followHIM Podcast Summary

Genesis 6–11; Moses 8, Part 1 with Bro. Michael Cottle

Hosts: Hank Smith & John Bytheway
Guest: Bro. Michael Cottle
Release Date: February 4, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode explores Genesis 6–11 and Moses 8, focusing on the scriptural narratives of Noah, the Flood, and the Tower of Babel through an Latter-day Saint perspective. Brother Michael Cottle joins hosts Hank Smith and John Bytheway to examine these chapters’ relevance to the modern day, highlighting principles regarding the plan of salvation, the power and immediacy of Jesus Christ, prophetic leadership, and navigating wickedness. The hosts and guest interweave scholarly insight, personal faith, and practical application to enrich “Come, Follow Me” study for individuals and families.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Flood and Modern Wickedness

• Relevance to Today:
  • Both the Flood and Tower of Babel stories serve as archetypes for spiritual survival amid societal corruption and violence—drawing direct lines between ancient and modern times. (08:29)
  • “We’re not dealing with floods necessarily of water, but flood of wickedness. And how do we navigate and get through that? Well, we need Jesus Christ. And that’s what the story of Noah really is teaching, I think.” – Mike Cottle (02:24)

2. Context from Moses 8 vs Genesis 6

• Moses 8 as Crucial Background:
  • Provides additional context about Methuselah, the preserved family line, and expands on the reasons for the Flood. (08:29–09:19)
  • Discussion on “FOMO” (fear of missing out) regarding Methuselah, left behind as the City of Enoch is taken.
    • “That’s the ultimate fear of missing out on something.” – Mike Cottle (09:34)

3. Agency, Choice, and Covenant

• Sons of God vs. Sons of Men: (15:20–18:32)

  • The text uses the terms to reflect covenant-keepers (sons of God) and those who reject the covenant (sons of men).
  • Daughters “sell themselves,” symbolizing the abandonment of spiritual covenants for fleeting worldly gains.
    • “They’re selling themselves to those that have nothing covenant wise to offer.” – Mike Cottle (18:11)

• Notable Quote:

  • “Satan tempts us to exchange the priceless pearls of true happiness and eternal values for a fake plastic trinket that is merely an illusion and a counterfeit of happiness and joy.” – President Uchtdorf, quoted by Hank Smith (17:49)

4. Progression of Wickedness

• The decline moves from not hearkening to the prophet, to open rebellion and seeking the prophet’s life. (21:03–23:24)
  • Discussion of the term “giants” as “nephilim,” better understood as “fallen ones” rather than simply people of large stature. (21:03)

5. Divine Order and Priesthood

• Noah after the “Order of the Son of God”:
  • The phrase refers to entering a spiritual society or group, accessible to both men and women through covenant. (24:03–25:43)
  • "Anybody that enters into this order is part of this order of the Son of God, his group that have power and priesthood and promises..." – Mike Cottle (25:43)

6. Rejecting Prophetic Guidance

• Despite repeated preaching, the people “hearkened not”; highlights principle of spiritual safety in following the prophet—then and now. (26:38–28:51, 49:35–49:57)
  • “There is no mincing words with that. This is a message that if you want to be with me, you’ve got to listen to my prophets...” – Mike Cottle (00:04; 49:57)

7. Mercy in the Flood

• Mercy is shown in limiting the spread of evil to the next generations; God acts to preserve agency and prevent “agency-destroying” environments. (29:10–32:21)
  • “He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of his children.” – discussed by Mike and Hank (29:10)

8. Repentance and the Plan of Salvation

• The four core principles—faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost—appear as the central theme of both the ancient texts and modern applications. (36:08–40:51)
  • Repentance is emphasized as a process, not a checklist.
    • “Almost every lesson in those seminary lessons… was a lesson on repentance.” – Mike Cottle (37:53)
    • “Success... is going from failure to failure without any loss of enthusiasm… we go from mistake to mistake without any loss of enthusiasm. But that is the plan.” (43:16)

9. Pain, Sorrow, and Some of God’s Emotions

• The scriptural phrase “it repented Noah” (or God) is examined as “he grieved,” felt sorrow—not about God's making a mistake, but about heartbreak over humanity’s choices. (44:35–47:48)
  • “It’s just that there’s a pain, there’s a sorrow...” – Mike Cottle (44:46)

10. Prophetic Echo & Modern Application

• We must echo and amplify the current prophet’s words in teaching and living.
  • “We ought to be so deeply familiar with their words that when we interact with people… we can pull upon their messages…” – Mike Cottle (54:02–55:32)

11. Typology: The Ark as Christ and Covenant

• Pitching the Ark:
  • The Hebrew word for “pitch” (as in sealing the ark) shares a root with “atone.” The ark typifies Christ’s atonement—covering, sealing, and protecting from chaos (sin, worldliness). (67:50–68:26)
  • “God told Noah to pitch the ark… The Hebrew word translated as pitch is the root word for atone. It has been suggested that the atonement of Jesus Christ provides us with a protective covering...” – cited by Hank Smith (67:50)

12. Sealing & Protection

• Personal and Family Application:
  • As the ark was sealed “within and without,” so too must our hearts and homes be sealed against the destructive forces of the world—through Christ’s atonement and personal discipleship. (69:09–71:45)

13. God’s Mercy and Sorrow

• Ezekiel Passages:
  • God desires repentance, not destruction.
    • “Say unto them, as I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked... Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways…” – John Bytheway, quoting Ezekiel 33:11 (57:33)
  • “If there is any doubt, if anybody has any doubt at all, God loves his children and he’s pained to see them doing wickedly.” – Mike Cottle (58:13)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Prophetic Trust:

  • “That doesn’t mean they’re perfect… But we’ve got to trust their words. And I’m persuaded from my experience that we can trust them.” – Mike Cottle (00:04; 49:57)

• On Repentance Vs. Sinning:

  • “What’s the difference between repenting of a sin and repenting of sinning? Repenting of a sin is a checklist... but repenting of sinning is recognizing my weakness before God and not wanting to do anything that would not make me worthy to be in his presence.” – Mike Cottle (39:08)

• On the Flood’s Mercy:

  • “By taking away the earthly existence, God prevented them from entailing their sins upon their posterity and degenerating or corrupting them.” – Citing President John Taylor (29:10)

• On the Atonement’s Protection:

  • “The atonement of Jesus Christ provides us with a protective covering. It shields us from the power of the adversary just as the pitch protected the ark from the life threatening waters.” – Hank Smith, reading from scripture helps (67:50)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Introduction, context, Methuselah & Enoch: 00:00–11:40
• Wickedness, agency, and not hearkening: 11:41–19:00
• The Order (Priesthood), prophetic authority: 23:50–25:43
• Mercy in the Flood: 29:10–32:21
• Repentance & Gospel basics emphasized: 36:08–40:51
• God’s sorrow, the language of ‘repentance’: 44:35–47:09
• Safety in following prophets, modern application: 49:35–56:59
• Typology: the Ark and the Atonement: 67:50–69:09
• Home as an ark, inward/outward protection: 69:55–71:45
• God’s mercy—Ezekiel passages: 57:05–59:14

Tone and Style

• Warm, relational, and faith-affirming: The episode blends scriptural analysis and practical application with personal anecdotes and humor (e.g., banter about sons named Shem and Ham, and paper vs. digital scriptures).
• Didactic and supportive: Brother Cottle’s teaching style is gentle but direct, inviting personal reflection and reinforcing core gospel principles.

Takeaways

• The Noah and Flood narratives serve as powerful blueprints for enduring spiritual “floods” today—through covenants, repentance, and above all, the Savior’s redeeming power.
• The mercy of God is consistent throughout the Old Testament, even (and especially) in moments of judgment.
• Safety, peace, and protection are found in following living prophets, echoing their counsel, and adhering to the “covenant pathway.”
• God desires not rote obedience, but hearts sealed with the Savior, both inwardly and outwardly.
• Ultimate hope lies in Christ’s ability to “pitch” and protect us—individually and as families—from the storms and chaos of our time.

Suggested Action for Listeners

• Reflect: How am I using prophetic counsel as an anchor and “pitch” in my personal and family life?
• Study: Review President Oaks’s most recent general conference address, considering it as present-day “ark-building” guidance.
• Discuss: With your study group or family, what does “hearkening” look like in the 21st century? How can your home be “sealed” against destructive spiritual influences?
• Apply: Regularly revisit and apply the first principles of the gospel—faith, repentance, baptism, Holy Ghost—in daily discipleship.

“He wants everyone in it. He's sad when they don't. When they don't want his order, be part of his group… Safety is found in following a prophet.”
– Brother Michael Cottle (25:43, 49:57)