Love, No Pressure • followHIM Favorites • May 11-17 • Come, Follow Me

Summary

Podcast Summary: followHIM — "Love, No Pressure" (May 7, 2026)

Episode Overview

This episode of "Follow Him Favorites" with Hank Smith and John Bytheway focuses on making Come, Follow Me study approachable and natural, especially as it relates to the principles found in Deuteronomy 6. The hosts share a memorable story illustrating the power of normal, everyday missionary work done without pressure or formality, drawing parallels to teaching faith "diligently" in one's daily family life. The episode emphasizes that sharing the gospel and teaching spirituality can—and perhaps should—feel natural, loving, and pressure-free.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Teaching Diligently in Daily Life

• Scripture Spotlight: Deuteronomy 6:7
  • “Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children… when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way… when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”
• Insight:
  • John Bytheway highlights that spiritual teaching should be "normal and natural," not artificial or forced. He notes this in his margin as "normal and natural" (00:23).

2. The Story: Unintentional Missionary Work

• Story Summary:

  • John recounts a story (from Elder Robert E. Wells) of a college student in Wyoming. Wanting to attend church, he invites a similarly dressed stranger to go with him. Only afterwards does he realize the new friend is not a member of his church—the friend simply came along because he was treated kindly and included (00:36-01:44).

• Natural, No-Pressure Approach:

  • The two students attend the service together; only during sacrament meeting does the host discover his new friend is of a different faith.
  • Memorable exchange:
    • “Well, you sang the hymns. That was okay, wasn’t it? ... You took the sacrament. Yeah. That was like the Lord’s Supper, huh?” (01:27)

3. Reflection: Missionary Work Without Tension

• Hosts’ Takeaway:
  • Hank admires how unforced the interaction was, suggesting many might do more missionary work if they didn’t overthink it:
    • "Maybe missionary work would be a lot easier if we didn't know someone wasn't a member." (01:56)
  • John affirms: “Normal, natural. Hey, you want to come to church with me? Sure. What a great idea.” (01:47)
  • The value in simple invitation and inclusion is emphasized: it’s the friendliness and warmth that matter most.

4. Invitation to Learn More

• The hosts briefly tease the main, full-length episode featuring Dr. Cammie Anderson, an expert on helping the poor and needy, who draws lessons from Deuteronomy’s teachings about serving others (02:17-02:35).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• John Bytheway [00:23]:
  "I have in my margin: normal and natural. This reminded me of a story..."

• Hank Smith [01:44]:
  "Now that's beautiful. He had no idea he was doing missionary work?"

• John Bytheway [01:47]:
  "Normal, natural. Hey, you want to come to church with me? Sure. What a great idea."

• Hank Smith [01:56]:
  "Maybe missionary work would be a lot easier if we didn't know someone wasn't a member."

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Important Timestamps

• 00:13-00:36: Introduction to Deuteronomy 6:7 and "normal and natural" teaching
• 00:36-01:44: The unintentional missionary story
• 01:44-02:14: Host discussion on what makes missionary work easy and genuine
• 02:17-02:35: Tease for the main episode with Dr. Cammie Anderson

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Episode Tone & Takeaway

The episode is warm, conversational, and filled with encouragement for listeners to make both gospel teaching and sharing their faith a natural part of everyday life. Rather than feeling pressure to perform or force awkward interactions, the hosts champion a faith practice that is sincere, friendly, and welcoming.

Key Takeaway:
Spiritual teaching and missionary work are most effective when done with love and without pressure—often in the course of everyday living. Small, natural invitations can have a big impact.

Transcript

[A]

Welcome to Follow Him Favorites this is where John and I share a single story to go with each week's Come Follow Me lesson. John, we're in Deuteronomy this week. Tell me what you have in mind.

[B]

I have a story. This is Deuteronomy 6. 7. Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children. Thou shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest. By the way, I love that. And when thou liest down and when thou risest up. I have in my margin normal and natural. This reminded me of a story from Elder Robert E. Wells book I actually we've told another Follow him favorite from his book about the cheapest book in a used bookstore. This story There was a kid who was going to college. I believe it was in Wyoming. The church was kind of far away. But on Sunday, the first week of the semester, he wanted to go to church. So he got on the bus. He gets out of the bus to go up the hill where the church is. He sees somebody walking in front of him who's dressed up like he is. And he runs up and says, hey, are you new in school this semester? He says, yeah, I'm just starting. He says, great. You want to go to church with me? Sure. They go to church together. They go to sacrament meeting, and at the end of the sacrament meeting, he looks at his new friend and he says, so, are you an elder or a priest? And he says, huh? He says, well, what priesthood do you hold to go to the next meeting? He goes, I don't know what you mean. And it kind of daunted him. Wait, are you a member of this church? No. He goes, well, you sang the hymns. That was okay, wasn't it? Yeah. Well, you took the sacrament. Yeah. That was like the Lord's Supper, huh? And he goes, well, why did you come with me? And he said, oh, well, my church is further up the street. But you were so nice to me, I just thought I'd come with you.

[A]

Now that's beautiful. He had no idea he was doing missionary work?

[B]

No. Normal, natural. Hey, you want to come to church with me? Sure. What a great idea. What an easy thing to say to somebody. Hey, you want to come with me? Yeah.

[A]

That's so great. Maybe missionary work would be a lot easier if we didn't know someone wasn't a member.

[B]

Right.

[A]

We just talked to him. We wouldn't be so nervous. Oh, I love it. So the guy just goes to church with him?

[B]

Sure. Yeah, I'll go with you. You were so nice. I'll come with you and find out what an elder and a priest is later, Right?

[A]

He's probably sitting in sacrament meeting never to talk on missionary work. And he's like, I wish I could do more missionary work. Don't you wish you could do more missionary work? Yeah. Yeah, sure. Hey, we are in the Book of Deuteronomy this week. We're in Deuteronomy 6, 7 this week with Dr. Cammie Anderson. She has done some incredible work helping the poor and the needy and those who need education. And you want to come over and hear her? She is an expert in this field and draws out some of those principles from the Book of Deuteronomy in ways you've never seen. Then come back here next week. We'll do another. Follow him. Favorites SA.