Dallin Oaks on Early Marriage: LDS Girls, Missions, and the Hidden Risks of Marrying Young

Описание: In this episode of Latter Day Struggles, therapist and host Valerie responds to President Dallin H. Oaks’ recent comments expressing hope that lowering the missionary age for LDS young women will lead to earlier marriage.

Drawing on developmental psychology, marriage research, and family systems theory, Valerie explores the real risks associated with encouraging marriage in the late teens and early twenties, especially for women. These include underdeveloped executive functioning, emotional regulation challenges, economic vulnerability, entrenched gender inequality, social isolation, and higher long-term marital strain.

Valerie examines why institutional patriarchies, including the LDS Church, may promote early marriage: not primarily for individual wellbeing, but for community stability, reduced divorce rates, and the containment of what she calls the growing LDS mixed-faith marriage crisis.

While acknowledging that temple marriages statistically show lower divorce rates, Valerie challenges the assumption that lower divorce equals healthier marriages, pointing instead to research on relational suppression and curtailed identity development in high-control religious systems.

✨ In this episode, you’ll explore:
-What Dallin Oaks actually said about LDS girls, missions, and marriage
-Why early marriage carries documented psychological and sociological risks
-How early marriage may limit healthy differentiation of self
-The real reason mixed-faith marriages challenge LDS theology
-Why lower divorce rates don’t always mean thriving relationships
-A healthier counter-proposal: normalizing faith journeys within marriage

This episode is offered with compassion for church leaders, believing spouses, and those navigating faith transitions, while firmly advocating for healthy adult development, spiritual autonomy, and relational integrity.

If you’re LDS, post-Mormon, mixed-faith, or simply trying to make sense of faith, marriage, and identity inside high-demand religion, this conversation is for you.

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An LDS therapist's thoughtful perspective on navigating the authentic faith journey.
A resource for those who are and those who love others working through challenging issues within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
This podcast discusses some of the issues caused by traditions in the LDS church.. Valerie is a member of the church and a clinical therapist and bravely breaks down controversial, challenging, and important topics that affects her clients. She questions anything that seems to cause shame, suffering, and struggles for individuals and families.

Resources, blog, shop, scholarships: www.valeriehamaker.com
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