followHIM Favorites • December 8-15 • Articles of Faith & Official Declarations

Podcast: followHIM
Hosts: Hank Smith & John Bytheway
Date: December 4, 2025
Episode Theme:
This episode centers on the power and importance of knowing the Articles of Faith, especially for this Come, Follow Me week’s focus on the Articles and Official Declarations 1 and 2. Through a beloved story shared by President Spencer W. Kimball, hosts Hank Smith and John Bytheway explore how the Articles of Faith can prepare anyone—regardless of age—to share and explain their beliefs with confidence and clarity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Story: A Primary Boy and the Articles of Faith

[00:26–06:39]

• President Kimball’s Influential Tale
  John recounts a story President Kimball shared (originally from the October 1978 New Era), about a young Latter-day Saint boy traveling alone by train:

  • An observant gentleman, impressed by the boy’s manners, strikes up a conversation and discovers he is from Salt Lake City.
  • When asked about his beliefs, the boy sequentially recites the Articles of Faith, explaining each doctrine smoothly and with confidence.

• Progression through Doctrine

  • The boy begins with the first Article, stating belief "in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost."
  • He continues, one by one, to walk through all 13 Articles of Faith, impressing the gentleman not only with the church’s teachings, but also with how logically and completely they outline the faith's doctrine.

• A Model for Preparedness

  • President Kimball’s takeaway: Knowing the Articles of Faith equals always being “prepared with a sermon.” The story illustrates how children, through memorization and understanding, can become effective missionaries—sometimes even more so than adults.

Hosts’ Personal Reflections

[00:16–00:26, 06:39–07:13]

• Mission Calls as Generation Markers

  • John Bytheway notes that President Spencer W. Kimball signed his mission call, whereas Hank Smith had Gordon B. Hinckley—emphasizing their generation gap humorously.

• Relatability and Approachability

  • Hank jokes about needing to sing the Articles of Faith if asked on the spot. Both marvel at how impressive it is for a young boy to calmly relay deep doctrine, including using vocabulary like "paradisiacal glory".
  • They discuss how internalizing the Articles equips anyone, even children, to be missionaries.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Power of Memorization:

  • "Maybe this is why in Primary we’re memorizing the Articles of Faith."
    — John Bytheway [00:29]

• From the Story – The Boy’s Faithful Recounting:

  • “We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.”
    — The Boy [~01:30]
  • “We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive church, namely apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists and so forth.”
    — The Boy [~03:29]
  • “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly. We also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.”
    — The Boy [~04:19]

• Humor and Wonder:

  • "Imagine he says 'paradisiacal.' I know. He’s just like, what? Who is this kid?"
    — Hank Smith & John Bytheway [04:53–04:55]
  • "I think I would have to sing them. 'What do you guys believe?' We believe..."
    — Hank Smith [06:39]

• A Lasting Lesson:

  • “You’re always prepared with a sermon when you know the Articles of Faith.”
    — President Spencer W. Kimball (quoted by John Bytheway) [06:32]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:03] – Episode introduction and theme: using Articles of Faith in teaching.
• [00:16] – Hosts establish personal connections via their mission calls.
• [00:26–06:39] – The story of the boy on the train; step-by-step through the Articles of Faith.
• [06:39–07:13] – Reflections, humor, and encouragement to know the Articles by heart.

Summary Takeaways

• Memorizing and understanding the Articles of Faith is empowering for members of all ages, enabling preparedness for any opportunity to share or defend one's beliefs.
• The story highlights both the logical, comprehensive nature of the Articles and their practical use as an “always ready” missionary tool.
• Hosts reinforce the value of fun and faithfulness in gospel learning, encouraging listeners to weave both doctrine and joy into personal study and teaching.

For more detailed discussion and further exploration on these topics, listeners are encouraged to check out the full-length episode with guest Tom Reed.