What Jesus Taught

by Osborne J. P. Widtsoe

Thus was the word of God carried to the Gentiles. But Jesus did not Himself minister to them during his earth-life. While yet ministering to those who followed Him in the Holy Land, however, Jesus uttered a strange declaration. He said, "I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."

A puzzling question.

From the time that Jesus made this statement until the restoration of the Gospel in the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times, it has never been fully understood by men. That Jesus is the Good Shepherd is clear enough. He has earned the undisputed right to that title by the devoted sacrifice He made for His sheep. But what did He mean by "other sheep" not of the fold of Palestine, who must also hear His voice, that there might be one fold, as there was one shepherd? Where else did Jesus personally minister besides the Holy Land and Paradise? These questions have puzzled many; and because of failure to find any other adequate answer, the "other sheep" have been usually interpreted to mean, the Gentiles. But how the Gospel came to the Gentiles has been pointed out. They could not have been the "other sheep," who were to hear the voice of Jesus. Who, then, were the "other sheep."

Forty days.

You will remember that after His resurrection Jesus appeared at ten different times to His disciples in Palestine. It seems, however, that between the resurrection and the ascension there elapsed a period of about forty days. What did Jesus do during those forty days? Of course, we cannot hope to be able ever to account for all those days, nor would it help us much perhaps to do so. But it was during that interesting but shrouded period of forty days that Jesus visited the other sheep.

In the land of the Nephites.

Far over the waters, in another and then unknown land, lived the Nephites. They had been taught to look forward to the coming of the Lord. When He was born a babe in Bethlehem, the star of promise shone brilliantly in the land of the Nephites. For three days there was light, and no darkness at all. Again, after thirty-three years, the land of the Nephites became shrouded in darkness when the Lord was crucified. The earth was shaken and torn asunder. Cities were sunk into the sea, and places that had been sea were made dry land. Mountains were levelled and valleys were upheaved. And countless numbers of the wicked were destroyed. When the terrible convulsions and the darkness had passed, there was a multitude of the people of Nephi assembled near the temple in the land Bountiful. Suddenly, a voice spoke to them out of heaven. It was the voice of God declaring, "Behold my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name: hear ye Him." The people cast their eyes upward; and lo! they saw a man clothed in a white robe descending out of heaven.

The appearance of Jesus to the Nephites.

It was Jesus. He came and stood in the midst of His people, the Nephites; and He showed them the prints in His hands and in His feet, and the wound in His side. Then He proceeded to teach them as He had taught His disciples in Palestine, and to choose twelve apostles, and to organize His church, so that the people might enjoy the privileges of the priesthood and of a holy worship. Jesus appeared to these people more than once; and on one occasion, He said, "Ye are my disciples; and ye are a light unto this people, who are a remnant of the house of Joseph. And behold, this is the land of your inheritance; and the Father hath given it unto you. And not at any time hath the Father given me commandment that I should tell it unto your brethren at Jerusalem; Neither at any time hath the Father given me commandment, that I should tell unto them concerning the other tribes of the house of Israel, whom the Father hath led away out of the land. This much did the Father command me, that I should tell unto them. That other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. And now because of stiffneckedness and unbelief, they understood not my word: therefore I was commanded to say no more of the Father concerning this thing unto them. But, verily, I say unto you, that the Father hath commanded me, and I tell it unto you, that ye were separated from among them because of their iniquity; therefore it is because of their iniquity, that they know not of you. And verily, I say unto you again, that the other tribes hath the Father separated from them; and it is because of their iniquity, that they know not of them. And verily, I say unto you, that ye are they of whom I said, other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."

In the unselfish ministry of Jesus Christ there is no one forgotten. All the children of Israel are ministered to; the dead hear the voice of Jesus; and the Gentiles have the Gospel preached to them. The Jewish Scriptures are united with the Nephite Scriptures in the personal ministry of Jesus to His "other sheep."