The Sheep and the Goats - Another View
Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 18:235
Just at that time I had this dream, which I will now relate. I thought I had started and gone past the Hot Springs, which is about four miles north of this city. I was going after my goats. When I had gone round the point of the mountain by the Hot Springs, and had got about half a mile on the rise of ground beyond the Spring, whom should I meet but brother Joseph Smith. He had a wagon with no bed on, with bottom boards, and tents and camp equipage piled on. Somebody sat on the wagon driving the team. Behind the team I saw a great flock of sheep. I heard their bleating, and saw some goats among them. I looked at them and thought-”This is curious, brother Joseph has been up to Captain Brown’s and got my goats.” There were men driving the sheep, and some of the sheep I should think were three and a half feet high, with large, fine, beautiful white fleeces, and they looked so lovely and pure; others were of moderate size, and pure and white; and in fact there were sheep of all sizes, with fleeces clean, pure and white. Then I saw some that were dark and spotted, of all colors and sizes and kinds, and their fleeces were dirty, and they looked inferior; some of these were a pretty good size, but not as large as some of the large fine clean sheep, and altogether there was a multitude of them of all sizes and kinds, and goats of all colors, sizes and kinds mixed among them. Joseph stopped the wagon, and the sheep kept rushing up until there was an immense herd. I looked in Joseph’s eye, and laughed, just as I had many a time when he was alive, about some trifling thing or other, and said I-”Joseph, you have got the darndest flock of sheep I ever saw in my life; what are you going to do with them, what on earth are they for?” Joseph looked cunningly out of his eyes, just as he used to at times, and said he-”They are all good in their places.” When I awoke in the morning I did not find any fault with those who wanted to go to California; I said, “If they want to go let them go, and we will do all we can to save them; I have no more fault to find, the sheep and the goats will run together, but Joseph says, “they are all good in their places.”
This kind of goes along with 2 Nephi 26:24-28. I don’t see too much of this today. I see more of what’s described in verse 29. Most churches that I’ve visited have leaders that set themselves up as a light. If you follow them in their teachings then you’re OK, but if you don’t they will quickly cast you off. They all want sheep that look, act, and think like they do. It’s good to know that the church of Jesus Christ isn’t set up that way. That the true church of God won’t cast you off for differing in doctrine or being different. That the true church not only allows free thinking, but encourages it. Like Joseph Smith said, “I want the liberty of thinking and believing as I please. It feels good not to be trammelled.” (D.H.C. 5:340)
Comment by Amanda — August 26, 2007 @ 8:51 am
I hope I’m good in my place.
Comment by Susan M — August 26, 2007 @ 8:43 pm
One of my greatest wishes is that we members could hold to the core principles of the Gospel, uphold the current conditions of temple attendance, and, simultaneously, allow those who simply cannot do so (for whatever reason) to live and love and worship at our sides - good in their own places. I wish we could fulfill the spirit of the 11th Article of Faith within our own congregations - and hold no rancor if it has to happen outside our congregations.
I understand the tension between claiming to be the “only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth” and understanding and loving and accepting others who are offended by that claim - between a deep desire to have others not judge us and granting them that same courtesy. It is not an easy balance given what we claim, but it brings amazing peace and communal power that is all too rare in this world of constant and consuming conflict.
Comment by Ray — August 26, 2007 @ 10:39 pm