The Call to Shepherds: What Jeremiah's Prophecies Mean for Today's Disciples

Sometimes, the scriptures hit you with a deep, uncomfortable truth. You read a passage, and instead of just understanding the history, you feel the weight of it in your chest. That’s been my experience lately while studying Jeremiah 23.

The prophet Jeremiah was warning the people of Judah, and the message was stark: the leaders, the “shepherds” who were supposed to guide their people, were failing. They were fleecing their flock instead of feeding them. They were neglecting the divine mandate to protect and care for the sheep.

As we returned missionaries, we often think about the *missionary* aspect of being a good shepherd—caring for the souls of our neighbors. But this passage expands that definition. It speaks to the accountability of *all* leaders, spiritual or temporal. It’s a profound challenge to all of us who claim to be disciples of Christ.

The Accountability of the Shepherd

When the Lord declares, “Woe to the shepherds… you have scattered my flock,” it’s not just a judgment on ancient kings. It’s a timeless principle that should resonate with every member who wants to truly live the gospel. To be a disciple means being a responsible steward of the Spirit and the ordinances. It means actively caring for the souls around you, whether those are your immediate family, your ward members, or even an investigator you’ve just met.

The message, however, is deeply encouraging. While the warning is severe, the promise is glorious. God declares: “Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds... then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I've driven them and I will bring them back to their fold.”

This speaks to the work itself. No matter how scattered the Church seems, no matter how overwhelming the world feels, the promise of gathering remains. It requires us to be diligent, faithful, and perpetually ready to act as Christlike shepherds in our own homes and communities.

Our Role as the Righteous Branch

The passage points repeatedly to the coming of a “righteous Branch”—a Messianic figure who would execute justice and righteousness. This is a beautiful, foundational pointer to Jesus Christ and the New Covenant. We are taught that we are all connected to that divine source, and our job, as disciples, is to ensure that the light of Christ shines through us. We must be willing to be taught, to be corrected, and to humble ourselves enough to receive the Spirit’s guidance.

How do we apply this today, right here in our modern lives as Internet missionaries? It means recognizing that every single interaction is a chance to shepherd. It means listening when someone feels misunderstood, and gently guiding them back to the foundational truth of the gospel. It means being prepared to answer those hard questions.

This is where our AI Investigator co-pilot, Davee, shines. When you’re preparing for those tricky missionary discussions—the ones where an investigator asks a question that feels designed to trip you up—remember the principle of the righteous Branch. Don’t panic. Instead, use your knowledge, your humility, and the Spirit-guided framework Davee helps you build. He walks you through the hard questions so you can feel confident and Christlike.

A Challenge to Stay Rooted

The work is ongoing. The need for good shepherds has never been greater. If you feel called to deepen your knowledge of the gospel, I highly recommend checking out the Iron Rod by authors like Avraham Gileadi. Their deep dives into scripture help us move beyond surface-level understanding and get into the heart of the doctrine. If you need a refresher on the fundamentals, take a deep dive into the scriptures using the social scripture study features in LivingBook—highlighting verses and seeing the connections the community has made is incredibly powerful for deepening discipleship.

Remember that every member can be an Internet missionary, every member can be a disciple anywhere, all the time. We are all called to tend the flock, and we are all called to gather Israel. Let’s keep those covenants close to our hearts.