Sheep

 “All we like ​​​sheep​ have gone ​​​astray…”

Why Sheep?

A couple days ago I took this photo of a few of our grazing sheep. I’ve pondered sheep and why the Lord used them as symbols in His teachings. Often He used them as a positive example. For example, His sheep hear His voice. 

So, when we got sheep I had the false belief that they’d be easy to keep fenced in. After all, they’re in the scriptures and it seems to be in a positive manner they were spoken of. They are cute, cuddly and docile as lambs, right? Nope. The young lambs were the worst. They got out of all kinds of fencing. 

In addition to their escape techniques as lambs, sheep have a very interesting “flocking” characteristic. Wherever one goes, they all go. It’s like watching a flock of birds or fish that move in perfect unison. Right as one moves, they all move. I’ve pondered this characteristic in regards to the Lord, the good Shepherd, and His sheep.

His sheep hear His voice. When He speaks, they follow. There is no hesitation. They all move in unison and can accomplish much good working together. It's a positive thing IF they are following the good Shepherd. 

So, can this be negative? Why did Isaiah prophecy, “All we like ​​​sheep​ have gone ​​​astray​; we have turned every one to his ​​​own​ way; and the ​​Lord​​ hath laid on him the ​​​iniquity​ of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). 

If the flock choose to follow the wrong shepherd, they all suffer. When a wolf comes among them in sheep's clothing, they don’t always differentiate between the wolf and the true Shepherd. One moves to follow the wolf and they don’t think critically, they just follow. They all go down the wrong path together.

When we meet our Maker on the other side of the veil, and we figure out the next world for each ONE of us, it won’t be as a GROUP. One by one we will either know Him or we won’t. He will call us friends or He won’t. 

So, how do we know if we are following the good Shepherd? How do we know if we are following the right Shepherd in the right flock? I was reading Moroni’s promise this morning, “And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things” (Moroni 10:4-5).

Through Joseph Smith the Lord taught, “This first comforter, or Holy Ghost, has no other effect than pure intelligence. It is …powerful in expanding the mind [and] enlightening the understanding.” He also taught, “The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth. Light and truth forsake that evil one” (D&C 93:36-37).

One reason, I believe, sheep follow the flock is because it’s comfortable and requires very little effort to analyze and move forward according to the light or intelligence they receive. One makes a decision and they all follow, to their reward or to their detriment. 

It’s interesting that right after these verses the Lord revealed through Joseph, “And that wicked one cometh and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men, and because of the tradition of their fathers” (D&C 93:39).

Could we say that sheep following the flock can be related to following the tradition of their fathers? It seems easier and takes much less effort to submit one’s will to the group. It takes more effort to seek one’s own guidance to further light and knowledge than to trust the traditional leader.

I testify that God wants us to give our will to Him. He wants us to do many things of our own free will and bring to pass much righteousness. We have to be willing to stand alone, as the Savior, the good Shepherd, did. 

When many sheep that hear His voice leave the flocks they’re in to join the good Shepherd, they’ll be able to unify and be a powerful force for God in bringing about His Zion. It will be independent thinkers and doers with pure hearts and clean hands who have fought a good fight, gone against the grain and heard His voice. They will be interdependent as a strong flock of sheep with the same Shepherd. 

I hope I can be counted in His flock. This is my prayer.