John 10:4-5

"And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers."
John 10:4-5


This is both cool, and a little scary.  cool... infinitely cool to know that we know God's voice... trusting in that unknown premortal existence. :)  but, then, we also have the opportunity to get to know him better and better every day.   I absolutely love the thought... and the feeling... that at death I will not be meeting him for the first time, but returning to his familiar arms. :)  We do know his voice.  it resonates within our souls, reminding us of the forgotten part of ourselves... and of our search for truth.  the scary part is that sometimes, in the scriptures, even the most faithful people don't recognize him at first.  When he lived on Earth some people seemed to know and trust him instantly... some never let themselves know, because the truth threatened their livelihood or lifestyle.  Even when Christ spoke to the Nephites after the great destructions at the time of his death, he had to repeat himself three times before they were prepared to hear him.  And you know... it isn't that we don't know him.  We do... and he knows us.  It is just like the person closest to your heart calls you up after years of lost contact, and because you aren't expecting that person, you might not recognize the voice at first.  At least hopefully that's all that it is... because people you love so deeply and completely, how could you not recognize the voice?  But we don't always at first... we have to learn to listen, regain the old habits, bring to the foreground old memories, and then it is all real to us once again.  In other words, have the spirit beside us, that can bring all things to our remembrance.  Or, you know... keep in touch in the first place. :)
The other possibility is the scariest... that maybe something or someone else has such great hold upon our hearts that something else is the closest thing to our hearts now... that we have re-molded our souls to reflect someone*else's* image.  Then, we make God a stranger to us, and we'll stay in the sheepfold when our shepherd comes to lead us... and no matter who else we follow... the wolf, the coyote, the bad sheep from over the hill... a gopher... no-one else is our shepherd, and no-one else will protect us, feed us, or seek us out when we are lost.  Only God has that unwavering commitment to our well-being.  So, today... let's talk to the shepherd.  Remind ourselves what his voice feels like, so that we will be ready when he calls. :)