Tag: shepherds

Alma 13: 25

“And now we only wait to hear the joyful news declared unto us by the mouth of angels, of his coming; for the time cometh, we know not how soon. Would to God that it might be in my day; but let it be sooner or later, in it I will rejoice.” 
This comment is made in expectation that the Nephites will be told by heaven as soon as Christ is born. “. . . we only wait to hear the joyful news declared unto us by the mouth of angels . . .”  
Angels declared it to the shepherds near Bethlehem.  (Luke 2: 8-15.)  Alma expected a similar announcement.
“We only wait to hear the joyful news.” He EXPECTED the news to be shared. He knew they would have the announcement. He EXPECTED the angels to declare the arrival. He knew heaven would not leave these people without a herald of the news.
Imagine that. A prophet confident that the Lord will do nothing without first making known to the people His secrets! (Amos 3: 7.)  It is one thing to teach this concept. It is another to live it.  Alma is living it. Therefore angels did come and did make things known to him.
What does it take to have faith like this?

If you do not possess this kind of faith, can you be saved? Moroni taught that the absence of such faith condemns the people who no longer have such things happening among them.  (Moroni 7: 36-37.)

Do we expect the Lord to tell US about things by the mouth of angels before they happen?  Or do we expect the Lord will tell someone inside the bowels of an organization, and we will get some announcement through the prescribed channels, thereby relieving us from obtaining the ministry of angels?  Then why is the visitation of angels an Aaronic (lowest) priesthood key?  (D&C 84: 26.)  This is the right of young people beginning at age 12, mind you.  Should we expect the angelic heralds to come to everyone, 12 year of age or older? Why or why not?
Alma knows it will happen. But he does not know when it will happen. He would like it to have been in his day. It was not. But whether it was to happen in his life or afterwards, he nonetheless had faith, knew angels, awaited the message, and rejoiced at the idea of His coming.
How meek! How faithful! No wonder such a man possessed and knew the details of this holy order from God. No wonder he could teach with authority about it. How great the lesson he has left for any who will take seriously the message he taught.
Faith of this sort should be the common heritage of the Lord’s people. It was never intended that an elite, distant hierarchy would be put between God and His people.  If you are His, then you should KNOW Him. If you do not know Him, then you are not His.  Heed His voice when you hear it. No matter how surprising a place or person from which it may come. If it is His voice, then you have heard Him.

Shepherds of Israel

In Ezekiel 34: 11-12 it is written: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds: woe be unto the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?  Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.”
 
This description could be applied with several layers of meaning.  However, the one I like best is the interpretation which relates “feeding” to teaching truths.  Shepherds were given the calling of teaching the “flocks” of Israel higher truths which would exalt them.  However, they instead focused their ministry upon things which were trivial, did not raise the inner lives of the “flocks,” and stirred up those who followed them into envy and strife.  These shepherds were unworthy, condemned with the pronouncement of “woe” upon them and warned by the prophet.
 
Fortunately, Ezekiel’s message goes on to promise that in the latter-days the Lord will “both search [His] sheep, and seek them out.  As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.” (34: 11-12.)  We are in that latter-day time now.  He is seeking.  But notice that throughout the description of His latter-day work, He alone takes credit for finding and feeding.  (34: 13-17.)
 
When He has gathered enough to establish again His kingdom, He will then make a new day in which “my servant David” will be the “one shepherd” over them, in that Millennial Day.  (34: 22-24.)
 
We’re supposed to be getting gathered now in anticipation of becoming numerous enough for there to be a Millennial King provided for us.  We’re supposed to be in contact with the Lord as He alone gathers us in this latter-day.  It is a glorious vision for which we should rejoice.