Mikayla Matthews, the star of “The Mormon Wife,” announced that her eight-year marriage to Jace Terry has ended.
“We both agreed to separate,” the MomTok member admitted in a confessional during episode 9 of season 4, which aired Thursday.
The couple’s conflict due to intimacy issues and Matthew’s past sexual abuse was one of the major storylines this season.
They started couples therapy last season, but the couple revealed they didn’t make much progress.
“It’s incredible that everyone gets an opportunity like this and goes out and achieves their dreams, but because of my health, I haven’t been able to say yes to a lot of opportunities,” Matthews said in a confessional, referring to her postpartum period as well as her battle with a mysterious chronic illness.
“It’s definitely discouraging and frustrating, and it’s holding me back in other areas of my life, including my marriage to Jace.”
Matthews, 25, and Terry, 30, have four children together, Beckham, 8, Heaven, 6, Tommy, 4, and Lottie, who was born in July 2025.
Throughout the season, Matthews also realized that he needed to focus on recovering from the sexual abuse he experienced as a child. And if they also want to work on their sex life, they won’t be able to do that.
“I feel like I’m dealing with a lot more than just sex, and obviously I know he’s not going to be like, ‘Okay, well, we can do without it.’ We’re both at a point where we feel really helpless about it,” she explained to co-star and best friend Macy Neely in another scene.
Eventually, both she and Terry conclude that she has no “motivation” to address the issue and decide to separate.
Even in a heartbreaking scene where Matthews is packing up to leave their apartment complex, the couple continues to air their problems.
“When I’m at home, I feel like I can’t focus on my skin and my health because I’m there too,” Terry told her, seemingly explaining why he was the only one leaving the house.
“I think it’s always hard to bring up the topic of sex and intimacy. I think it’s hard for me because, again, my nervous system is already in fight or flight and it’s already at its limits. My buckets are full,” she explained to him.
“I don’t think we’re going to break up forever,” she continued. “Of course, I think we’re going to continue to see each other every day. I’m not going to be away from my kids even for a day anyway.”
However, she admitted that she doesn’t know when the separation will end, “because it could take weeks (or) months to heal.”
“I feel like our marriage is very good, except for the sexual intimacy part, so there’s a part of me that’s absolutely terrified of losing him. Ironically, that’s his biggest need, and that’s what hurts me the most,” Matthews said in a confessional.
“Secrets of the Mormon Wife” Season 4 is now streaming on Hulu.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call our Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.
