Hank Smith:                      00:03                   Welcome to followHIM Favorites. This is where John and I are sharing a single story to go with each week’s lesson. John, section 88. This is a large section of the Doctrine & Covenants, a lot of verses to choose from. You have the story this week. Where are we going to go?

John Bytheway:               00:18                   I want to go to section 88 verse 11, but I have to start with a story. So Hank, I don’t know how old you were, but in 2002, the Winter Olympics came to Salt Lake City. Deseret Book published a book that year called Why I Believe, and they had kind of prominent Latter-day Saints write their testimony. Well known Steve Young, Stephen Covey, Gladys Knight was one of those. She told the most interesting story. Gladys Knight, her children actually joined the church first. If you don’t know who Gladys Knight is, she was a Grammy Award-winning singer. She was Gladys Knight and the Pips. I called her to get more details about the story, but they said, oh, you just missed her. She’s on that midnight train to Georgia. That’s the name of one of her songs. Okay. So, uh, her children joined the church. She investigated it and one of the coolest parts of her story is that some of our listeners will remember Apostles Testify of Christ.

                                           01:13                   Each of the quorum of the 12 did a little testimony, a different aspect of Jesus’ life. And she said, I watched that video and I looked into their eyes and she said they didn’t need showmanship. They came from all different walks of life. Eventually, she joined the church and she said, you know, ever since I joined the church, I get these questions like something has happened to you. And she said, you’re going to love this. One time she said, I was singing at Disney World or in Florida. Sister Knight, if you’re listening, I’m trying to get the story right because I think it’s so awesome. Thank you for sharing it in your testimony. She said, I was singing and the manager of the theater passed out three by five cards. Hey, if you have questions for Gladys Knight, send them up. She said, most of the questions are about my albums and my hits.

                                           02:00                   But one of the questions came up and said, Gladys, I’ve been a fan of yours for many years, yet lately you have a different light about you. Could you please explain what happened? Gladys Knight said, we’re at Disney World. We had a lot of different races, countries, religious backgrounds, all different people there internationally. She said, attempting to be diplomatic, I said, I have discovered that keeping God’s commandments brings greater peace and joy. It is not enough just to talk about commandments as many people do. I’m trying more than ever to keep them. Beautiful answer. So they went on, I think she sang a few more songs and then the manager decided let’s pass the microphone for some more questions. Gladys Knight said, a tall, beautiful African-American woman near the front stood up and said, Gladys, I am the one who asked about the light you now have. Would you please tell us more specifically how you got that light?

Hank Smith:                      02:55                   What is happening?

John Bytheway:               02:57                   I just love Sister Knight. Disney World. Gladys Knight says, I have become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Period. She said to the surprise of some of my friends watching the show, the audience suddenly burst into applause. Hank, I don’t know what was going on. Is it Mormon night at Disney World… Did you hear that? I dunno what’s going on? I have loved that story. Somebody saw it and recognized it and said, what was that? And Gladys told them, now what does this have to do with section 88? Somebody recognizes and Hank, I collect stories like this. I have a bunch of them. President James E. Faust gave a talk in, I think it was October, 2005, called A Light in their Eyes, and he referenced this verse, section 88, verse 11. Now listen to this, Hank, you’re going to love this. The light which shineth, which giveth you light is through Him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings. And I just believe you strive to follow the light of Christ. That light starts to show in you. Interesting statement, Brigham Young said, those who have got the forgiveness of their sins have countenances that look bright and they will shine with the intelligence of heaven. So that’s Sister Knight right there.

Hank Smith:                      04:23                   That’s cool. You mentioned the 2002 Olympics. Well, it just so happens that our guest this week on followHIM is an Olympian. Her name is Noelle Pikus Pace. John, what she does with section 88, it enlightens you and she has the light, doesn’t she?

John Bytheway:               04:42                   Oh yeah. You’ll all see it.

Hank Smith:                      04:44                   She beams. Yeah. She’s just wonderful. We hope you’ll join us with her there on our full podcast. It’s called followHIM. You can get it wherever you get your podcast. Then come back next week. We’ll do another followHIM Favorite.