Sheep and Shepherds

“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

“He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

“He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-17)

Such was the Savior’s words to his chief apostle shortly before He was to depart the earth once more. “Peter was the chief Apostle of his day; and after the death, Resurrection, and Ascension of the Savior, it was Peter who called the Church together and acted in the office of his calling as the one who possessed the keys of the priesthood (Acts 1:2).” (Peter, “Bible Dictionary”) 

What does it mean to be a shepherd or to feed the Savior’s sheep?

Elder John R. Lasater related the following story in a General Conference address some years ago:

“Some years ago, it was my privilege to visit the country of Morocco as part of an official United States government delegation. As part of that visit, we were invited to travel some distance into the desert to visit some ruins. Five large black limousines moved across the beautiful Moroccan countryside at considerable speed. I was riding in the third limousine, which had lagged some distance behind the second. As we topped the brow of a hill, we noticed that the limousine in front of us had pulled off to the side of the road. As we drew nearer, I sensed that an accident had occurred and suggested to my driver that we stop. The scene before us has remained with me for these many years.

“An old shepherd, in the long, flowing robes of the Savior’s day, was standing near the limousine in conversation with the driver. Nearby, I noted a small flock of sheep numbering not more than fifteen or twenty. An accident had occurred. The king’s vehicle had struck and injured one of the sheep belonging to the old shepherd. The driver of the vehicle was explaining to him the law of the land. Because the king’s vehicle had injured one of the sheep belonging to the old shepherd, he was now entitled to one hundred times its value at maturity. However, under the same law, the injured sheep must be slain and the meat divided among the people. My interpreter hastily added, ‘But the old shepherd will not accept the money. They never do.’

“Startled, I asked him why. And he added, ‘Because of the love he has for each of his sheep.’ It was then that I noticed the old shepherd reach down, lift the injured lamb in his arms, and place it in a large pouch on the front of his robe. He kept stroking its head, repeating the same word over and over again. When I asked the meaning of the word, I was informed, ‘Oh, he is calling it by name. All of his sheep have a name, for he is their shepherd, and the good shepherds know each one of their sheep by name.’

“It was as my driver predicted. The money was refused, and the old shepherd with his small flock of sheep, with the injured one tucked safely in the pouch on his robe, disappeared into the beautiful deserts of Morocco.

“As we continued our journey toward the ruins, my interpreter shared with me more of the traditions and practices of the shepherds of that land. Each evening at sundown, for example, the shepherds bring their small flocks of sheep to a common enclosure where they are secured against the wolves that roam the deserts of Morocco. A single shepherd then is employed to guard the gate until morning. Then the shepherds come to the enclosure one by one, enter therein, and call forth their sheep—by name. The sheep will not hearken unto the voice of a stranger but will leave the enclosure only in the care of their true shepherd, confident and secure because the shepherd knows their names and they know his voice.” (John R. Lasater, “Shepherds of Israel,” GC, April 1988)

Do we know one another by name? Do we go out of the way for the sheep entrusted to us? Have you ever been one of the sheep who might have wandered or been lost from the fold? What brought you back? Was it a single event or the steady love and fellowship from a brother or sister in the Gospel? President Kimball explained it this way: “God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other in the kingdom. The people of the Church need each other’s strength, support, and leadership in a community of believers as an enclave of disciples.” (Spencer W. Kimball, “Small Acts of Service,” Ensign, Dec. 1974)  I KNOW that the ministering of the one to the individual changes lives because my life has been changed by the ministering of others to me and my family. I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for the individual ministration that I received from a number of diligent shepherds and shepherdesses.

Dear to the heart of the Shepherd,

Dear are the “ninety and nine”;

Dear are the sheep that have wandered

Out in the desert to pine.

Hark! he is earnestly calling,

Tenderly pleading today:

“Will you not seek for my lost ones,

Off from my shelter astray?”

Out in the desert they wander,
Hungry and helpless and cold;
Off to the rescue we’ll hasten,
Bringing them back to the fold.

Green are the pastures inviting;
Sweet are the waters and still.
Lord, we will answer thee gladly,
“Yes, blessed Master, we will!
Make us thy true under-shepherds;
Give us a love that is deep.
Send us out into the desert,
Seeking thy wandering sheep.”

(“Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd,” Hymn 221, LDS HYMNS)

I bear my witness that the Good Shepherd, our Lord and Savior, and our Heavenly Father love us all and want us all to return. Many of us have fear or anxiety when it comes to social situations. We would prefer to avoid that which might prove uncomfortable, but we can all do more to help our fellow travelers on this mortal journey. We can all reach out to someone else with a visit, a phone call, or a simple smile when we see them in church or in town. We can all lift one another. “Thee lift me and I’ll lift thee, and we’ll ascend together.” (See Robert D. Hales, “Strengthening Families: Our Sacred Duty,” Ensign, May 1999, 34; Liahona, July 1999, 40; see also LaRene Gaunt, “Elder Robert D. Hales: ‘Return with Honor,’” Ensign, July 1994, 51; Liahona, Apr. 1995, 31.)