Karl Bates West

The above photo was taken when Karl Bates West was young. There is another photo of Karl with his dad, Samuel Ezra West ,and his brothers, Lavern and Joe, under the Media Tab above. Samuel is second from left, Lavern is on the left, and Karl is between his dad and his brother Joe on the right. The following was found on a website which was copyrighted by Wanda West Palmer Publishing. Wanda was Karl's daughter.

https://wwpmusic.com/product/feed-my-sheep/

“KARL BATES WEST, THE BOY SHEPHERD” “THE LITTLE LOST LAMB.”

Karl Bates West was born the 27th of November 1891 in Snowflake, Arizona. His father, Samuel Ezra West, was a successful sheepherder. As a young boy, Karl was his father’s helper. When Karl was about 12 to 19 years of age, his father would leave him with one other person, and a shepherd dog, to herd the sheep across central and northern Arizona. Karl loved the sheep and knew every one of them by name. It was during the ‘laming’ season in the forest of northern Arizona that this story takes place. When a mother ‘ewe’ gives birth, usually they only have a single baby lamb, but during this time there were two sheep that gave birth to twins. Karl knew from experience that when a mother ‘ewe’ gives birth to two baby lambs, sometimes they forget to look after both baby lambs. Karl was very careful to make sure that both mother’s always had both of their babies with them.

It was time to move the sheep to a new area. Leaving the herd with his helper, Karl went ahead to find and prepare the next place for the sheep to graze. That night, when the sheep herd arrived at the camp, he carefully counted all of his sheep. One mother ewe had both of her baby lambs with her, but the other mother ewe had only one. Karl looked and looked but the little twin baby lamb had strayed from the herd and was lost.

Sure that a baby lamb would not last the night, he immediately left and went to search for the little lost lamb. It soon became so dark that Karl could not see his hand in front of his face. Karl tried to follow the trail the herd had made, but feared that in the dark by himself, he could never find that little lost lamb. Karl knew that he would have to have Heavenly Father’s help.

Karl knelt down and prayed, “Dear Heavenly Father, there is a little lost lamb that is all alone in the forest and I know that I cannot find that lamb without Thy help. Please Dear Father, if a little lost lamb is important to you, and if it would not be too much trouble, please help me to find my little lost lamb.” Karl got up and started to walk when he heard a voice that said, “Turn to your left.” Karl turned to his left, walked a little ways and there under a bush was the little lost lamb, fast asleep. Karl again knelt down taking the lamb in his arms and lovingly and tearfully thanked his Heavenly Father for letting him know that even a little lost lamb is important to Him.

Finding Heavenly Father’s lost sheep became a lifelong mission for Karl. As a young father Karl heard “a voice” that spoke to him saying, “Forget thyself and Feed My sheep.” From that time on, Karl Bates West and his wife Irma Hansen West became lifelong missionaries. Because of their legacy I wrote” Feed my Sheep.”

This song was originally written very simply and first introduced in Primary. The children loved it! Then Robert Bowden orchestrated “Feed My Sheep” and it was recorded with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. The Easter Pageant directors were so impressed that they wrote a special scene into the pageant and introduced ”Feed My Sheep” with a special arrangement for a children’s chorus that same year.

Feed My Sheep

Do ye love me? Feed my sheep.

Do ye love me? Feed my sheep.

If you love me you will seek my wand’ring sheep.

Do ye love me? Feed my sheep.

If you love me, you will seek

and find my wand’ring sheep and lead them home to me.

Forget thyself, be not afraid! I will watch o’er thee. As ye do unto one of mine, ye do unto me.

Do ye love me? Feed my sheep.

Do ye love me? Feed my sheep.

If you love me you will seek my wand’ring sheep.

Do ye love me? Feed my sheep.

If you love me, you will seek

and find my wand’ring sheep and lead them home to me.

Forget thyself, be not afraid! I will watch o’er thee. As ye do unto one of mine, ye do unto me.

Do ye love me? Feed my sheep.

If ye love me you will seek and find my precious wand’ring sheep and gently lead them home to me.