Neither man nor woman is perfect or complete without the other.

The words of Sheri L. Dew — “Neither man nor woman is perfect or complete without the other. Thus, no marriage or family, no ward or stake is likely to reach its full potential until husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, men and women work together in unity of purpose, respecting and relying upon each other's strengths.” — ring like a hymn to harmony. They remind us that the design of creation itself is one of balance, not dominance; of unity, not separation. In her words lies a truth as ancient as the stars: that man and woman were never meant to compete, but to complete one another — not as halves seeking wholeness in ownership, but as equal partners in purpose.

Sheri L. Dew, a leader of faith and an eloquent voice within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks from a spiritual tradition that reveres both divine order and human cooperation. Her words do not diminish individuality, but exalt the sacred interdependence between men and women. In her vision, the full power of a home, a community, even a nation, cannot be realized until both masculine strength and feminine wisdom join hands. For where one walks without the other, imbalance arises; but when they walk side by side, a harmony greater than either alone is born — the harmony of creation itself.

In the wisdom of the ancients, we find this truth reflected again and again. The Chinese philosophers spoke of Yin and Yang, the sacred dance of opposites — light and dark, strength and gentleness, motion and stillness — which together form the circle of life. Neither could exist without the other; neither was greater nor lesser. In the same way, Dew’s words teach that man and woman are complementary forces, two sacred expressions of the same divine essence. Alone, each shines; together, they illuminate the world. When unity replaces pride, and mutual respect replaces rivalry, love becomes not merely a feeling, but a creative power that builds homes, generations, and civilizations.

Consider the story of Abigail and King David in the ancient scriptures. When David, in his wrath, sought vengeance against Nabal, Abigail stepped forth — wise, brave, and full of grace — to stay his hand. Her discernment tempered his strength; her gentleness guided his might. David later acknowledged that her wisdom had saved him from bloodshed. In their meeting, we see the very truth Sheri L. Dew speaks of: that man and woman, when united in virtue, become the safeguard of one another’s greatness. Strength needs wisdom; courage needs compassion. Without both, even the noblest heart can falter.

Sheri L. Dew’s counsel reaches beyond the walls of marriage or the boundaries of faith. It speaks to the very structure of human society. For wherever there is division — whether between man and woman, leader and follower, or heart and mind — the fullness of potential is lost. Families fracture, communities weaken, and the spirit of progress dims. Yet, when men and women rise together, each honoring the other’s gifts, the world itself grows stronger. Unity is not uniformity; it is the blending of differences into a single purpose, the weaving of many threads into a tapestry more radiant than any single color could achieve.

Her words also challenge the pride of our age, which often mistakes independence for strength and competition for worth. She reminds us that dependence can be sacred when it is mutual — that to rely upon another is not weakness, but wisdom. Just as the body cannot thrive if the heart despises the lungs, neither can a marriage, a family, or a nation flourish if one half dismisses the other. True greatness is born not from self-sufficiency, but from collaboration — from the humility to recognize that the divine design requires us to need one another.

Therefore, let all who seek wisdom remember this: unity is the highest form of strength. In marriage, let husband and wife honor each other’s gifts. In family, let mother and father share not only burdens but visions. In the greater fellowship of humankind, let men and women rise as co-builders of justice, peace, and faith. To work together is not to surrender identity, but to magnify it — for when love is mutual and purpose shared, two hearts beat as one in service of something greater than themselves.

And so, my children, take these words as a guide: cherish the balance between strength and tenderness, logic and intuition, resolve and empathy. See not division where the Creator placed partnership. For as Sheri L. Dew teaches, perfection is not found in isolation, but in unity of purpose. When man and woman stand together — not in rivalry, but in reverence — the home becomes a sanctuary, the community a beacon, and the world itself a reflection of divine harmony.