Podcast Summary: followHIM — "The Name that Found Her" • November 3-9 • Come Follow Me

Hosts: Hank Smith & John Bytheway
Episode Date: October 30, 2025
Sections Covered: Doctrine & Covenants 125–128 (Baptisms for the Dead)

Episode Overview

This FollowHIM Favorites episode focuses on a powerful family history and temple experience related to baptisms for the dead—the central topic in this week's Come, Follow Me study. Hosts Hank Smith and John Bytheway share a moving story about a woman from Suriname whose ancestors' names repeatedly found their way into her hands at the temple, illustrating the spiritual bond across generations and the role of promptings from the other side.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Context: Baptisms for the Dead

• The week's scripture sections (D&C 125-128) focus on the doctrine of baptisms for the dead.
• Hank and John introduce the theme with an invitation to see how the "spirit world touches our world," specifically through temple work.

2. Augustina and Eva Dorson's Family Line

• Story Source: Written by Sister Vicki Taylor, Caribbean Area Communications Senior Missionary.

• Main Characters:

  • Augustina Constantine Dorson: Born July 1, 1863, on the Serra plantation in present-day Suriname, the day slavery was officially abolished. Daughter of Molly Dorson.
  • Eva Dorson: Molly's sister, also a slave on the plantation.

• Life remained hard for the family even after abolition due to delayed implementation and repayments to slave owners. Eventually, the family moved to the capital, Paramaribo.

3. The Temple Experience (02:04–03:51)

• Lucanne Libretto's Experience:

  • On September 13, 2024, Lucanne attends the temple with five ancestral names for baptism. While waiting, she feels an urgent spiritual prompting—"I literally felt I was being pushed forward." (02:23, Lucanne paraphrased by John Bytheway)

  • She bypasses the group, and receives Eva Dorson's name first.

  • During a later session, she receives Eva's name again and again, without requesting it.

  • Lucanne reflects:

    "I was tired, but a temple worker handed me one more name to complete in addition to the five I had already done. To my surprise, it was Eva Dorson again. With tears in my eyes, I knew with certainty she wanted and had chosen me to do all her work at the temple. I never asked for her name, but I kept getting it pressed into my hands." — Lucanne Libretto (03:33)

  • Lucanne is grateful she listened to the promptings, even when exhausted.

4. Family Legacy and Spiritual Impact

• On September 21, 2024, Lucanne, her husband Imro, and others from their district completed ordinances for over 90 family members—including Augustina, Molly, Eva, and others.
• Imro's Testimony:

  "The best time we can spend here on earth is in the temple with our Heavenly Father." (03:49, Imro Row)

• The experience deeply strengthened their connection to both living and deceased family.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I literally felt I was being pushed forward."
  — Lucanne Libretto, paraphrased by John Bytheway (02:23)
• "I want her. I want her. I want her."
  — John Bytheway, imagining Eva's urgency from the spirit world (04:01)
• "She gets that name, this Eva Dorson. Cool, huh? Over and over again."
  — Hank Smith (04:19)
• "The best time we can spend here on earth is in the temple with our Heavenly Father."
  — Imro Row (03:49)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:03] — Episode introduction and context (Come Follow Me sections)
• [00:40] — Story of Augustina and Eva Dorson's family background
• [02:04] — Lucanne Libretto's temple experience and spiritual promptings
• [03:33] — Lucanne's emotional realization about Eva Dorson's requests
• [03:49] — Imro's testimony and family legacy
• [04:01] — Hosts reflect on the story’s emotional power

Tone & Atmosphere

• Warm, reverent, and conversational.
• Hosts express awe at the immediacy of spiritual promptings and the reality of connection with ancestors.
• Gentle encouragement for listeners to engage with their own family history and temple work.

Final Thoughts

• The story powerfully illustrates the theme of personal, spiritual connection in temple work, showing how the work of salvation binds generations and how heaven sometimes urges us directly.
• Listeners are invited to deepen their engagement with Come, Follow Me—and to look for ways the "names find them" in their own lives.

Listener Invitation:
For a deep dive, check out the full podcast episode and join next week’s FollowHIM Favorites for another inspiring story.