How Monty Found Healing Through Christ-Centered Transformation

In a world where marriages often crumble under the weight of addiction and infidelity, Monty's story stands as a testament to the healing power of Christ-centered recovery. As a recent guest on the One by One podcast hosted by Nick and Austin, Monty courageously shared his journey from spiritual emptiness to redemption. A high school romance that evolved into marriage with his sweetheart Whitney nearly ended in tragedy as Monty's struggles with pornography, alcohol, and infidelity threatened to destroy everything he held dear. His experience working in a Las Vegas jail for six years exposed him to darkness that gradually infiltrated his own life, leading him down a path of destruction.

What makes Monty's story particularly significant is not just how far he fell, but how completely he was able to recover through embracing his true identity as a son of God rather than remaining defined by his addictions. This blog explores Monty's transformative journey and the lessons we can learn about breaking generational chains, overcoming addiction, and finding healing through Christ-centered approaches.

The Descent into Darkness  

Monty's journey began like many others - with a loving high school relationship that blossomed into marriage. He and Whitney were deeply in love, staying up late just to talk and spend time together. Their relationship progressed quickly, with Whitney becoming pregnant before they married at 19, followed by a temple sealing a year later. However, Monty admits he was "going through the motions" spiritually rather than developing his own testimony and relationship with God. This lack of spiritual foundation would eventually leave him vulnerable to the darkness he would encounter later in life.

When the economic crash hit Las Vegas, Monty found himself taking a job as a corrections officer at the Las Vegas Metro jail. Day after day, he witnessed the worst of humanity - drug addicts physically and mentally destroyed by substance abuse, individuals consumed by evil thoughts, and crimes against vulnerable people. Working night shifts from 6 PM to 6 AM further disrupted his life balance, preventing regular church attendance and draining his spiritual reserves. This environment became the breeding ground for his introduction to pornography, beginning a cycle of addiction that would gradually escalate over the years.

The situation took another turn when Monty and Whitney moved to southern Utah. Whitney's success in network marketing allowed Monty to quit his job at the jail, seemingly providing relief from the toxic environment. However, without the structure of work and purpose, Monty found himself losing his masculine identity as a provider. He felt increasingly invisible as Whitney's business flourished, receiving recognition and success while he tended to their farm. This shift in dynamics created a void that the adversary exploited, pulling Monty deeper into pornography addiction and eventually leading him to contemplating and engaging in infidelity, despite clear spiritual promptings warning him against this path.

The Moment of Decision and the Cost of Choice  

The pivotal moment in Monty's story came when he faced the ultimate decision between heeding spiritual guidance or succumbing to temptation. After months of internal struggle, Monty drove to Las Vegas to meet a woman for an extramarital encounter. Sitting in that hotel room, he experienced what he describes as "the loudest internal noise I've ever heard in my life" telling him to leave. Despite this clear spiritual warning, Monty chose to ignore it, turning to alcohol to silence his conscience. This decision marked a spiritual turning point - for the next four years, he felt completely disconnected from the Spirit, unable to hear or feel divine guidance.

The consequences of this choice rippled through every aspect of Monty's life. He began drinking heavily and using marijuana to numb himself whenever engaging in infidelity. His behavior became increasingly reckless, including an incident where he became dangerously intoxicated and still drove home. Unable to bear the weight of his guilt, Monty started pushing Whitney away, creating conflict and eventually telling her he wanted to end their marriage. This led to a separation where he lived alone at their cabin, contemplating suicide as he felt he had nothing left to live for.

Even when Whitney reached out and they reconciled, Monty continued living a double life. He told his bishop he no longer believed in the church but would support Whitney's faith. Though they attended a couples retreat in Costa Rica and temporarily reconnected, the pattern of deception continued. Each time Monty tried to break free from his destructive patterns, the adversary would pull him back in. He describes this experience as being under the adversary's control, shackled by guilt, shame, and the weight of his secrets. This cycle continued until Monty finally reached the breaking point that would either completely destroy him or open the door to genuine transformation.

Finding Healing Through Identity and Truth  

The turning point in Monty's recovery journey came not through traditional therapy approaches but through reconnecting with his true spiritual identity. After multiple attempts at confession and healing, Monty finally reached a state of complete brokenness and humility. When he met with his stake president for a second time, instead of judgment, he was embraced with love and acceptance. This experience of being treated as a valuable son of God despite his mistakes began shifting his perspective about who he truly was.

This shift accelerated when Monty discovered Nick and Austin's podcast while driving home alone after a major fight with Whitney in San Antonio. Something about their approach to healing - addressing the spiritual roots of addiction rather than just behavior modification - resonated deeply with him. Despite the event being full, Monty persistently reached out until he and Whitney were able to meet with Austin for intensive healing sessions. Unlike previous therapeutic approaches that focused on communication techniques or journaling, these sessions addressed Monty's spiritual identity and purpose.

The key distinction in this healing approach was moving away from the label of "addict" toward embracing his identity as a son of God. Rather than repetitively identifying himself by his weaknesses (as happens in many 12-step programs), Monty began reconnecting with his pre-mortal identity and divine potential. Through visualization exercises, prayer, and spiritual mentoring, he experienced what he describes as a "remembering" of who he truly was. This perspective transformed his recovery from a constant battle against addiction to a journey of becoming who he was always meant to be. When asked if he still identifies as an addict, Monty emphatically responds that this label is "not part of my vocabulary" anymore - it may describe what he did for a time, but not who he is.

Rebuilding Marriage Through Spiritual Unity  

One of the most remarkable aspects of Monty's story is the restoration of his marriage with Whitney. Their healing journey required both individual transformation and learning new ways to connect as a couple. Here are the key elements that contributed to their marital healing:

1. Recognizing spiritual attacks - They learned to identify when contention was entering their relationship and to see it as an external force rather than blaming each other

2. Using prayer as first response - When tension arose, they would stop everything to pray together, even pulling over while driving if necessary

3. Seeing each other's true identity - Monty learned to see Whitney as his "spiritual queen" and to value her loyalty and strength

4. Open communication without shame - Creating safe spaces for honest conversation about struggles before they escalated

5. Shared spiritual purpose - Finding meaning in their painful journey by using it to help others facing similar challenges

The transformation in their relationship was so complete that Monty describes them as being "like newlyweds again" despite years of disconnection. What's particularly notable is the speed of their healing - while they expected the process might take years, they experienced significant restoration within just a few months once they approached healing through a Christ-centered lens.

Daily prayer became a cornerstone of their recovery, with each praying for the other during difficult moments. Monty noticed that even when Whitney was resistant to prayer during conflict, if he would simply begin praying, the atmosphere would shift tangibly. This spiritual practice allowed them to recognize when they were under spiritual attack and unite against it rather than against each other. Rather than seeing conflicts as "me versus you," they reframed them as "us versus the adversary," fundamentally changing how they navigated disagreements.

Perhaps most importantly, Monty learned to see Whitney through a completely different perspective - not as someone he needed to impress or who would meet his needs, but as a divine daughter of God with immense value. This shift in perspective helped heal the masculine wound he had experienced when he stopped being the family provider, allowing him to find his worth in his spiritual identity rather than his economic role. Their relationship evolved from co-dependency to interdependence, with both bringing their strengths to create something stronger than either could alone.

Your Invitation to Healing  

Monty's journey from darkness to light offers hope for anyone trapped in cycles of addiction, shame, or broken relationships. His story demonstrates that no matter how far you've fallen or how many times you've tried and failed to change, transformation is possible when approached through spiritual healing rather than behavior modification alone. The key lies not in labeling yourself by your weaknesses but in rediscovering your true identity as a child of God.

If you're struggling with addiction or relationship damage, consider whether past approaches to healing have addressed the spiritual roots of your challenges. Traditional therapy has its place, but without connecting to your divine identity and purpose, lasting change often remains elusive. Monty's experience shows that healing can happen more rapidly than expected when we invite the Savior into our recovery journey.

The invitation is clear: you don't have to remain defined by your worst mistakes or struggles. Like Monty, you can break generational chains and create a new legacy. Whether you're fighting for your marriage, battling addiction, or simply feeling disconnected from your spiritual self, take courage in knowing that transformation isn't just possible—it's your divine birthright. Reach out for Christ-centered support, reconnect with your true identity, and begin writing a new chapter in your story today.