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Mikayla Matthews and her husband Jace Terry have separated after eight years of marriage. The couple revealed their decision earlier today in episode 9 of season 4 of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” citing ongoing intimacy struggles rooted in childhood sexual abuse. Together, they share four children and are committed to co-parenting while Mikayla focuses on healing.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Marriage Duration: Mikayla and Jace married on March 1, 2018, just six months after welcoming their first baby
- Children: The couple shares four children: Beckham (8), Haven (6), Tommie (4), and Lottie (born July 2025)
- Separation Announcement: The split was revealed in today’s episode 9 of season 4, available on Hulu
- Healing Focus: Mikayla experienced sexual abuse throughout childhood and needs to focus on trauma recovery during the separation
The Intimacy Struggles Behind the Split
Mikayla revealed during season 3 that she and Jace were facing significant intimacy challenges in their marriage. The couple began couples therapy, but made little progress over the past year. Mikayla explained that her childhood trauma created deep psychological barriers to physical intimacy, particularly around kissing. “I feel like kissing is more intimate for me and I always have triggers with kissing,” she confided to her best friend Mayci Neeley.
Jace acknowledged his frustration, telling Conner Leavitt that he desired emotional connection above all else. “I just want to feel like I can connect with my wife again. I want to feel loved,” he said. However, Jace also expressed that a breaking point exists. If Mikayla refuses to pursue serious trauma therapy, he couldn’t remain in the marriage indefinitely.
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Health Challenges and Postpartum Struggles
Mikayla is battling a chronic illness that has severely limited her energy and well-being. She recently gave birth to their fourth child in July 2025 and is undergoing stem cell treatment to address her condition. “My health has held me back from saying yes to a lot of opportunities,” she explained in her confessional. “It’s definitely discouraging and frustrating, and it kind of holds me back in my marriage with Jace.”
The combination of postpartum recovery, chronic health issues, and unresolved trauma made it impossible for Mikayla to focus on marital intimacy. She acknowledged she simply doesn’t “have the motivation” to tackle the issue while managing so many other challenges simultaneously.
| Family Detail | Information |
| Marriage Date | March 1, 2018 |
| Oldest Child Age | 8 years old (Beckham) |
| Youngest Child Birth | July 2025 (Lottie) |
| Current Status | Separated, daily co-parenting continues |
“I feel like I’m working on so many different things outside of just sex, and I know that obviously he can’t just be like, ‘Okay, well we can go without that.’ We both get to a point where we feel really helpless about it.”
— Mikayla Matthews, “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star
Jace’s Perspective on the Separation
Jace Terry, 30, expressed frustration about the stalled progress in their relationship. During a conversation with Conner, Jace revealed that Mikayla told him “it’s not going to be for me, I’m not going to enjoy it, it’s going to be just for you.” He explains he doesn’t want intimacy under those conditions. Yet Jace remains patient and supportive, acknowledging that pressuring Mikayla would only make healing harder.
Jace also suggested that Mikayla commit to intensive trauma therapy as a condition of reconciliation. When Mikayla felt defensive about this pressure, they both realized separation might help. Jace hopes the space will give Mikayla time to focus on healing without the added stress of their marital conflict.
What the Separation Looks Like Moving Forward
The couple isn’t heading toward permanent divorce. “I don’t think it’s like with the intention of being separated forever,” Mikayla clarified. “We’re obviously still going to see each other every single day. I’m not trying to go even a day away from the kids anyway.” Both Mikayla and Jace emphasized that protecting their children’s well-being remains their priority throughout this process.
Mikayla acknowledged uncertainty about the timeline for their separation. “I don’t know how long it’s going to take because it could take weeks or months to be healed,” she shared. She expressed both love for Jace and fear about losing the relationship she values deeply, describing their marriage as “so good outside of the sexual intimacy part,” which is ironically his primary need and her biggest wound from trauma.
How are Mikayla and Jace handling this separation publicly?
The couple decided to keep their separation largely private initially, with only Mayci Neeley and her husband knowing the decision before it aired on the show. Mikayla found comfort in her strong support network within the “MomTok” group, telling producers, “I definitely want my kids to see their parents having a good, intimate connection and emotional connection, both.” She emphasized the importance of taking care of herself during this healing period while maintaining daily presence in her children’s lives.
Sources
- People.com – “Mormon Wives Star Mikayla Matthews Splits from Husband Jace Terry amid Intimacy Issues”
- Page Six – “Mormon Wives Star Mikayla Matthews Splits from Jace Terry After 8 Years of Marriage”
- E! News – “Mormon Wives Mikayla Matthews, Jace Terry Separate Months After Welcoming Baby”
