Home Teaching Drug Deal • followHIM Favorites - followHIM

Summary5 min read

followHIM Podcast Episode Summary: "Home Teaching Drug Deal • followHIM Favorites"

Release Date: March 6, 2025

In the "Home Teaching Drug Deal" episode of the followHIM Favorites series, hosts Hank Smith and John Bytheway delve into an intriguing and humorous anecdote that underscores the importance of preparation and discernment in the home teaching (now ministering) program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This episode, released on March 6, 2025, offers listeners a blend of scriptural insights, real-life experiences, and practical lessons to enhance their Come, Follow Me studies.

Introduction to Section 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants

The episode begins with John introducing the focus of their discussion: Section 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants. He remarks, “We are in Section 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants. You know this section. Tell us what it is” (00:00).

Darrell Bud, a guest on the show, elaborates on the significance of this section, describing it as the “constitution of the church,” outlining its organizational structure and operational guidelines (00:17). John draws a parallel to the "first handbook of instruction," emphasizing that Section 20 serves as a foundational text for church administration.

The conversation highlights a particular directive from the section: believers are encouraged to "visit the house of each member and exhort them to pray vocally in secret and attend all their family duties." This directive has evolved into the home teaching program, now known as the ministering program, which aims to foster fellowship and support among church members.

The Anecdote: A Home Teaching Turned Unexpected

John transitions into the heart of the episode by introducing an article written by Paul Raleigh, which recounts an experience involving Darrell Bud and an elder Corn President during a home teaching visit. John states, “There is this part of the new handbook here where it says that we should visit the house of each member and exhort them to pray vocally in secret and attend all their family duties... This wins the award, absolutely, for making an appointment before you go to teach at someone's house” (00:24).

Paul Raleigh praises Bud’s narrative, noting his “cheerful spirit and good sense of humor” (00:24). The story unfolds as Bud and the elder president visit a lapsed LDS member’s apartment, expecting a routine ministering visit. However, their visit takes an unexpected turn when they are confronted by the police.

At 01:00, Bud recounts the escalating situation: "Before the boyfriend could open the door, it flew open and 10 armed men wearing Kevlar vests bearing the word police swarmed in. Ordering everyone to the floor." The tension peaks as Bud lies face down, and the elder attempts to explain their presence, only to be met with further aggression.

A particularly memorable moment occurs at 02:18, when a large officer raises his finger threateningly: “I said, get on the ground.” In the ensuing chaos, Bud humorously reflects on his predicament: “I never thought I would need to support the President like that” (02:18). Amidst the fear, Bud finds humor in the irony of their situation, laughing even as they are handcuffed and searched.

The revelation comes when the elders finally assert their spiritual mission, leading the officers to momentarily pause and request church identification. However, despite their attempts to clarify their intent, the outcome remains tragic: the couple they aimed to help succumbs to circumstances beyond their assistance, symbolizing lost opportunities to guide "lost sheep" back to the fold.

Bud poignantly summarizes the harrowing experience: “I knew my temple recommend could get me in the house of the Lord, but I never dreamed it could get me out of going to the big house” (02:16).

Lessons Learned: The Importance of Preparation

Reflecting on the ordeal, John reiterates the core lesson derived from the narrative: the necessity of making appointments before home visits. He emphasizes, “Make an appointment. Make an appointment” as a practical takeaway to avoid unwelcomed and potentially hazardous situations during ministering efforts.

The hosts connect this lesson back to Section 20, reinforcing the idea that thoughtful preparation and respect for individual circumstances are crucial components of effective ministry. By ensuring appointments are set, ministering efforts become more purposeful, respectful, and less intrusive, thereby fostering genuine connections and support within the community.

Closing Thoughts and Future Episodes

As the episode concludes, John invites listeners to engage further with the followHIM Podcast, highlighting upcoming discussions and expert interviews designed to enrich their Come, Follow Me studies. He mentions a forthcoming episode featuring Dr. Casey Griffiths, an expert in incompetence, who will provide deeper insights into the complexities of Section 20.

John encourages listeners to subscribe and participate in future episodes, promising continued exploration of favorite stories and lessons that resonate with diverse age groups and backgrounds within the LDS community.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

John Bytheway: “We are in Section 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants. You know this section. Tell us what it is.” (00:00)
Darrell Bud: “I never thought I would need to support the President like that” (02:18)
John Bytheway: “Make an appointment. Make an appointment.” (Final Segment)

Conclusion

The "Home Teaching Drug Deal" episode of followHIM Favorites masterfully intertwines scriptural teachings with real-life experiences, offering listeners both entertainment and valuable lessons. By sharing Darrell Bud’s unexpected encounter during a home teaching visit, hosts Hank Smith and John Bytheway highlight the importance of preparation, discernment, and adaptability in ministering efforts. This episode serves as a compelling reminder that effective ministry requires not only spiritual dedication but also practical strategies to navigate the complexities of real-world interactions.

For those seeking to make their LDS study fresh, faithful, and fun, this episode exemplifies the enriching content that followHIM consistently delivers every Wednesday morning.

Connect with followHIM:

Show Notes: https://followhim.co
YouTube: FollowHimOfficialChannel
Instagram: instagram.com/followhimpodcast
Facebook: facebook.com/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 guests and podcasters alone.

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Transcript5 lines

[00:00]
John
Foreign welcome to Follow Him Favorites. This is where John and I are sharing stories that go with each week's Come follow me lesson. John, we are in Section 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants. You know this section. Tell us what it is.
[00:18]
Darrell Bud
Yeah, section 20 is. Is really long. It's kind of the constitution of the church. This is how it's organized. This is what you do.
[00:24]
John
Like the first handbook of instruction. Like, this is how we're going to run things. Well, there's this part of the new handbook here where it says that we should visit the house of each member and exhort them to pray vocally in secret and attend all their family duties. So this becomes the home teaching program eventually and as we know it now, the ministering program in the church. This wins the award, absolutely, for making an appointment before you go to teach at someone's house. This is an article written by Paul Raleigh, who tells the story of Darrell Zaduck Bud. He says that Brother Bud is known for his cheerful spirit and good sense of humor and colorful writing style. Paul Raleigh says that when he heard this story, he had to write an article about it. Quote, it's too good not to pass along. All right, so here's how it goes. John Bud and the Elders Corn president in his LDS ward were home teaching to lapsed members, so inactive members. When they came upon a home containing a member more lapsed than they could have imagined, they were welcomed into the woman's apartment, which she shared with her boyfriend. As we were preparing to say the closing prayer at the conclusion of our visit, we heard someone pounding on the door and yelling, it's the police. Open the door. I thought, that's a funny joke. Then there was more pounding. Bud wrote. Before the boyfriend could open the door, it flew open and 10 armed men wearing Kevlar vests bearing the word police swarmed in. Ordering everyone to the floor. Bud wrote, I thought to myself, this is going to make a great story.
[02:16]
Darrell Bud
This is going to be on a podcast one day.
[02:19]
John
As Bud lay face down on the carpet, the Elders corn president stood up from where he was sitting on the couch, thinking he could explain why he and Bud were there. The kind officers who were spouting language the two LDS home teachers were not used to hearing did not seem to like this action. And one very large officer stepped toward Bud's companion, who then found himself looking directly into the muscle of a gun with a bright light shining in his eyes. The officer placed his finger over the trigger and shouted. I said, get on the ground. The portly Elders corn President quickly complied, but to Bud's chagrin, there wasn't enough room between the couch and the coffee table, so he landed on Bud. I never thought I would need to support the President like that, bud continued. I I assure you, I really felt the weight of my calling. While they were on the floor, the cops who were part of the narcotics task force continued to shout orders and threats. The humor of the whole situation hit me full force and I started laughing broke, but they were handcuffed and searched for weapons, not including their scriptures. The eldersborne president finally blurted in one breath that they were the home teachers from the ward, causing the officers to look at one another in puzzlement. They asked for church ID and were quickly shown temple recommends. Bud writes this I knew my temple recommend could get me in the house of the Lord, but I never dreamed it could get me out of going to the big house. Alas, they couldn't save the couple. They had gone to enlighten the lost sheep we were hoping to bring back to the fold. Sadly ended up going to a different pen. All right, John, back to section 20 that we are to what was it? Visit the house of every member and exhort them to pray vocally and in secret and attend to all family duties. So to everyone out there, what's the lesson? Make an appointment. Make an appointment. Before you go over, 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're with Dr. Casey Griffiths this week, who is a doctorate incompetence expert, and he does a great job walking us through this section. And then come back next week we'll do another Follow him favorite.