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Youth Talks
Thou Shalt Be Nice!
Hank Smith learned that people can be a lot like chickens. In order to make themselves more "popular," teens often break into little groups and pick on someone who doesn't fit in.
In this entertaining talk, he describes how his life was changed by the example of someone who didn't follow the flock, but instead reached out to others to help them feel loved.
In this entertaining talk, he describes how his life was changed by the example of someone who didn't follow the flock, but instead reached out to others to help them feel loved.
Audio CD
First published January 1, 2009
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41 people want to read
About the author
Hank Smith
57 books112 followersHank Smith enjoys teaching in the Religious Education Department at BYU and is a favorite speaker for Especially for Youth, Best of Especially for Youth, and BYU Education Week.
Hank and his wife, Sara, were both born and raised in St. George, Utah. They are the parents of one daughter and four sons. Brother Smith enjoys running marathons and eating lots and lots of ice cream (which is why he runs marathons). More than anything else, he loves being at home spending all day with his wife and children.
You can follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hanksmithcds
Hank and his wife, Sara, were both born and raised in St. George, Utah. They are the parents of one daughter and four sons. Brother Smith enjoys running marathons and eating lots and lots of ice cream (which is why he runs marathons). More than anything else, he loves being at home spending all day with his wife and children.
You can follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hanksmithcds
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 31, 2023
I listened to this talk with my teenagers and we all loved it! Hank Smith is a new family favorite
September 20, 2019
Loved this, of course! I may have listened to it more than once.
I loved the story he tells at the beginning of looking for and finding a retainer in hundreds of boxes of KFC boxes after an EFY meal. He talks about how much he hated the whole experience of looking for and finding the retainer and then realizing-- much later, of the the "miracle" that happened that day. He had never thought of it as a miracle, he missed out on what could have been a spiritual experience because of the poor attitude he had. How many spiritual experiences are we missing out on because of our attitude?
Teenagers are just like chickens. How? Chickens establish a pecking order. If eating something and one of the chickens is higher in the pecking order he'll peck that chicken on the head and that chicken will have to leave his food because, the other chicken is lower on the pecking order. The chickens group off. The black with the black, the grey with the grey, the small and insignificant are left on their own--they are the bottom of the pecking order. The top is the rooster. Sometimes that rooster is the owner of the chickens, because he protects. He then goes on to talk of real teenagers that are the lowest on the pecking order. Hank Smith wants to help change the phenomenon of "the pecking order" with teenagers. He used D&C 81:5 talking to Fredrick G. Williams: " Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees."
Hank then gave the Laura Larsen challenge. This was a girl in one of his classes that would talk to everyone. She understood some principles 1. Mosiah 2:17 "when in service of fellow beings, only in the service of your God". 2. Matt 25:40 "in as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren you have done it unto me." 3. D&C 18 "The worth of souls is great in the sight of God."
Hank meets a girl in one of his classes who was on the bottom of the pecking order. I loved the experience brother Smith gives of his experience trying to become like Laura Larsen with this girl, "Suzy".
D&C 6:33-37 "Fear not to do good, my sons (and daughters), for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward. Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail. Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and sin no more; perform with soberness the work (D&C 81:5) which I have commanded you. Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not. Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Amen." ( Look at what I have done for you, you can do a little something because of it)
It takes a commitment to take on the Laura Larsen challenge
This, he said is the Laura Larsen quote, given by Pres. Benson, "Those who love Him the most will be the most like Him.
I loved the story he tells at the beginning of looking for and finding a retainer in hundreds of boxes of KFC boxes after an EFY meal. He talks about how much he hated the whole experience of looking for and finding the retainer and then realizing-- much later, of the the "miracle" that happened that day. He had never thought of it as a miracle, he missed out on what could have been a spiritual experience because of the poor attitude he had. How many spiritual experiences are we missing out on because of our attitude?
Teenagers are just like chickens. How? Chickens establish a pecking order. If eating something and one of the chickens is higher in the pecking order he'll peck that chicken on the head and that chicken will have to leave his food because, the other chicken is lower on the pecking order. The chickens group off. The black with the black, the grey with the grey, the small and insignificant are left on their own--they are the bottom of the pecking order. The top is the rooster. Sometimes that rooster is the owner of the chickens, because he protects. He then goes on to talk of real teenagers that are the lowest on the pecking order. Hank Smith wants to help change the phenomenon of "the pecking order" with teenagers. He used D&C 81:5 talking to Fredrick G. Williams: " Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees."
Hank then gave the Laura Larsen challenge. This was a girl in one of his classes that would talk to everyone. She understood some principles 1. Mosiah 2:17 "when in service of fellow beings, only in the service of your God". 2. Matt 25:40 "in as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren you have done it unto me." 3. D&C 18 "The worth of souls is great in the sight of God."
Hank meets a girl in one of his classes who was on the bottom of the pecking order. I loved the experience brother Smith gives of his experience trying to become like Laura Larsen with this girl, "Suzy".
D&C 6:33-37 "Fear not to do good, my sons (and daughters), for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward. Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail. Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and sin no more; perform with soberness the work (D&C 81:5) which I have commanded you. Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not. Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Amen." ( Look at what I have done for you, you can do a little something because of it)
It takes a commitment to take on the Laura Larsen challenge
This, he said is the Laura Larsen quote, given by Pres. Benson, "Those who love Him the most will be the most like Him.
January 6, 2018
Definitely my favorite of his CDs
July 17, 2021
One of our family favorites!
Pecking order and Hi Suzie, how are you?!
Pecking order and Hi Suzie, how are you?!
May 11, 2025
Highly recommend, one of my favorites from Hank Smith! It inspired me to be a better friend, someone who reaches out to others and lifts them up
July 12, 2020
I just love Hank Smith's talks.
July 6, 2016
I giggled so many times while listening to this in the car, but Thou Shalt Be Nice still had an impact on me. It really made me think deeply on how I interact with my friends and family and strangers and how I can improve.
Hank Smith is perfect for audiences between the ages of 12-14. He's animated, funny, and explains gospel principles in a simple way that's easy to understand. But I still really enjoyed what he had to say. My husband did too. I plan to buy more of his books and CDs for myself and friends.
Hank Smith is perfect for audiences between the ages of 12-14. He's animated, funny, and explains gospel principles in a simple way that's easy to understand. But I still really enjoyed what he had to say. My husband did too. I plan to buy more of his books and CDs for myself and friends.
July 23, 2013
Hank's first CD, and probably still my favorite. He shares wonderful insight on how the ways we treat others has profound effects on many lives (besides our own). It's a great talk for youth & adults. Hank is quite gifted in mixing humor, analogies, personal experiences, and testimony all throughout his messages.
February 18, 2013
This guy is hilarious and spiritually uplifting at the same time. Great story for every school kid to hear and emulate!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews