Mormon Marriages

“I am in a place with my significant other where he is really struggling. Life is just stressful and I think he is getting a little depressed. Do you have advice on how I can be there for him and support him? I know it’s not my place to fix his situation but I want to help him.” Having a spouse who struggles with depression or anxiety can be so hard. It’s difficult to watch them suffer when all you want to do is take the pain away. It can leave you feeling helpless and unsure of what to do. So, what can you do? In this episode of the podcast, Nate and Angilyn get up close and personal with the role that anxiety has played in their marriage, and what they have found works for them. They hope that their experiences can help to bring some insight and clarity into yours.

“You are not a Burden.” - Dani Bates If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). Dani was widowed by suicide in March of 2019. Soon after, she began writing about her late husband, Denny, and about her experiences in real time as she and her two daughters go through life after a traumatic loss. She has become an advocate for mental wellness and stopping the stigma against suicide. You can read more on her blog at danibates.com or listen to her podcast “Make It Awkward” on any major listening app. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for the latest.

In March of 2012, Brittany Fisher Frank was involved in a rappelling accident in which she fell 80-100 feet. The injuries she sustained from the fall left her paralyzed from the waist down. After her accident, she had many concerns including the worry of what dating what be like. But, when she met Trevor, he jumped right in - loading her wheelchair into his car on their first date! Though living with a disability comes with many challenges and difficulties, Trevor & Brittany share with us how they move forward in their marriage and in their lives with optimism, faith, and joy. Trevor and Brittany have been married for 3 years, and are the parents of an adorable little boy and the cutest dog.

Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife is a LDS relationship and sexuality coach as well as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the state of Illinois. She has a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. In addition to her dissertation research on LDS women's sexuality and relationship to desire, she has taught college level human sexuality courses. Her teaching and coaching focuses on helping LDS individuals and couples achieve greater satisfaction and passion in their emotional and sexual relationships. In addition to consultation with couples and individuals (in person and online), she offers online relationship and sexuality courses as well as live workshops and retreats for LDS couples and individuals. Jennifer is a frequent guest on LDS-themed podcasts and write articles for LDS-themed blogs and magazines, on the subjects of sexuality, relationships, mental health and faith.

"Choose to love, and choose to do it all the way." - Brooke Romney In this episode of the podcast, Mike and Brooke Romney take us on a journey through many of life's different phases. From dating to being newlyweds, financial struggles to dealing with teenagers, the Romney's give us valuable perspective into finding gratitude and contentment through it all. They teach us the importance of valuing your partners differences and turning towards each other when life gets tough. There are so many golden nuggets in this episode! We hope you enjoy it!

"It feels like my whole marriage I have felt like there is something missing. Sometimes I see qualities that are not in my marriage in other people, and it makes me lust after them. I keep feeling like I have to bury my feelings because my marriage is great, but it just feels like two people tolerating each other." Have you ever felt this way in your marriage? Chances are, you're not alone. It's common for couples to fall into what is call the "roommate syndrome." When life gets normal and monotonous, it can be easy to let the relationship grow a little stagnant. In this Q&A episode of the podcast, Nate and Ang talk about a few tools and resources that can help you get to know your partner and fall in love all over again! Enjoy! “Without such a love map, you can’t really know your spouse. And if you don’t really know someone, how can you truly love them?” - Dr. John Gottman

"The absence of trauma, the healing from betrayal, does not equal wellness. You can heal and be in a stable place and still feel dissatisfied and unfulfilled. True sexual and relational wellness comes from moving towards a healthier place in your relationship - the vision beyond repair." No one goes into marriages wanting to experience betrayal. It can crumble the vision & dream of what you once hoped your marriage would be. Like cracked eggs, it can leave you feeling empty, broken, fragile, in pain, and unrepairable. In this episode of the podcast, Kristin Hodson takes us beyond the surface of the cracked eggs to see the potential of a new life, fresh starts, and new beginnings that can come to a relationship in the wake of a betrayal. She gives us valuable insights and tools that can help you move past healing and towards a vision beyond repair. Kristin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, AASECT certified Sex Therapist, and the founder and executive director of The Healing Group. She is also an adjunct professor at the University of Utah teaching healthy human sexuality. Follow her on instagram @kristinbhodson for daily insights on how you can be the sex expert of your own life.

"We came from two different marriages, with two sets of children, two different lifestyles and careers... It was doing something difficult, and dangerous and emotionally challenging together that gave us something uniquely ours." - Georgia Anderson Mark and Georgia Anderson both experienced divorce after 20+ years in their previous marriages. In this episode, they share with us the unique challenges that come with dating after divorce, blending two sets of children, and creating a new family culture. They share the importance of creating a shared dream together, and how it has brought them closer together. It has given them an opportunity for growth and learning, and helped to make their marriage stronger than ever. We hope you enjoy the show!

Tyler and Danelle Beckstrand met in a college math class at Utah State University (go Aggies!) They got married in 2011 and graduated together a few years later. The plan was to have babies right away but they found themselves dealing with unexplained infertility. After six years of trying to build their family, they decided adoption was their next step. In this week's episode of the podcast, we sat down with Danelle and Tyler to talk about their journey with infertility. They shared with us the highs and the lows, the joys and the heartbreak. The overwhelming lesson to be learned: Don't ever stop hoping. Learn more of their story on the blog entitled "We Call it a Journey," which is meant to bring connection to those who are experiencing infertility, and perspective to those who are not. We hope you enjoy the episode. Please share it with as many people as you can!

"People don’t recover in treatment centers - people don’t recover in a buildings, or in jails. People recover in the context of relationships." - Jason Coombs In this week's episode of the podcast, we sat down to talk with Jason Coombs about the devastating effects of addiction in people's lives and how to help a loved one to recover. Jason opens up about his own story of recovery and the role is loved ones played in it. Check out his book, "Unhooked: How to Help an Addicted Loved One Recover" for more information and resources.

What's the difference between a boundary and an ultimatum? How do you set clear boundaries and maintain them without hurting your marriage? Take a listen to find out!

Today we're going to give you some ideas regarding how to get your partner on board with making changes to your relationship. We get lots of questions about this topic. Today's episode was particularly inspired by this listener's question: "How do you get a spouse on board with ideas and follow through? Do I have to wait around until they're ready? I'm sick of waiting around for change, but also don't know how to go about it without my partner, because he's half of the relationship..."

It is easy to assume that if two spouses are living righteously - reading their scriptures, going to the temple, attending church - that everything in their marriage should magically work out. That's not how it works. In this episode of the podcast, we talked with Llyly and Manuel Valdes about the importance of being dedicated to lifelong learning. Early on in their marriage, they decided that they would seek as much information they could through books, counseling, and other resources in order to have the best marriage possible. "Information before Revelation" became one of their mantras. Give it a listen. We hope you enjoy!

Alisha Worthington is a clinical social worker and sex educator. Many parents send their newly engaged children to chat with Alisha before the big day. In this episode of the podcast, we sat down with her to discuss the most important advice she gives to Latter-Day Saints preparing for a sexual relationship in the near future. If you know of any engaged members of the church who would benefit from this information, give it a share!

Reconnecting head and heart - How relying on God can help you navigate mental illness in your life and in your marriage.