Where Do I Belong? • followHIM Favorites • Sept 29 - Oct 5 • Come Follow Me

Summary

Podcast Summary: followHIM Favorites – "Where Do I Belong?" (D&C 109 & 110; The Kirtland Temple)
Hosts: Hank Smith & John Bytheway
Release Date: September 25, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this FollowHIM Favorites mini-episode, hosts Hank Smith and John Bytheway explore the theme "Where Do I Belong?" by sharing a real-life story connected to the Doctrine and Covenants Sections 109 and 110—focusing on the Kirtland Temple, its dedicatory prayer, and the appearance of the Savior. The discussion centers on how the temple can offer spiritual refuge and inspiration, especially when faced with difficult choices about standards and belonging.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Blessings of the Temple (00:15)

• John Bytheway opens with a perspective on how the temple (referencing D&C 109: The Dedicatory Prayer, and D&C 110: The Appearance of the Savior) can serve as a spiritual anchor amidst life's choices.
• He references Sister Ardeth Capp (former Young Women's General President) and recounts a story told by her sister, Sharon Greene Larson (Young Women General Presidency).

Heather’s Story: Choosing Standards Over Popularity (00:32-02:51)

• Sharon Larson tells of a girl ("Heather"—a pseudonym), who attends a party where circumstances become uncomfortable as "friends started disappearing into darkened rooms."
• Heather realizes, "'I had to make a choice, either these people or my standards. I couldn't have both.'" (John Bytheway quoting Sharon Greene Larson, 01:22)
• She decides to call her mom to come pick her up, a moment of vulnerability and potential embarrassment.
• Crucial Moment: While waiting by the window for her mom, Heather sees the temple “gleaming on the hillside,” which confirms her difficult choice:
  • "She said this was the Lord saying to Heather, you're making the right decision, Hank." (John Bytheway, 01:57)
  • John humorously notes that the same impact wouldn’t be made by a view of the America First Credit Union ("I don't think she's going, you know, yeah, I should get a home equity loan…," 02:09).
• The story illustrates Heavenly reassurance found through the temple and standing by one’s standards.

The Temple as Spiritual Destination (02:20-02:51)

• The temple is described not just as a location but as a symbol of where one wants life to lead.
  • "She had that feeling, that's my destination. That's where I want to end up. That's what I want life to mean." (John Bytheway, 02:17)
• John references counsel from Elder M. Russell Ballard:
  • "If you can't go to the temple, just go to the grounds. If you can't go in one day, just go to the grounds and walk around and feel the spirit of that place." (John Bytheway, 02:33)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On choosing the Spirit over social acceptance:
  • "Sometimes you have to go home without friends, but with the Holy Ghost." – Hank Smith (02:51)
  • "You don't want to go home with friends without the Holy Ghost." – Hank Smith (02:59)
• On prioritizing the right companion:
  • "The Holy Ghost is the best friend in the world. And if your best friend leaves the party, go, go with him." – John Bytheway (03:03)
• Reaffirmation of Heather’s choice:
  • "That moment, she's probably thinking, maybe I'm overdoing this. And then to see the temple [out the window]: 'No, I'm good.'" – Hank Smith (03:09)
  • "Nope. Nope. I'm good. Mom, come get me. Awesome." – John Bytheway (03:16)
• Lighthearted close:
  • "Come get me and take me out for ice cream." – Hank Smith (03:20)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:03 – Opening & Context: Introduction to D&C 109 and 110, and the focus on the temple.
• 00:32 – Heather's Story: Introduction and main narrative of Heather’s party experience.
• 01:57 – The Temple on the Hill: The turning point—Heather sees the temple, affirming her choice.
• 02:33 – Elder Ballard’s Counsel: Encouragement to seek the temple (even just the grounds) when possible.
• 02:51 – Choosing the Holy Ghost: Reflections on companionship of the Spirit.
• 03:09 – Affirmation of Good Choices: Hosts discuss the confirmation Heather receives.
• 03:20 – Lighthearted Exit: Wishing for ice cream as a reward for good choices.

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Tone & Style

The episode maintains the friendly, supportive tone characteristic of Hank Smith and John Bytheway. They mix humor with heartfelt spiritual counsel, making the discussion accessible for listeners of all ages and stages of faith development.

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Conclusion

This mini-episode of followHIM Favorites offers a concise, memorable lesson about finding belonging in the right places—illustrated through a relatable and uplifting story. The hosts connect the historical context of the Kirtland Temple with modern, everyday decision-making, encouraging listeners to prioritize the companionship of the Holy Ghost and the spiritual significance of the temple when navigating challenges to personal standards and belonging.

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 doctrine and covenants 109 and 110, the Kirtland Temple. You've told me you have a story for these two sections.

[B]

Yeah, and it's more of a way to think about how the temple can bless us. 109 was the dedicatory prayer. 110 was the appearance of the Savior afterwards. Do you remember, Hank? Sister Ardeth Capp?

[A]

I'm going to guess. General Young Women's President.

[B]

General Young Women's President. She came up with a Young women theme. The values that have been, through inspiration, updated and modified a little bit for a worldwide church. Her sister, Sharon Greene Larson, was in the Young Women General Presidency. And she told the best story about this young woman. She said, her name's not Heather, but I'm going to call her Heather. Heather goes to this party, she said, she gets there. She walks in, everything's fine for a while. Then the music gets worse. The exact words Sister Larson shared was, friends started disappearing into darkened rooms. Suddenly, Heather gets that feeling, Hank, that we've all talked about. I shouldn't be here. Okay? This isn't a holy place. What do I do? And she said, I had to make a choice, either these people or my standards. I couldn't have both. I knew I didn't want what I was hearing and the movies that were playing to get in my thoughts. No matter how much I wanted to be with these popular people, I knew I didn't belong there. She said, I called my mom. That's an embarrassing call. What's mom going to say? Or dad, oh, honey, just watch all the evil, but don't participate. No, probably not. So she says, mom's on her way. I go to the front door. She's probably going, am I wrong? Should I just stay? What should I do? I don't know where this took place, Hank, but you can probably think of a few places where it could have been. She looks out the window and there is the temple, gleaming on the hillside. She said this was the Lord saying to Heather, you're making the right decision, Hank. She looks out the window and sees America First Credit Union. I don't think the same story happens. I don't think she's going, you know, yeah, I should get a home equity loaded on the 8.9% APR on approved credit. But she saw the temple. She had that feeling, that's my destination. That's where I want to end up. That's what I want life to mean. She said that's the way the Lord was saying. Yep, you're doing the right thing. It just reminded me, Hank, of Elder Ballard saying, if you can't go to the temple, just go to the grounds. If you can't go in one day, just go to the grounds and walk around and feel the spirit of that place. That story just reminded me of those sections.

[A]

Yeah, that's fantastic. Sometimes you have to go home without friends, but with the Holy Ghost.

[B]

Yeah, right.

[A]

You don't want to go home with friends without the Holy Ghost.

[B]

Thanks for saying it that way, Hank. The Holy Ghost is the best friend in the world. And if your best friend leaves the party, go, go with him.

[A]

Go with him. That moment, she's probably thinking, maybe I'm overdoing this. And then to see the temple. No, I'm good.

[B]

Nope. Nope. I'm good. Mom, come get me. Awesome.

[A]

Yeah, come get me and take me out for ice cream.

[B]

Yeah. Hey.

[A]

We hope you'll join us on our full podcast. It's called Follow Him. You can get it wherever you get your podcast. We're with Dr. Anthony Sweat this week on sections 109 and 110. Like we said, he's incredible. He walks us through these sections, points out beautiful, beautiful doctrines along the way. Then come back here next week, we'll do another Follow him favorites.