Sheep and the Shepherd

Our worth is not based on our performance in this life.

But.... we are subconsciously or consciously taught that if we do well on a test, our worth goes up. If you lose patience and yell out your children or spouse, your worth goes down. Sleep through Sacrament meeting-- worth goes down. Attend the temple and your worth goes up. It's a game of up and down value...and it's false.

None of this changes our worth. (These things only matter to us as a way of moving into a more loving space and to becoming more Christlike.)

In the parable of the lost sheep, the Savior beautifully and simply illustrates that our worth is not based on the things we do.

“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?”

The Shepherd would have written off the lost sheep as worthless and just stayed with and tended to the ninety-nine “obedient” sheep if our worth was based on obedience. But the Shepherd loves all of his sheep, even the ones who wander which is ALL of us at some point in our lives.

Jesus continues on in the parable telling of the joy of the shepherd; when the shepherd finds the lost sheep “he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing” (Luke 15: 4-5).

The lost sheep is valuable to the shepherd, and so are all of us!

We are really good at singing the Primary song, "I am a child of God," not remembering that this is true for Everyone. Else. Too. This is an inclusive club.

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Our worth is set...we are all beloved sons and daughters of God.