Podcast Summary: followHIM – Genesis 5; Moses 6 Part 2

Hosts: Hank Smith & John Bytheway
Guest: Dr. Kerry Muhlestein
Episode Date: January 21, 2026
Scripture Focus: Genesis 5; Moses 6

Overview

This episode continues a rich, in-depth exploration of Genesis 5 and Moses 6 with Dr. Kerry Muhlestein, focusing on the doctrine of the Fall, repentance, baptism, rebirth, and the power of the Atonement. The discussion is both scholarly and deeply personal, with practical moments for listeners looking to enrich their gospel study and teaching, especially parents and families.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Universal Problem: Spiritual & Physical Death (00:06–05:50)

• Dr. Muhlestein highlights Enoch’s sermon: “Death hath come upon our fathers... We all die."

  “I don’t care how good our medicine gets... we’re not going to stop people from dying. We all die.” — Dr. Kerry Muhlestein (00:49)

• The "two monsters": death and hell (00:57–00:59)
• Adam and Eve as eyewitnesses of God and Christ, yet most descendants ignored their testimony.
• The Book of Remembrance: God's pattern for teaching and record keeping; God’s interactions are recorded and to be remembered (03:30–04:45).

Misery, Woe, and the Fallen World (04:45–07:10)

• The inevitability of suffering in mortal life—life is joyful, yet “full of misery and woe.”

  “I love life. Life is wonderful. We’re in a church of joy. Life is full of joy. But there’s misery and woe, and there’s no way around it.” — Dr. Kerry Muhlestein (05:11)

• Personal losses make this doctrine hit home; even healing advancements only delay, not resolve, mortality.

Repentance: The Art and Joy of Returning (07:17–14:00)

• Repentance in scriptural language means “to turn or return” (shuv/shuv la) to God.
• Repentance is not an ordeal but a daily, joyful “course correction”; President Nelson’s teachings cited.

  “Repentance is coming back to God through Christ. Sometimes we think of it as a terrible thing... but President Nelson is showing us a better way. This is a thing of joy.” — Dr. Kerry Muhlestein (06:24)

• Analogies: John Bytheway compares repentance to an airplane staying on course, despite constant deviations (07:17–09:31). “It’s not about distance, it’s about direction.”
• Memorable moment: The “broccoli vs. Slurpee” teaching—a humorous analogy to our repeated struggles and incremental progress (11:03–13:11).

  “Where we see failure, the Lord sees progress. Keep coming back. Try again, try again, try again. You’re gonna get this, I promise.” — Hank Smith (12:05)

The Doctrine of Christ: Faith, Repentance, Baptism, the Holy Ghost (13:39–18:14)

• The Lord tells Adam: Repent, be baptized in the name of the Only Begotten, receive the Holy Ghost, always in Christ’s name (13:39–15:00).
• The concept of "original guilt" vs. "original sin"—Latter-day Saints believe in the fallen nature, but not that children are condemned before accountability (15:00–16:27).
• Humanity’s fallen state explained: conceived by sinful beings (16:27–18:14).

Why We Must Be Born Again: Symbolism & Reality (18:15–24:11)

• Comparison of physical birth (water, blood, spirit) and spiritual birth (baptism, Holy Ghost, Atonement) (21:37–24:11)

  “Your rebirth, you're being changed into a new creature by Christ, is every bit as real. And you better take it every bit as seriously as being born.” — Dr. Kerry Muhlestein (21:37)

• Only through Christ can we be cleansed and made worthy to return to God’s presence.

Justification & Sanctification: Cleansed and Changed (24:11–26:31)

• Justification (pronounced clean—legal) and sanctification (made holy—internal change)—both are necessary and provided through Christ and the Holy Ghost.

  “You are justified and sanctified by the atonement of Christ and by the Spirit... this is two members of the Godhead working together to make us clean enough to be with the third member.” — Dr. Kerry Muhlestein (23:30)

• Gospel symbols (baptism, washing/anointing) reinforce this dual process.

Covenant, Spiritual Rebirth, and Adoption into God’s Family (26:31–37:51)

• Baptism and the Holy Ghost as confirmation of the covenant; Adam’s experience parallels ours (26:31–32:46).
• Spiritual rebirth makes us children of Christ—He is the Father of our new, eternal lives.

  “We have a father of our spirits, a father of our physical bodies, and every bit as much, we have a father of the new creature we become, and eventually of our eternal life.” — Dr. Kerry Muhlestein (34:58)

• Motherhood and Christ’s sacrifice compared—parenthood symbolism is deeply Christlike and inclusive (36:31–36:45).

The Tangible Work of the Spirit and Sacramental Renewal (37:52–44:32)

• Incremental spiritual change (“course correction”)—sanctification is ongoing, and not instant (37:51–40:01).
• The sacrament as weekly renewal of baptismal covenants and opportunity for rebirth.

  “We can become justified, sanctified, and new people, one in God…every single week.” — Dr. Kerry Muhlestein (42:48)

• The repetition of the sacrament is evidence of God’s relentless pursuit (43:53).

All Things Testify of Christ (44:34–47:21)

• Nature's cycles (spring/fall) as living symbols of the Creation, Fall, and Redemption (44:34–45:45).
• Parenthood as testimony of God’s love and relentless desire to redeem His children.

  “I’ve learned more about God from being a parent than I have from just about anything else.” — Dr. Kerry Muhlestein (45:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Repentance’s Hopeful Meaning (07:17):

  “Repentance is perhaps the most hopeful and encouraging word in the Christian vocabulary.” — John Bytheway quoting Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (07:17)

• On Progress Despite Failure (12:05):

  “Where we see failure, the Lord sees progress. Keep coming back. Try again, try again, try again. You’re gonna get this, I promise.” — Hank Smith (12:05)

• On Parenting and Trying (59:47–60:01):

  “Failure is when you have stopped failing, trying, and you’ve given up on them. If you haven’t given up on them, you haven’t failed.” — Dr. Kerry Muhlestein (61:21 quoting Elder Marvin J. Ashton)

• On The Book of Abraham and Scholarship (47:40–52:21):

  “If you believe in the Book of Abraham, that's a faith choice. If you disbelieve in the Book of Abraham, that's a faith choice. Anyone who tells you differently is kidding themselves.... I am absolutely convinced of the Book of Abraham.” — Dr. Kerry Muhlestein (48:14–51:05)

• Parental Long-Game Perspective (63:06):

  “God has the long game in mind and we want things solved by Thursday. He has the long game.” — John Bytheway (63:06)

• Elder Uchtdorf’s Flower Parable (65:38):

  “Building faith in a child is somewhat like helping a flower grow. You cannot tug on the stem... pry open the bud... or neglect the flower... What you can and must do... is provide rich, nourishing soil... and let God work His miracle. With Jesus Christ, the master healer and Savior, there can always be a new beginning. He always gives hope.” — Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, quoted by Hank Smith (63:35–65:38)

Additional Topics

Scholarship & Faith: Defending the Book of Abraham (47:40–54:42)

• Dr. Muhlestein discusses the faith-based choice of accepting scripture, his intellectual/spiritual testimony, and the criticisms encountered as a scholar.
• Resources recommended: “Let’s Talk About the Book of Abraham” (book) and BYU Studies’ Introduction to the Book of Abraham.

Family Teaching and Parental Encouragement (58:30–68:09)

• Practical counsel for parents, especially when efforts seem fruitless or children resist.
• Example from Dr. Muhlestein’s personal life—patience and Christ’s sustaining strength in the face of family struggles; encouragement to “never give up.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Spiritual/physical death & Enoch’s sermon: 00:06–05:50
• Repentance and analogies: 07:17–14:00
• Baptism, original guilt, and fallen nature: 13:39–18:14
• Born again symbolism: 18:15–24:11
• Justification vs. sanctification: 24:11–26:31
• On being children of Christ: 32:46–37:51
• Nature, parenthood, and all things bearing record: 44:34–47:21
• Book of Abraham scholarly testimony: 47:40–52:21
• Advice for discouraged parents: 58:30–68:09
• Elder Uchtdorf’s message and personal experience: 63:35–68:09

Conclusion

This episode delivers a profound and hopeful look at repentance, the necessity of new birth in Christ, and the enduring power of faith—especially as parents and teachers. It’s rich in scriptural insight, practical analogies, and vulnerability from all three participants. The recurring message: no matter how off course, Christ invites us to return, and His Atonement, accompanied by the Holy Ghost, transforms us—again and again.