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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 within the LDS faith that seem normal until one squints and realizes that maybe they are common but definitely not 'normal'. Listen in as they walk through four common phenomenon within Mormondom that may be common ways to view the world but are not necessarily 'normal'.

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and Italy Trip

03:14 Myth of Normal Setup

06:23 Nature and Feminine Flow

08:40 Scouting and Rites of Passage

13:29 Canoe Covenant Story

18:30 Rituals as Meaning

20:59 Finding Your Inner Voice

24:26 Normal vs Normative

28:32 Boundaries and Growth

32:15 Certainty Sets Up Doubt

35:29 Exclusivity Blocks Wisdom

39:54 Parenting Critical Awareness

44:52 Mixed Faith Family Pain

50:29 Tribal Narratives Outsiders

56:30 Choose People Over Church

01:00:34 Decouple God From Church

01:04:42 Closing Thanks And Farewell

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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 they need. In the episode Mark's passion to help others is fueled by the memory of being a young man with questions and nowhere to take them and no community to normalize (or even celebrate) his growth.

Those who do not have resources or a supportive community while on the LDS faith journey often suffer from mental health issues, relationship distress, isolation, and shame. Learn how to be a part of a movement that makes sure that NO ONE experiences their most vulnerable spiritual awakening moments alone and concurrently supports professionals who have devoted their careers to creating communities of healing for the Latter-day Saint seeker.

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

01:43 Mark’s Faith Journey Origins

04:00 Why Faith Journey Foundation Exists

05:22 Susan Hinkley and Related Projects

06:11 Valerie on Normalizing Faith Growth

10:20 Finding Neutral Support Beyond Church Systems

15:40 Faith Crisis as Identity Formation

18:59 How Valerie and Mark Met

19:18 Valerie's Origin Story with Latter Day Struggles

23:20 The Miracle of Finding Faith Journey Foundation

26:52 Scholarships and How to Get Help

30:54 Funding Model and Supported Projects

35:20 Sustainable Care and Paying Professionals

37:01 Other Communities and Projects FJF Supports

38:28 Valerie on Criticism of Paid Faith Work

40:14 Compassion Doesn't Mean Free Labor

44:14 Closing Invitation and Final Thoughts

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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' into place as you take in this 'audiobook'! Please let us know what is happening within you as you transcend and include Mormonism one series at a time!

As a bonus drop, we have prepared one of our favorite series titled, "Community Healing: How our Greatest Wounds & our Greatest Healing Happens through Human Relationship" for you! Enjoy this deep dive.

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and Reset

10:32 Faith Crisis Isolation

16:00 Shunning and Going Underground

27:53 Finding Support Groups

36:38 Quotes on Group Healing

48:56 Trust the Healing Process

56:17 Roadmap Out of Chaos

01:01:19 Witnessed Healing in Relationship

01:13:25 Beyond All In or Out

01:21:22 Curriculum True Self to Rebirth

01:27:37 Relationships and Patriarchy Work

01:35:08 Hope Through Community

01:42:07 Introducing the True Self

01:59:37 Gnostics and Inner Authority

02:16:18 Love Over Fear

02:26:10 Sharing True Self Statements

02:45:22 Grief and Identity Shift

02:56:20 Writing the True Self Statement

03:03:02 Love Based Spiritual Growth

03:16:25 A Healthier Faith Relationship

03:23:23 Men Patriarchy and Identity

03:31:52 Reclaiming the Core Self

03:39:51 True Self Statement Practice

03:44:26 Welcome to Eden Poem

03:54:16 Community Stories Begin

04:11:37 Community and Belonging

04:46:17 Seeing Pain Not Ideas

04:53:18 Final Invitation to Heal

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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 their exploration of this odd move.

Upon deeper reflection, the move seems less about worries about slippery slopes towards sexual iniquity and possibly more about preserving another kind of slippery slope--the one that disrupts what some feel is the "natural order of the universe". If a female formally presides over a male in one realm of the LDS church, what could this possibly lead to?

Listen in as we propose that moves of this nature is proof that ultimately an all male priesthood must be surrendered...even if excruciatingly slowly...if the LDS church is going to survive in the long run.

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and Context

02:09 Reading the New Policy

02:46 First Reactions and Jokes

04:54 Why Mixed Gender Feels Weird

5:51 Relief Society President and Bishop — Mixed Gender Already Exists

08:21 Loyalist Perspective Brainstorm

09:32 Women Under Men in Leadership

11:09 Nathan's BYU Co-Mission Leader Experience

13:33 Men Under Women and Shame

15:53 Two Existential Questions the Church Dodged

17:14 Presiding and Priesthood Questions

19:13 Can Women Practice Revelation Without Male Approval?

22:49 Priesthood as Human Construct — "All or None of Us Have It"

25:12 Keys vs Duties Explained

28:12 Baptism Witnesses — A Case Study in Power Shifts

29:47 Power and Control Creep

32:39 Family Proclamation Implications

35:23 Women Leading Faith Journeys at Home

37:38 Joseph Smith Gave Women Blessings — Then They Were Taken Back

39:25 What Reforms Might Come Next

44:21 Closing Thoughts and Farewell

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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 structure, s*xual abuse & s*xual abuse under-reporting. The foundation of this struggle is a refusal to question the divinity of patriarchy...which leads to the patterns outlined in this episode.

Please note--episodes of this nature are intended to be "hard on system, soft on people." Val & Nathan maintain that no person is actively trying to harm others--but harm is the inevitable outcome of structures that will not confront their own shadows.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:16 Recap of Previous Episode

01:00 Nathan's Faith Journey and Institutional Critique

02:43 The Harm of Institutional Patriarchy

05:11 Centralized Authority and Its Consequences

07:38 Theological Justifications and Their Flaws

11:45 The "Ship vs. People" Metaphor

15:20 Patriarchy in the Book of Jacob

17:38 Patterns of Abuse and Institutional Response

21:15 Science vs. Religion: Reconciling Evidence

25:30 Handling Abuse Internally

30:41 Legal Counsel and Institutional Protection

35:32 Credibility Issues and Reporting Abuse

38:45 Women Reporting to Women: Limitations

41:24 Conclusion and Call for Change

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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 share this episode if it resonates! Link to the church's announcement can be found HERE.

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and context

01:21 Gratitude and reflection

03:58 Reading the news release

07:52 What we will cover

09:04 Big picture framing

11:43 Liminal perspective reactions

16:59 Loyalist perspective reactions

19:58 Faith development stages

24:08 Leadership tension and paths

27:01 Beyond black and white

28:14 Real Reform Or Optics

29:05 Why Change Is Slow

31:10 Gradualism Explained

32:55 Lincoln And Strategy

37:37 Applying Gradualism Today

39:36 Women Priesthood Forecast

41:08 Near Enemy Concept

45:43 Near Enemy In Practice

48:41 Divine Authority Corner

52:11 Continuing Revelation Tension

56:17 Community And Next Steps

58:25 Closing Reflections

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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 until we start looking it in the eye. Please listen and share this article. Thank you to the Dialogue Foundation and to the author Suzanne E. Greco, whose trailblazing work may eventually be instrumental in preventing countless LDS women and girls from future harm.

She wrote the article. I read the article. Please do your part and share the article (via the podcast or linked HERE!)

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Context

00:26 Upcoming Episode Preview

03:31 Reading the Article: Confronting Men's Violence

05:26 Author's Background and Article Introduction

06:26 Article Reading: Violence Against Women in LDS Church

11:11 Personal Story of Abuse

14:56 Credibility Issues and External Validation

19:59 Global Perspective on Violence Against Women

25:38 Utah Statistics and Under-Reporting

28:38 Male Ecclesiastical Leaders as First Responders

32:38 Challenges and Solutions

33:18 Solution One: Legal Changes and Clergy-Penitent Laws

38:31 High-Profile Cases and Institutional Betrayal

42:58 Solution Two: Women's Ministry and Male Protection Racket

46:23 Solution Three: Training and Education

48:23 DARVO Tactics and Victim-Perpetrator Dynamics

52:52 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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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 individuals and couples between the cracks (which is a highlight of her week!)

Fitting it all in can become tricky, which is why she has been looking for the 'just right' person to help with individuals & couples in Utah looking for a mental health worker with the stamp of approval from Val at Latter Day Struggles.

In today's episode you will meet Heather Sundahl, the newest member of Valerie's Latter Day Struggles team. Heather is a licensed mental health worker, a resident of Utah and strongly endorsed by Valerie as someone you can trust on your faith expansion journey. If you loved their laughter, tears (mostly Val!) and banter, you'll love knowing that Heather plans to come on a few times a year to tackle tough topics with Val relevant to your healing and growth. Jump over to latterdaystruggles.com if you're from Utah and want to work with Heather.

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome And Guest Intro

01:01 Heather Background And Mentors

04:07 Early LDS Gender Messages

07:03 BYU Awakening Moment

09:58 Storytelling And Exponent Two

12:27 Becoming A Therapist

14:23 Healing Through Narrative

17:42 Owning Faith Narratives

19:18 Eve And Going Off Script

21:35 Life Beyond The Script

25:47 Navigating Church Tensions

26:57 Community Over Purity

28:05 Permission to Be Honest

29:05 Jesus as the Anchor

29:23 Self Care for LDS Women

31:24 Beyond Constant Sacrifice

33:51 Therapy Approach and Boundaries

35:33 Staying or Leaving the Church

39:02 Trusting Your Inner Compass

43:43 Faith Journeys and Belonging

49:08 Honoring Mormon Identity

51:14 Closing Vision and Next Steps

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