 – Balancing Individuality and Community in Faith20:30 – The Church’s Developmental Stage22:21 – Potential for Organizational Change24:00 – Normalizing Women’s Leadership31:50 – Impact of Mission Age on Family Life32:17 – Egalitarian Structure in the Church33:32 – Women’s Leadership and Identity35:30 – Birth Rate and Missionary Integration37:00 – Economic Realities and Family Planning39:39 – Mental Health Concerns for Young Missionaries40:24 – Pressure and Autonomy in Missionary Service42:00 – Stigma and Social Ranking45:23 – Patriarchy and Gender Roles in the Church47:15 – The Cost of Conformity49:54 – Encouragement for Individual Choices51:00 – Redefining Spirituality and Autonomy52:39 – Conclusion and Final ThoughtsSupport 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