the shepherds

From Come, Let Us Adore Him, by Elder Patrick Kearon:

"In the well-known verses from Luke 2, we learn significant facts about those first witnesses of Christ's birth, the shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem. When 'the angel of the Lord came upon them, ... they were sore afraid' (verse 9). But they heard 'good tidings of great joy' that the long-foretold Savior, the Messiah, the Christ, had been born (verse 10). They listened to know the sign by which they could recognize the Savior, that He would be 'wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger' (verse 12). When the heavenly host had concluded their joyful proclamation, the shepherds responded immediately, saying, 'Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass' (verse 15). They came 'with haste' and found the Christ child just as the angel had said, and then they 'returned, glorifying and praising God' (verse 20). Wanting to share the glorious news of the Savior's birth, 'they made [it] known abroad' (verse 17).

"Like the shepherds, we must respond immediately, with haste, whenever the Spirit speaks to us. In the words of President Thomas S. Monson, we must 'never, never, never postpone following a prompting.' Sometimes after heeding a prompting, we cannot clearly see why we have been guided by the Spirit to act in a certain way. But often, like the shepherds, we see miracles occur, and our faithful response to a prompting is confirmed. We can then take opportunities to share our joy and our witness with others. Doing so can strengthen others' faith and hope, further confirming our own testimonies and bringing us closer to the Savior and His ways."

The shepherds at Jesus's birth hold a special place in my heart. They listened and obeyed. They were so full of faith, never doubting the things they had seen and heard. I love to think about these humble men, the first to bear witness of the birth of the Savior.

painting by Carl Heinrich Bloch.