Latter Day Struggles

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Exploration of Adam Miller's Book “Original Grace” [Part III of IV]In this episode studying Adam's fascinating book "Original Grace", Valerie and Adam dive into the challenging concept of suffering as linked to God's wrath. They address the damaging theology of viewing suffering as punishment and explore the doctrine of original grace. Adam differentiates between justice and suffering within this doctrine. Val discuss how beliefs about God's nature impact our responses to suffering. She highlights potential harm in traditional atonement models, and suggests a shift towards an understanding of original grace. In their final episode in this series together (next in line on your queue!), Val and Adam do a deep dive into Adam's recent presentation at the Restore Conference hosted by the Faith Matters Foundation. Don't miss this!Info on how to subscribe to listen to Friday’s episode is directly below. See you there!Support the showSupport the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Gift a Scholarship Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Exploration of Adam Miller's Book “Original Grace” [Part I of IV]Welcome to an exploration on a book that has truly changed the way to see ourselves, God, grace, and a healthy gospel of Jesus Christ.  Val has invited Adam Miller on a deep exploration of his ideas connected to the atonement of Jesus Christ covered in his book "Original Grace". In this first episode of this series Valerie and Adam dive into a thought-provoking discussion about the concept of grace, focusing on the larger Christian and Latter-day Saint traditions.Adam shares his insights from his book "Original Grace," emphasizing that grace should be seen as the original intention of God rather than a backup plan.Val and Adam explore why grace is often viewed as a backup plan, reflecting on human nature and our instinctual need for survival. They also touch on the topics of justice and heterodoxy, setting the stage for the next episode's deeper exploration.Join Valerie and Adam in this captivating conversation that challenges traditional interpretations and paves the way for a more nuanced understanding of grace and its implications in our relationship with Jesus Christ.Info on how to subscribe to listen to Friday’s episode is directly below. See you there!Support the showSupport the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Gift a Scholarship Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: A Tribute to Lavina Fielding Anderson [Part I of II]In this heartfelt episode, Valerie and guest Christian Anderson reflect on the life and legacy of Lavina Fielding Anderson, Christian's mother: a writer, scholar, and passionate believer in protecting the vulnerable and champion for a more inclusive Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Join Valerie and Christian as they explore Lavina's early life, her convictions, and her eventual confrontation with the LDS church around issues of ecclesiastical abuse. In Friday's episode, Christian recounts his own feelings and memories of Lavina's brave and courageous life and legacy. This episode delves into the importance of speaking up for what is right and the need for checks and balances within religious institutions.Support the showSupport the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Gift a Scholarship Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Faith Expanding Parenting through “Uplift Kids” Program [Part I of II]In this first episode of a two-parts series, Valerie and guest Jon Ogden delve into the topic of raising spiritually literate children within and beyond the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Jon's online program UPLIFT KIDS focuses on providing options and resources for families to incorporate ritual and tradition into their lives, creating a safe space for children to learn and grow while respecting different belief systems.Monday's episode 167 offers a general overview of Jon's vision for this program.Friday's episode walks us through how parents can use the Uplift Kids program to integrate the most current psychology, science, and the great world religions into a holistic and integrated spiritual experience for kids of all ages.Parents, you don't want to miss this week's episodes!Support the showSupport the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $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 visits with Aimee, a Canadian seminary teacher, to discuss her experiences as a progressive thinker in the Latter Day Saint space. Aimee shares her journey of personal growth and how this translates into her approach to seminary teaching-prioritizing inquiry over dogma and allowing her students to become creators of their own spiritual learning experience. Valerie and Aimee explore the challenges of teaching with a church-correlated curriculum that may not align with the instructor's personal beliefs and values. Through their conversation, they emphasize the importance of love, creating a safe space for students, and helping them grow closer to God.Info on how to subscribe to listen to Friday’s episode is directly below.  See you there!Support the showSupport the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Gift a Scholarship Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review!If the LDS faith expansion journey is messy, just add parenting to the mix and you've got more complexity than many parents feel they can tolerate!  That is why we produced this episode!  We get it! In this episode, Valerie is joined by Julie Hanks to discuss some of the challenges faced by parents of adolescents in and around the LDS church. They answer a handful of questions submitted by listeners to both of their podcasts including thoughts about making boundaries with well-intended but overstepping leaders, avoiding black and white thinking, healthy ways to talk about the temple and the garment, and how to address LGBTQ+ issues in church settings. Overall, this episode offers valuable insights and guidance for parents as they strive to support their children's growth and well-being.Info on how to subscribe to listen to Friday’s episode is directly below.  See you there!Support the showSupport the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Gift a Scholarship Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Send us a Positive Review!Join me for an hour learning about the body's response to painful words. This will happen THIS Monday October 9th, 2023 10:30a Central Time for a FREE virtual webinar. This gathering is especially for those wanting to know if a trauma, processing, growth, and support group through the Latter Day Struggles Platform is right for you. Those in my current or former groups of course welcome to jump in as well! Enroll HERE!https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYrdu2gqjwsHd1NdcdewxlyebWmhfxQDaowSupport the showSupport the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Gift a Scholarship Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Valerie talks with Patrick Mason, a university professor and mentor for young adults in the LDS church. They discuss the fear of constructive conflict within the Latter-day Saint community, the challenge of finding spaces for open dialogue, and the need for creativity and transformation in the church. Patrick emphasizes the importance of conflict resolution skills and creating safe spaces for meaningful discussions.

Elder Corbridge, Speaker at BYU, proposes primary questions as the only ones that matter in spiritual knowledge. Valerie and Nathan challenge this idea and discuss the importance of scientific inquiry and doubt in spiritual questing. They explore discomfort with unsanitized data and shift attitudes towards love, emphasizing the role of truth in avoiding deception and restoring love in the church's doctrine and theology.

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: “On the Inside of the Edge” Exploration w/ Christian Kimball [Part III of IV]In this episode Chris and Val talk about dangers of MAGICAL THINKING and how pervasive this is in the LDS church.  They discuss how compelling a transactional understanding of life might feel (as all people crave certainty) but how damaging this is when churches offer simple if/then promises that crumble for many of us when things fall apart. What follows failed promises made by well-meaning loved ones and churches?  Not only the despair of the loss (the death, failed marriage, etc.) but also the despair that the whole system upon which one believes in God does not work.  Friday’s closing episode of this series is a tender conversation about parenting on the edge.  Chris and Valerie talk about fears that they have or have overcome in raising their children on the edge, knowing that others may well see them and/or their children as failures on the Mormon scoreboard.Info on how to subscribe to listen to Friday’s episode is directly below.  See you there!Helpful podcast-related resources:⁠Living on the Inside of the Edge: A Survival Guide⁠⁠, Christian KimballSupport the showSupport the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Gift a Scholarship Download Free Resources Visit our Website