The Prophet Didn't Know, But She Did • followHIM Favorites • January 13-19 • Come Follow Me

Summary

Podcast Summary: "The Prophet Didn't Know, But She Did" | followHIM Favorites

Episode Details:

• Title: The Prophet Didn't Know, But She Did
• Podcast: followHIM Favorites
• Release Date: January 9, 2025
• Hosts: Hank Smith & John Bytheway
• Focus: Joseph Smith’s First Vision and personal testimonies illustrating God's personal knowledge of individuals.

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Introduction to the Episode

In the January 13-19 episode of followHIM Favorites, hosts Hank Smith and John Bytheway delve into the profound experiences surrounding Joseph Smith's First Vision. They aim to connect historical events with personal stories that emphasize the intimate relationship between the divine and individuals.

Exploring Joseph Smith’s First Vision

The episode begins with Hank and John setting the stage by discussing Joseph Smith—History, specifically focusing on verse 17, which recounts Joseph Smith's foundational spiritual experience.

Hank Smith:
"The very first thing Joseph hears from the Father and the Son as they appear, it was, amazingly, his own name. He called me by name."
[00:31]

John Bytheway:
"That had to help him through a lot that was coming."
[00:57]

This exchange highlights the significance of God addressing Joseph Smith personally, reinforcing the idea that divine communication is both direct and individualized.

Personal Testimony: Sister Elaine Dalton’s Story

To illustrate the theme that "God knows our names," Hank shares a heartfelt story from Sister Elaine Dalton, a respected figure and former Young Women's General President.

Hank Smith:
"She puts her own symbol stitched onto the bandalow... I chose the symbol of a white rose because roses become more and more beautiful as they grow in blossom. And the color white, she said she chose for purity, like the temple."
[01:44]

Sister Dalton recounts her experience as a young woman choosing a symbol that represented her spiritual journey, emphasizing the personal significance of her choice— a white rose symbolizing growth and purity.

Hank Smith:
"Does the Lord care, John, what symbol she chooses to put on her bandalow? Is that something I think we're about."
[02:42]

John Bytheway:
"To find out that he does, decades later."
[02:46]

This dialogue underscores the belief that every individual’s choices and symbols hold personal significance to God.

Divine Confirmation and Personal Calling

Years later, Sister Dalton experiences a pivotal moment when she is called to serve as the Young Women's General President. Meeting with then-President Monson, she receives a white rose—a symbol from her past—that reaffirms her calling.

Hank Smith:
"As she's leaving President Monson's office, he reaches over to a bouquet of flowers, takes out a white rose and hands it to her. And then she says this. The moment he handed me that beautiful white rose, I knew why."
[03:07]

This moment serves as a modern parallel to Joseph Smith’s First Vision, illustrating how divine signs and personal symbols can affirm one's spiritual path.

John Bytheway:
"By name. Elder Lund, I think. Called those divine signatures."
[03:56]

Hank Smith:
"She says, I took that precious rose home, put it in a beautiful crystal vase, and placed it on a table where I could see it every day. The Lord knows my name. The Lord knows your name."
[04:01]

Reflections and Conclusion

The hosts reflect on how these personal testimonies enhance our understanding of divine knowledge and individual worth. By sharing stories like Sister Dalton's, they aim to inspire listeners to recognize the personal care and attention God bestows upon each person.

Hank Smith:
"We hope you'll join us on our full podcast. It's called Follow Him... We hope you'll join us over there and then come back next week. We'll do another Follow him favorites."
[04:01]

Key Takeaways

• Personal Divine Interaction: Just as Joseph Smith was personally addressed by God, individuals today receive personal confirmations and signs that affirm their spiritual journeys.
• Symbolism in Faith: Symbols chosen during formative years can hold significant personal meaning and serve as reminders of one's commitment and purity.
• Divine Assurance: Stories like Sister Dalton’s provide tangible evidence of God’s personal knowledge and care, reinforcing the belief that every individual is uniquely known and valued by the divine.

Notable Quotes

• Hank Smith on Divine Address:
  "The very first thing Joseph hears... he called me by name."
  [00:31]

• Sister Dalton on Personal Symbols:
  "I chose the symbol of a white rose because roses become more and more beautiful as they grow in blossom... for purity, like the temple."
  [01:44]

• Reflection on Divine Confirmation:
  "The moment he handed me that beautiful white rose, I knew why."
  [03:07]

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Conclusion This episode of followHIM Favorites masterfully intertwines historical accounts with personal testimonies to illuminate the deep, personal relationship individuals can have with the divine. By highlighting stories like Sister Elaine Dalton’s, Hank Smith and John Bytheway provide listeners with relatable examples of how God’s knowledge and care extend to every individual, reinforcing the foundational beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

For more enriching discussions and personal stories, listeners are encouraged to subscribe to the full followHIM podcast available on all major platforms.

Transcript

[A]

Hello, everyone. Welcome to Follow him favorites. This is where John and I share a single story to go with each week's lesson. John, we're in Joseph Smith history, the first half, the first vision, basically, and the experiences of Joseph Smith leading up to the first vision. So I thought I'd share a story with you that goes along with verse 17 in Joseph Smith history. Do you know, John? I'm sure you do. The very first thing Joseph hears from the Father and the Son as they.

[B]

Appear, it was, amazingly, his own name. He called me by name.

[A]

Some people might say, oh, no, it was, this is my beloved son. Hear him. But just before that, Joseph says, one of them spake unto me, calling me by name. John, you and I have said this before. That might be the most important thing Joseph Smith learns that day. God knows who I am.

[B]

That had to help him through a lot that was coming.

[A]

God knows my name. I wanted to share with you a story that I love about God knowing someone else's name. And he knows all of ours. This is from a sister who is friends with both of us. John, you know Sister Elaine Dalton, one of the most wonderful people you will ever meet. She told this story in general conference when she was the Young Women's General President. She says this. When I was a young woman, my young women's leaders had us each choose a symbol that would represent the life that we would live and what we would strive to become as daughters of God. She said they put them on their bandalow. I didn't know what that was, John, but it's like a. You wear as a Boy Scout that you put your merit badges on.

[B]

Merit badge sash. But this is a bandalow, right?

[A]

In fact, she says that they were fabric sashes that we wore. I guess as they earned young women's values, they put those patches on, you know, faith, divine nature, choice and accountability. They would earn these patches. Each of the bandalos were unique because you had your own symbol stitched onto the bandalow. Does that make sense? I don't know if this was in Sister Dalton's ward or stake or across the whole church that you had this little symbol. She said, I chose the symbol of a white rose because roses become more and more beautiful as they grow in blossom. And the color white, she said she chose for purity, like the temple. Now that's when she's, what, 12 years old? Does the Lord care, John, what symbol she chooses to put on her bandalow? Is that something I think we're about.

[B]

To find out that he does, decades later.

[A]

Sorry, Elaine, if you're listening, you're not that old. But decades later, she was called to be the young women's general president as she's meeting with President Monson, who was the president of the church at the time. As she said, he calls me to be the young women's general president. Can you imagine, John, that moment of what?

[B]

What?

[A]

Me say what? I've heard her tell this story, and she says, wait, no, not me. You do not want me. I think she told me before two things. She doesn't like to do or speak. And fly. Guess what? This calling is speaking and flying. And I think she thought to herself, I'm just a grandma. I can't do this. You don't want me. And as she's leaving President Monson's office, he reaches over to a bouquet of flowers, takes out a white rose and hands it to her. And then she says this. The moment he handed me that beautiful white rose, I knew why. Doesn't that sound like Joseph Smith history? One of them spake unto me, calling me by name.

[B]

By name. Elder Lund, I think. Called those divine signatures.

[A]

The Lord just signed that tender mercies of the Lord. She says, I took that precious rose home, put it in a beautiful crystal vase, and placed it on a table where I could see it every day. The Lord knows my name. The Lord knows your name. We hope you'll join us on our full podcast. It's called Follow Him. You can get it wherever you get your podcasts. We're with Dr. McLean Heward this week who goes through the first vision and the multiple accounts. John of the first vision. So beautifully. We hope you'll join us over there and then come back next week. We'll do another Follow him favorites.