Valerie Hamaker on Leaving the LDS Church: ‘They Couldn’t See It’

Valerie Hamaker: Mental health counselor and “Latter Day Struggles” podcaster Valerie Hamaker has resigned from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, citing the inability of church leaders to recognize the struggles of those in faith crises.

In a Wednesday Instagram Live appearance, Hamaker, along with her husband Nathan Hamaker, explained their painful but necessary decision to leave the church after receiving a church disciplinary hearing notice on Feb. 24.

Valerie Hamaker : They Couldn’t See It

“Nathan and I would have preferred to not have had this very sad thing happen,” she said, describing their membership as valuable despite their resignation.

Still, she believes it was a “technicality” required for them to continue their work helping those harmed by the church find peace—whether as faithful members or former ones.

Valerie Hamaker: Confrontation with LDS Leadership

Valerie Hamaker : The Hamakers, who live in Missouri, had been in ongoing discussions with their local lay leaders regarding their work through their popular podcast, which addresses faith crises within the LDS Church.

Valerie described the process as “long and difficult”, with leaders unwilling to accept that she and her husband were trying to help, not oppose, the church.

“I just kept telling them that over and over and over again,” she said, “and they wouldn’t believe it.”

She attributes this to a culture of black-and-white thinking, where church leaders feel compelled to categorize individuals as either “for” or “against” the institution.

“For them to see the good that we were doing, they first had to acknowledge that there was pain and suffering in the first place,” she explained.

However, she believes that deep-seated loyalty to the system and patriarchal structures made it impossible for them to hear her perspective.

A Surge of Support

Since announcing their resignation, Valerie shared that she and Nathan have been “overwhelmed with love and support” from thousands of listeners and community members.

“I could not have anticipated so much love and support,” she said tearfully.

Despite everything, she harbors no anger toward the church or its leaders.

“I do see the good in them, to this day,” she emphasized.  Valerie Hamaker

Not an ‘Ex-Mormon’

Although she is no longer a formal member, Valerie rejects labels such as “ex-Mormon”, arguing that such titles create an us-versus-them mentality.

“Why are there camps, and why must we see so much otherness in the other?” she asked.

For now, she remains committed to her mission—helping those struggling with their faith—regardless of whether the institution recognizes her efforts.

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