As I read this chapter, I was struck by Isaiah’s image of the poor abandoned sheep “that no man taketh up.”

 14 And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up; and they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own ^aland.

I thought about how this image powerfully contrasted from one that came up in Nephi’s writing earlier, of the good shepherd uniting his flock in one fold. (1 Nephi 22)

 24 And the time cometh speedily that the righteous must be led up as ^acalves of the stall, and the Holy One of Israel must reign in dominion, and might, and power, and great^bglory.

 25 And he ^agathereth his children from the four quarters of the earth; and he numbereth his ^bsheep, and they know him; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd; and he shall feed his sheep, and in him they shall find ^cpasture.

These images could not contrast more sharply. Those who refuse to follow the savior will be left alone and to their own devices. They will not be able to find green pasture because they will be without guide or direction. In contrast, all those “from the four quarters of the earth” who follow Christ will be gathered and taken care off. None of those sheep that follow him will be lost. What a fitting and powerful tribute to the Good Shepherd that we worship!