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.
Episodes
420 episodes
416: Was Grandma Right? Is the World Going to Hell in a Handbasket?
Series Title: Making Sense of Current Human Ascension & Human Atrocity [Part I of IV]In this opening episode of a four part series, Val and Nathan set the stage to answer one BIG question: How can it be true that evolution is unfoldi...
Subscriber Episode
•
•
35:44
415: Presenting our Utah-Based Latter Day Struggles Faith Expansion Specialist
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 individ...
•
56:21
414: Transcending + Including in "Real Life": Listener Experiences Audiobook
Due to your many requests—we are now dropping each Friday Fellowship Latter Day Struggles 2.0 series in “audiobook” format after the final episode of the series drops. What does this mean for you? It means before we move on and change topics yo...
Subscriber Episode
•
•
2:43:26
BONUS: How the World ACTUALLY Changes
We've heard it a thousand times...and probably have said it a few times ourselves. "The ________will never change." You fill in the blank..."The world will never change" or "the church will never change"...and yet they do.
•
1:02:23
413: Complexity of Clark Gilbert Call to the Q12
In this episode Val is joined by Jana Riess, author and researcher of the LDS spectrum of experience and Jason Bergman, former BYU professor & faculty member. Together they discuss the many facets of the Clark Gilbert call to the Q12 ...
•
1:28:24
412: Transcending + Including In Relationship with Devout LDS Siblings
Series Title: Transcending + Including in "Real Life": Listener Experiences [Part III of III]In this episode Nathan gets personal about some special experiences he has had building bridges of love and understanding with his de...
Subscriber Episode
•
•
54:59
411: Inaugural Live Fellowship Recording
Join us for this one-time-only recording of our FIRST Latter Day Struggles "Live Fellowship"! What is this, you ask? Valerie has decided to offer a gathering place for those on the LDS and surrounding faith expansi...
•
1:04:33
410: Transcending + Including In Relationship with Devout LDS Parents
Series Title: Transcending + Including in "Real Life": Listener Experiences [Part II of III]In this beautiful conversation you will meet Katie, who shares the arc of her experience with her devout LDS mother as her own LDS faith jo...
Subscriber Episode
•
•
57:32
409: The Family Proclamation: Living Document or Unchanging Doctrine?
Series Title: What does the Family Proclamation Mean to You? [Episode II of II]This episode of Latter Day Struggles continues a two-part conversation about the LDS Church's Proclamation on the Family, examining the tension bet...
•
42:04
408: Transcending + Including Mormon Atonement Theology
Series Title: Transcending + Including in "Real Life": Listener Experiences [Part I of III]In this three-part series we will learn from some of you in our Latter Day Struggle Community who are really integrating the concept of tran...
Subscriber Episode
•
•
53:25
407: Is the Family Proclamation a Commentary or a Revelation?
Series Title: What does the Family Proclamation Mean to You? [Episode I of II]Welcome to this two-part series where Valerie welcomes returned guest scholar Taylor Petrey to discuss the LDS Church's Family Proclamation to the Wo...
•
52:59
406: Are We Teaching our Children to Hate?
In this episode Val & Nathan dip into a bit of pop culture to illustrate how easily we might be inadvertently teaching our children to hate if we choose any spiritual path that does not include some form of 'transcend & include'. ...
Subscriber Episode
•
•
51:38
405: Announcing: Biweekly LIVE Fellowship! More Healing & New Connection
Have you ever listened to a Latter Day Struggles episode and wanted nothing more than to talk about it but no one is around or would understand? Have you noticed that while your heart is growing faster than ever, your relationships are ch...
•
51:29
404: The Two Functions of Formal Religion Audiobook
Hey Friday Fellowship! Please enjoy this consolidated recording of the most recent Latter Day Struggles 2.0 Transcending and Including Mormonism Series where Val & Nathan break down the two functions of all religious systems, why each...
Subscriber Episode
•
•
2:18:17
403: A Tribute to our Former Bishop, Ken Glenn
In this episode Nathan & I pause to honor the impact that Ken Glenn had on us at this time of his early and tragic passing. In this episode we share many examples that prove that the traditionally believing [Ken] and the…...
•
48:12
402: Spiritual Seekers: Your Voice & Example Matters to Those in Earlier Stages!
Series Title: The Two Functions of Formal Religion [Part III of III]In this final episode of this series breaking down the two functions of religion, Val comes on solo to share some personal thoughts. While one of our mo...
Subscriber Episode
•
•
36:40
401: A Response to Dallin Oaks' Desire for LDS Girls to Marry Younger
In this episode I respond to your requests to explore President Dallin Oaks' desire that LDS girls get married younger. As a bonus, I propose a counter-solution to. the current LDS mixed-faith marriage crisis that does not involve pressur...
•
1:05:07
400: Most People Don't Want a Religion that Transforms Them
Series Title: The Two Functions of Formal Religion [Part II of III]In this second episode of their series tackling the two functions of formal religion, Valerie and Nathan explore why most religions *think* they are offering true v...
Subscriber Episode
•
•
53:25
399: This Classic Episode Put Latter Day Struggles on the Map of Faith Crisis Healing
With well over a million downloads since its first drop in March of 2022, the Latter Day Struggles podcast has established itself the place to find peace, healing, community, and words to describe your Latter-day Saint faith and...
•
1:11:28
398: Your Faith Crisis Means You're Ready for More
Series Title: The Two Functions of Formal Religion [Part I of III] In this three part Latter Day Struggles 2.0 Transcend + Include series, Val and explore the two distinct functions of religion: the “horizontal” pat...
Subscriber Episode
•
•
49:23
397: What Happens When Only One Kind of Latter-day Saint is Allowed to Exist in the Church
Series title: Mormon Faith Crisis—Progression, Not Pathology [Part III of III]In this episode Valerie welcomes back friend and researcher Jeff Strong for the third installment of their series exploring Jeff's research l...
•
58:58
396: UNLOCKED for All Listeners: Shifting the Focus from Abortion to Preventing Unwanted Pregnancy!
As we begin 2026 and the fourth year of the Latter Day Struggles Podcast, we wanted to say THANK YOU to ALL supporters of the podcast and platform! So please enjoy this Office Hours recording and a podcast episode that is one that is a...
•
1:00:25
395: We Need to Stop Calling Growth a Sin in the LDS Church
Series title: Mormon Faith Crisis—Progression, Not Pathology [Part II of III]In today's episode Valerie and guest researcher Jeff Strong explore why people in the same LDS congregation can experience church so differently, dep...
•
51:39
394: Exploring Mormonism's Immortality Projects Parts 1-4
In this audiobook style 4-part series, Val & Nathan explore how human beings manage anxiety and search for meaning and immortality through external systems of belief, identity, and worthiness. They examine how w...
Subscriber Episode
•
•
3:27:16
393: Quiet Conflict: What the Research Reveals About Active LDS Members
Series title: Mormon Faith Crisis—Progression, Not Pathology [Part I of III] The data is rolling in and Wow…if you want to know what’s really on the hearts and minds of many active Latter-day Saints, this 3-part series is a G...
•
1:05:53