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by Don F. Pickett (Author)
We live in an environment that is comprised of both natural and artificial objects. The former is comprised of Gods creations, which manifest themselves in all their varieties in a state of perfection, order, and beauty, while the latter consists of creations of man, which exhibit the frailties and imperfections common to humankind. No occupation brings a person closer to nature than that of a shepherd. It was these humble, earthbound workers who, according to the Gospel of St. Luke, heard good tidings of great joy and saw this thing which is come to pass when called upon to witness the birth of our Creator. Shepherds live amid nature, entirely removed from the artificial world that unfortunately tends to occupy our attention. Shepherds place themselves in a position to clearly see what we might call the first law of nature, which is obedience, followed by a second law, which is that everything in nature has a purpose, including our own mortal existence. This simple book sets forth some of the great lessons of nature with each lesson beginning with a poem, symbolic of the harmony and rhythm of nature itself, as witnessed by a modern-day herdsman.
Author Biography
Don F. Pickett is a fourth-generation sheep rancher from the small town of Oakley, Idaho. He served a two-year mission in South Africa and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and on his return he obtained a bachelors degree in agricultural economics from Brigham Young University and a juris doctor degree at the University of Idaho. As an actively licensed attorney, he manages the day-to-day operations of the sheep ranch while also working with his two brothers in various farming and ranching endeavors. At the time of this writing, he serves within the Idaho Department of Agriculture as chairman of the Idaho Sheep and Goat Health Board and also as chairman of the Idaho State Animal Damage Control Board. He and his wife, Patty, are the parents of four children.
