Latter Day Struggles

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In honor of our very beloved Carol Lynn Pearson (a bold, sassy woman and the dearest of mentors to me) I wanted to share this beautiful two-part conversation that we had early in the podcast. Listen in and take in what true wit, wisdom, courage, healthy personal authority and value of one's community looks like all wrapped up in one glorious woman.  
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro and Re-Release
03:29 Meet Carolyn Pearson
10:38 Writing as Calling
15:37 Goodbye I Love You Impact
23:08 No More Goodbyes and Facing East
42:18 Speaking Truth in the Church
48:46 Chakras Into Kingdoms
56:07 Repentance And Forgiveness
01:04:20 Guts Plus Heart Courage
01:11:37 Staying In The Church
01:21:56 Policy Pain And Testimony
01:31:44 Heavenly Mother And Creation
01:41:34 Paradigm Shift to Partnership
01:47:50 Men Dismantling Patriarchy
01:55:57 Writing and Creative Process
02:01:10 Kind and Brave in Marriage
02:11:14 The Love Map and Farewell
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Join Val as her audience while she does a final run through on a topic that has come to be a passion project for her on Latter Day Struggles.  In short, what can we do as faith-expanding people in and around the LDS church to ease the polarization between the fiery fundamentalist Mormon and the fiery Ex-Mormon?  
Oddly enough, these two "poles" exist as counterpoints to one another on the opposite extreme.  If one pole chooses a "third way" balance is disrupted, and growth becomes more likely.  We on the Mormon faith journey may not be able to impact all aspects on the extreme side of Mormon fundamentalism/ orthodoxy...but how we handle our own growth journeys CAN change a LOT.  Listen in and let us know what you think! 
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome and Sunstone Preview
01:26 Why Polarization Matters
05:20 The Growth Ladder Model
11:05 Healthy Mormon Fusion
14:55 Differentiation and Faith Crisis
19:55 Integration and Inclusion
26:54 When Growth Gets Stuck
27:56 Fixation in Orthodoxy
33:53 Chronic Differentiation Trap
45:58 Breaking the Polarization Dance
48:47 Processing Wisely in Crisis
58:57 Third Way Closing
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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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Have you ever done something for the first time and feel that pit in your stomach as it approaches?  Well, here at Latter Day Struggles, pretty much EVERYTHING  that we do is a first!  And it always brings that insecure "what have I gotten myself into?" sensation!  
This episode is Val's candid reflections about an evening shared with over a hundred "in person" and "streaming" loved ones who have experienced growth and healing with her.  
A bottom line?  You might be experiencing growth and healing in some way through this podcast and platform.  But you are also giving this gift of healing to Val and Nathan Hamaker.  They thank you and love you.  
Hoping you enjoy Val's thoughts on the gift that this healing community is to her.  Because of you.  
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome and Event Recap
01:06 Why Stories of Healing
04:25 Origin Story Artwork
06:08 Sharing Beyond the Room
08:19 Event Day Emotions
08:37 Three Audience Groups
13:04 Grief and Perspective Shift
16:56 Program Highlights and Readings
25:40 What It Meant to Me
29:24 Q&A Next Steps
34:24 Closing Gratitude
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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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Lately there has been a lot of talk about the LDS disaffiliation crisis in the 21st century. Here at Latter Day Struggles we support open dialogue about what happening in our LDS homes and congregations.  
Please enjoy this special "audiobook" addition of a Latter Day Struggles series unpacking some groundbreaking research done by therapist Liz Macdonald exploring common LDS family dynamics shared by young adults whose disaffiliation experiences were the most challenging.  
We care about people all across the spectrum of faith in and around the LDS church.  Taking research like this seriously could profoundly reshape our community in healthy ways. 
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome
03:54 Meet Liz and The Study
11:48 Method and Study Limits
22:03 Four Key Findings Overview
28:00 Disconnected From Self
52:20 Fear-Based Theology and Parenting
01:02:38 Conditional Love and Worthiness
01:12:42 False Self and Hidden Struggles
01:22:32 One-Way Communication and Fear
01:31:17 Blaming Outside Influences
01:40:20 New Episode Research Overview
01:57:49 Purity Culture and Shame
02:08:05 Adult Development and Compassion
02:20:19 Fear of Selfhood
02:30:25 High Demand Religion
02:44:22 Research Recap
02:52:12 Eight Stages Walkthrough
03:04:59 Parents Threatened by Growth
03:19:13 Fundamentalism and Safety
03:27:20 From Identity to Intimacy
03:34:37 Recommendations and Repair
03:41:27 Closing and Resources
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Join Our Healing From Patriarchy Support Group
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In this episode Val digs into the concept of prophet worship [or any time humans hand over their discerning power to a formal authority figure] from the context of psychology and the “shadow”. 
While we tend to talk about our “shadows” from the context of that which we are ashamed of, sometimes we actually disown our greatest divine attributes. 
Tune in to this episode to learn why this happens and how to reintegrate our “golden shadows” back into our core identities.  This conversation is an extension of Episode 447, so go back and listen if this intrigues you!
Does the idea of awakening your core identity or "True Self" resonate with you ? If so, jump onto a waitlist to join Valerie’s next healing group that focuses on the awakening of one’s True Self core identity. 
This group is titled “Fundamentals of LDS Faith Crisis Healing” and the next group of this type begins spring of 2027!
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome and Setup 
03:09 Traditional Shadow Basics 
07:58 Golden Shadow Defined 
09:27 Projection and Triggers 
12:36 Golden Shadow Projection Example
17:07 How Outsourcing Happens
20:08 Official Carrier and the Cost of Imperfection 
25:37 When Following the Prophet Doesn't Work 
29:36 Reclaiming Discernment 
32:22 Practicing and Giving Yourself Grace 
35:52 Integration Not Overcorrecting 
39:15 Closing Thoughts
Support the show
Join Our Healing From Patriarchy Support Group
Support 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