The Good Shepherd Knows His Sheep
June 17, 2026
Verse 1
How do we find the wandering sheep
Whose names we do not know?
The quiet souls beyond our sight,
The hearts with hidden woe.
We lift our eyes beyond the fold,
We pray for eyes to see,
For every soul is known to Him
Who calls so tenderly.
Chorus
The Good Shepherd knows His sheep,
Every heart, and every name.
He walks before us through the dark
And calls us just the same.
He will guide our willing hands,
He will teach our hearts to see,
For He wants them all brought home again,
And He will gather His sheep.
Verse 2
How do we find our neighbors near,
The friends beside our way?
The ones who smile with burdened hearts
And quietly drift away.
We share the light, we speak with love,
We walk where they have trod,
And in their faces learn to see
A child beloved of God.
Chorus
The Good Shepherd knows His sheep,
Every heart, and every name.
He walks before us through the dark
And calls us just the same.
He will guide our willing hands,
He will teach our hearts to see,
For He wants them all brought home again,
And He will gather His sheep.
Verse 3
How do we find the ones at home,
Our daughters and our sons?
The weary hearts within our walls,
The quiet, distant ones.
We kneel in faith, we speak with grace,
We love and do not cease,
For Christ can reach the hidden wound
And bring the troubled peace.
Chorus
The Good Shepherd knows His sheep,
Every heart, and every name.
He walks before us through the dark
And calls us just the same.
He will guide our willing hands,
He will teach our hearts to see,
For He wants them all brought home again,
And He will gather His sheep.
Verse 4
How do we find the sheep within,
The soul we sometimes lose?
The faith grown faint, the hope grown thin,
The path we did not choose.
We hear His voice, we turn again,
We trust His saving care,
And find that while we searched for Him,
The Shepherd found us there.
Final Chorus
The Good Shepherd knows His sheep,
Every heart, and every name.
He walks before us through the dark
And calls us just the same.
He will guide our willing hands,
He will teach our hearts to see,
For He wants them all brought home again,
Yes, He wants them all brought home again,
And He will gather His sheep.
—
What Inspired This
This poem was written following a ward council meeting where members discussed individuals who had recently returned to church activity. As I reflected on their stories, I was reminded that the Lord’s work of gathering Israel happens one soul at a time. The experiences shared that day illustrated a timeless truth: the Savior never stops reaching for His children.
For our family, this poem stands as a reminder that every generation has a role in the gathering of souls. Some will serve missions. Some will strengthen friends. Some will rescue family members through patience and love. Others will find themselves needing rescue at different moments in life.
This poem captures a personal testimony that the Lord knows each person individually and actively guides His disciples in His work. It is my hope that future generations of our family will remember that they are both shepherds in His service and cherished sheep in His fold.
—
Scripture
### The Savior Knows Every Sheep
**John 10:14**
> “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.”
### The Lord Leaves the Ninety and Nine
**Luke 15:4–7**
The Savior taught that a shepherd willingly searches for one lost sheep because every soul is precious.
### Worth of Souls
**Doctrine and Covenants 18:10**
> “Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.”
### Gather Israel
**Doctrine and Covenants 29:7**
The Lord invites His people to assist in gathering His elect from throughout the earth.
### Charity Never Faileth
**Moroni 7:45–47**
Charity is the pure love of Christ and is the foundation of true ministering.
### The Lord Knows His Children
**Isaiah 49:15–16**
The Lord promises that He will not forget His covenant people.
### Bringing Souls unto Christ
**3 Nephi 18:32**
The Savior taught His disciples to continue ministering to those who wander, helping them return and be healed.
### Press Forward with Faith
**2 Nephi 31:20**
We are invited to press forward with steadfastness in Christ and a perfect brightness of hope.
### The One Lost Sheep
**Moses 1:39**
The Lord’s work and glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of His children.
—
Reflection
My dear grandchildren, one of the lessons life has taught me is that people are often carrying burdens we cannot see. Some struggle with loneliness. Some wrestle with doubts. Some feel pressure from school, friendships, social expectations, or difficult choices. Others may wonder if they truly belong.
As you grow older, you will meet people who feel forgotten, discouraged, or lost. The Savior may place them in your path. You do not need to have all the answers. Often, a kind word, a sincere invitation, a listening ear, or a simple act of friendship can become an answer to someone’s prayer.
You will also discover that gathering the Lord’s sheep begins in your own home. Strong families are built through patience, forgiveness, encouragement, and love. There may be times when family members struggle or wander spiritually. Never stop loving them. Never stop praying for them. The Lord’s timing is perfect, and His reach extends farther than ours.
Most importantly, remember that there may be seasons when you feel like the wandering sheep yourself. Perhaps you will face disappointment, make mistakes, experience heartbreak, or encounter questions about faith. During those moments, never believe that the Savior has forgotten you. He knows exactly where you are. He knows your name. He knows your heart.
The miracle of the gospel is that while we are trying to find Him, He is already searching for us.
—
Grandfather’s Counsel
My dear grandchildren,
One Sunday afternoon, after attending a ward council meeting, I found myself thinking deeply about two individuals who had recently returned to church activity. As we discussed their journeys, I felt a profound reminder that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know each of Their children personally. No one is forgotten. No one is lost from Their sight.
As I pondered these thoughts, I reflected on the Savior’s role as the Good Shepherd. He knows His sheep individually. He seeks after those who wander. He inspires ordinary disciples to help gather His children. Those impressions eventually became the words of this poem.
As you read it, I hope you will remember that you are one of His sheep. Whether you are eight years old or eighteen, whether life feels clear or confusing, whether your faith feels strong or fragile, the Savior knows your name, your struggles, your hopes, and your future. He walks beside you through every season of life.
—
My dear grandchildren, I testify that Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd. He lives. He knows you personally. He understands your joys and your sorrows, your victories and your disappointments. He knows where you have been and where you can become.
I testify that no prayer offered in faith is wasted, no act of kindness is insignificant, and no soul is beyond the reach of His redeeming love.
May you always remember whose sheep you are, and may you help others hear the Shepherd’s voice as well.
With all my love,
Grandpa