Latter Day Struggles

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In this episode, Valerie & colleague Jana Spangler are guests on Dan Wotherspoon's Latter Day Faith podcast where they talk about a little known version of the human shadow.  
Many of us know about the 'classic shadow'...you know...parts of ourselves that we are ashamed of and seek to hide.  What about parts of ourselves that we also hide...even though they are our our strengths, our superpowers and even manifestations of our unique spiritual gifts & attributes?  
Listen in as Dan, Jana, and Valerie discuss why people in general tend to have and hide  "golden shadows" and as they explore some reasons why the LDS population might manifest unique "golden shadows" as a consequence of LDS theology and tradition.
Timestamps:
00:00 Meet the Hosts
00:48 Where to Find Val
01:24 Jana’s Coaching Work
02:18 Shadow Work Basics
03:44 What Is Golden Shadow
04:58 Projection and Admiration
07:15 Fear of Your Light
10:09 Sacred Examples of Calling
13:12 Spotting Golden Shadow
18:43 Therapy Approach and Safety
21:41 Patriarchy and Buried Identity
29:25 Grief Forgiveness and Family
31:56 Grieving Without Confronting
32:51 Shame and the Not Me Boundary
35:50 Holding Complexity With Kids
37:07 Critical Thinking Both And
38:33 Mormon Theology and Sin Scripts
46:55 Inner Work and Quiet Practices
52:55 Golden Shadow and Authority
59:33 Reclaiming Discernment and Closing
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Series Title: "Latter Day Missionaries": A Mental Health Resource for LDS Missionaries & their Families [Part II of II]
In this episode Dr. Bryson Ensign joins Valerie again to unpack OCD & scrupulosity in the LDS mission field. This episode first explores how Dr. Bryson covers OCD/scrupulosity in his "Mental Health Training Center". It also explores how this resource could be lifesaving tool for the missionary as well as a crucial resource for the parents of full-time missionaries concerned about their child's wellbeing and not knowing how to help when their child is far away and struggling with various mental healthy issues.
Find additional information on Dr. Ensign's program HERE.
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome Back Intro
00:44 Why Missions Get Complicated
03:11 Mental Health Training Center Overview
07:00 Why Missionaries Are Vulnerable
10:15 Parents Need Support Too
15:52 Steady Parenting Skills
20:39 Pivot to OCD Scrupulosity
23:42 How Each Lesson Works
30:32 Bryson Mission Story
35:04 When Scrupulosity Gets Reinforced
38:21 Healthy vs Unhealthy Faith
39:52 Parents Spot the Signs
42:43 Accountability Partner Plan
44:32 Lesson Flow Overview
45:38 OCD Basics Explained
49:16 Scrupulosity on a Mission
55:23 Why Missions Trigger It
58:51 Three Practical Tools
01:04:30 Where to Get Help
01:07:38 Specialized OCD Treatment
01:09:51 Final Thanks and Wrap
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Series Title: "Latter Day Missionaries": A Mental Health Resource for LDS Missionaries & their Families [Part I of II]
Do you know anyone who experienced issues with anxiety, depression, homesickness, getting along with that annoying companion, or struggles with shame and perfectionism on their LDS mission? Was that you? Your child? If you have been touched in any way with the LDS mission experience and would like a resource that is worth its weight in gold, this series is for you. 
In today's episode you will meet Dr. Bryson Ensign, a former LDS missionary and psychiatrist in training who has dedicated countless hours creating a resource that he wishes he had on his own mission. As a devoted listener to the Latter Day Struggles podcast, Bryson shares a passion with Valerie to help those in and around the LDS faith with issues of mental well being that are often not understood (and therefore not addressed ) at the institutional level. 
This episode shares his vision, sense of call, and an overview of his program. The next episode walks you through an entire segment of his curriculum (dealing with scrupulosity on the LDS mission). Enjoy!
Find additional information on Dr. Ensign's program HERE.
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 
02:48 Bryson's Background and Faith 
07:24 Why Mission Mental Health 
10:56 Program Overview: Latter Day Missionaries 
16:01 Mental Health Training Center 
20:36 Lesson Topics and Tools 
28:19 Designed for Every Faith Stage 
33:13 Holding Complexity: Obedience, Shame, and Mental Health 
36:13 Systemic Challenges and Early Returns 
40:30 Real Stories: Missionaries Suffering in Silence 
46:10 The Church, Mental Health, and Cultural Change 
51:16 Personal Call and Inspiration 
57:52 Next Episode: Scrupulosity Preview 
01:00:00 Closing and Resources
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Series Title: Religion IS Political [Part VII of VII]
This final episode of this series is our response to the point of view that Jesus did not ‘get political’. Jesus (and each of us) cannot avoid being political. We state our “politics” with each stance to either uphold or resist dominator hierarchies. And Jesus’ whole ministry can be defined by resistance to any system that placed the life of any human being over the life of any other human being. 
Listen to this episode to answer for yourself the following questions: Did the actual Jesus of Nazareth embody radical love for all human beings and speak strongly and often about very "political" topics?  Or did claim neutrality in a way that left those of his time uncertain about how he felt about authoritarian power structures and their treatment of "the least of these"? 
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome and Series Finale
02:06 Recap of Episodes One to Six
05:01 Liberation Jesus or Empire Mascot
06:42 Scripture Lenses and Competing Jesuses
08:47 Jesus of Nazareth vs Christ of Empire
12:48 Refusing Power and Inner Kingdom
20:30 Flattening Margins and Social Norms
27:58 Good Samaritan and Bad Laws Today
34:42 Challenging Religious Gatekeeping
40:05 Taking Jesus Name Through Action
43:23 Love Over Fear God Image
47:06 Closing Thanks and Fellowship Invite
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Hey listeners of the Latter Day Struggles podcast!  Join Val in this bonus episode as she answers audience questions that will help you feel like you've come to the right place for psychologically sound resources and community on your LDS faith expansion journey.    We're not about burning anything down.  We are about bridging.  Building. Expanding.  Transcending. Including.  Becoming.  
In this bonus episode Val answers a couple of questions about relationship struggles that inevitably come up when our relationship with the LDS church is evolving.  She also shares her vision for the future of the LDS church if faith expanding people continue to gather and practice a more radical, inclusive, and non-polarized love than currently exists in our present LDS culture as groups gather at the opposite poles.  
To be a part of a movement that actively practices critical thinking and personal growth--join Valerie & others leading out in a new way to manifest what true faith expansion is.
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome and Purpose
02:07 How We Are Different
05:09 Beyond Binary Healing
07:45 Transcend and Include
12:18 Monday vs Friday Episodes
14:32 Friday Spiritual Expansion
21:57 Live Fellowship Overview
24:36 Fellowship Topics and Schedule
30:11 Upcoming Mission Mental Health Series
34:52 Why Groups Matter
42:52 Talking Across Ladder Rungs
52:15 Enrollment and Closing
Support the show
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Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES
Friday Episodes Annual Access $89
Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10
Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups
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Visit our Website