Valerie Hamaker, Latter Day Struggles Podcast

My Faith Expansion & Patriarchy Healing Healing Groups are basically CRASH COURSES in opening our minds to complex thinking and learning to tolerate a freaking amazing diversity of thought.

Wait... (you’re possibly saying)...why do your healing groups help me with that? Isn’t everyone in there just in a Mormon faith crisis and basically going through the same thing?

My answer: Yes. and No.

In my Latter Day Struggles healing groups we value a broadly shared experience while also honoring that even in these groups there is a depth and breath of experience that informs each LDS journey.

Conformity is seen as a construct of early development and early stage faith.

Honoring the diversity of one’s beliefs, experiences, and desires regarding one’s relationship with the LDS church is a large part of the healing journey for every person who gives themselves the gift of this healing experience.

Our ability to sit in ambiguity grows.

Our minds grow.

Our hearts grow.

Our confidence grows.

Our souls blossom as each of us realizes that our spiritual journey is our own & nothing to be feared.

Is it time to grow that soul of yours? There are only 6 slots left in my Spring 2026 group. DM me or jump to the link in my bio to claim a mind-expanding-diversity-embracing experience!

Faith isn’t always a straight line.

Sometimes it looks like growth. Sometimes it looks like questions. Sometimes it simply looks like holding on through a season that feels different than before.

This space was created for exactly those moments — a place for honest conversation, thoughtful support, and room for faith to evolve.

If you’re navigating a shift in what you believe or how you believe, visit the link in bio to lear more about Latter-day Struggles support groups.

Seats are filling fast. There are only 7 left! Save your spot today and receive the support you need for your faith journey. 💙

Something that I return to over and over again here (due to what YOU request!) is conversation around issues of Mormonism, gender, and authority.

You might be asking:

**Are we actually moving forward or backwards as a church?

**Can I ever feel like whole when I was raised in an institutional patriarchy?

**Can women and men find peace and spirituality in spite of how little we understand some of the most fundamental questions?

I’m here to say that the Latter Day Struggles platform can be a major force for peace and healing in your faith expansion journey when it comes to issues of gender, sexuality, God, priesthood, and human awakening...

This platform has more than two dozen episodes that walk you throught understanding and healing around these issues! Want some suggestions?

Comment below!

Did any of this sound like you? 👆

I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside many individuals in seasons of growth, questioning, and quiet perseverance in their faith.

That’s why I care so much about creating a space where those experiences can be shared openly and without judgment. This group is focused on making room for honest conversations, steady support, and a faith that can expand rather than feel confined.

If you find yourself in a season where your faith looks different than it used to, or you’re working through questions you didn’t anticipate, you are welcome here. You don’t have to navigate it alone.

What questions do you have about faith expansion support groups? 🧡

It’s Valerie’s birthday!! 🎉🎉

Today we’re celebrating someone who has helped so many of us feel a little less alone, a little more grounded, and a lot more ourselves 💛

Our team (and a few of you!) shared some messages for her, and we’d love to keep it going!

Share your own birthday wish for Valerie in the comments! Let’s make her feel as special and loved as she makes us feel every day 💛 We love you Valerie!

This question came from one of the “Ask Me Anything” series that I did on the podcast awhile back: how do you support a partner who’s struggling to find his footing with the Church?

It got me thinking about the good men in my life—and how deeply patriarchy impacts them, too. For many men, a faith crisis isn’t just spiritual; it shakes their entire sense of identity. When they’ve been taught to lead, provide, and have the answers, doubt can feel like failure.

The pressure to stay certain and “hold it all together” can make their experience incredibly isolating, leaving many to wrestle quietly and alone.

But inside that struggle is something real and hopeful—an invitation to grow into a more honest, grounded, and self-defined version of themselves.

Are you this guy? Or do you know this guy?

Forecast of something special coming...Nathan will be in Utah in the near future sharing at a Live Event about the healing that has come to him when he realized that patriarchy had badly messed him up for most of his life. Stay tuned!

Who is ready to feel spiritually healthier than you ever thought possible?

I’m enrolling for my only Fundamentals of Faith Crisis Healing Group RIGHT NOW🌿

Wondering what’s the big deal and why over 300 people in our LDS faith expansion community chose themselves for 2 hours & found massive personal growth and healing?

**Most people experience their first genuinely safe community for the first time in their lives

**Many people find friends that they keep long after their group graduates

**Most people graduate feeling that they learned and grew in ways that they could never have fathomed

**Most people feel more grounded, confident, calm, and peaceful about their relationship with the LDS church but more importantly...

***Most people feel more grounded, confident, calm, and peaceful about THEMSELVES as creators of their own spiritual lives.

If you’ve been on the fence, this is your invitation. We would truly love to have you in this space with us.

Enrollment closes soon. Come join us 🤍

Still not sure? FAQ and testimonials from group grads are here: https://valeriehamaker.com/are-support-groups-right-for-you/

Differentiation is the quiet, often uncomfortable work of learning to trust your own inner voice without losing connection to the people you love. It’s about staying rooted in your integrity while still showing up in your relationships with care.

In faith spaces where conformity can feel like the goal, this kind of growth can feel especially challenging.

Real spiritual maturity often looks like making room for both: your evolving beliefs and your desire to stay connected.

Where are you craving more honesty or more connection?

It’s a painful disconnect to be surrounded by people and loved ones, yet feel completely alone in your internal experience. So many are carrying questions, grief, or disorientation quietly, unsure who feels safe enough to open up to.

You’re not broken for feeling this way. You’re not alone, even if it feels like it. Healing often begins in spaces where you can be fully honest and still be met with understanding.

That is the magic of my growth and processing groups (as almost 400 people can attest to who have found peace and lifelong friendships in the 3 1/2 years!)

If you’re looking for that kind of support, enrollment is open for my Fundamentals of LDS Faith Crisis Healing Group! We begin this spring and the group is filling up!

You don’t have to navigate this by yourself.