Psalm 23 reads:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Using that passage of scripture as a foundation, James Montgomery composed the lyrics to “The Lord Is My Shepherd”. Born in 1771 in Scotland, Montgomery wrote 400 hymns during his life. “A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief”, “Prayer Is the Soul’s Sincere Desire”, and “Angels From the Realms of Glory” are some of Montgomery’s most recognizable pieces of work.
The hymn is included twice in the current LDS Hymnbook. Once as a hymn for the general congregation and again as a hymn for a women’s choir.