Hank Smith: 00:03 Hello, my friends. Welcome to another followHIM Favorites. This is where John and I are sharing a single story to go with each week’s lesson. John, we are in 3rd Nephi 27, and we’re going through 4th Nephi. Small chunk of scriptures, but it covers a whole lot of time. You’ve told me you have a story that goes with, I think, 3rd Nephi 27?

John Bytheway: 00:24 Yeah. With all of these books, we could find lots of stories. Here’s just one that came to mind. Do you remember, Hank, that in 3rd Nephi 27 Jesus had gone, but the disciples were meeting together and they were united in mighty prayer, and do you remember what their question was that they were going to ask the Lord?

Hank Smith: 00:39 What do you want us to call the church?

John Bytheway: 00:41 What should we call this church? President Nelson recently has talked about that section 115, “Thus shall my church be called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” That makes this story even better. I have a friend that he’s been speaking at especially for youth. He’s been an institute director and seminary teacher forever named Scott Anderson. He wrote in one of those EFY books, remember those Hank? He wrote a chapter in Return with Honor, and this I just thought was so funny because the way a question hit him differently. He said, “It was a typical day. I entered the plane, found my seat.” He’s on an airliner. “Shortly before takeoff, I was chatting with people seated next to me. I found out they were college teachers from Texas and they were Christians. They asked where I lived and as soon as they found out I was from Utah and even lived in the Salt Lake Valley, they said, ‘Are you Mormon?’

  01:32 I’m not sure why the question hit me the way it did. It could have been because I’d been reading from Mormon’s writings the night before and my response even surprised me. I said, ‘Oh, no, no, no. If I were Mormon, I’d be large in stature. I’d be impressive. I could even be wearing armor. I think it’s clear that I’m not Mormon. Do I project that way? Wow. Thank you so much. That is so nice.’ And they’re like, ‘Oh, wait.’ He said, ‘I let it sink in.’ And then I said, ‘Well, what do you think Mormon is?’ And they’re like, ‘Uh, we thought it was a church.’ He said, ‘No, no, no. It’s a man. Great example. One of my personal heroes. Can I tell you about it?'” And this seatbelt light went on and they weren’t going anywhere for two hours, right?

Hank Smith: 02:16 You asked, right?

John Bytheway: 02:17 Yeah. “‘Can I tell you about Mormon?’ And they said, ‘We think you’re going to tell us whether we say yes or no.’ He said, ‘That’s right.’ Scott said, “I felt a little like Ammon must have felt when Lamoni said, ‘I will believe all thy words.'” What an opportunity and he told them who Mormon was. And I love that idea. If anybody ever says that, “So are you Mormon?” Just say, “No. No, but really? Do I come across like?” “Yeah.” “Thank you so much. That is so nice of you. I didn’t know I projected that military bearing.”

Hank Smith: 02:50 Can I tell you about him?

John Bytheway: 02:51 Yeah.

Hank Smith: 02:53 Especially if you’re in the young women’s, you could say, “No, I’m a girl.” And then go on and say, “Hey, let me tell you all about him.” “Are you Mormon?” “No, he died a long time ago.”

John Bytheway: 03:04 “And a prophet. Yeah. I’m so glad you asked.” And if possible, have them buckle their seatbelt where they can’t leave, and then you can really tell them.

Hank Smith: 03:12 Here we go. Let me start from the beginning. First Nephi, let me tell you about his book. We hope you’ll join us on our full podcast. It’s called followHIM. You can get it wherever you get your podcasts. We’re with Dr. Rebecca Clarke this week. She walks us through these chapters in an unbelievable way. You’ll love it.