Today I share my 90th episode before taking a break for the summer, and perhaps longer. In this episode, I share a few final thoughts, including inspiring quotes from leaders on the potential of women’s impact on the Church and the world, and some personal disappointment in the roadblocks women face in making our full influence felt generally, in the Church. Do you have any thoughts, questions, concerns, or suggestions? I love to hear from you: email me at unleashingsistersaints@gmail.com

“God sent you here to prepare for a future greater than anything you can imagine...God knows of your successes...He knows of the times you have held onto the fading light and believed—even in the midst of growing darkness. He knows of your sufferings. He knows of your remorse for the times you have fallen short or failed. And he still loves you...He loves you not only for who you are...but also for the person of glory and light you have the potential...to become.”

· Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

“Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world ... will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Churchreflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different—in happy ways—from the women of the world.”

· President Spencer W. Kimball

“I have often thought that if great numbers of women of all nations were to unite and lift up their voices in the cause of peace, there would develop a worldwide will for peace which could save our civilization and avoid untold suffering, misery, plague, starvation, and the death of millions.”

· President Gordon B. Hinckley

“It is not for you to be led by the women of the world; it is for you to lead the … women of the world, in everything that is praise-worthy, everything that is God-like, everything that is uplifting and … purifying to the children of men”

· President Joseph F. Smith

“I believe that the moment we learn to unleash the full influence of converted, covenant-keeping women, the kingdom of God will change overnight.”

· Sheri Dew

Challenge: As always, follow any promptings you feel to lead and make your influence felt at home, at church, and in the world.

Resources:

Book: A Future Only God Can See For You: https://susanrmadsen.com/a-future-only-god-can-see

Learn More:

Learn more about Dr. Susan Madsen at ⁠⁠www.susanrmadsen.com⁠⁠

Sign up to receive monthly emails from Dr. Madsen about updated research, resources,and events at www.utwomen.org. These can be helpful whether you are in Utah or beyond.

Follow Unleashing Sister Saints on social media:

Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/UnleashingSisterSaints⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/unleashingsistersaints/⁠⁠

Contact Me: I love hearing from listeners! Email me with questions, comments, or suggestions at ⁠⁠⁠unleashingsistersaints@gmail.com.⁠⁠⁠

*This week I will be sharing the second half of a two-part conversation with my brother, Tim Willden. These two episodes were originally published in 2023 and have become a listener favorite. Enjoy!*

Have you ever thought about how cultivating a more equal partnership in the home can better invite the Holy Ghost to teach, inspire, and uplift a family? Join me for part two of my conversation with Tim Willden, my younger brother, as we discuss ways men and women can work together to create a more equal partnership in the home, resulting in a more Spirit-filled, loving, and safe home and family life.

Tim shares the critical importance of husbands and wives talking together openly and frequently about the roles and responsibilities within the home, including those Church culture or broader society has traditionally assigned to just men or just women. In situations where abuse of any kind is present, we discuss the need for women to seek for safe places where they can feel and receive the guidance of the Holy Ghost. I also share research about the positive effect of equal partnerships in the home on children and future generations.

“The prophet has been teaching us to ‘Hear Him.’ He’s been teaching us that we can’t make it through this if we don’t have the Holy Ghost, if we don’t have that relationship. And as a father, I think it comes upon me and my wife, as the nurturers and caregivers of our children, to help foster an environment where they can hear him better, and teaching them how to “hear him.”

-Tim Willden

Challenge: Think about what equal partnership in the home looks like for you. Talk about that with your spouse, boyfriend, a family member, or whomever might feel appropriate to you. Feel free to share your thoughts with me at ⁠⁠unleashingsistersaints@gmail.com⁠⁠ or on social media @UnleashingSisterSaints (see links below).

Resources:

May 2020 Harvard Business Review article: ⁠“Gender Equity Starts in the Home”⁠

October 2022 General Conference talk by Elder Ulisses S. Soares: ⁠“In Partnership with the Lord”⁠

Learn More:

Learn more about Dr. Susan Madsen at ⁠⁠www.susanrmadsen.com⁠⁠

Sign up to receive monthly emails from Dr. Madsen about updated research, resources, and events at www.utwomen.org. These can be helpful whether you are in Utah or beyond.

Follow Unleashing Sister Saints on social media:

Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/UnleashingSisterSaints⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/unleashingsistersaints/⁠⁠

Contact Me:

I love hearing from listeners! Email me with questions, comments, or suggestions at ⁠⁠⁠unleashingsistersaints@gmail.com.⁠⁠⁠

*This week and next, I will be sharing again a two-part conversation with my brother, Tim Willden. These episodes were originally published in 2023 and have become a listener favorite. Enjoy!*

As members of the church, we live in a culture that literally and metaphorically puts men on the stand. On this week's episode, I invite my younger brother, Tim Willden, to share his experiences as a bishop and stake president learning and striving to allow women in his stake to be more equal partners in the work of salvation. Tim shares ways his wife Danai was a more active partner throughout his service as stake president, including in ministering to departing and returning missionaries, as well as ways he encouraged the stake Relief Society, Young Women and Primary leaders to speak up and share revelation they received in more gender-balanced settings. Tim shares the revelation he received repeatedly to simply close his mouth (“shut up!”) and listen to what women were thinking and feeling. I hope this episode gives you encouragement and ideas for what can be done on the local level to help women and young women be heard, recognized and included.

“Quite often we focus too much on the leaders that are sitting on the stand, and not enough on the sacrifice that everyone is making.”

-Tim Willden

Challenge: Think about the types of things bishops, stake presidents or other men in the church have done that have impacted you positively and why. Share them with me at ⁠unleashingsistersaints@gmail.com⁠ or on social media @UnleashingSisterSaints (see links below).

Resources:

March 2019 Ensign Article by Barbara Morgan Gardner: ⁠“Connecting Daughters of God with His Priesthood Power"⁠

Book by Barbara Morgan Gardner: ⁠“The Priesthood Power of Women: In the Temple, Church, and Family”⁠

Spring 2020 BYU Magazine article highlighting research from Chrisopher F. Karpowitz, Jessica R. Preece, and Olga Stoddard: ⁠“When Women Don’t Speak Up”⁠

Learn More:

Learn more about Dr. Susan Madsen at ⁠www.susanrmadsen.com⁠

Sign up to receive monthly emails from Dr. Madsen about updated research, resources, and events at www.utwomen.org. These can be helpful whether you are in Utah or beyond.

Follow Unleashing Sister Saints on social media:

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/UnleashingSisterSaints⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/unleashingsistersaints/⁠

Contact Me:

I love hearing from listeners! Email me with questions, comments, or suggestions at ⁠⁠unleashingsistersaints@gmail.com.⁠⁠