Servants

Servants are necessary to the work of God. He is in one place; He's the Rock -- He doesn't move. "He descended below all things" (D&C 88:6) in order to bring all of the children of God back into His presence. Then He "ascended into heaven, to sit down on the right hand of the Father." (D&C 20:24) He invites all to come to Him and be with Him. However, the actual work of bringing us to Him is done by servants.

The Pattern

When Joseph F. Smith was pondering on the words of Peter, who spoke of the Lord visiting those who had died during the three days His body was in the tomb, he understood that "the Lord went not in person among the wicked and the disobedient who had rejected the truth, to teach them; But behold, from among the righteous, he organized his forces and appointed messengers, clothed with power and authority, and commissioned them to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that were in darkness, even to all the spirits of men; and thus was the gospel preached to the dead." (D&C 138:29-30) This is a pattern.

The Lord is on a path, and He doesn't deviate from it. "For God doth not walk in crooked paths, neither doth he turn to the right hand nor to the left, neither doth he vary from that which he hath said, therefore his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round." (D&C 3:2) He does not go off His course, literally or figuratively, because one of His children does. "God is no respecter of persons." (Acts 10:34)

Thus, instead of Him coming to us, we must come to Him. "Whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved." (3 Nephi 9:22)

The Lord's voice is through His servants

The way we do this is by listening to His servants. We may think that we would be more inclined to listen if an angel, or God Himself were speaking to us. However, what we don't understand is that there is no difference. If we don't recognize the word of God by His servants or the Holy Ghost, we will not accept it any other way. "Whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." (D&C 1:38)

The rich man burning in hell asked Abraham to send Lazarus, the beggar who died at his gates, to his family so they wouldn't suffer the same fate:

Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
(Luke 16:27-31)

The sheep listen

The Lord's sheep hear His voice as He said, "My sheep hear my voice..." (John 10:27) and will follow His servants to Him. It is the servants who speak His words, using His voice, "Whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." (D&C 1:38)

The servants "Go... into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15) Those who desire to be in the fold of God will recognize His voice in His servants and follow.

For this reason, servants are essential to the work of God. His servants are sent out into the darkness, into the mists, into the great and spacious building, into all the darkest areas of the world and hell to bring the sheep back to Him. He doesn't go personally, He sends them. They are all, each one of them, a type of Him whom they serve. They follow Him, literally, and figuratively, by descending below to bring the lost ones home.

The hymn says it perfectly!

Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd, Hymn 221

Dear to the heart of the shepherd, Dear are the sheep of his fold;
Dear is the love that he gives them, Dearer than silver or gold.
Dear to the heart of the Shepherd, Dear are his 'other" lost sheep;
Over the mountains he follows, Over the waters so deep.
Out in the desert they wander, Hungry and helpless and cold;
Off to the rescue he hastens, Bringing them back to the fold.

Dear to the heart of the Shepherd, Dear are the lambs of his fold;
Some from the pastures are straying, Hungry and helpless and cold.
See, the Good Shepherd is seeking, Seeking the lambs that are lost,
Bringing them in with rejoicing, Saved at such infinite cost.
Out in the desert they wander, Hungry and helpless and cold;
Off to the rescue he hastens, Bringing them back to the fold.

Dear to the heart of the Shepherd, Dear are the "Ninety and nine";
Dear are the sheep that have wandered Out in the desert to pine.
Hark! he is earnestly calling, Tenderly pleading today:
"Will you not seek for my lost ones, Off from my shelter astray?"
Out in the desert they wander, Hungry and helpless and cold;
Off to the rescue he hastens, Bringing them back to the fold.

Green are the pastures inviting; Sweet are the waters and still.
Lord, we will answer thee gladly, "Yes, blessed Master, we will!
Make us thy true under-shepherds; Give us a love that is deep.
Send us out into the desert, Seeking thy wandering sheep."
Out in the desert they wander, Hungry and helpless and cold;
Off to the rescue he hastens, Bringing them back to the fold.