Follow the Light on I-15 • followHIM Favorites • May 19 - 25 • Come Follow Me

Summary

Podcast Summary: followHIM Favorites Episode – "Follow the Light on I-15" (May 19 - 25)

Release Date: May 15, 2025
Hosts: Hank Smith & John Bytheway
Podcast: followHIM
Episode Title: Follow the Light on I-15 • followHIM Favorites • May 19 - 25 • Come Follow Me

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Overview

In this episode of followHIM Favorites, hosts Hank Smith and John Bytheway delve into the theme of "light" as explored in sections 49 and 50 of the Doctrine and Covenants. Through engaging storytelling and insightful discussions, the hosts illustrate how following the divine light can guide believers through life's turbulent times, drawing parallels between everyday experiences and spiritual teachings.

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Story of Sister Margaret Nadal: A Journey Through the Storm

Timestamp: [00:14 – 03:51]

The episode opens with Sister Margaret Nadal sharing a poignant personal story that serves as a metaphor for spiritual guidance and faith. Just days before Christmas, Sister Margaret and her husband were on a daunting 42-hour drive home for the holidays. Their journey took a perilous turn when they encountered a severe snowstorm on I-15, plunging them into darkness and uncertainty.

• Encountering the Light:
  "Suddenly in front of us, we began to see a huge semi-truck going slowly and steadily ahead. We could barely make out his tail lights, but seeing them gave us hope." ([00:29])

• Following with Faith:
  "With prayers on our lips and white-knuckled hands holding on, we followed that light through the storm." ([02:28])

As visibility dropped and the snow deepened, the sight of the truck's lights became their beacon of hope. Trusting in the truck driver's ability to navigate through the storm, they maintained their course, eventually finding refuge at a safe location like Maverick or Flying J. This act of following the light provided them with both physical safety and spiritual reassurance.

• Metaphorical Significance:
  Sister Margaret connects their experience to Doctrine and Covenants 50:24, emphasizing, "Which is of God is light, and he that receiveth light, or we could say follows the light and continueth in God, receiveth more light, and the light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day." ([02:28])

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Connecting the Story to Doctrine and Covenants

Timestamp: [02:28 – 03:37]

John and Sister Margaret explore the spiritual lessons derived from the story, highlighting the importance of following the prophetic guidance akin to following the truck in the storm.

• Trusting Leadership:
  "Keep your eyes right on the prophet, right on the Lord, right on the church, right on the Scriptures." ([03:25])

• Perspective and Guidance:
  "Trust that they have a better view. Trust that they have a better perspective." ([03:33])

The hosts discuss how leaders, much like the truck driver in the blizzard, possess a "better view" and are equipped to guide others safely through life's storms. This leadership is vital for maintaining faith and direction, especially when circumstances become challenging and visibility is low.

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Insights and Reflections

Timestamp: [03:37 – 04:00]

John reflects on the practical and spiritual implications of the story, pondering the truck driver's perspective and the broader message of guidance and support within the faith community.

• Community Support:
  "We hope you'll join us on our full podcast. We are with Dr. Aaron Franklin this week and he's the closest thing we could interview to a doctor of light." ([03:51])

Although the transcript cuts off, it's evident that the episode plans to feature an interview with Dr. Aaron Franklin, further exploring the concept of light and its significance in spiritual journeys.

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Key Takeaways

1. Following the Light:
   The story underscores the importance of having a guiding light—whether it's a person, scripture, or prophetic guidance—that leads individuals through difficult times.

2. Faith and Trust:
   Trusting in leaders and divine guidance can provide hope and direction, even when faced with overwhelming challenges.

3. Community and Support:
   The faith community plays a crucial role in offering support and guidance, much like the truck driver did for Sister Margaret and her husband.

4. Continuous Growth:
   As believers follow the light, they receive more understanding and clarity, leading to spiritual growth and enlightenment.

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Notable Quotes

• "Keep your eyes right on the prophet, right on the Lord, right on the church, right on the Scriptures." — John ([03:25])

• "Trust that they have a better view. Trust that they have a better perspective." — Sister Margaret Nadal ([03:33])

• "Which is of God is light, and he that receiveth light, or we could say follows the light and continueth in God, receiveth more light, and the light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day." — Sister Margaret Nadal ([02:28])

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Conclusion

In this episode of followHIM Favorites, Hank Smith and John Bytheway effectively use Sister Margaret Nadal's personal testimony to illustrate profound spiritual truths about guidance, faith, and the sustaining power of light. By connecting real-life experiences with doctrinal teachings, the hosts provide listeners with both inspiration and practical insights to enhance their weekly Come, Follow Me studies. The upcoming interview with Dr. Aaron Franklin promises to delve deeper into the theme, offering further enlightenment and understanding.

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Connect with followHIM:

• Show Notes: followhim.co
• YouTube: FollowHimOfficialChannel
• Instagram: @followhimpodcast
• Facebook: followhimpodcast

Note: The followHIM Podcast is not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The opinions expressed on episodes represent the views of the guest and podcasters alone.

Transcript

[John]

Foreign. Welcome to another Follow him. Favorites John and I are sharing a single story to go with this week's lesson. John, we're in sections 49 and 50 of the doctrine and Covenants. You've told me that you have a story.

[Sister Margaret Nadal]

I love all the stories about light. I do think light is kind of a fascinating subject. And section 50 talks about light. So many everyday applications of light this one might have been in the last century. Do you remember Sister Margaret Nadalt?

[John]

Oh, I do. Incredible. Yeah, incredible.

[Sister Margaret Nadal]

Incredible. And she told this story. She said it was just a few days before Christmas. We were newlyweds traveling home for the holidays. It was a 42 hour drive by car. But that didn't discourage us because we were so excited to be home with our families again. I mean, how many gallons of gas go along with that? 42 hours, she said. We had been on the road all day and most of the night when we came upon a terrible snowstorm. We found ourselves in a blinding blizzard. The snow. The snow is growing deeper on the highway with each passing moment. The night was pure black. We couldn't see where we were going, and because of the deep snow, we couldn't see the lines on the road. This was a frightening situation. Suddenly in front of us, Sister Nadal said, we began to see a huge semi truck going slowly and steadily ahead. We could barely make out his tail lights, but seeing them gave us hope. My husband, who was driving, fixed his eyes on the light from the truck as we drove along in the tracks it made through the deepening snow. Okay, follow an example. Follow light. Our panic subsided somewhat with that guide up ahead because he knew the route. You can hear the applications there. He sat up higher than we and could have a better view. Those semi trucks are up there. Right. And surely he had communication equipment if it was needed. With prayers on our lips and white knuckled hands holding on, we followed that light through the storm. We passed many cars off both sides of the road before we sensed the truck was slowing down and pulling off the highway. In an act of faith, we followed him, followed the truck off the highway and found ourselves, to our great relief, in a place of safety, a place of refuge. It was probably Maverick or Flying J or something.

[John]

Those are places of safety. Yeah, if they have good drinks.

[Sister Margaret Nadal]

Right? Right. We were so very thankful. We could hardly wait to tell the driver of the truck how grateful we were for his help, for leading the way. I loved the story because he knew the route. He sat higher than we did. It's kind of like the watchman on a tower has a better view than we do. And he had communication equipment and they followed the light to a place of safety back in section 5024 that which is of God is light, and he that receiveth light, or we could say follows the light and continueth in God, receiveth more light, and the light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day. Or until you get to Maverick or Flying J in this example. I love that verse so much. In fact, President Hinckley said it was one of his favorites. Section 50, verse 24 Follow the light.

[John]

I love it. Just right close, nice and slow and steady. Keep your eyes right on the prophet, right on the Lord, right on the church, right on the Scriptures.

[Sister Margaret Nadal]

Trust that they have a better view. Trust that they have a better perspective.

[John]

And you'll see others slide off the road, but you just stay on. I wonder if the truck driver got out. Why are you following me?

[Sister Margaret Nadal]

We came to buy you an A and wow.

[John]

We hope you'll join us on our full podcast. It's called Follow Him. You can get it wherever you get your podcast. We are with Dr. Aaron Franklin this week and he's the closest thing we could interview to a doctor of light. He is really fun and walks us through these verses. Then come back here next week. We'll do another Follow him favorites.