Wendy Ulrich - Live Up to Our Privileges: Women, Power, and Priesthood

P aul said to the Corinthians, For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us (2 Corinthians 4:67). Parker J. Palmer says of these verses, The earthen vessels are (among other things) the words we choose to convey what we know and believe. For me, the meaning of the verse is simple yet demanding: every vessel we create to hold the treasure is earthen, finite, and flawed, and is never, ever to be confused with the treasure itself.

I too never feel my earthen limitations more keenly than when trying to write about the true treasure: the excellency of the power of our Heavenly Parents and Saviorpower They long to share with Their children. I am deeply grateful to many who have taught me about Their light and the importance of passing it on. I also recognize that this book is only one take on how priesthood, power, and women might intersect, or on what our privileges are or might be. I have confidence that rising generations will expand our reach further, and in their own way.

I am grateful to many who have influenced my understanding of our spiritual privileges and the power inherent in them. Monika Ulrich Myers first taught me that you arent really considered an adult until you are helping to raise the next generation. Carrie Ulrich Skarda reminded me that I am not trying to become a Zion person, but to help create a Zion people. Michael David Ulrich has shown me through his research and example that teams have more power to contribute to the success of almost any endeavor than the most talented individuals. Their spouses, Chris Myers, Michael Skarda, and Melanie Swenson Ulrich, have helped me visualize and cherish what patriarchs and matriarchs really look like in todays world.

As to the principles underpinning priesthood offices, I am grateful to Karin and Richard Ulrich for showing me the deacon-like importance of making sure everyone is fed. To Barbara and Les Woolsey, my most impactful teachers. To Karen Blake, Kathleen Flake, and Chris Packard, who consistently show me how women exemplify the priestly power and compassion of Christ. To the sisterhood in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with whom I first experienced elder womens power to heal, pray, and lead (Nancy Brockbank, Lynn Nations Johnson, Marci Nickell, Ginger Bitter, Helen Bauss, Linda Johnson, Sondra Soderborg, Alane Starko, Sylvia Mupepi, Betsy Christensen, Polly Mallory, Kathie Baardson, Lucile Anderson, Janeen Holden, Barb Baughn, Donna Benson, Kris Blanchard, Shirley Thornton, Bonnie Nielson, and Ellen Fisher Nielson, among many others); and to the women of Alpine, Utah, who reinforce those lessons (Dana Israelson, Rena Peterson, Laurel Verhaaren, Cindy Powell, Shauna Anderson, Cathy Lamoureux, Rosemary Lind, Raelene Card, Floy Harley, Georgia Miller, and Teresa Graham, among many others). To Thom Nielson, John Costello, Wayne Brockbank, Rich Ferre, Richard Heaton, Byron Thomas, Ken Wise, David Klimek, and Allen Bergin for not only showing me what high priesthood leadership looks like but for encouraging me and other women to take it on. To Carla and Sydney Hickman, my sweet Aunt Jan, and my amazing grandmothers, Martha Strong Larsen and Winnifred Cummings Woolsey, who remind me of the reach of sealing and patriarchal power.

I am indebted at Deseret Book to Lisa Roper, a talented, wise, and spiritually sensitive editor, who manages to both convince me she is on my side and spur me to do better; Tracy Keck for her most thoughtful and expert copyediting; Michelle Lippold, enthusiastic product manager; Shauna Gibby for another beautiful cover design; and Rachael Ward for skilled typesetting. I also express thanks to three groupsLaurel Day, Chrislyn Woolston, and the inspiring presenters, staff, and attendees at Time Out for Women ; my remarkable colleagues at the Association of Mormon Counselors and Psychotherapists; and cofounders Chris Packard and Carrie Skarda along with all the participants at Sixteen Stones Center for Growth, for putting up with my fledgling efforts to grasp and articulate the wondrous truths at the interface of spirituality and psychology.

My deepest debt of gratitude goes to David Ulrich, my best friend, intellectual sparring partner, most enthusiastic supporter, and trusted and cherished partner in the goal of one day receiving all God has.

. Parker J. Palmer, On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity, and Getting Old (Oakland, California: Berrett-Koehler, 2018), 103.

I t is clear to me from both scripture and temple ordinances that God desires and intends to endow us, His children, with His powerpriesthood power. What that power consists of, how it is conveyed, what it is to be used for, and how a person grows in it can feel less clear, especially when a person is a woman. Recent conference talks I hope to explore what it might mean for women, or men for that matter, to also receive and act with priesthood power.

In the interest of full disclosure, I am a fully committed, believing, participating member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have also felt frustration at times over gender inequities Ive perceived in my Church experience, and I have sometimes prayed with a pained heart about shortages of female voice in the scriptures, Church governance, and representations of Deity. As a psychologist, Church leader and teacher, Brigham Young University professor, mother, and friend, I have also listened to hundreds, maybe thousands of other women and men share their heartaches, hopes, and perspectives on multiple sides of these issues.

Given this background, I approach this topic with some trepidation. I suspect that what I offer about how women can and do participate in priesthood authority and power might feel like too muchof little relevance or just more to doto some women, and too littlehollow words instead of genuine powerto others. Both groups may have a point. I am one who both finds reasons to believe Church doctrine and practice can support women in reaching their highest spiritual goals and potential without ordaining women to the priesthood and deeply wants women to recognize and more fully exercise the powerthe righteous influence, personal spiritual competence, and transcendent privilegesGod offers us in the Church, the home, the temple, and the world. I hope that looking more closely at the responsibilities and blessings God gives to priesthood bearers may help broaden our perspective on what He wants from us all and for us all as members of His Church and family.

In Part 1: Priesthood Authority and Power of Women, Ill draw on the teachings of modern apostles and prophets to make the case that women serve in the Church today with both priesthood authority and priesthood power, even though we do not hold priesthood offices or keys. Ill describe some possible components of the process of growing in priesthood power. Ill contrast worldly power and godly power, recall scriptures and ordinances that liken Jesus Christ to women, and examine how women enter the holy order with which the Melchizedek Priesthood is identified.