Hank Smith: The Unfiltered Reality Of Being 'Children Of The Covenant' | 151

In this week's episode, I speak with Hank Smith, the co-host of the followHIM podcast and a beloved religious educator. I wanted to chat with him about the insights he has gained while teaching the history and theology of the Abrahamic covenant. Hank shares how shifting our perspective toward being children of the covenant transforms our understanding of the Restoration by moving it away from a focus on an organizational church structure and toward the gathering of a people, the house of Israel, designed to bless every family of the earth. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about doctrine that can sometimes seem too distant to have relevance for us individually. The way Hank discusses this topic can help us deepen our faith and come away feeling uplifted and ready to serve with greater conviction. **Some highlights from this episode include:** - **A Welcome Guest:** One of the favourite voices in the Latter-day Saint community joins the show, discussing a mutual excitement for finally getting to sit down for this long-overdue interview. - **The Blueprint of the Covenant:** Hank breaks down the covenant, detailing why Genesis slows down to focus so tightly on Abraham and Sarah's family because it is the family through which all the families of the earth will be blessed. - **The Overlooked Focus of the Book of Mormon:** A deep dive into why Nephi and Jacob were so uniquely passionate about Isaiah's prophecies, revealing how reading the Book of Mormon acts as a literal detector for finding those who are willing to let God prevail. - **The "One-by-One" Ministry:** A powerful exploration of why the Savior works through individual, micro-level relationships rather than grand macro-scales, mirroring the individual nature of the temple veil and the sacrament. - **The Purpose of the Scattering:** An insightful look into the allegory of the olive tree in Jacob 5, showing how the Lord's scattering of Israel was a deliberate act of love designed to save and preserve His tree. - **A One-by-One Invitation:** A special invitation for listeners to actively participate in the gathering of Israel by focusing on individuals, stepping up to help those around them make and keep sacred covenants. **You can find Hank's work and connect with him at the following links:** - **Referenced article mentioned in the episode:** https://rsc.byu.edu/vol-27-no-1-2026/covenant-identity-work-gathering-israel - **BYU Religious Studies Center, Hank R. Smith Articles:** https://rsc.byu.edu/author/smith-hank-r#:~:text=RSC%20Books%20Edited%20by%20This%20Author.%20Give,Educator%20Vol.%2027%20No.%201%20%C2%B7%202026**.** - hanksmith.com - **followHim Podcast:** **https://www.youtube.com/c/FollowHimOfficialChannel** ***Follow For All The Saints on social media for updates and inspiring content:*** www.instagram.com/forallthesaintspod https://www.facebook.com/forallthesaintspod/ For All The Saints episodes are released every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVDUQg\_qZIU&list=UULFFf7vzrJ2LNWmp1Kl-c6K9Q https://open.spotify.com/show/3j64txm9qbGVVZOM48P4HS?si=bb31d048e05141f2 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/for-all-the-saints/id1703815271 If you have feedback or any suggestions for topics or guests, connect with Ben & Sean via **hello@forallthesaints.org or DM on Instagram** **Conversations to Refresh Your Faith.**