James L. Ferrell
James Ferrell, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes erroneously called the Mormon Church, was a student at Brigham Young University about to apply to Law School when he heard about the classes taught by C. Terry Warner. He decided to stay on and take classes from the renowned professor of philosophy, and took two classes that changed his life. The classes imbued him with a desire to learn that he had never experienced before, and he graduated with a major in philosophy. He then attended law school at Yale and entered a dream career with a large law firm in Los Angeles, California.
James Ferrell, Photo by Keith Johnson, Deseret News
Ferrell reconnected with Dr. Warner, who was involved in starting something called “The Arbinger Institute. ” Within a year, Ferrell left the practice of law to be involved with Arbinger. At the time (the early 1990′s), Arbinger was a new start-up. Other founders along with Warner and Ferrell were Duane Boyce and Paul Smith. Now with operations in 20 countries worldwide, Arbinger is a management consulting firm and scholarly consortium that specializes in peacemaking for various organizations, families and individuals. [1]
Ferrell is not one of those ambitious, driven businessmen striving to make his first million by age thirty. He has no over-arching business or vocational goal, but instead “follows the spirit” (the promptings of the Holy Ghost) wherever it leads him. Though leaving a promising law career to start the Arbinger Institute was a risk, it just felt right. As a managing director, Ferrell has taught and advised leaders of corporations and governments around the world.
Ferrell has been defined by his associates as energetic and kind, a person who is not defeated by problems, but who just keeps looking for solutions.
Life experiences sometimes put us upon paths we didn’t consider before, and the same is true for Ferrell. In the 1990′s he was called to teach Mormon Sunday School classes. As a gospel doctrine teacher, he was expected to teach adult Latter-day Saints about the Old Testament. He found that asking key questions unlocked all manner of spiritual insights. He began to see the Savior Jesus Christ in every Old Testament story. His experiences planning Old Testament lessons led him to much study, which led him to publish three books: The Peacegiver, The Holy Secret, and The Hidden Christ.
Ferrell has also authored and co-authored several books for his profession, including the Arbinger Institute’s international bestsellers Leadership and Self-Deception and The Anatomy of Peace. These titles have been translated into 23 languages, and sales have increased around the globe each year. [1]
Ferrell and his wife Jackie have been married for over 20 years and have five children.
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