Latter Day Struggles

Welcome to a podcast series that has been months in the making and one that you will NOT want to miss if you desire to find health and healing in your relationship with God, atonement, hope, and healing. In this four part series, Valerie welcomes return guest and gifted LDS theologian Fiona Givens. Together they delve deeply into the development of various atonement theologies and

Subscriber-only episodeIn this thought-provoking final episode of this four-part series, Valerie explores the complex historical and cultural factors that contribute to the prevalence of unique near enemy behaviors within the LDS Church. She discusses how the church's trauma history, including persecution and isolation, has fostered a culture of extreme self-protection and difficul

In this episode three (of a four-part series) Val and Nathan continue their deep dive into applications of the Buddhist concept of the near enemy, shining a light on how this concept might apply to how the LDS and surrounding community might grow in light and truth as these ideas are understood and embraced. They focus on how behaviors like self-aggrandizing, pity, and clinging sub

Subscriber-only episodeIn this Latter Day Struggles EXCLUSIVE [episode two of a four-part series] Val and Nathan explore several topics relevant to the LDS faith journey through the lens of the "near enemy". Their focus in this advanced-content episode includes an analysis of: **Faithfulness as the near-enemy of personal integrity **Checklist obedience as the near-enemy of personal

In this episode one [of a four-part series] Valerie and Nathan delve into the profound concept of the "Near Enemy," highlighting how certain behaviors that superficially resemble virtues actually hinder personal growth and damage interpersonal relationships. Drawing from Buddhist wisdom and Brené Brown's integrative work, they discuss how the near enemy behaviors can creep into al

Subscriber-only episodeIn this final episode in their series tackling the topic of OCD spiritual scrupulosity within the context of the LDS faith, Valerie and Brannon Patrick reflect on their own experiences as missionaries to offer a respectful critique of a culture that of vulnerable to struggles with mental health in general and spiritual scrupulosity in specific. Their conversa

In this episode three [of a four-part series] Valerie welcomes fellow therapist colleague Brannon Patrick for a discussion highlighting the profound impact of OCD scrupulosity on individuals within the LDS community. In an unexpected turn of events, both Val and Brannon realize that they each struggled in their adolescence with the same unnamed fear of God's disappointment accompan

Subscriber-only episodeIn this episode two [of a four-part series] Valerie and guest author Taylor Kerby delve into the complexities of OCD scrupulosity within the context of the Latter-Day Saint faith. They continue their conversation tackling the following topics connecting OCD spiritual scrupulosity with the LDS faith tradition: 1. Spiritual Exceptionalism (addressed primarily i

In this opening episode of a four-part series focused on OCD spiritual scrupulosity in the context of the LDS church, Valerie begins by interviewing Taylor Kerby, author the the book "Scrupulous: My Obsessive Compulsion for God". In this episode Taylor shares his journey with spiritual scrupulosity, explaining how these conditions manifested as compulsive religious behaviors fueled

Subscriber-only episodeIn this episode, Valerie and Nathan tackle Camille Johnson's recent address from the 2024 BYU Women’s Conference and its many contradictory and conflicting messages around personal choice, healthy and unhealthy leadership and followership, gender roles, womanhood, motherhood, career, obedience, and personal revelation. The conversation illuminates the need