The Shepherds

I have been preparing a lesson for Elders Quorum over the last couple of weeks.  The lesson is from President Joseph Fielding Smith and is about the birth and life of the Savior.  President Smith discusses the story of the Saviors birth and spends a little time discussing the shepherds.  He speaks of their humility and their willingness to follow the angel of the Lord immediately, without hesitation.  I have reflected much on this and have grown a greater appreciation for the shepherds.  I always thought they were cool but never really spent a lot of time reflecting on the significance of their lives and inclusion in the story of the birth of the Savior.  I have always looked at the birth and the Savior and not thought about the others in the story.  Maybe on the wise men in later years and how they followed the spirit and did not return to Herod but honestly, not a lot of thought on what the shepherds did.  I am grateful to have had time to reflect on them this year.  I have been taught and I appreciate their example, their faith their action.  I hope that I can be such a man, that when the Spirit speaks I will listen and not only will I listen but I will act, immediately.  President Smith talked about the beautiful simplicity of the story of the Savior birth and how it never grows old.  Indeed it does not.  I am grateful for his life and hope to keep my eyes fixed on him and to be quick to follow in his footsteps.