355: Finding Myself in the Wilderness of LDS: A Tale of Vulnerability & Bravery

Listen to this episode from Latter Day Struggles on Spotify. Send us a Positive Review!In this episode, Valerie shares an inspiring journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth with The Wholeness Network.  The theme was Brene Brown's exploration of the concept of "Braving the Wilderness" and on the heels of three years of learning to live & love one's truth at a potentially high social cost, Val felt that she had a couple of things to say about this.   This episode is a sharing of history, emotion on both ends of the spectrum and ultimately,  a tale of courage, compassion, and finding one's true place in the world.  00:00 Finding My Path: Early Struggles and Discoveries00:40 A Surprising Call to Ministry01:06 Discovering a Passion for Therapy02:38 The Journey to Graduate School03:18 Embracing Complexity in Faith and Life04:40 Launching a Podcast: Unexpected Success07:40 Understanding the Faith Journey08:11 Stages of Faith and Personal Growth10:25 Challenges and Courage in Faith Transitions15:40 The Role of Compassion and Empathy23:45 Trusting Oneself and Embracing the Divine Within27:49 The Price and Reward of Spiritual Journeys28:05 Experiences of Resonance and Support33:28 Navigating Faith and Personal Growth42:36 Understanding Patriarchy in Faith Communities50:58 The Impact of Enmeshed Family Systems58:22 Embracing Wholeness and Self-Integration Afterward:  After their forced resignation from the LDS church in March of 2025, Val & Nathan were invited to share their stories on about a dozen podcasts.  Due to Nathan's currently heavy travel schedule, most of these guest appearances are (unfortunately!) just Valerie.  Thanks for sharing this journey with the Hamakers! Support the showSupport 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