Latter Day Struggles
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.
Episodes
442 episodes
433: On Churches of Legitimacy & Churches of Transformation
Series Title: Religion IS Political [Part III of VII]In this episode Val & Nathan go more "macro" and explain how churches (just like human beings and human civilizations) go through stages of development and that a church will choos...
BONUS EPISODE: “Exploration of the ‘New’ Plan of Salvation” Audiobook
Hey Friday Fellowship! As an extra perk—we are now dropping each Monday 1.0 series in “audiobook” format after the final episode of the series drops for you. What does this mean for you? It means you can get ahead on the material Va...
BONUS EPISODE: “Religion IS Political” Audiobook
Hey Friday Fellowship! As an extra perk—we are now dropping each Monday 1.0 series in “audiobook” format after the final episode of the series drops EARLY for you. What does this mean for you? It means you can get ahead on the mater...
432: Learning to Read the Room (& Many other Perspectives too!)
Series Title: A Path to Wholeness Beyond the Mormon Faith Crisis [Part III of VIII]In this episode Val & Nathan expand on how YOU can achieve the kind of spiritual transformation that you didn't think possible when you stumbled out o...
431: LDS Strategic Political Engagement & the Upholding of Traditional Male Power Structures
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 signifi...
BONUS EPISODE: Tired of Feel Stuck, Angry & Alone?
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....
430: Was that Past Spiritual Experience a Hallucination?
Series Title: A Path to Wholeness Beyond the Mormon Faith Crisis [Part II of VIII]Have you ever noticed that some earlier stage spiritual communities have an uncomfortable relationship with modern psychology and even feel threatened by i...
429: Is the Mormon Church Politically Neutral?
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, exploi...
428: Craving Spiritual Direction Post Faith Crisis?
Series Title: A Path to Wholeness Beyond the Mormon Faith Crisis [Part I of VIII]Craving spiritual direction after the harrowing disorientation of the Mormon faith crisis but not sure where to go? Not wanting to throw God and...
427: When Normal Growth Feels Like Rebellion
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...
426: Dialogue Foundation Gospel Study: A Novel Approach to D&C 76 Audiobook
Hey Friday Fellowship! Due to your many requests—we are now dropping each Friday Fellowship Latter Day Struggles 2.0 series in “audiobook” format after the final episode of the series drops. What does this mean for you? It means bef...
425: When LDS "Normal" isn't very Normal
Series Title: An Exploration of the Idea of "Normal" within the LDS Church In this fun collaboration with Casey & Will of the Pioneer Paradox Podcast, Val comes on wearing her "psychologist's hat" to talk about concepts wi...
424: Making Sense of Current Human Ascension & Human Atrocity Audiobook
Hey Friday Fellowship! Due to your many requests—we are now dropping each Friday Fellowship Latter Day Struggles 2.0 series in “audiobook” format after the final episode of the series drops. What does this mean for you? It means bef...
423: If the Ensign Peak Fund isn't Your Donation Destination of Choice...
In this episode Valerie introduces you to Mark Crego, fellow Latter-day Saint seeker, whose own many-decades-long faith journey led him to create a not-for-profit organization to help those in faith crisis in the LDS church get the resources th...
422: On Dumping Your "End of Times" & "Last Days" Narratives
Series Title: Making Sense of Current Human Ascension & Human Atrocity [Part IV of IV]In today's final episode of this series Nathan & Val talk about the negative impact of "end of times" narratives that they both bought into and...
BONUS EPISODE: Community Healing: How our Greatest Wounds & our Greatest Healing Happens through Human Relationship Audiobook
Hey Latter Day Struggles! Due to your many requests—we are dropping a Latter Day Struggles series in “audiobook” format. You can enjoy the entire narrative arc in a single, uninterrupted format! Enjoy the experience as things 'click...
421: Why No Mixed-Gender Sunday School Presidencies? A Gender Equality Slippery-Slope Speculation
In this follow up episode on recent LDS news that women are now allowed to serve in Sunday School presidencies, Val & Nathan pivot to the peculiar part of the announcement prohibiting no "mixed-gender" presidencies and share the outcome of ...
420: All Hierarchies are Not Bad
Series Title: Making Sense of Current Human Ascension & Human Atrocity [Part III of IV]In this episode Val & Nathan tackle two more of the four tenets that make sense of how the world is both spiraling upwards towards God conscio...
419: Formal Patriarchy & Inevitable Harm
Series Title: Straight Talk on Patriarchy and Harm [Part II of II]In this episode Val & Nathan lay out a several reasons why they feel that the LDS church is not able to address the strong correlation between its patriarchal structur...
BONUS EPISODE: Women in Ward Sunday School Presidencies: Progress, Breadcrumbs, or the “Near Enemy”?”
In this episode I respond to your requests to explore the March 2026 Church news release announcing that women can now serve in ward Sunday School presidencies, and how this is linked to stages of psychological/faith development.Please s...
418: The Cost of Awakening
Series Title: Making Sense of Current Human Ascension & Human Atrocity [Part II of IV]In this episode Val & Nathan tackle two of the four tenets that make sense of how the world is both spiraling upwards towards God consciousness...
417: Confronting Men's Violence Against Women & Girls in the LDS Church
Series Title: Straight Talk on Patriarchy and Harm [Part I of II] In this episode I read to you a shocking and brilliant article that I wish every Latter-day Saint can hear. This is a tough topic but one where reform will not touch ...
416: Was Grandma Right? Is the World Going to Hell in a Handbasket?
Series Title: Making Sense of Current Human Ascension & Human Atrocity [Part I of IV]In this opening episode of a four part series, Val and Nathan set the stage to answer one BIG question: How can it be true that evolution is unfoldi...
415: Presenting our Utah-Based Latter Day Struggles Faith Expansion Specialist
One thing that Val is always juggling is how to do it all and maintain her sense of humor, high commitment to play, and overall sanity. She loves running the podcast, the groups, and squeezes work with amazing LDS faith-journeying individ...
414: Transcending + Including in "Real Life": Listener Experiences Audiobook
Due to your many requests—we are now dropping each Friday Fellowship Latter Day Struggles 2.0 series in “audiobook” format after the final episode of the series drops. What does this mean for you? It means before we move on and change topics yo...