Do you ever feel like the sheep in this video?

I definitely do–more often than I’d like to admit. I make the same mistakes again and again. I am rescued and run right back to my problems.

The Voice of the Good Shepherd

Some of the most common imagery in scripture is that of shepherds and their sheep and the more I study about them, the more powerful the metaphor becomes to me.

We read in John 10 the ultimate message of this symbolism–we learn that Jesus is “the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).”

One of the most fascinating things about sheep is that they follow the voice of their shepherd. Flocks can often be intermingled, but when it is time to separate, only the sheep that belong to the shepherd who is calling will follow.

Alma uses this symbolism in his sermon in Alma 5. In this chapter, Alma presents us with about 50 questions (depending on how you count them) of self-evaluation. Part way through, he talks of wandering sheep who have no shepherd; there is a good shepherd calling but the sheep do not follow his voice (see Alma 5:37-38).

Alma then asks, “And now if ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd, of what fold are ye?” (Alma 5:39).

The Fold

A fold is an enclosure for the sheep; “a place where a flock of sheep is kept, whether in the field or under shelter”.¹

The shepherd gathers the sheep into the fold. When they wander, he calls for them to return. Sometimes they don’t return and that is when he leaves the 99 to bring that one back.

But he doesn’t just leave the 99 to go and casually find the lost sheep. He runs to find those that are wandering.

The Shepherd Who Runs

Alma also taught, “And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

“And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities” (Alma 7:11-12).

To succor literally means to run to.²

He suffered and sacrificed himself “. . . that he may know . . .how to [run to] his people.”

At some point, we will all be the one who leaves the 99; I know I am prone to wander. I am prone to leave the God I love.³

And I want a shepherd who leaves the 99 for me. I want to be part of His fold because . . .

He runs to me in my pains.

He runs to me in my afflictions.

He runs to me in my temptations.

He runs to me in my sicknesses.

He runs to me in my infirmities.

I want to be part of the fold of the shepherd who runs.

P.S. President Nelson, in honor of his 100th birthday in September, has invited us to leave the 99 and find the one here:

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1. see ‘Fold‘, Webster’s Dictionary 1828
2. see ‘Succor‘, Webster’s Dictionary1828
3. “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing“, Hymns–for Home and Church