The Psalmist reminds us in Psalm 100:3 to "Know (ye) that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture." One without a leader is like a sheep without a shepherd. Sheep are completely dependent on their shepherd for provision, guidance, and protection. Sheep are figurative of believers who follow their Shepherd. Christ is our Divine Shepherd and we are the sheep of His pasture. He provides for, guides, and protects us in the same manner as a shepherd cares for the sheep of his fold. 

In describing the Lord as a shepherd, David wrote out of his own personal experiences from his early years of caring for sheep. Amidst the world, the Church is a sheepfold, exposed to deceivers and persecutors. The Divine Shepherd of the sheep knows all that are His individually by name, guards them by His providence, guides them by His Spirit and Word, and goes before them in the same manner as Eastern shepherds go before their sheep, to set them in the way of His steps.

As ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we must serve the sheep in their spiritual needs and concerns. The Spirit of Christ will set before them an open door. His sheep who know Him as: (1) the Good Shepherd - "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep" (John 10:11); (2) the Great Shepherd - "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen" (Hebrews 13:20,21); and (3) the Chief Shepherd - "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away" (1 Peter 5:4), will observe their Shepherd, and be cautious and shy of strangers that would attempt to draw them away from the fold because they have come to learn and know that He is the only True Shepherd and "he that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber" (see John 10:1).

The 23rd Psalm does not necessarily focus on the animal like qualities of the sheep, but on the discipleship qualities of those who are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. When we recognize the voice of the Divine Shepherd we should follow Him! When we allow Christ, our Shepherd, to lead and guide us, we will find peace, contentment, and safety for our souls. However, when we choose to ignore the Shepherd's voice and wander away from the fold, we have no one to blame but ourselves when we fall into the snares of those who seek to destroy us. 

Because of the subtle uncertainties of life, we should follow the Divine Shepherd who offers us eternal confidence. Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we need fear no evil: for our Shepherd is with us; His rod and His staff give us great comfort. (See Psalm 23:4). It is He alone who is able to walk us through this valley and bring us safely to the other side. Christ, the Perfect Shepherd and host, promises to guide and protect us through life to bring us into His home forever. (See Psalm 23:5, 6). He gives us the blessed assurance, "Wherefore, I am in your midst, and I am the good shepherd, and the stone of Israel. He that buildeth upon this rock shall never fall" (D&C 50:44). "For what shepherd is there among you having many sheep doth not watch over them, that the wolves enter not and devour his flock? And behold, if a wolf enter his flock doth he not drive him out? Yea, and at the last, if he can, he will destroy him. And now I say unto you that the good shepherd doth call after you; and if you will hearken unto his voice he will bring you into his fold, and ye are his sheep; and he commandeth you that ye suffer no ravenous wolf to enter among you, that ye may not be destroyed" (Alma 5:59, 60).