The voice of the good shepherd

[Rob Osborn]

Often in scripture, our prophets and the Lord teaches us with parables, analogies, etc. In Alma chapter five is one such dissertation by Book of Mormon standards concerning the saved. In part, Alma uses the analogy of a shepherd and his sheep. What makes this story so compelling is that we all know that sheep that belong to a flock all follow their shepherd, they hear his voice, listen, and follow. Some sheep may get lost, some may fall in grave danger but in the end the good shepherd guides and delivers his entire flock safely back to his master. Those that dont come back to the fold become part of a different flock who has an evil shepherd. In the NT these end up being the goats. What stands out to me in this story though is how Alma uses his words-

57 And now I say unto you, all you that are desirous to follow the voice of the good shepherd, come ye out from the wicked, and be ye separate, and touch not their unclean things; and behold, their names shall be blotted out, that the names of the wicked shall not be numbered among the names of the righteous, that the word of God may be fulfilled, which saith: The names of the wicked shall not be mingled with the names of my people;

58 For the names of the righteous shall be written in the book of life, and unto them will I grant an inheritance at my right hand. And now, my brethren, what have ye to say against this? I say unto you, if ye speak against it, it matters not, for the word of God must be fulfilled.

I like that line- "come ye out from the wicked, and be ye separate, and touch not their unclean things;" Sometimes, or most of the time, I think we can see the light yet we are afraid to come into it. Its our sins, our follies that hold us back. We are literally afraid to come into the light and show our works before God and man. We still like to mingle with ungodly things, desires, agendas, etc. Alma continues-

59 For what shepherd is there among you having many sheep doth not watch over them, that the wolves enter not and devour his flock? And behold, if a wolf enter his flock doth he not drive him out? Yea, and at the last, if he can, he will destroy him.

60 And now I say unto you that the good shepherd doth call after you; and if you will hearken unto his voice he will bring you into his fold, and ye are his sheep; and he commandeth you that ye suffer no ravenous wolf to enter among you, that ye may not be destroyed.

61 And now I, Alma, do command you in the language of him who hath commanded me, that ye observe to do the words which I have spoken unto you.

62 I speak by way of command unto you that belong to the church; and unto those who do not belong to the church I speak by way of invitation, saying: Come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye also may be partakers of the fruit of the tree of life.

The line- "and he commandeth you that ye suffer no ravenous wolf to enter among you, that ye may not be destroyed." In todays world with all these social justice warriors, feminists, etc, I cant help but believe they are the ravenous wolves that we have allowed in to destroy our congregations and lead people away from the church. I think it also means that if we allow tge worlds views and agenda to pervade the church that this also is in reference to ravenous wolves. If this be true we should be more vocal, more steadfast in standing for whats right. After all, there is only one true shepherd and one fold. That means there is only one set of laws, one set of principles to follow. Whereas this chapter reinforces my own beliefs about heaven and salvation, its strikes me stronger to see it from the angle of being aware and defensive against Satan and his many ravenous wolves of our day. We should decry those in our midst whose views are those of the evil shepherd.