A Psalm Makes the Pathway Bright • followHIM Favorites • August 31-September 6 • Come Follow Me

August 27, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

In a 1997 general conference address, Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles described a hypothetical sister who seems to have it all together: “perfect children, who never caused a disturbance in church … working on the twentieth generation in her family history … keeps an immaculate home, has memorized the book of Mark and makes wool sweaters for orphan children in Romania.” He then offered a gentle but pointed warning: “When you get tempted to throw your hands in the air and give up because of this dear sister, please remember you’re not competing with her.”

That story, shared by Hank Smith and John Bytheway on the followHIM Favorites podcast, anchors their discussion of Psalm 119:105: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” The episode’s central argument is that discipleship is not a competition with others but a personal, step-by-step journey guided by God’s word. The speakers use Elder Wirthlin’s analogy to illustrate why comparison is spiritually unhelpful and how scripture functions as a practical, immediate guide rather than a distant ideal.

The Trap of Comparison

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What you'll learn

1 (00:02) **Episode Introduction** - John and Hank open the final Psalms lesson and introduce the Favorites format.
2 (00:15) **Elder Joseph B. Worthlin's Running Story** - Worthlin reflects on his past speed and his future hope for a resurrected body.
3 (01:05) **The Unbeatable Coach's Lesson** - A hypothetical coach with an incredible record tells players to focus on personal bests, not beating others.
4 (01:53) **The "Perfect" Sister Example** - Worthlin invents a hypothetical sister who seems flawless, to warn against discouraging comparison.
5 (02:33) **The Practical Takeaway** - The only goal is to become your best self by focusing on what matters and moving step by step.
6 (03:02) **Closing and Full Episode Teaser** - The hosts invite listeners to the full podcast featuring Dr. Michael Ballum.
7 Standout Quotes

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

SHOW NOTES/TRANSCRIPTS
English: https://tinyurl.com/podcastOT236EN
French: https://tinyurl.com/podcastOT236FR
German: https://tinyurl.com/podcastOT236DE
Portuguese: https://tinyurl.com/podcastOT236PT
Spanish: https://tinyurl.com/podcastOT236ES

YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/CbWrSc68uZ4

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Thanks to the followHIM team:
Steve & Shannon Sorensen: Cofounder, Executive Producer, Sponsor
David & Verla Sorensen: Sponsors
Dr. Hank Smith: Co-host
John Bytheway: Co-host
David Perry: Producer
Kyle Nelson: Marketing, Sponsor
Lisa Spice: Client Relations, Editor, Show Notes
Will Stoughton: Video Editor
Krystal Roberts: Translation Team, English & French Transcripts, Website
Ariel Cuadra: Spanish Transcripts
Amelia Kabwika: Portuguese Transcripts
Heather Barlow: Communications Director
Sydney Smith: Social Media, Graphic Design

"Let Zion in Her Beauty Rise" by Marshall McDonald
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