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.

Last refreshed: August 18th, 2025 at 12:07 AM ⓘ

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Episodes

8: On General Conference, Complicated Feelings & LDS Faith Expansion

Send us a Positive Review! Join Valerie and Brannon this week as General Conference weekend approaches and they riff about the nostalgia of General Conference in years gone by with all of the accompanying orthodox "warm fuzzies" and how much more complex but also soul-stretching it is for them to watch, listen, and use our own God-Given discernment during these world-wide meetings as they discover sometimes differing truths--sometimes coming from those in the red satin chairs, but also from thei...

Mar 31, 2022•37 min

7: On Church Callings...Can They be a Problem?

Send us a Positive Review! In this episode, Valerie and Brannon break down the "subtle mandate" of church callings. They talk about how prioritizing callings over family can be problematic. They discuss the importance of being able to say no, to discern for oneself if a calling is really what God wants them to do. Support the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Do...

Mar 23, 2022•38 min•Season 1Ep. 6

6: On Patriarchy's Impact on Healthy Development

Send us a Positive Review! Join Valerie and Brannon as they talk about Valerie’s experience awakening to the impact that patriarchy has had in her own development, choices, life experiences. Support the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Donate: ⁠Venmo or Patreon⁠ Visit our Website...

Mar 14, 2022•36 min•Season 1Ep. 7

5: On the Value of Doubting Our Doubt

Send us a Positive Review! Series Title: Is Doubt a Sin? [Part II of II] In this episode Brannon and Valerie talk about the importance of doubt. They break down faith and why doubt is crucial to spiritual development. They also discuss why we are taught to not doubt but to "doubt our doubts" and why that can be problematic. Support the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing...

Mar 11, 2022•48 min•Season 1Ep. 5

4: On Doubt as Valuable to True Belief

Send us a Positive Review! Series Title: Is Doubt a Sin? [Part I of II] In this episode Brannon and Valerie talk about the importance of doubt. They break down faith and why doubt is crucial to spiritual development. They also discuss why we are taught to not doubt but to "doubt our doubts" and why that can be problematic. Support the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing ...

Mar 09, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 4

3: On Owning Our Mistakes

Send us a Positive Review! In this episode Valerie and Brannon dig into the recent incident regarding LDS Young Men's General Leader Brad Wilcox's awkward kerfuffle with the media and offer thoughts on tangled webs, evasion of uncomfortable truths, personal and institutional accountability, and the much simpler path of telling even unpleasant facts or owning our mistakes when we haven't been forthright in the past. Listen, subscribe, share! Support the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISO...

Mar 07, 2022•46 min•Season 1Ep. 3

2: On "Bad" Thoughts

Send us a Positive Review! What are bad thoughts?In this episode Brannon and Valerie discuss "bad thoughts". They talk about how trying to control bad thoughts lead to shame and self rejection. They break down the notion that all sexual thoughts are "bad". Support the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups Donate: ⁠Venmo or Patreon⁠ Visit our Website...

Mar 04, 2022•40 min•Season 1Ep. 2

1: Is Gods Love Contingent on Righteousness?

Send us a Positive Review! Welcome to the Latter Day Struggles Podcast where we strive to talk about things that are connected to your LDS-related faith journey. Valerie Hamaker is a licensed relationship therapist and has attended the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for her entire life. She cares deeply about the spiritual and psychological wellbeing of those connected with her home faith and the integrity and theological soundness of the church. She is here to engage in respectful ...

Feb 22, 2022•41 min•Season 1Ep. 1

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