A New Way to See Your Spouse (and Yourself)

First, I want to congratulate you just for being here. Every step we take to improve ourselves, nurture our marriages, or even just show up ready to try again — it matters.
You are part of a beautiful community where we celebrate effort, growth, and faith.
So take a deep breath, smile, and know you’re in the right place.

This Week’s Reflection: The True Meaning of Respect

Lately, I’ve been thinking about respect — a word we all know is important in marriage, but sometimes feels hard to define.

How do we truly incorporate respect into our marriages?
Not just self-respect, or respect for our spouse, but creating a home where everyone feels seen, honored, and cared for?

I was deeply inspired by a podcast I listened to recently:
The Eternal Family Podcast by Bryce Dunford, Jordan Institute, Season 3, Episode 7.
(This series is based on “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” — a prophetic document released on September 23, 1995.)

In the podcast, Bryce shared an analogy that shifted my perspective:

Imagine holding a $1 bill.
It's just paper and ink, right?
Now imagine holding a $1 million bill (if one existed!).
Still paper and ink — but we would treat it very differently because of its value.

The value determines the care.

Similarly, our Heavenly Father has placed immeasurable value on every human soul — including your spouse, your children, your neighbors… and YOU.

As Doctrine & Covenants 18:10 reminds us:

“The worth of souls is great in the sight of God.”

When we truly believe in that divine value, it naturally transforms how we treat one another.
Respect isn’t something someone must earn — it’s about seeing them the way God already does: priceless, beloved, sacred.

One of my favorite quotes that ties to this idea comes from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland:

“Short of being in the very presence of God, literally, you will never be more proximate to divinity than you are in the presence of your spouse and children. They deserve godly loyalty. They deserve divine attention.”

When I think about my husband, Rory, through this lens, it softens everything.
It’s not about perfection — it’s about honoring the incredible worth God has already declared.

Bonus: The Best Intimacy Advice I Ever Received!

While we’re talking about respect and care, I also want to share a powerful free resource that has helped so many couples reconnect on a deeper level.
If you haven't grabbed it yet, be sure to check out:

The Best Intimate Advice I Ever Received

It’s simple, heartfelt, and designed to bless your marriage immediately.
Take a moment to dive in — you’ll be glad you did!

This Week’s Challenge:

Think of someone in your life who is hard to love right now. (Maybe even yourself!)

Pause and try to see them through the lens of their divine worth — the way Heavenly Father sees them.

How would you treat them differently if you truly remembered how precious they are?

What small action could you take to show more respect and care this week?

If this Marriage Monday email inspired you, feel free to forward it to a friend or family member.
We’re building a community of people committed to strengthening marriages — one Monday at a time.

I believe in you —
for your marriage,
for your family,
for yourself.