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Latter Day Struggles — Health & Fitness
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.

Copyright: © 2025 Latter Day Struggles

Latest Episodes:

347: Public Voices: Navigating an LDS Culture of Quiet Dissent Jul 14, 2025

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In this episode Valerie is the guest on the thought-provoking Inside Out Podcast, one of the first podcasts to interview her following the dramatic events that led up to the Hamakers' decision to resign from the LDS church rather than collude in an excommunication process that they did not endorse as ethical, legitimate, or appropriate.

This episode takes you through Val's early life and path leading to her current work and delves into the challenges she faced with church leadership due to her public mental health work on behalf of thousands of Latter-day Saints through her Latter Day Struggles Platform.

Among other things, Valerie discusses the critical tensions between church policies, doctrines, and personal mental health, while providing insights on how the LDS Church can evolve to better support its members.

**In the next several Monday episodes documenting Valerie's and Nathan's experiences connected to their resignation from the LDS church in March of 2025, Valerie represents the couple as Nathan is currently working out of town and unavailable during traditional recording hours. They apologize as so many of you so deeply benefit from his unique insights and perspectives!

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345: Heavenly Momma Drama: Navigating Fear & Embodying Faith Jul 07, 2025

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In this episode Val is a guest on the wonderful In Her Image Podcast to discuss the complex emotional journey of awakening to the divine feminine. They explore common emotional responses to one's realization that s/he has been estranged from half of deity for one's whole life, awakening to the power that many of us give away in allowing others to define who the Divine is, and how this journey almost always leads to the need to redefine one's relationship with the LDS church in ways that are more differentiated, self advocating, and truly connecting with ones' Divine Source.

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343: Not Fragile Like a Flower, Fragile Like a Bomb Jun 30, 2025

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In this episode Valerie is interviewed by her good friends and fellow podcasters Susan Hinckley and Cynthia Wynward and the three talk about what it is like to be outspoken women in a 21st Century church that is not so sure what to do with this kind of woman. They are candid in their experiences, struggles, and insecurities as they figure out their own faith journeys somewhat in the public eye while walking with thousands of others through their own complex experiences.
Bottom Line: In a church that has chronically valued women for their ability to stand by in supporting roles, these women are showing this generation of people in and around the LDS church that 'fragile' has a whole new meaning nowadays!
Listen, become empowered, and share this episode!

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341: Candid Conversation about Current LDS Patriarchal Structure & its Correlation to Child Abuse Risk Jun 23, 2025

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Series Title: In-depth Exploration of Patriarchy & its Correlation to Violence & Abuse [Part VIII of X]

Join Val & Nathan as they respectfully lean into specific risk factors associated with formalized patriarchal religious institutions (including the LDS church) & how these vulnerabilities play out in very real ways. They also explore how our children can eventually become safer as their caregivers become educated & reach a critical mass of light & knowledge about the harmful (even if unintended) consequences to many children raised within patriarchal homes & churches.

**Please note, Val & Nathan are not implying that child abuse & violence are *inevitable* when their families and churches are patriarchal. They are simply unpacking all of the heavily researched data pointing to heightened risk factors associated with patriarchy and violence/abuse. Please, let us learn from the ample data & protect our children.

Referenced in this Episode:

Associated Press: Seven years of sex abuse: How Mormon officials let it happen

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339: Patriarchal Church Structures & Heightened Risk of Violence/Abuse in Marriage Jun 16, 2025

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Series Title: In-depth Exploration of Patriarchy & its Correlation to Violence & Abuse [Part VIIof X]

In today's episode, Val & Nathan walk through the layered risk factors around spousal violence/abuse that married couples are exposed to when belonging to a formalized institutional patriarchal church. Reinforcement of male authority, inadequately trained clergy offering counseling services, isolation from external oversight/support, and tendencies to protect the male abusers (esp those with leadership callings) are all discussed. They also make recommendations for inviting a safer/healthier marriage theology and climate that will contribute to individual & marital flourishing.

**Please note, Val & Nathan are not implying that abuse & violence are *inevitable* when couples hold a patriarchal worldview or belong to a formalized patriarchal religious institution--they are simply unpacking all of the heavily researched data pointing to heightened risk factors associated with patriarchy and violence/abuse.

Referenced in this Episode:

Associated Press - Seven years of sex abuse: How Mormon officials let it happen

Bell Hooks - The Will to Change; Men, Masculinity and Love

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Join Our Healing From Patriarchy Support Group

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337: Patriarchy & its Connection to LGBTQ+ Violence and Abuse Jun 09, 2025

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Series Title: In-depth Exploration of Patriarchy & its Correlation to Violence & Abuse [Part V of X]

In this episode Val & Nathan walk through a series of other very common communities where men-on-men violence is normalized--culminating in a discussion that shows clearly that it is not a coincidence that patriarchal structures enforce strict rules on both women & LGBTQ+ people for the same underlying reason.

They will walk you through the "rules" and consequences imposed on sexual/gender non-conforming people and how deeply embedded systemic patriarchies use God to justify all kinds of violence & abuse directed at those not willing to acknowledge this man-made system of domination.

Referenced in This Episode:

Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion - Gregory Boyle

Podcast: Breaking Down Patriarchy- Episode 37: How to be an Anti-Patriarchist with Levi Murray

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335: Patriarchy and the Deeply Embedded "Female Fear Factory" Jun 02, 2025

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Series Title: In-depth Exploration of Patriarchy & its Correlation to Violence & Abuse [Part III of X]

In this jaw-dropping episode (at least it was jaw-dropping for Val & Nath to prepare and produce) Val & Nathan talk about the "Female Fear Factory" which is a phrase intended to communicate the implicit rules that girls and women worldwide are taught to follow in order to be safe in this world where patriarchy is treated as a "given" that must be managed and obeyed.

If you care about the spiritual, mental, and physical wellbeing of yourself, your loved ones (of all genders) and your community at large--this series is a crucial masterclass.

Referenced in this Episode:

The Female Fear Factory; Unravelling Patriarchy's Cultures of Violence - Pumla Dineo Gqola

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333: Patriarchy & Harm: Proven Connections to Abuse & Violence May 26, 2025

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Series Title: In-depth Exploration of Patriarchy and its Correlation to Violence & Abuse [Part I of X]

In this opening episode of this incredibly important series, Val & Nathan offer an overview of what is to come in the episodes that follow. This series has been a labor of love for this couple who care deeply about their Latter-day Saint and surrounding loved ones and want to spread the word far and wide that all patriarchy is harmful but we live in day and age where institutional patriarchy MUST be lovingly challenged for the welfare of every single human being.

Patriarchy is tightly correlated to actual violence and abuse. If nothing else convinces you that reform is needed...maybe this will give you pause.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Podcast: Breaking Down Patriarchy- Episode 37: How to be an Anti-Patriarchist with Levi Murray

Podcast: The Foyer- Season 3 Episode 3 Women's Equality: It Absolutely Matters

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Join Our Healing From Patriarchy Support Group

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Friday Episodes Annual Access $89

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331: Why Very Few Shout: "The Emperor Has No Clothes!" May 19, 2025

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Series Title: Living in a World of Hypernormalization [Part I of II]

In this episode Val shares an update about how she is processing the recent events of her and Nathan's forced resignation in the face of excommunication by looking at this both as a personal issue for them but also plays with the idea that they are playing a symbolic role in a much larger narrative that is unfolding and colliding in both conservative Christian AND conservative political spaces and is gaining steam due to the concept of HYPERNORMALIZATION: a social phenomenon where cultural collectives know that things are very wrong but pretend that all is well.

Friday's episode dives into how HYPERNORMALIZATION might explain much that is going on in our own heritage tradition and why those who do not participate in the "rules of hypernormalization" (by acknowledging issues exist) are punished.

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Join Our Healing From Patriarchy Support Group

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Friday Episodes Annual Access $89

Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10

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329: The Official Faith Crisis Report: A Backstage Pass with Greg Prince May 12, 2025

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Series Title: The 21st Century LDS Church's Ongoing Struggle to Respond to the Realities of Faith & Trust Crisis [Part I of II]

Join Val and friend, colleague and returned guest, Dr. Greg Prince as they talk about Greg's involvement in the profoundly important document "The Official Faith Crisis Report". A document that was the first of its kind, it compiled data about struggles in faith and trust that was sweeping the LDS church just after the turn of the century.

In this episode, you will learn backstage details that only someone involved in the actual process can tell you. Greg, as usual, adds his wit and wisdom to a fascinating story about the beginning of an era that we are all living through at this moment in the LDS faith expansion space.

Next episode Val & Greg tackle several sections of the report itself and engage in some spicy banter about what can happen with people in different stages of faith during a typical LDS church meeting. Join in for a great conversation!

The Official Faith Crisis Report

Books by Dr. Greg Prince

Support the show

Join Our Healing From Patriarchy Support Group

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Friday Episodes Annual Access $89

Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10

Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups

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Download Free Resources

Visit our Website

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