February 2014 - VISITING TEACHING MESSAGE The Divine Mission of Jesus Christ: Good Shepherd
Prayerfully study
this material and seek to know what to share. How will understanding the life
and mission of the Savior increase your faith in Him and bless those you watch
over through visiting teaching? For more information, go to reliefsociety.lds.org.
Jesus Christ,
the Good Shepherd, taught:
“What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of
them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that
which is lost, until he find it? …
“I say unto you, that … joy shall be in heaven over one sinner
that repenteth” (Luke 15:4, 7).
As we come to understand that Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd,
our desire increases to follow His example and serve those in need. Jesus said:
“I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. … And I lay
down my life for the sheep” (John 10:14–15). Because of Christ’s Atonement, none of
us will ever be so lost that we cannot find our way home (see Luke 15).
President Thomas S. Monson said,
“Ours is the responsibility to care for the flock. … May we each step up to
serve.”1
From the Scriptures
From Our History
Elizabeth Ann Whitney, who
attended the first Relief Society meeting, said of her conversion in 1830: “As
soon as I heard the Gospel as the Elders preached it, I knew it to be the voice
of the Good Shepherd.”2 Elizabeth followed the voice of the Good Shepherd and was
baptized and confirmed.
We too can hear the voice of
the Good Shepherd and share His teachings with others. President Monson said,
“We are the Lord’s hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to
lift His children.”3
Just as a shepherd seeks out
a lost sheep, parents may seek after a child who has wandered. President
James E. Faust (1920–2007), Second Counselor in the First Presidency,
said: “To those brokenhearted parents who have been righteous, diligent, and
prayerful in the teaching of their disobedient children, we say to you, the
Good Shepherd is watching over them. God knows and understands your deep
sorrow. There is hope.”4
What Can I Do?
1.
How does knowing that the Savior is the Good Shepherd bring
peace into our lives?
2.
How can I support parents whose children have wandered from
living the gospel?
“Are We Up to Our Mission?”
cji
2/1/14
The Savior had a divine mission
as we too came to earth with one
one of great worth to each of us
to our progenitors and posterity
seeking eternal life for all as one
as the Father and the Son are one
in purpose, thought and eternity
and as the Savior us commanded
that we too should all be as one
inheriting all the Father and Son
have for each of us to share
are we up to this mission today
being found in full obedience
in what we’ve been commanded
even as the Father/Son as one!
Copyright © 2013 – cji
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