Mistake to Masterpiece • followHIM Favorites • Jan. 12-18 • Come, Follow Me

Summary

Podcast Episode Summary

Podcast: followHIM
Episode: Mistake to Masterpiece • followHIM Favorites • Jan. 12-18 • Come, Follow Me
Hosts: Hank Smith & John Bytheway
Date: January 10, 2026
Main Theme:
Exploring how mistakes and setbacks in creative endeavors can become opportunities for growth and spiritual insight, emphasizing that everyone is inherently a creator as a child of God. The episode uses personal stories, scriptural tie-ins, and uplifting encouragement to help listeners find hope and creativity in their religious study and daily lives.

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1. Introduction to the Creation Theme

• Segment (00:02–00:14)
  • The hosts introduce the week's focus: “the creation story” in Genesis, connecting it with their own stories about creativity.
  • Hank: “John, we are in the creation story. In the beginning, Genesis. You’ve told me you have a story.”

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2. The Story of Sister Kristin Yee’s Painting

• Segment (00:14–02:42)
  • John shares a powerful story about Sister Kristin Yee, who felt inspired yet overwhelmed to paint a portrait of the Savior.
  • John: “Though I am an artist, it felt a bit overwhelming…How was I to paint a portrait of Jesus Christ that captured his spirit? She said, where was I to begin? How could I find the time? I decided to move forward and trust that the Lord would help me.” (00:25)
  • The painting process was challenging and required faith and persistence.
  • At a critical point, Sister Yee mistakenly applied varnish too soon, causing part of the painting to smear and dissolve.
    • John: “I literally wiped away a portion of my painting with the varnish. Oh, how my heart sank. I felt as though I had just destroyed what God helped me to do.” (01:46)
  • Distressed, she called her mother, who encouraged her: “You won’t get back what you had, but do the very best you can with what you’ve got.”
  • After repainting through the night and prayer, the finished work turned out even better.
    • John (quoting Sister Yee): “What I thought was a mistake without men was an opportunity for his merciful hand to be manifest. He was not done with the painting, and he was not done with me.” (02:25)
  • Insight: The story illustrates how God can work with our mistakes to create something greater.

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3. Reflections on Creation and Creativity

• Segment (02:42–03:47)
  • Hank responds by highlighting the beauty of Sister Yee’s artwork and transitions to a quote from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf on creativity.
  • Hank: “You may say I’m not the creative type…If that is what you feel, think again and remember that you are…spirit daughters (and sons) of the most creative being in the universe.” (02:57)
  • President Uchtdorf suggests starting with small acts of creation: smiles, appreciation letters, learning new skills, beautifying spaces.
  • Hank: “There is great work for the saints to do. I love it. Creation.” (03:47)
  • The hosts discuss the word “recreation,” connecting it to the idea of “re-creation”—renewal and making new memories.
    • John: “There’s a word that I had never noticed. The word create was inside of it—recreation…we are recreating, making new memories.” (03:47)

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4. Encouragement and Closing Thoughts

• Segment (04:11–04:18)
  • The episode ends with motivating words urging listeners to embrace their divine potential as creators.
  • Hank: “Go create. You’re the child of a creator. Go create. Go make it happen.” (04:11)
  • John: “You can do it.” (04:17)
  • The hosts invite listeners to join their full podcast for a deeper discussion with Dr. Rebecca Call, hinting at unique teachings about Eve.

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Notable Quotes

• John (relating Sister Yee’s mother’s advice, 01:58):
  “You won’t get back what you had, but do the very best you can with what you’ve got.”
• Sister Yee (via John, 02:25):
  “What I thought was a mistake without men was an opportunity for his merciful hand to be manifest. He was not done with the painting, and he was not done with me.”
• President Uchtdorf (read by Hank, 02:57):
  “If that is what you feel, think again and remember that you are…spirit daughters (and sons) of the most creative being in the universe.”
• Hank (04:11):
  “Go create. You’re the child of a creator. Go create. Go make it happen.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:14–02:42 – Sister Yee’s painting story and its lessons
• 02:57–03:47 – President Uchtdorf’s encouragement to be creative
• 03:47–04:18 – Insights on ‘recreation’ and closing encouragement

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Tone & Style

Warm, reassuring, and faith-focused. The hosts blend scriptural faith, personal stories, humor, and practical wisdom to resonate with Latter-day Saint listeners at all ages and study levels. Their message affirms each individual’s creative potential and the spiritual power found in overcoming mistakes and starting anew.

Transcript

[A]

Hey. Welcome to Follow him favorites. This is where John and I share a single story to go with each week's lesson. John, we are in the creation story. In the beginning, Genesis. You've told me you have a story.

[B]

Yes, I do. It's about a painting. Elder Richard G. Scott and President Henry B. Eyring do watercolors. President Packard had amazing art with birds and things. This process of creating. I love that they love to create, and we're talking about creation. But much more recently. Sister Kristin Yee. Do you remember this talk, Hank? She said, About 10 years ago, I felt impressed to paint a portrait of the Savior. Though I am an artist, it felt a bit overwhelming. Gotta go find this talk because the painting is in there and it is incredible. How was I to paint a portrait of Jesus Christ that captured his spirit? She said, where was I to begin? How could I find the time? I decided to move forward and trust that the Lord would help me. But I had to keep moving and leave possibilities to him, she said. I prayed, pondered, researched, sketched, was blessed to find help and resources. What was a white canvas started to become something more. The process wasn't easy. Sometimes it didn't look as I had hoped. Sometimes there were moments of inspired strokes and ideas. And many times I just had to try again and again and again when I thought the oil painting was finally complete and dry. Okay, hang on to your chair, Hank. I began to apply a transparent varnish to protect it from dirt and dust. As I did, I noticed the hair in the painting started to change, smear, and dissolve.

[A]

I remember this.

[B]

Can you imagine? I quickly realized I had applied the varnish too soon and that part of the painting was still wet. I literally wiped away a portion of my painting with the varnish. Oh, how my heart sank. I felt as though I had just destroyed what God helped me to do. I cried and felt sick inside. In despair, I did what anyone would do, typically in a situation like this. I called my mother. She wisely and calmly said, you won't get back what you had, but do the very best you can with what you've got. I prayed and pled for help. Painted through the night to repair things. And I remember looking at the painting in the morning. It looked better than it did before. How was that possible? What I thought was a mistake without men was an opportunity for his merciful hand to be manifest. He was not done with the painting, and he was not done with me. Isn't that a great story? If we make a mistake, our Creator can recreate us. That's a beautiful message of this.

[A]

Wow. That's fantastic. And it fits the lesson really well. And John, I'm looking at this painting. I don't know if Sister Yee ever listens to our show, but wow. She's like, though I am a painter. That's a painter.

[B]

Oh, you're an amazing painter.

[A]

Listen to this, John, from President Uchtdorf. He says, you may say I'm not the creative type. When I sing, I'm always a half a tone above or below the note. I cannot draw a line without a ruler. And the only practical use for my homemade bread is a paperweight or a doorstop. If that is what you feel, think again and remember that you are and he's talking to women, but you are spirit daughters. We could add sons of the most creative being in the universe. Isn't it remarkable to think that your very spirits are fashioned by an endlessly creative and eternally compassionate God? He goes on later to say, if you feel incapable of creating, start small. Try to see how many smiles you can create. Write a letter of appreciation, learn a new skill, identify a space and beautify it. There is great work for the saints to do. I love it. Creation.

[B]

Yeah. There's a word that I had never noticed. The word create was inside of it. That is recreation. When we go on recreation, like what does it say? Wholesome recreational activities in the proclamation that we are recreating, making new memories of things. I thought, oh, what an interesting idea. Recreation is recreating.

[A]

Yeah. I love it. Well, anybody listening? Go create. You're the child of a creator. Go create. Go make it happen.

[B]

You can do it.

[A]

Also, join us on our full podcast. It's called Follow Him. You can get it wherever you get podcasts. We are with Dr. Rebecca call this week. She is going to teach you some things about Eve you likely have never thought of. It is beautiful. Then come back here next week we'll do another follow him favorites.