Latter Day Struggles

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In July of 2026 the LDS children's magazine, the Friend published an article addressing a little LDS girl's concern about there being "no girl bishops" in the church. In this article the reader follows as the child's aunt explains the tenants of what is commonly referred to in conservative Christian circles as "gender complementarianism" using a sports analogy. This episode is Valerie's response as to why a sports analogy evades fundamental issues around structural inequality within Mormonism. 
She then shares her thoughts on how she wished she had discussed this issue with her own daughters when they were younger, which might have invited both critical thinking & the ability for them to be involved in ways that would not have negatively impacted their identity development.  

Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome and Purpose
01:36 Why This Topic Matters
03:28 Plan for Today
07:30 Reading the Article
11:28 Initial Reactions
12:25 Complementarianism Explained
17:06 Sports Analogy Breakdown
28:17 Core Issue Authority
29:46 What Kids Are Learning
34:08 Parents Damage Control
37:09 Mormonism as Culture
39:53 Closing and Community

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In this episode Valerie is guest on the podcast Hidden Wisdom & engages in a beautiful conversation with Meghan Farner on a range of topics, from thoughts on her resignation from the LDS church, the joys and struggles of the authentic spiritual journey, and Valerie's extensive work with hundreds of people healing from Mormon faith crisis and finding a deepening path towards healthy, vibrant spirituality both within and beyond LDS practice.
This episode is a reminder that more and more people are speaking up about both transcending the limitations of Mormonism while including their Mormon experiences in their deepening spiritual journey.

Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
04:23 Starting the Podcast
08:01 Disciplinary Council and Resignation
13:06 Keeping the Good in Mormonism
17:17 Faith Expansion Sorting Process
24:03 Atonement as Wholeness
31:27 Reimagining God and Patriarchy
41:10 Mysticism and Direct Experience
48:46 Programs and Closing Thanks

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In this episode Valerie welcomes Dr. Brad Reedy, colleague, author, and fellow psychotherapist working primarily with an LDS audience in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Brad has spent decades helping LDS families find peace and connection when life gets complicated and the LDS belief system and practices no longer can hold a family together and sometimes threaten to tear them apart. 
Val and Brad focus on the family composed of a queer child (including an adult child) and devout parents.  How does a family handle this situation in a way that restores self love to a wounded child while honoring the fears and loyalties of the parents?  Learn more about this and so much more in this beautiful bridge-building episode.  
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
05:34 Therapy vs Religious Certainty
08:28 Three Parent Populations
11:29 Staying in the Room
17:03 Trojan Horse and Patience
20:47 No Agenda in Therapy
26:33 Healing Before Complexity
30:44 Safety and Longing
34:12 Shame and the False Self
37:45 Queer Youth Survival
44:04 Whole Not Good
50:26 Turning Wholeness Into Shoulds
51:09 Closing Thanks and Resources

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In this not-to-be-missed episode, Val interviews Michael McLean (of The Forgotten Carols and Mr. Kruger's Christmas) and his delightful son Jeff about a book they just co-wrote recounting their journey to unconditional love for self and one another in a religious tradition that still struggles to embrace the reality that the worth of EVERY soul (not just the married heterosexual soul!) is infinitely good, lovable, & 'enough'.  
This conversation is candid, raw, and maybe as 'real' as anything that you've heard on Latter Day Struggles and it is the essence of why we do what we do here.  We share conversations like Jeff's and Michael's to remind us that miracles of healing are possible as humans awaken to the real message of Jesus Christ:  That love knows no limits.  
In the next episode Val interviews therapist and colleague Brad Reedy, who contributes to Jeff and Michael's book.  Don't miss these profound and touching episodes!  
DON'T HIT STOP after the interview this week y'all! Please enjoy a beautiful original song written by Jeff McLean for his therapists and helpers along the way during his journey that led to the writing of Stay in the Room.
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome and Guests
05:00 Jeff on Identity and Culture
10:18 Michael on Painful Truths
16:21 Jeff on Shame and Hiding
20:16 Host Therapy Framework
27:28 Michael Valley of Shadow
32:18 Temple Recommend Turning Point
40:33 Host Reframes the Journey
45:39 A Living Room Breakthrough
49:41 Houston Hotel Confrontation
55:12 Love Loud Safe Harbors
59:08 Writing The Book As Recovery
01:10:54 Die Before You Die
01:21:05 Hope For Unapologized Hurt
01:27:41 McClain Foundation Plans
01:29:15 Closing Gratitude + Original Song

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In this episode, Val is joined by Greg Prince, and their focus begins with Hugh B Brown’s legacy of gutsy leadership & expands to an exploration of the broader implications of the LDS Church's aging leaders (due to their succession-by-seniority-policy multiplied by advancements in medicine in the past several decades). 
Does modern science about increasing life expectancy & therefore increased dementia risk in elderly leaders call for a conversation about how LDS leadership is chosen? Listen in to hear what Greg & Valerie have to say about this. 

Want to listen to this whole series? Jump back to episode 185.
Timestamps:
00:00 Episode Setup
00:48 Welcome Greg Prince
00:59 McKay Era Recap
03:26 Meet Hugh B Brown
07:03 Brown Versus Benson
10:26 Uchtdorf Comparison
12:17 McKay First Presidency Picks
16:58 Succession And Dementia Data
25:07 Fixing Succession Rules
29:58 Power Shift To Twelve
33:34 Youth Exodus And Relevance
36:35 New Contract For Members
40:39 Closing And Resources
Support the show
Make a Tax Deductible Donation
Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES
Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10
Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups
Join The Live Fellowship podcast discussion group
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Visit our Website