Hank Smith: 00:02 Hello, my friends. Welcome to FollowHIM Favorites. My name is Hank Smith. I’m here with the incredible John Bytheway. Welcome, John.

John Bytheway: 00:08 Hi, Hank.

Hank Smith: 00:09 John, we’re going to have a great day today in FollowHIM Favorites. You know the routine. We’re going to take a single question from this week’s lesson, which is in the Book of Ephesians. John, the question comes straight out of the manual after reading some chapters in Ephesians about prophets and apostles. It says, “Why do we have prophets and apostles? Think about the messages from prophets and apostles you heard during general conference. How do their teachings fulfill the purposes Paul described?” John, what would you say to, “Why do we have prophets and apostles and what have they done for you?”

John Bytheway: 00:40 When you ask that question, this tune is going through my head. To guide us in these latter days. We’ve got latter day problems, we’ve got latter day jargon and technology that they didn’t have back then. Maybe that’s a wonderful reason. I think when I was on my mission back in the ’80s, one of the discussions I memorized, as they used to call them, was whenever God has had His children on the earth, He’s communicated with them through a prophet. That’s someone we can look to to help guide us with what God wants us to know.

Hank Smith: 01:13 Absolutely. John, just personally, when I think back upon the general conference messages I have read and how I’ve been personally affected by some of these talks that literally have changed my life, Elder Bednar, his first full talk in conference, the tender mercies of the Lord, literally changed my life. Elder Holland, the high priest of good things to come, and recently President Nelson’s messages, just the one from this recent conference, peacemakers needed.

John Bytheway: 01:48 Peacemakers needed.

Hank Smith: 01:50 These are life-changing messages.

John Bytheway: 01:53 Yeah. So thankful for those. Elder Holland’s message called a Prayer for the Children. Wow. I’m so grateful for those, because keeping us on the covenant path and joyfully keeping us on the covenant path, I’m really thankful for prophets and church leaders for our General Relief Society Presidency, and General Young Women’s Presidency, and how they’ve affected my daughters in the talks that they’ve given. Absolutely.

Hank Smith: 02:20 Sister Dalton’s, I remember her messages on virtue 10 years ago, just changed me. Maybe it would be good for our listeners to make a list of conference talks that have changed their life, that they still continue to think about and use, and how they’ve pointed them towards the Savior and His Atonement. Then we might see the answer to that question in your own life. Why do we have prophets and apostles?

John Bytheway: 02:47 In preparation for conference, because I’ve had so many students, I ask them before a conference, what are your questions? And sit down and watch what might happen, because a lot of you will get answers if you’re intently listening.

Hank Smith: 02:59 Beautiful. We hope you’ll join us on our full podcast. It’s called FollowHIM. This week we’re with Dr. Matthew Richardson, and he walks through Ephesians in a beautiful way. We think you’re going to love it. Then come back, join us here next week for another FollowHIM Favorites.