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Dr. Tim Rarick is a professor of Home and Family at BYU-Idaho who has spent over a decade defending the family on the world stage. He has spoken at the United Nations more than 20 times, met with diplomats from dozens of countries, and faced hostile pushback for standing up for fatherhood, motherhood, and the family unit. He has also been married to his wife Jody for 25 years and is raising four children. In this episode of the Epic Marriage Podcast, Nick Leyva sits down with Dr. Rarick to talk about what it actually looks like to carry the family proclamation as a modern-day title of liberty. They discuss why words like "preside" and "nurture" trigger so many people, what the difference is between peacemaking and peacekeeping, and why the proclamation that once sounded like common sense now sounds controversial. Dr. Rarick shares his journey from a grad student teaching seminary in the mornings and secular courses in the afternoons to a family scientist who felt the call of the proclamation settle into his bones. He also makes a case that the real family advocates are not at the United Nations. They are the couples doing the work in their kitchens, living rooms, and minivans every single day. If you are ready to defend your marriage and your family with both backbone and compassion, visit YourEpicMarriage.com for resources created for temple-sealed couples. If this episode helps you, please leave a review so more couples can find it. Your family is the fundamental unit of society. Start treating it that way. Follow Epic Marriage:   Website: https://YourEpicMarriage.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/epicmarriageoffical  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@epicmarriage  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/epic_marriage/  Twitter/X: https://x.com/epicmarriagepod Follow Tim Rarick: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-rarick-8a93009/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tim.rarick/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trarick/

If your spouse has stopped reaching for you, or if you have stopped noticing when they do, this episode explains exactly what is happening and how to fix it. Bids for connection are the small, everyday moments that hold a marriage together. A wink across the room. A hand on your back. A text that says I am thinking about you. When those bids get ignored long enough, couples stop making them altogether, and resentment fills the space. In this episode of the Epic Marriage Podcast, Nick and Alex Leyva welcome back marriage and family therapist Tammy Hill for Part 2 of their conversation on playfulness in marriage. Tammy explains how John Gottman's research on bids for connection applies to long-term covenant relationships and why so many couples lose the ability to reach for each other over time. You will learn why rejected bids lead to emotional distance, how to communicate about the kinds of connection your spouse actually wants, and why learning each other's erogenous zones is some of the best homework you will ever get. If you want to stop missing the moments that matter most, visit YourEpicMarriage.com for resources created for temple-sealed couples. If this episode helps you, please leave a review so more couples can find it. Your spouse is reaching for you. Learn to reach back. Follow Epic Marriage: Website: https://YourEpicMarriage.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/epicmarriageoffical YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@epicmarriage Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/epic_marriage/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/epicmarriagepod Follow Tammy Hill: Website: https://www.tammyhill.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tammyhilllmft/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tammy_hill_lmft/ Books: https://www.tammyhill.com/blank-2

StartFragment If your idea of quality time together has been reduced to scrolling on opposite ends of the couch, this episode will get your attention. Fun is not a luxury in marriage. It is the lubricant that keeps everything moving, and most couples have run dry without realizing it. In this episode of the Epic Marriage Podcast, Nick and Alex Leyva sit down with Tammy Hill, a licensed marriage and family therapist and sexual educator, with over 22 years of clinical experience who helped pioneer healthy sexuality education at BYU. Together, they explore why playfulness is the missing ingredient in so many covenant marriages and how it directly impacts trust, connection, and yes, your sex life. You will learn why trustworthiness matters more than trust alone, how phones are now rivaling sex and money as the top threat to marriages, and why a simple nightly ritual of skin-to-skin contact can flood your brain with bonding hormones in under 20 seconds.  Tammy Hill also shares her own "Tammy Day / Jeff Day" practice and a bedroom menu concept that has transformed how she and her husband play together after decades of marriage. If you are ready to stop treating fun like a reward and start treating it like oxygen, visit YourEpicMarriage.com for resources created for temple-sealed couples. If this episode helps you, please leave a review so more couples can find it. Your marriage was designed for joy, not just survival. Follow Epic Marriage:   Website: https://YourEpicMarriage.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/epicmarriageoffical  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@epicmarriage  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/epic_marriage/  Twitter/X: https://x.com/epicmarriagepod Follow Tammy Hill, LMFT:   Website: https://www.tammyhill.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tammy_hill_lmft/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tammyhilllmft/

If your marriage looks fine on the surface but runs on autopilot instead of revelation, this episode is the wake-up call you need. Knowing about Christ and actually knowing Him are two very different things, and the gap between them shows up in every corner of your relationship. In this episode of the Epic Marriage Podcast, Nick and Alex Leyva wrap up their four-part EPIC Marriage mini-series with the final pillar: Christ-centered. They explore what it actually means to center a marriage in Jesus Christ, why research consistently shows that couples unified in faith outlast and outperform every other group, and how the triangle of Christ gives your relationship an unshakable structure. Nick and Alex share three practical steps: spend daily time with the Savior individually and as a couple, pray to see your spouse's eternal potential, and share your spiritual experiences openly. Alex tells the story of their four-year-old daughter calling on angels when she was scared, proof that what you model at home takes root. If you want a marriage that gets better with every passing year instead of slowly fading, this conversation will show you where to anchor it. If you are ready to put Christ at the center, visit YourEpicMarriage.com for resources created for temple-sealed couples. If this episode helps you, please leave a review so more couples can find it. Your marriage was designed for more than survival. Start building it with the Savior today. Follow Epic Marriage:   Website: https://YourEpicMarriage.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/epicmarriageoffical  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@epicmarriage  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/epic_marriage/  Twitter/X: https://x.com/epicmarriagepod

If your marriage has started running on autopilot - driven by schedules, stress, and leftover energy, this episode is for you. Drift rarely feels dramatic. It often looks like a normal, busy life.  But without vision and intention, even good marriages can slowly lose connection.   In Part 3 of the EPIC Marriage series, "I is for Intentional," Nick and Alex Leyva explore what it means to stop sliding through marriage and start deciding with purpose. Drawing on Proverbs 29:18, the principle of sliding versus deciding from family science research, and the Parable of the Wedge shared in general conference, they unpack how small daily choices shape the strength of a covenant relationship. In this episode, you'll discover: The difference between liberty and captivity within marriage Why busyness can quietly weaken connection How small “wedges” of distraction, resentment, or avoidance grow over time A simple three-part framework to rebuild intentional unity You'll walk away with a practical challenge: define your 90-day vision, identify one wedge in your marriage, and commit to one measurable, intentional action each day for seven days. If you've felt the subtle weight of drift, this conversation will help you reclaim your agency and move forward with clarity. For more faith-centered resources designed for temple-sealed couples, visit YourEpicMarriage.com. If this episode strengthened you, consider leaving a review so more couples can find practical, Christ-centered support. Your marriage doesn't have to drift. You can decide. Follow Epic Marriage: Website: https://YourEpicMarriage.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/epicmarriageoffical YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@epicmarriage Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/epic_marriage/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/epicmarriagepod

If your marriage feels like a board meeting with a little kissing on the side, this episode is for you. Playfulness is not childish or extra. It is relational oxygen, and when it disappears, couples drift into efficiency, grievance, and quiet distance. In Part 2 of the EPIC Marriage series, 'P is for Playful,' Nick and Alex Leyva explore why joy belongs at the core of a covenant marriage. They talk about the Family Proclamation's call for wholesome recreational activities, John Gottman's 5 to 1 ratio of positive to negative interactions, and how small moments of play build an emotional reserve for hard seasons. You will learn what bids for connection look like in everyday life, why couples who stay married turn toward those bids about 86 percent of the time, and how a simple seven-day experiment with one playful bid per day can change the tone of your home. If you're ready to move from survival mode back to joy, this episode will help you treat play not as dessert, but as part of the foundation of an epic marriage. Visit YourEpicMarriage.com for resources created for temple sealed couples. If this episode helps you, please leave a review so more couples can find it. Your marriage is not only meant to endure. It is meant to be joyful. Follow Epic Marriage: Website: https://YourEpicMarriage.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/epicmarriageoffical YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@epicmarriage Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/epic_marriage/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/epicmarriagepod

If you feel like your marriage is drifting into something that looks good on the outside but feels thin on the inside, this episode is for you. Eternal marriage doesn’t happen by accident—and aiming for “pretty good” often leads couples to slowly become well-organized roommates. In this episode of the Epic Marriage Podcast, Nick and Alex Leyva launch a four-part EPIC Marriage mini-series built on four pillars: Eternal, Playful, Intentional, and Christ-centered. Part 1, “E is for Eternal,” explores what eternal marriage actually means—and why beginning with the end in mind changes everything. You’ll learn how the temple reveals the architecture of eternity, why Doctrine and Covenants 132 matters for modern marriages, and how temple sealing reframes daily choices, sacrifice, and love. Nick and Alex share a simple three-part framework—Eternity as the Target, the Standard, and the Daily System—along with personal stories that show what it looks like to put off the natural man and choose Christ in marriage. If you want a marriage that lasts beyond romance, routines, and even mortality, this conversation will help you start building it intentionally. If you are ready to begin with the end, visit YourEpicMarriage.com for resources created for temple-sealed couples. If this episode helps you, please leave a review so more couples can find it. Your marriage is meant to matter beyond this life; start building it that way today.  Follow Epic Marriage:  Website: https://YourEpicMarriage.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/epicmarriageoffical YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@epicmarriage Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/epic_marriage/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/epicmarriagepod

If you don't teach your kids about sex, someone else will. And that someone will be their peers or the internet - the two worst possible sources of information that will shape their marriage, their self-worth, and their relationship with God. In this episode of the Epic Marriage podcast, hosts Nick and Alex Leyva explore why most parents feel awkward and unprepared to discuss sexuality with their children. Dr. Chelom Leavitt, a leading sex researcher at BYU, explains that teaching starts the moment your child is born -through how you treat their body during diaper changes, what you say when they discover their g******s in the bathtub, and whether shame or celebration gets wired into their brain alongside information about their bodies. She reveals why using correct anatomical terms increases children's self-esteem and how Satan's first commandment to Adam and Eve was to hide and be ashamed of their nakedness. The conversation transforms how parents think about the law of chastity. Dr. Leavitt shows how every prohibition can become a positive guideline, why couples who wait until marriage report higher sexual satisfaction, and how parents can become transitional characters who break generational cycles of shame and silence. Whether you have toddlers or teenagers, it's never too early and it's never too late to start having better conversations. Visit YourEpicMarriage.com for resources designed for temple-sealed couples who want their relationship to reflect the eternal significance it carries. Learn more about Dr. Chelom Leavitt's work and access her book "A Better Way to Teach Your Kids About Sex" for practical guidance on age-appropriate conversations.  Follow Epic Marriage:  Website: https://YourEpicMarriage.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/epicmarriageoffical YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@epicmarriage Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/epic_marriage/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/epicmarriagepod  Follow Dr. Chelom Leavitt:    Website:  https://drchelomleavitt.com/ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/chelom.leavitt Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/drchelomleavitt/ #EpicMarriage #TempleMarriage #LatterDaySaints #ChelomLeavitt #ParentingAdvice #TeachingKids #SexualityEducation #LDSparenting #BodyPositivity #LawOfChastity #MarriagePodcast #FaithBasedParenting #BYU #SexResearch EndFragment

Ben Kjar and LaCol Kjar return for Part 2 of their 'Epic Marriage' conversation with Nick and Alex. LaCol shares their 10-year infertility journey and the moment they reached peace without children. They told each other "we're good. If we go the rest of our lives without kids, that will be an amazing life together." After surrendering that desire to God, they were surprised with three children through adoption. In this episode of the Epic Marriage Podcast, hosts Nick and Alex Leyva explore what happens when individual competitors learn to surrender control and become more together. Ben chose wrestling because he could control everything through individual effort. But marriage required surrendering control. His word for 2025 is "Let Him" after spending a lifetime grabbing the wheel from the passenger seat. The Kjars prove that magic happens when you let messengers stir the holy waters in your life. Watch their story in Stand Out: The Ben Kjar Story, releasing January 23, 2026through Angel Studios. Tickets at StandOutFilm.com. This is Part 2 of a two-episode series with Ben Kjar and LaCol Kjar. Listen to the full conversation on the Epic Marriage Podcast to hear how 10 years of infertility became their greatest marriage strength, why Ben's word for the year is "Let Him," and how two individual competitors learned to open up and become more together. Watch their story in Stand Out: The Ben Kjar Story, releasing in theaters January 23, 2026 through Angel Studios. Get tickets at standoutfilm.com. Visit YourEpicMarriage.com for resources designed for temple-sealed couples building marriages that last. #EpicMarriage #TempleMarriage #LatterDaySaints #StandOutFilm #BenKjar #LaColKjar #AngelStudios #CovenantMarriage #Infertility #LetHim #MarriagePodcast #StandOut #Adoption  Follow Epic Marriage:  Website: https://YourEpicMarriage.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/epicmarriageoffical YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@epicmarriage Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/epic_marriage/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/epicmarriagepod Follow the Ben Kjar:   Website: https://www.benkjar.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benkjar Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/benkjar/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@benkjar2609  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-kjar-05258a355/ Follow the LaCol Kjar:   Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/lacolkjar/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lacol.kjar  Standout Movie: Website: https://standoutfilm.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standout.film/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standout.film/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0xkaO66822AiT9JH08V8Lw Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@standout.film

Ben and LaCol Kjar share their extraordinary love story on the Epic Marriage podcast. Ben was born with Crouzon Syndrome and became Utah Valley University's first All-American wrestler after doctors said contact sports were impossible. LaCol was a track athlete who slid into Ben's DMs and came home from their first date knowing she was in trouble—she thought she might be in love. In this episode, hosts Nick and Alex Leyva explore the faith required when LaCol faced a massive decision: mission to Italy or marriage to Ben. The night before she was supposed to be set apart, Ben proposed. LaCol chose marriage, and the adversary attacked hard whenever they were apart during engagement. The Kjars prove that extraordinary marriages happen when you choose each other even when the path isn't clear. Their story is featured in "Stand Out: The Ben Kjar Story," releasing January 23, 2026 through Angel Studios. Tickets at standoutfilm.com. This is Part 1 of a two-episode series with Ben Kjar and LaCol Kjar. Listen to the full conversation on the Epic Marriage Podcast to hear how Ben became UVU's first All-American wrestler after doctors said contact sports were impossible, why LaCol chose marriage over her mission to Italy the night before leaving, and how choosing each other through financial struggle and adversarial attacks created a love story that stands out. Stay tuned for Part 2, where Ben and LaCol dive deeper into refusing to settle for ordinary. Watch their story in Stand Out: The Ben Kjar Story, releasing in theaters January 23, 2026 through Angel Studios. Get tickets at standoutfilm.com. Visit YourEpicMarriage.com for resources designed for temple-sealed couples building marriages that last. #EpicMarriage #TempleMarriage #LatterDaySaints #StandOutFilm #BenKjar #LaColKjar #AngelStudios #CovenantMarriage #AdaptiveAthlete #Wrestling #MissionOrMarriage #MarriagePodcast #StandOut    Follow Epic Marriage:  Website: https://YourEpicMarriage.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/epicmarriageoffical YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@epicmarriage Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/epic_marriage/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/epicmarriagepod Follow the Ben Kjar:   Website: https://www.benkjar.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benkjar Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/benkjar/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@benkjar2609  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-kjar-05258a355/ Follow the LaCol Kjar:   Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/lacolkjar/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lacol.kjar  Standout Movie: Website: https://standoutfilm.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standout.film/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standout.film/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0xkaO66822AiT9JH08V8Lw Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@standout.film

Dr. Chelom Leavitt returns to Epic Marriage to discuss intimacy and sexuality in covenant relationships. Nick and Alex explore why disciples of Christ often struggle to connect spirituality with physical intimacy, and Dr. Leavitt explains how Satan distorts something designed to bond couples together. In this episode of the Epic Marriage podcast, hosts Nick and Alex Leyva learn that emotional connection is the biggest contributing factor to meaningful sex, not physical technique or frequency. Dr. Leavitt challenges cultural messages about speeding up and increasing frequency, revealing these approaches cater only to male sexual response cycles. When couples slow down and become other-focused, both spouses report dramatically better experiences. Dr. Leavitt draws connections between intimacy and spirituality, explaining how sex functions as a sacrament when approached with reverence. The episode closes with guidance for couples who feel uncomfortable discussing intimacy and need resources to weed out negative cultural attitudes. Listen to the full conversation with Dr. Chelom Leavitt on the Epic Marriage Podcast. Visit YourEpicMarriage.com for resources designed specifically for temple-sealed couples who want their relationship to reflect the eternal significance it carries. #EpicMarriage #TempleMarriage #LatterDaySaints #CovenantRelationship #MarriageIntimacy #HealthySexuality #EmotionalConnection #MarriagePodcast #SexResearch #BYU #ChelomLeavitt #SacredIntimacy  Follow Epic Marriage:  Website: https://YourEpicMarriage.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/epicmarriageoffical YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@epicmarriage Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/epic_marriage/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/epicmarriagepod  Follow Dr. Chelom Leavitt:    Website:  https://drchelomleavitt.com/ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/chelom.leavitt Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/drchelomleavitt/

Nick and Alex Leyva unpack Bishop Gérald Caussé's BYU-Idaho devotional "I Saw Your Potential," which tells his personal story of meeting his wife Valérie 39 years ago. He describes himself as a nerdy, unattractive ward clerk who spent most of his time studying behind closed doors. When he asked Valérie how she fell in love with such an unattractive man, she answered, "I saw your potential." In this episode of the Epic Marriage podcast, hosts Nick and Alex explore what it means to see divine potential in your spouse when you're frustrated by socks left around, different parenting styles, or daily challenges. Bishop Caussé draws parallels to Moses's encounter with God and the transformation promised in temple sealings. Successful eternal marriage requires tremendous faith: faith in your own potential, faith in your spouse's potential, and faith in Christ's atonement. The Leyvas challenge listeners to pray for this experience if they haven't had it yet. Listen to the full episode on the Epic Marriage Podcast. Visit YourEpicMarriage.com for resources designed specifically for temple-sealed couples who want their relationship to reflect the eternal significance it carries. #EpicMarriage #TempleMarriage #LatterDaySaints #CovenantRelationship #BishopCausse #DivinePotential #FaithInMarriage #Transformation #ChristsAtonement #BYUIdaho #MarriagePodcast Follow Epic Marriage: Website: YourEpicMarriage.com Facebook: Epic Marriage Podcast Instagram: @EpicMarriage

Everyone leaves the temple holding hands. A temple matron told Jenny Oaks Baker this, and it stuck. When you grow closer to God, you grow closer together. That principle has anchored 27 years of marriage. In this episode of the Epic Marriage podcast, hosts Nick and Alex Leyva sit down with Jenny Oaks Baker, a Grammy-nominated violinist, and her husband Matt Baker, a CEO who manages both his company and logistics for Jenny's national tours. Married for 27 years, they've raised four children who all perform professionally in their Christmas tour "Joy to the World." The Bakers share their four principles of marriage: time prioritization, choosing each other daily, loyalty strengthened by covenants, and an eternal perspective. Matt explains how supporting Jenny creates a ripple effect that reaches thousands. Jenny shares wisdom from her parents, including total loyalty and immediate conflict resolution. Plus, Matt's counterintuitive advice about going to bed angry but never alone. Follow Epic Marriage: Website: YourEpicMarriage.com Facebook: Epic Marriage Podcast Instagram: @EpicMarriage #EpicMarriage #TempleMarriage #CovenantMarriage #MarriageAdvice #JennyOaksBaker #FamilyLife #FaithAndMarriage #MarriageSuccess #MarriagePodcast #EternalMarriage #MarriageSecrets #RaisingChildreninMusic #FamilyFour

Nick and Alex Leyva sit down with Dr. Chelom Leavitt, a sex researcher and associate professor at BYU who has spent her career helping couples understand sexuality as something sacred, not taboo. Married for 36 years with nine children, Dr. Leavitt teaches that strong marriages don't happen by accident—they happen through daily intentional commitment. This episode tackles why Latter-day Saints often miss out on understanding healthy sexuality despite having doctrine that should give us the deepest grasp of it. Dr. Leavitt explains how body and spirit combine to create the soul, and why our culture's rejection of marriage undermines personal development that only comes through covenant relationships. The conversation explores the difference between conflict and contention—one brings couples closer while the other divides. Dr. Leavitt shares her 24-hour rule for handling disagreements and why being a "peacemaker" through avoidance only adds interest to unresolved problems. Marriage won't always make you happy, but it will make you holy if you let it. Follow Epic Marriage: Website:https://YourEpicMarriage.com Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/epicmarriageoffical YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@epicmarriage Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/epic_marriage/ X: https://x.com/epicmarriagepod   Chelom Leavitt: Website:https://drchelomleavitt.com/ Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/chelom.leavitt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drchelomleavitt/

Nick and Alex Leyva celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Family Proclamation by unpacking Elder Ronald A. Rasband's recent General Conference talk. Discover the untold story of how President Russell M. Nelson led the committee that drafted this document, why it was first shared at a Relief Society meeting, and what the gender roles actually mean. Many people view the proclamation as exclusionary, outdated, or controversial. But Nick and Alex argue it's the blueprint that applies to everyone, regardless of family background. They tackle the "dragon" nobody wants to face, explain why "preside" doesn't mean dominate, and break down the difference between accountability and exclusivity in marriage roles. This episode of Epic Marriage combines doctrine with family science research, addressing objections head-on while offering practical ways to check in on presiding, providing, protecting, and nurturing in your own marriage. The proclamation isn't a nice suggestion. It's a revelation designed to protect families in increasingly difficult times. #EpicMarriage #FamilyProclamation #TempleMarriage #LDSMarriage #LatterDaySaints #CovenantRelationship #MarriageSuccess #EternalMarriage #GenderRoles #MarriageAccountability #FaithBasedMarriage #LDSCouples #MarriageAdvice #BuildingTogether #MarriagePodcast Follow Epic Marriage: Website: https://YourEpicMarriage.com