Hank Smith:                      00:03                   Hello everyone welcome to followHIM Favorites. John and I are sharing a single story to go with each week’s lesson. John, Come, Follow Me this week, section 77 of the Doctrine & Covenants through 80. You’ve told me you have a story. I think it’s for Section 79.

John Bytheway:               00:19                   That’s right. In fact, section 79 is very short. It’s like four verses, and it called Jared Carter to go on a mission. Lucy Mack Smith has a story about Jared Carter and one of these missions, I actually heard this first from a Line Upon Line video that our friends at Living Scriptures make. I laughed out loud. It’s Lucy Mack Smith. I mean, she must have been a fireball.

Hank Smith:                      00:44                   I heard she was what, 4’11” or something and could command the house.

John Bytheway:               00:48                   This is in history of Joseph Smith by his mother. This is Lucy Mack Smith writing. Mr. Whitmore introduced me to the Reverend Mr. Ruggles pastor of the Presbyterian Church, to which he belonged. I can’t make fun of names. My name is Bytheway, but Mr. Ruggles sounds like a teddy bear. Mr. Ruggles, the pastor of the Presbyterian Church, to which he belonged, and you, Mr. Ruggles, upon shaking hands with me, are the mother of that poor, silly, foolish boy, Joe Smith, who pretended to translate the Book of Mormon.

Hank Smith:                      01:19                   Wow.

John Bytheway:               01:20                   I looked at him steadily in the face and replied, I am sir the mother of Joseph Smith. But why may I ask do you call him a foolish, silly boy? Because, said his reverence, that he should imagine he was going to break down all the churches with that simple Mormon book. Did you ever read that book? I inquired. No, said he, it is far too beneath me to be worthy of my notice. Then I think, sir, I said, you do not abide by that scripture, which saith search all things. Now, sir, let me tell you boldly that the Book of Mormon contains the everlasting gospel and it was written for the salvation of your soul by the gift and power of the Holy Ghost. Poo, said the minister, nonsense, but I have no fears of any members of my church being led away by such dogmatism for they have too much intelligence. Oooh! Now, Mr. Ruggles, said I, and I spoke earnestly for the Spirit of the God was upon me. Here comes the wrath of Lucy. Mark my words as sure as God lives, before three years, we will have more than one third of your church. And sir, whether you believe it or not, we will take the very deacon too.

Hank Smith:                      02:30                   Okay.

John Bytheway:               02:31                   Whoa. This produced a hearty laugh from the company at the expense of the revered minister. Not to be tedious, I will say that I remained in this section of the country about three weeks after our brethren left me making my whole stay four weeks during which time I labored incessantly for the truth’s sake and gained the hearts of many believers, among whom was David Dort and his wife. These were anxious to have me use my influence to have an elder sent into that region of the country, and they pledged that the men who came should not lack for anything. Just as I embarked for home, Mr. Cooper, my nephew of Detroit, said If we would dress our elders in broadcloth instead of home spun, it would add greatly to their influence.

Hank Smith:                      03:12                   Okay.

John Bytheway:               03:14                   I promised him the next one who came to preach to them should be more genteel. I arrived home in a few days in perfect health and safety, finding my family well, and at first opportunity mentioned the state of things where I had been to Joseph. He seemed pleased that I had succeeded in preparing the way for a minister of the gospel and sent brother Jared Carter, section 79 to labor in that country. But not until we had him fitted out, as I had promised Mr. Cooper with a suit of super fine broadcloth.

Hank Smith:                      03:42                   Broadcloth, okay.

John Bytheway:               03:46                   He went unto the midst of Mr. Ruggle’s church and converted 70 of his best members, and as I said, he took the Deacon too, for, although I did not know anything about the situation of his church, he had a very intelligent deacon by the name of Samuel Bent, who is now a high counselor in Nauvoo, and he told me the last time I saw him, which was not a week since that, he had never forgotten my prophecy upon his head.

Hank Smith:                      04:11                   Wow. That’s awesome.

John Bytheway:               04:13                   Go Jared Carter and go Lucy Mack Smith.

Hank Smith:                      04:17                   So Jared Carter. Yeah. He shows up right there in section 79 that my will, my servant Jared Carter should go again into the Eastern countries. He said straight outta the Colesville branch.

John Bytheway:               04:28                   Yeah. The Lord didn’t say anything about his clothes, but the members wanted him in broadcloth.

Hank Smith:                      04:34                   I need a little more broadcloth. Very important. Can’t have this non-broadcloth. That’s fantastic. Hey, we hope you’ll join us on our full podcast. It’s called followHIM. You can get it wherever you get your podcast. We’re with Dr. Matt Hinton this week. Matt and I have been friends since the 19 hundreds. He does an incredible job with these sections. You’re gonna love it, and then come back next week, we’ll do another followHIM Favorites.