Only One True Shepherd

In the April 1995 general conference, President James E. Faust spoke about the “responsibilities of shepherds” in the general Priesthood meeting.  He quoted Elder McConkie who said, “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 the salvation] of his sheep” (see here).  President Faust continued by adding the following commentary: “The bearers of the priesthood have this great responsibility, whether it is father, grandfather, home teacher, elders quorum president, bishop, stake president, or other Church calling”.  The basic idea is that we are all shepherds to one degree or another in the Church, with a responsibility to seek out the Lord’s will concerning how to care for the sheep in our care. 

                At the same time, though, there is really only one shepherd.  The scriptures are very clear that Christ is the one and only Shepherd for mankind.  Ezekiel wrote, “And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David” (Ezekiel 34:23).  The Savior taught during his mortal life: “Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd” (John 10:16).  There are “shepherds” in the world that seek to pull us away from the truth, but Christ is the only one who will lead us back to the Father.  Nephi wrote of the Savior, “He numbereth his sheep, and they know him; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd” (1 Nephi 22:25).  Again, we have this emphasis on the Savior that He is the “one” shepherd for all mankind.  He would repeat this several times through His prophets.  During His ministry to the Nephites the Savior emphasized it several times.  He said, “That other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd” (3 Nephi 15:17).  One a few verses later he emphasized again that “there shall be one fold, and one shepherd” (3 Nephi 15:21).  Later in the next chapter he explained “But I have received a commandment of the Father that I shall go unto them, and that they shall hear my voice, and shall be numbered among my sheep, that there may be one fold and one shepherd; therefore I go to show myself unto them” (3 Nephi 16:3).  All of these verses express the idea that there is only one true shepherd, and that is Christ. 

                So joining these two ideas—that we are all shepherds, and yet that there is only one true Shepherd—I think we better see what our role is as “shepherds” in various callings and responsibilities.  It is simply that we must lead those who are our “flock” to the Savior so that He can heal and strengthen them.  We can do nothing of ourselves, but the true Shepherd can heal all.  Our best chance of success as “shepherds” is to seek to help all those over whom we have stewardships to come unto Christ.