Follow Him Podcast Summary
Episode: The Book of Mormon Just Clicks! • followHIM Favorites • February 3-9 • Come Follow Me
Hosts: Hank Smith & John Bytheway
Release Date: January 30, 2025
Introduction
In this enlightening episode of Follow Him Favorites, hosts Hank Smith and John Bytheway delve into a compelling story that intertwines faith, language, and divine inspiration. Centered around Judy Brummer's remarkable journey, the episode explores her role in translating the Book of Mormon into Xhosa, providing listeners with a unique perspective on religious dedication and linguistic challenge.
Judy Brummer’s Early Life and Language Mastery
The episode opens with John introducing Judy Brummer’s background, highlighting her upbringing in Karoo, South Africa. Judy's Methodist family instilled in her strong values and a deep religious foundation. Hank shares:
"I love my Methodist family. They're hardworking, good, honest, decent, farm country, bumpkin people."
[00:45]
Judy's mother, Gwenna, was a trailblazer for women in education in South Africa, allowing Judy and her siblings to receive higher education despite societal norms. This educational foundation played a crucial role in Judy's ability to navigate and master the Xhosa language—a challenging feat, especially in adulthood. Judy recounts:
"Some of the clicking that you do is when you're taking air in instead of taking, instead of pushing air out, which is what we do in our language, but some of it's taking air in. It's really hard for an adult, almost impossible for an adult to learn."
[04:30]
Her bilingual upbringing, speaking both her native language and Xhosa fluently from childhood, set the stage for her future linguistic accomplishments.
Encounter with LDS Missionaries and Conversion
Judy’s path took a significant turn when she met LDS missionaries Sister Dix and Sister Belle. Hank narrates the humorous and pivotal moment:
"I leaned back to my roommate, Vivian, and said, would you like to hear more about the morbid church. So having just spat out watermelon, Vivian and I just laughed and thought it was really funny."
[10:15]
Realizing the missionaries might misconstrue her laughter as mockery, Judy chose to embrace the opportunity, inviting them inside. This decision led to her deepening interest in the LDS Church, eventual conversion, and sharing her newfound faith with others despite facing significant opposition from her family.
Missionary Work in South Africa
Judy’s commitment to her faith propelled her into missionary work. Within two weeks of declaring her intention, she was actively involved in converting groups, aided by her unique language skills. Hank shares:
"Two weeks later, I was speaking to Bishop Kawa. We baptized 30, then 40, then 50 people at a time."
[15:20]
Judy’s work was instrumental in establishing a robust LDS presence in South Africa, even amidst challenges such as mistaken church registrations and cultural barriers. Her story underscores the impact of dedication and the importance of effective communication in missionary work.
Translation Work: Translating the Book of Mormon into Xhosa
The core of the episode centers on Judy’s divine calling to translate the Book of Mormon into Xhosa. Judy describes the process with profound clarity and spiritual insight:
"I would read the English Book of Mormon and I understood it with a clarity that I cannot explain to you. It was so clear, it was almost like I was there."
[22:45]
Her ability to perceive the personalities and intentions of the Book of Mormon prophets allowed her to choose the most fitting words in Xhosa, ensuring the translation remained faithful to the original text's spirit and message. Judy emphasizes the collaborative nature of her work:
"I had help," she said, "just like Joseph did, going from reformed Egyptian to English."
[28:10]
Insights and Spiritual Experiences
Throughout her translation journey, Judy experienced numerous spiritual affirmations. She felt guided by divine inspiration, mirroring the experiences of Joseph Smith during his translation of the Book of Mormon. Judy reflects:
"Every word is a light bulb that lit up in my brain."
[26:55]
Her deep connection to the material and unwavering faith were pivotal in overcoming the linguistic and cultural challenges inherent in her task.
Conclusion and Connection to Episode Themes
Hank and John wrap up the episode by tying Judy Brummer’s story to the broader themes of divine guidance and the power of language in faith-based endeavors. They highlight how Judy’s journey exemplifies the intersection of personal dedication and spiritual mission, inspiring listeners to seek out their unique callings.
"This is how she describes translating the Book of Mormon from English to Xhosa. It was almost like she was there. I knew exactly what every word meant in English."
[30:05]
They encourage the audience to explore more about Judy’s impactful work and reflect on the importance of perseverance and faith in their own spiritual studies.
Additional Resources
For more insights and detailed discussions, listeners are invited to visit the show notes at followhim.co, watch episodes on YouTube at FollowHimOfficialChannel, and follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook.
This episode of Follow Him not only celebrates Judy Brummer’s exceptional contributions to translating sacred texts but also underscores the enduring relevance of faith, education, and cultural understanding in religious study and dissemination.