Brothers and Sisters, Kia Ora and Aloha!
I appreciate the introduction given by my daughter, Arapera. She is an example to me in many ways, and I am grateful for her goodness and love her dearly. Thank you, Arapera.
I also appreciate the beautiful music performed, the scripture that was read, and the prayer given today, along with the many other efforts offered by all those who have contributed to this devotional. Thank you all.
I am grateful for the invitation to speak today, and I pray that the Spirit of the Lord may be with us that all may be edified.
Today I would like to talk about sheep.
In the scriptures, the Savior identifies himself as the Good Shepherd, and is also called the Lamb of God. He refers to us as His sheep, the sheep of his fold.
“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep….
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine….
and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” (John 10:11-16)
I imagine most of us here have not spent much time around sheep, so I think it’s important to mention a few things about sheep in order to better understand the Savior’s analogy and reference to them in the scriptures.
So here’s a few interesting facts about sheep.
There are over a billion sheep in the world today. Sheep are one of the oldest kinds of domesticated animals and provide wool, meat, milk, wool oil known as lanolin, and other products. We know that Abel, the son of Adam, was a keeper of sheep, as were many of the other Biblical prophets, including Abraham, Jacob, and Moses. Sheep were also an important primary sacrificial animal in religious ordinances in Biblical times.
Sheep have some interesting characteristics. They have great peripheral vision with a range of between 191 to 306 degrees. This means that they can see all around themselves without turning their heads very far. This helps them watch for predators or others who would do them harm. However, sheep have really poor depth perception and have to stop and look at something closely to see the details.
Sheep have a strong herding instinct and prefer being with groups of other sheep. They learn to follow the older members of the flock when they are lambs, and their instinct is so strong that they will even follow the lead sheep over a cliff. (http://www.sheep101.info/201/behavior.html)
Sheep generally have a docile or submissive nature, but they become very distressed when separated from their flock. They are easily frightened and tend to panic and flee from actual or perceived danger; however, they will calm down when they can maintain visual contact with other sheep. Because of this, a good shepherd will keep his or her sheep together in a flock of five or more sheep to reduce sheep stress and to more easily move them. (http://www.sheep101.info/201/behavior.html)
Domesticated sheep also rely on the shepherd to take them to places of safety and good food. In Biblical times, shepherds led their sheep to sheepfolds or shelters at night to keep their sheep safe. These sheepfolds were often enclosures surrounded by walls built of stone or naturally-formed caves with an opening that could be guarded by the shepherd.
Domesticated sheep must be sheared of their heavy wool coats at least once a year. Shearers herd sheep together before shearing to keep them from becoming too agitated. Once a sheep is held by the shearer, however, it will often calm down and become very passive.
Sheep can recognize sheep faces and human faces and can also recognize human voices. They learn to respond to the voice of their own shepherd and will follow the shepherd when called. Sheep can frequently be seen following their lead sheep or their shepherd in single file fashion when moving across an open area.
To put my remarks into a context a little closer to home, let me introduce you to Snowy the sheep.
When my family and I moved to Pipiwai, New Zealand, we built a home, grew a vegetable garden and an orchard, and raised a variety of animals. We had a milk cow, chickens, goats, a turkey, an energetic and very happy dog, and six cats who lived outside and took care of the mice and rat population for us.
When my youngest daughter, Maraea, was ten, she decided to raise a Southdown lamb given to us by a family member. Southdown sheep are among the oldest domesticated breeds. They are a moderately-sized, mild-mannered sort of sheep who don’t need a lot of space, and because of this, they are a good breed for children to raise. (http://southdownsheep.org/breed_overview.php) Maraea wanted to raise the lamb for the local Calf Club competitions at her school. And so the adventures with Snowy the lamb began.
Calf Club Day in New Zealand is a big event. Calf Club competitions are held every year at rural schools and at regional levels to recognize the work of children in rearing healthy young farm animals. Children have to carefully feed, groom, and train their young animals in order to successfully compete in Calf Club events.
When Maraea started caring for Snowy, the lamb was very young, only about a month old. Lambs must be fed frequently, so Maraea had to bottle-feed her lamb often throughout the day. When she was home from school, Maraea kept the lamb by her side for much of the day. She took the lamb with her when she fed our chickens, or when she did other chores around our home. Maraea had to remain calm whenever she was with Snowy so that the lamb would not be frightened or upset.
As Maraea will tell you, sheep are not fast learners, and training them can be a very frustrating experience. In order to teach the lamb to obey basic commands, such as coming when called, Maraea had to be very patient and spend a lot of time training Snowy every day. Maraea’s persistence, however, met with success. Snowy became very attached to her and eventually followed her everywhere. The lamb even learned to enjoy riding in the car with Maraea. She liked to sit on Maraea’s lap on the back seat so that she could look out the car window.
Through Maraea’s love, care, time, and attention, Snowy the lamb developed a close bond with her. When Maraea called Snowy by name, the lamb ran to her. When I called Snowy by name, the lamb completely ignored me.
As you can see in this photo, Snowy was a very healthy, well-cared for lamb at 4-months old when Maraea and Snowy competed in Calf Club Day at Maraea’s school. They entered several events in the competition. They won a highly commended ribbon in rearing— that’s when animals are judged on their physical conditioning and appearance. They also won the second place prize in calling—when animals are judged on their response to coming when called by their owners. The second place award in calling allowed Maraea and Snowy to enter regional Calf Club events. They subsequently earned the First Place award for the regional calling competition. It was a happy achievement for both of them.
In Maraea’s experiences with her lamb, she learned to do many things that are required of a good shepherd. As she later explained, a person who cares for sheep needs to be fully invested in all ways, emotionally and otherwise, in the well-being of the sheep, because the animal requires a lot of care and direction. Sheep are grazers and dependent on their shepherd to be led to good pasture. Maraea observed that sheep also may well be the most vulnerable and defenseless of the larger domesticated farm animals. Because sheep panic when frightened, they will not be able to find safety without assistance from the shepherd. Shepherds must be willing to protect and defend their flock of sheep and even put themselves in harms’ way if needed to save their sheep from danger. In order to be fed and safe, sheep must learn to trust and follow the shepherd.
Shepherds, in turn, rely on their sheep for their livelihood and sustenance. Maraea depended on her sheep for a little pocket money each year. She appreciated the money she earned from Snowy’s thick wool when the sheep was annually sheared.
In her experiences, Maraea also learned that the close bond between the shepherd and the sheep is short-lived and will not last unless the shepherd consistently nurtures the sheep. As Maraea and Snowy grew up and spent less time with each other, Maraea found that Snowy did not respond as well, sometimes refusing to come when called.
As Maraea learned with Snowy, it takes time and effort to for lambs to recognize and follow the voice of the shepherd.
So, if we return to the Savior’s analogy of the Good Shepherd, we might ask what can we do to learn to better recognize the voice of our Good Shepherd?
One way we can effectively learn to hear the voice of the Lord is to communicate directly with the Lord through prayer.
Throughout the scriptures, the Lord has counseled us:
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
(Jeremiah 29:13).
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you….”
(Matthew 7:7)
“Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good….”
(Alma 37:37)
“Pray always, and I will pour out my Spirit upon you, and great shall be your blessing—yea, even more than if you should obtain treasures of earth….”
(D&C 19:38)
As we listen for the answers to our prayers, we learn to recognize the inspiration and revelation that come to us in the voice of our Good Shepherd.
We have also been counseled to learn the voice and will of the Lord through scripture study.
Along with other prophets and Church leaders, President Ezra Taft Benson taught:
“I add my voice to these wise and inspired brethren and say to you that one of the most important things you can do…is to immerse yourselves in the scriptures. Search them diligently. Feast upon the words of Christ. Learn the doctrine. Master the principles that are found therein…. There are few other ways to gain greater inspiration as you serve.
….when individual members and families immerse themselves in the scriptures regularly and consistently….Testimonies will increase. Commitment will be strengthened. Families will be fortified. Personal revelation will flow.”
(“The Power of the Word,” Ensign, May 1986, 80–81.)
The Savior Himself asks us to, “Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me.”(D&C 19:23)
Our study should also extend to the messages of the Holy Prophets and modern-day revelation given through them. We live in a blessed time when we have many resources to help us know the will and word of the Lord. General Conference talks from the prophet and other Church leaders are readily available in multi-media formats for us to study. Church publications and videos have been designed and widely distributed for our use. Our Church meetings offer us gospel study to help us learn the word and will of the Lord. The Lord will hold us accountable for the knowledge that He offers to us:
“What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.” (D&C 1:38).
President Benson also warned us:
“…if we ignore what the Lord has given us, we may lose the very power and blessings which we seek….
Oh, my brethren, let us not treat lightly the great things we have received from the hand of the Lord! His word is one of the most valuable gifts He has given us. I urge you to recommit yourselves to a study of the scriptures. Immerse yourselves in them daily so you will have the power of the Spirit to attend you….”
(“The Power of the Word,” Ensign, May 1986, 82.)
When we keep the Sabbath Day holy, partake of the Sacrament, attend the temple, and obey the Lord’s commandments, we are blessed with other sacred opportunities to learn about the Savior and His will for us.
The Lord has also given us the charge to follow and serve Him by feeding His sheep, to be members of His flock and at the same time serve as His under-shepherds or shepherds in training. The Lord knows that when we care for each other, and help to bring others to the safety of His fold, we become more like Him. As Maraea explained from experience, a person who cares for sheep needs to be fully invested in the well-being of the sheep that requires a lot of care and direction. It can be a lot of work to take care of the Lord’s sheep. Nevertheless, in modern revelation, the Lord has told us, “…Arise…take up your cross, follow me, and feed my sheep.” (D&C 112: 14). He has not excused us from this responsibility.
In the October 2007 General Conference, Sister Silvia H. Allred, former First Counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency, asked us to,
“Consider the principle taught in John 21:15–17. The Lord asked Peter, ‘Lovest thou me … ?’ Peter answered, ‘Thou knowest that I love thee.’ And the Lord replied, ‘Feed my lambs.’ The Lord asked him the second time, ‘Lovest thou me?’ Peter again answered, ‘Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.’ The Lord said to Peter, ‘Feed my sheep.’ The Lord asked a third time, ‘Lovest thou me?’ Peter answered, ‘Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.’ Jesus said unto him, ‘Feed my sheep.’
As disciples of Christ, we too declare that we love Him. So how do we go about feeding His sheep?”
(“Feed My Sheep”, October 2007 General Conference)
The Lord has commanded us first to start at home, to care for His lambs in our families. In “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” we are told:
“Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.” (“The Family: A Proclamation To The World”, The First Presidency of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles)
I was blessed to grow up in a home with loving parents and extended family members who were great examples for me. It was easy to follow them. My father and mother raised my sister and me with love and taught us through word and deed about service and kindness to others, the importance of hard work, and the characteristics of integrity and charity. I remember the times my parents opened the doors of our home as a place of safety and refuge to those in need. I also observed the times they spent with friends in distress, offering love, support, and counsel.
Some of us here today may not have this ideal at home. However, the Lord has provided us all with the great examples of others, righteous men and women in the scriptures, in our communities around us, and in the leadership of the Church. We also have the ultimate example of all righteousness, our Lord and Savior.
In her conference talk, Sister Allred reminded us of another important way that we feed the Lord’s sheep:
“One of the ways Relief Society sisters can feed His sheep is through visiting teaching. ‘The purposes of visiting teaching are to build caring relationships with each sister and to offer support, comfort, and friendship. ’Our service should be selfless, quiet, and be done willingly, with our hearts full of the love of God and His children. There must be genuine concern to shepherd the flock, to invite them unto Christ.'
….It is my prayer that we will pledge an increased commitment to extend our arms of love and compassion to bless, help, and strengthen each other as we go about doing our visiting teaching with a willing and joyful heart.” (“Feed My Sheep”, October 2007 General Conference)
Just as Maraea’s lamb Snowy needed constant nurturing to remain close to Maraea, so we need the constant nurturing of visiting and home teaching to help us feel the love and concern of the Lord and stay close to Him. Visiting and home teaching are not about our guilt trips for failing to make the monthly quota. They are sacred responsibilities to feed and nurture the Lord’s sheep so that we all may be safe in the Lord’s fold.
Elder Ulisses Soares of the First Quorum of the Seventy said:
“To follow the Savior’s example, each one of us must look around and reach out to the sheep who are facing the same circumstances and lift them up and encourage them to proceed on the journey towards eternal life.
This need today is as great as or perhaps even greater than when the Savior walked on this earth. As shepherds we must understand that we should nurture each one of our sheep to bring them to Christ, which is the purpose of all we do in this Church….
People are most receptive to our influence when they feel that we truly love them, and not only because we have a calling to fulfill. As we express true love for people, they will be able to feel the influence of the Spirit and may feel motivated to follow our teachings.” (“Feed My Sheep," October 2007 General Conference)
Alma taught the people at the Waters of Mormon about the covenant we make when we are baptized. He explained that if we ”are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people,” we should be “willing to bear one another’s burdens… mourn with those that mourn… comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things...that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you….” (Mosiah 18:8-10)
The Lord is also very concerned for His sheep that may be lost. I have always loved His parable of the lost sheep and the way the Savior emphasized the tender, loving regard He has for each one of us.
“And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.” (Luke 15:3-6)
This photo was taken in front of our LDS chapel in New Zealand. Our bishop was a shepherd by profession and loved his work in caring for these sheep and his sheep dogs that worked with him. As our local “good shepherd,” our bishop also exhibited many of the traits of the Savior as he led his spiritual flock.
As you can see in this picture, one sheep has left the flock, distracted by something interesting off to the side. It doesn’t look like the distraction is anything very significant; nevertheless, the sheep is no longer following the other sheep and could become lost.
President David O. McKay once commented,
“I ask you tonight, how did that sheep get lost? He was not rebellious. If you follow the comparison, the lamb was seeking its livelihood in a perfectly legitimate manner, but either stupidly, perhaps unconsciously, it followed the enticement of the field, the prospect of better grass until it got out beyond the fold and was lost.” (David O. McKay, Conference Report, April 1945, 120, as cited in Latter-Day Commentary on the New Testament, The Four Gospels, Ed J. Pinegar et al, Covenant Communications, Inc., 2002, 254)
So what does the Lord expect us to do to rescue His lost sheep?
In a General Conference, our Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, stated the following:
“The Lord expects our thinking. He expects our action. He expects our labors. He expects our testimonies. He expects our devotion….
…we can reach out to those for whom we are responsible and bring them to the table of the Lord, there to feast on His word and to enjoy the companionship of His Spirit and be “no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” (“To the Rescue," April 2001 General Conference)
To heed the Lord’s command to feed and rescue His sheep, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in our efforts.
One morning soon after we first arrived in New Zealand, our shepherd bishop gave us a wild sheep. He had caught the sheep while tending to his flock in the mountains around our valley. He thought we could use the sheep as our lawnmower. I think he also wanted us to learn how to take care of a sheep as part of our new experiences living in the country.
Later the same day, the sheep escaped his tether in our yard, scrambled under our gate, and escaped across the nearby paddocks. The bishop, my children, and other family members in the area helped us chase after the sheep. The poor animal was very frightened. As the sheep tried to jump across a ditch in a field, he suddenly collapsed and died. We were very sad to lose the sheep. We couldn’t understand why the sheep died. He was healthy, and he did not suffer any injuries in his escape.
Our bishop explained that the sheep became so frightened and distressed that its heart broke—it basically had a massive heart attack—and the sheep died. In his experience as a shepherd, he had seen this happen before.
President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, stated in a General Conference talk:
“Our comrades are being wounded in the spiritual conflict around us. So are the people we are called to serve and protect from harm. Spiritual wounds are not easily visible, except with inspired eyes.” (“Man Down!” April 2009 General Conference)
We may feel overwhelmed at times with the Savior’s charge to feed His sheep. It is easier to rejoice with others in their happier times, but we may feel inadequate to help those suffering from broken hearts, illness, loneliness, sadness, homesickness, culture shock, or hunger. However, the Lord has already commissioned us, blessed us, and endowed us with power to do this sacred work.
As He has said in modern revelation:
“ And that ye might escape the power of the enemy, and be gathered unto me a righteous people, without spot and blameless—
… you shall be endowed with power from on high;
And from thence, whosoever I will shall go forth among all nations, and it shall be told them what they shall do; for I have a great work laid up in store, for Israel shall be saved, and I will lead them whithersoever I will, and no power shall stay my hand.” (D&C 38:31-33)
Brothers and Sisters, as we do what is required to recognize and listen to the Voice of the Good Shepherd, do His will, and bring others to His fold, we will be blessed beyond measure and become more like the Savior.
The Savior has told us:
“Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God….
And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!
Behold, you have my gospel before you, and my rock, and my salvation.
Ask the Father in my name in faith, believing that you shall receive, and you shall have the Holy Ghost, which manifesteth all things which are expedient unto the children of men.” (D&C 18:10;15-18)
We have many wonderful examples around us of brothers and sisters feeding the Lord’s sheep. Here are a few examples that I have observed of you, the student body of this university.
I have seen you care for sick roommates and help them get to doctor appointments.
You decorate, serve, and help with transportation for student wedding receptions.
You teach, fellowship, and encourage Church investigators who are studying with you.
You mourn with those that mourn, offering many kinds of loving service for those who have lost loved ones.
You run fundraising events and set up websites to raise money to assist in relief efforts for countries devastated by natural disasters.
You serve as temple workers.
I’ve witnessed the same kinds of service among my colleagues, university faculty, staff, and administrators, here at the university and among extended members of our ‘ohana’ in our surrounding community. I have had the blessing of helping others in similar ways.
I’ve also been on the receiving end of service throughout my life—from assistance with home and family during the birth of my children—to small and random acts of kindness that have surprised and delighted me and lifted my spirits.
All of these kinds of service represent examples of charity, the quality of the Savior we are asked to develop in our lives on the earth.
Mormon teaches us:
“But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may…purified even as he is pure.” (Moroni 7:47-48)
The Lord teaches us in modern revelation:
“And above all things, clothe yourselves with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace.” (D&C 88:125).
In closing, I would like to share with you one final personal experience about feeding the Lord’s sheep.
This is my faculty photo composed and taken by our campus photographer, Monique Saenz, and her crew. I always appreciate Monique’s work. She makes us all look great, and in this photo I look better than I ever usually do.
But I’m not really showing you this photo to have you admire my looks. I want to share with you the backstory of this photo.
A short time before this faculty photo was taken, I had lost my husband to cancer, and his death left me tired, sad, and heartbroken.
I was serving as a counselor in our ward Relief Society presidency at the time of his death. One day, my Relief Society president and the other counselor in the presidency showed up at my door with a box. Inside the box were two beautiful dresses. I am wearing one of these dresses in this photo. I was literally clothed in charity…in the charity of these two dear sisters.
Because of this, the photo serves to remind me of the kindness and love of these sisters, and also of the many other acts of charity that were shown to me and my family at this difficult time. My colleagues, including faculty, staff and administrators, and students at this university, and also our extended family members in our community, helped me in so many ways, teaching my classes, visiting me and my family, providing food and service at our home, and offering kind words of love and comfort. I cannot begin to completely list all that was done in service at that time, but I remember it all, and have thanked the Lord many times for what was offered by so many.
Brothers and Sisters, our lives are beautiful to the Lord. He knows each of us personally and acknowledges all the kind and good service we do in caring for one another.
May we always recognize and follow the voice of our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Our work is not over; our efforts to love and care for one another are needed now and in whatever ways the Lord calls us to serve Him and our brothers and sisters. May we be fully invested in the care of the Lord’s sheep that we may bring souls to Him that we may truly be of one fold and one Shepherd.
I testify to you that the Lord is our Good Shepherd who loves us. He leads us, guides us, carries us in His arms, and desires that we come unto Him. He is the Lamb of God who was sacrificed for us through His great Atonement. Because of His willingness to submit to His Father’s will and to willingly lay down His life for us, we have the opportunity to repent, follow Him, become like Him, and return together to our Heavenly Father’s presence. May we all return safely to His fold, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.