![]() It was a little better interaction than talking to John Bytheway, because he seemed genuinely happy to hear he’d been helpful to me, but he also made me feel a little out of date still referencing ancient talks that no one had mentioned to him in years. He was very friendly and told me that he didn’t think anyone even remembered those old talks, and told me a secret that I could now download all of them for free on his website. Afterwards I went up to meet my other idol, and tell him about how he was the soundtrack to my life for years. I saw he was the keynote speaker at the kickoff to Lehi Family Week years ago, and I was excited to attend. I didn’t meet Brad Wilcox in person until I was a married adult, living in Lehi, Utah. I thought he was just very humble and still loved his class and took copious notes on every word he said. That’s such a kind thing for you to say.” Instead he looked uncomfortable and like he wanted to bolt, but it was okay. I was mildly let down by the interaction because I actually loved his class, and just wanted him to say, “Aw, thanks. He was kind but brushed it off with a self-effacing joke about how disappointing it must be to take his class now, since his teaching style was so different from the more entertaining way he tries to speak at firesides. One day I went up to him after class and tearfully told him how much he’d meant to me during my teenage years. I went to each John Bytheway fireside I could possibly drive to, and in college I was thrilled to sign up for his Book of Mormon class at BYU. I can hear every voice inflection, every pause for laughter, and every emotional testimony that they bore on these recordings. I could probably recite whole sections of them from memory if I sat down and tried. I would save my money and go to Deseret Book to buy their talks (recorded on cassette tapes) and play them endlessly on repeat. One of them was John Bytheway, and another was Brad Wilcox. I had several favorite speakers and authors growing up as a teenager in the nineties. Popular speakers and authors Brad Wilcox (left) and John Bytheway (right).
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