Women in Council Meetings | An Interview with Wendy Ulrich

Wendy Ulrich is a psychologist, educator, and writer. She holds a PhD in education and psychology from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles. A former guest on the podcast, Wendy is the founder of Sixteen Stones Center for Growth, has been a practicing psychologist for over 25 years, a former president of the Association of Mormon Counselors and Psychotherapists, and a visiting professor at Brigham Young University. She and her husband Dave Ulrich presided over the Canada Montreal Mission and also co-authored the Wall Street Journal #1 business bestseller, The Why of Work: How Great Leaders Build Abundant Organizations that Win. Her most recent book is Live up to Our Privileges: Women, Power, and Priesthood. Wendy and Dave have three children and eight grandchildren. Highlights 00:48 - Wendy’s background - psychologist 01:21 - Her new book discusses “What does it really mean for women to have priesthood power”? How do we get it in our lives and use it effectively? 03:49 - How can leaders better understand the experience of women in the Church? What can Wendy share about the female experience of feeling dismissed at church? 04:47 - The work of women is often invisible and misunderstood. 05:05 - Women and men have different styles of communication. Women may find being talked over (a male communication pattern) to be dismissive. 06:21 - Women can feel dismissed by the structure of the Church or even the text of the scriptures 07:02 - The book is structured after the organization of priesthood offices. Why? 07:44 - The work of women is also captured in the work of priesthood offices. 08:39 - In many cases women do more of the work of priesthood offices during the natural course of their lives than men. 09:12 - Christ was not a priest. He did not hold the priesthood of his day. 09:50 - Women who may not see themselves as holding priesthood may find something to learn from the Savior’s example and authority. 10:39 - Women can say I am doing what I’m doing because of the authority I’ve been given in my calling, my temple endowment, my home, my assignments … I have been given authority. 11:17 - We sometimes project secular perspectives on women and the priesthood and fairness. What can we understand about this topic? 12:49 - We are not going to be the same or have the same opportunities. 13:33 - Wendy believes Church doctrine emphasizes the reason we are here on this earth is to become empowered with the power that God has. We believe the most important thing God is trying to do is to create eternal relationships. 14:45 - What women do and goes unseen may be just as important as what men do in the eternal scheme of things. Even in secular society family is essential, and women are the key “resource” for keeping society functioning 17:17 - The Lord’s priority is raising the next generation of gods. 17:20 - We think God is someone who gives power away. We believe he wants to empower us to be joint heirs—to give us all He has. 18:59 - At times it does seem like some roles are inflated. Kurt shares his experience while all three of his brothers were serving as bishops and the difference in attention his sister received, who was serving as a Primary President at the time. As we consider this, women will have less of that experience of being dismissed. 20:40 - Chapter 8: Governing with Power and Compassion. How to rise to power in organizations. 22:00 - Kachner’s research shows how people get into power, but once they get into power people actually lose the skills that got them there. They become more self-serving, less empathic. They are less likely to listen to others, less able to read other’s emotional states.