When I was a
very small boy, my father found a lamb all alone in the desert. The
herd of sheep to which its mother belonged had moved on, and somehow the
lamb got separated from its mother, and the shepherd must not have
known that it was lost. Because it could not survive alone in the
desert, my father picked it up and brought it home. To have left the
lamb there would have meant certain death, either by falling prey to the
coyotes or by starvation because it was so young that it still needed
milk. My father gave the lamb to me and I became its shepherd.
For
several weeks I warmed cow’s milk in a baby’s bottle and fed the lamb.
We became fast friends. I named him Nigh—why I don’t remember. It began
to grow. My lamb and I would play on the lawn. Sometimes we would lie
together on the grass and I would lay my head on its soft, woolly side
and look up at the blue sky and the white billowing clouds. I did not
lock my lamb up during the day. It would not run away. It soon learned
to eat grass. I could call my lamb from anywhere in the yard by just
imitating as best I could the bleating sound of a sheep.
One
night there came a terrible storm. I forgot to put my lamb in the barn
that night as I should have done. I went to bed. My little friend was
frightened in the storm and I could hear it bleating. I knew that I
should help my pet, but wanted to stay safe, warm, and dry in my bed. I
didn’t get up as I should have done. The next morning I went out to find
my lamb dead. A dog had also heard its bleating cry and killed it. My
young heart was broken. I had not been a good shepherd or steward of
that which my father had entrusted to me. My father said, “Son, couldn’t
I trust you to take care of just one lamb?” My father’s remark hurt me
more than losing my woolly friend. I resolved that day, as a little boy,
that I would try never again to neglect my stewardship as a shepherd if
I were ever placed in that position again.
Not too
many years thereafter I was called as a junior companion to a home
teacher. There were times when it was so cold or stormy that I wanted to
stay home and be comfortable, but in my mind’s ear I could hear my
little lamb bleating, and I knew I needed to be a good shepherd and go
with my senior companion. In all those many years, whenever I have had a
desire to shirk my duties, there would come to me a remembrance of how
sorry I was that night so many years ago when I had not been a good
shepherd. I have not always done everything I should have, but I have
tried.
What are
the duties of the Lord’s shepherds? Those responsibilities are
contained in the revelations: “The teacher’s duty is to watch over the
church always, and be with and strengthen them;
“And
see that there is no iniquity in the church, neither hardness with each
other, neither lying, backbiting, nor evil speaking” (D&C 20:53–54). A further commandment is to “see that the church meet together often, and also see that all the members do their duty” (D&C 20:55). They are to “warn, expound, exhort, and teach, and invite all to come unto Christ” (D&C 20:59).
The
priesthood quorum presidents and their counselors are also shepherds of
the sheepfold and bear the responsibility to lovingly care for the
members of their quorums.
You
who bear the priesthood of God act as the Lord’s shepherds. Elder Bruce
R. McConkie stated: “Anyone serving in any capacity in the Church in
which he is responsible for the spiritual or temporal well-being of any
of the Lord’s children is a shepherd to those sheep. The Lord holds his
shepherds accountable for the safety [meaning salvation] of his sheep” (Mormon Doctrine,
p. 710). The bearers of the priesthood have this great responsibility.
We ask you to stand steady. We ask you to be faithful in your
stewardships. Let us be true to our callings and the holy priesthood we
bear. Let us be united in supporting and sustaining those in authority
over us.
After
more than 60 years, I can still hear in my mind the bleating, frightened
cry of the lamb of my boyhood that I did not shepherd as I should have.
I can also remember the loving rebuke of my father: “Son, couldn’t I
trust you to take care of just one lamb?” If we are not good shepherds, I
wonder how we will feel in the eternities.
“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).
I pray humbly that we may do so.
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