The Good Shepherd

If ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true (Alma 32:21).

Sometimes when Jesus Christ taught, He used stories. One of the Savior’s stories was that of the Good Shepherd. He taught that a good shepherd does not sneak into the sheepfold, but goes in through the door. He “goeth before [his sheep], and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice” (John 10:4).

“He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber” (John 10:1).

A hired shepherd—a sheepherder—rarely loves the sheep he watches as much as a good shepherd does. If a wolf attacks the flock, a sheepherder may run away to save his own life, leaving the wolf to scatter and kill the sheep. A good shepherd owns his sheep. They are his, and he takes care of them. He will do anything necessary to protect his sheep, even die for them.

Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd. He suffered and died for us so that we could return to Heavenly Father. We are His sheep if we will listen to His voice and follow Him. We do this by keeping the commandments, studying the scriptures, and obeying the prophets and the promptings of the Holy Ghost. We may not actually see the Savior in this life. But if we have faith in Him and follow His voice, He will protect us and lead us in the correct paths.

Instructions

Color the flannel-board figures, then mount them on heavy paper. Cut them out and use them to retell the story of the Good Shepherd.

flannel-board figures

Hired shepherd; Wolf; Sheep; Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd; Thief, who doesn’t enter by the door.
(Illustrated by Beth Whittaker.)

The Good Shepherd by Del Parson