A Wild Flock Which Fleeth From the Shepherd

After Ammon and his brethren met with the people of Limhi and discussed the possible translation of the Jaredite plates by Mosiah, King Limhi said this: “Doubtless a great mystery is contained within these plates, and these interpreters were doubtless prepared for the purpose of unfolding all such mysteries to the children of men. O how marvelous are the works of the Lord, and how long doth he suffer with his people; yea, and how blind and impenetrable are the understandings of the children of men; for they will not seek wisdom, neither do they desire that she should rule over them! Yea, they are as a wild flock which fleeth from the shepherd, and scattereth, and are driven, and are devoured by the beasts of the forest” (Mosiah 8:19-21). He had a correct sense that there were very important things on those plates. That would include both the history of the Jaredites and the great revelation the Lord gave to the brother of Jared which eventually became part of the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon. Great wisdom was contained on those plates, but unfortunately most people do not seek wisdom or desire to be ruled by the wisdom of God. I was struck by this phrase that he used: “They are as a wild flock which fleeth from the shepherd.” Typically, we talk about Jesus as the Good Shepherd who will protect the sheep and how the hireling—not a true shepherd—will run from the sheep in the face of danger. For example, John wrote: “But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep” (John 10:12-13). In King Limhi’s description, though, the problem is not the shepherd but the sheep. The shepherd is there to protect them, but the sheep run from the shepherd and are eventually devoured by beasts of the forest. Too often the children of men figuratively run from the Good Shepherd who would save and protect them if they would just stay in His fold.

                When the disciples were toiling in the midst of a storm on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus eventually came to them. Matthew recorded, “And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.” Their first reaction to the Savior’s appearance was to fear Him—and yet He was there to save them. The account continues, “But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid” (Matthew 14:25-27). Sometimes we too don’t recognize the Savior when He has come to bless and save us, just like the sheep that flee the shepherd. We see a commandment or invitation or assignment from His servants as something to run from instead of something that will help us. We hear this all the time in Sacrament Meeting, usually somewhat in jest: “I knew I shouldn’t answer that phone call from the Bishop when he asked me to speak….” But we should see these opportunities to serve or sacrifice our time as those very opportunities that the Lord is giving us to protect and help us. Others might reject callings because their lives feel too busy, and yet service in His kingdom is exactly what they need so that the Good Shepherd can bless them in their challenges they are facing. I love the way this verse changes our understanding of commandments: “Blessed are they whose feet stand upon the land of Zion, who have obeyed my gospel; for they shall receive for their reward the good things of the earth, and it shall bring forth in its strength. And they shall also be crowned with blessings from above, yea, and with commandments not a few, and with revelations in their time—they that are faithful and diligent before me” (Doctrine and Covenants 59:3-4). Most people do not see commandments as blessings from the Lord, but those are exactly the things that the Good Shepherd gives us to protect us and keep out the wolves from His flock. When we follow Him and receive His gospel, we are blessed with “commandments not a few” to guide and direct us and help us to prosper temporally and spiritually. We need to look no further than the Word of Wisdom to see the truth of this: what a blessing this commandment has been to faithful members of the Church! It has indeed protected us against the “evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days” (Doctrine and Covenants 89:4). And there are many other examples of commandments that are given to protect—not restrict—those who follow the Savior. Instead of running from wisdom, we must seek it and receive with gladness those instructions and commandments that the Good Shepherd gives us to protect us.