The Lost Sheep

The First Parable

A good shepherd had a hundred sheep, and one of them was lost. Luke 15:4

The shepherd left the other ninety-nine sheep to look for the lost one. When he found it, he was very happy. Luke 15:4–5

He picked it up, put it on his shoulders, and carried it home. Then he called to all his friends and neighbors to come and be happy with him because he had found the sheep that was lost. Luke 15:5–6

Jesus Christ told the Pharisees what the story meant. He said that sinners are like the lost sheep and that there will be great joy in heaven if a sinner repents. Luke 15:7

Just as the shepherd wanted to save the lost sheep, Jesus said that He wanted to save sinners. Mark 2:17

And just as the shepherd was very happy when he found the lost sheep, Jesus is very happy when sinners repent. Luke 15:6–7

That, He said, was why He was talking with sinners. Matt. 18:11, Joseph Smith Translation (footnote c); Mark 2:17

Illustrated by Paul Mann