Eyring - "Watch with Me" - April 2001

President Eyring speaks to the Priesthood session and shares that the men of the priesthood have a responsibility to be shepherds to the flock of Christ.

• The members of the Church are the sheep. They are His, and we are called by Him to watch over them. We are to do more than warn them against danger. We are to feed them.
  

We need to remember that watching over the the sheep is a big responsibility but we do not do it alone.  Christ does this with us.

• He watches with us. He knows what the sheep need at every moment. By the power of the Holy Ghost, He can tell us and send us to them. And we can by the priesthood invite His power to bless them.
  

As shepherds, we need to always be prepared to help the sheep.  Help comes in the form of resisting temptation, helping with their temporal needs, and leading them to safety.  We can't do this and partner with Christ if we are not worthy.

• As a shepherd, we will be tempted to go near the edges of sin. But sin in any form offends the Holy Ghost. You must not do anything or go anywhere that offends the Spirit. You cannot afford that risk. Should sin cause you to fail, you would not only be responsible for your own sins but for the sorrow you might have prevented in the lives of others had you been worthy to hear and obey the whisperings of the Spirit. The shepherd must be able to hear the voice of the Spirit and bring down the powers of heaven or he will fail.

When helping the lost sheep, the shepherd needs to seek the guidance of the spirit.  Answers will come as to what needs to be done and we are to act on those answers.  The ability to act will be enhanced by an increase in love that we feel for the sheep in Christ's flock.

• It is love that must motivate the shepherds of Israel. That may seem difficult at the start, because e may not even know the Lord well. But if we begin with even a little grain of faith in Him, our service to the sheep will increase our love for Him and for them. It comes from simple things that every shepherd must do. We pray for the sheep, every one for whom we are responsible. When we ask, “Please tell me who needs me,” answers will come. A face or a name will come into our minds. Or we may have a chance meeting that we feel isn’t chance. In those moments, we will feel the love of the Savior for them and for us. As you watch over His sheep, your love for Him will grow. And that will increase your confidence and your courage.

President Eyring ends with his testimony that the Savior is helping us watch over the flock that we are responsible for.

• I am a witness that the loving Savior watches over His sheep with His faithful shepherds.
  

Our priesthood responsibilities require that partner with Christ to watch over the flock in our ward.  The spirit will lead and guide us to those that we can help.  We can be instruments in doing what the Lord needs us to do if we are worthy, motivated by love, and seek His guidance.  I am grateful for the way the Lord organizes His flock.  The responsibility is ours to partner with Christ to bring about His great work.  In my life, I am going to try to seek more guidance from the Lord on who I can help and be a little more patient and try to hear His answers.