Week Three:The Good Shepherd

Heavenly Father loves us. So does Jesus Christ. In John 10, Christ compares Himself to a shepard and he compares Himself to a door, both of these provide protection for the unknowing sheep. As I was reading, I was really touched by this verse:
 "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)
It also ties well into 2 Nephi 9:41&42 Christ Himself watches over us. He doesn't degate that responsibility. There are so many of us, and He knows us all.

He protects us from many dangers, and we don't even know. in John 10, it says "All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.." He is out there protecting our very lives, and we don't even hear. That shows a lot of love for us.

Christ uses the type of a shepherd because that's what shepherds would do, they themselves would watch over their sheep. Even if they did have help, the shepherd was out there staying awake against I'm sure the desires and advice of their bodies. I've stayed awake for a good portion of the night before. It's hard to just stay awake let alone alert! Chirst overcame a lot for us. He didn't have to, he could have chosen not to, but He did.

How do you know if you are one of Chirst's sheep? You would have taken His name upon you. There is one initial ordinance that we must go through, and another renewing one to help us remember who the shepherd is. We all must be baptized, and we must take the sacrament. These are the ways that we will know.
He gave us His life, so that we could live. We must live so that His life was not taken in vain. How do we do that? There are as many answers as there are people, Christ gives a few. We must love our Heavenly Father, and we must also feed His sheep.
He gathers us. In John 10:16  Christ mentions some other "sheep" those were those that lived on the American continent way back then. They had been promised that He would come, and He did go.
If you havn't read the record of that it's very moving and just as true. Read 3 Nephi starting at 11 in the Book of Mormon. You can also go to Mormon.org to learn more too!