Speaking Saturday morning on the topic of nourishing the flock of Christ, Elder Alexander B. Morrison of the Seventy cited several scriptural passages that lead one to the understanding that constant spiritual nourishment is necessary to maintain spiritual strength.He referred to the Nephites who, during one period, had spiritual strength with the attendant blessings of peace and prosperity. The Lord even visited them. (Mosiah 27:6-7.) Yet only a few years later wickedness prevailed. They had contentions, envyings, strife, malice, persecutions and pride.

"The lesson," he said, "is clear: if we do not constantly receive the spiritual nourishment needed daily, we will soon - as individuals and societies - be in dire straits, bereft of God's protection, cut off from the healing influences of the Spirit. Just as one who is weakened by malnutrition soon may fall prey to infectious disease, so too, will we, if spiritually weakened, be ready prey for the adversary and his legions of dupes and devils."

Citing Christ as the source of spiritual nourishment, Elder Morrison referred to two of His own statements. To the woman at Jacob's well, Jesus proclaimed He is the source of living water. (John 4:14.) To the multitude at Capernaum He described Himself as "the bread of life." (John 6:35.)

"Jesus, then, is both the bread of life and the living water needed to nourish our spirits and keep us spiritually strong," Elder Morrison remarked.

He said the scriptures provide guidelines for those charged with nourishing the Lord's sheep:

- "Faithful under-shepherds nourish with the word of God. . . . [TheyT use the scriptures to learn and teach the grand and glorious principles of salvation and exaltation. . . .

- "Faithful under-shepherds nourish through commitment to sacred covenants which bind the children of God to their Father and His glorious Son. . . .

- "Faithful servants nourish by focusing on the individual. God loves us one by one." Elder Morrison spoke of the parable of the shepherd who searched for the lost sheep. (Luke 15:5-6.) "I learned as a farm boy . . . that sheep and trouble go together," Elder Morrison reflected. After a brief pause, he added, "Come to think of it, so too, do people and trouble often go together. Whenever I think of the shepherd's loving and caring efforts on behalf of the one, I'm reminded of the Savior's deep and abiding love of each of us. . . .

- "True under-shepherds help others to partake of the bread of life and the living water through selfless service. Service . . . is the golden key which unlocks the doors to celestial halls. . . ."