Search - Little House on the Prairie: The Lord is My Shepherd on DVD

"I know how I can make it right again."

A. Grace | Michigan | 08/24/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In this classic two-hour episode, the Ingalls family eagerly awaits the arrival of a new addition! All is bliss (despite Harriet Oleson's ability to turn even a new baby into an opportunity to insult Caroline) until Dr. Baker notices that Charles Ingalls Junior, the long-awaited son, is not gaining weight. Ma asks the girls to say a special prayer for their brother, but a jealous Laura refuses. The baby's condition worsens and he eventually dies, leaving Laura with overwhelming feelings of guilt for her "mean thoughts." Convinced that she can make it right by giving her life to God in exchange for the infant's, Laura runs away to the mountains. As Charles and Isaiah Edwards search frantically for Laura, a mysterious old man named Jonathan (Ernest Borgnine) cares for her. The finale is heart-warming, if predictable, and vaults "The Lord is My Shepherd" to the rank of Classic Little House."

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful

L. Shirley | 10/27/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you see no other episode in the "Little House" series, see this one! As an avid Little House on the Prairie fan, this was one of the first shows I saw, and it has gone down as one of my very favorites for many reasons, a few including the superb acting, the strong morals, the love portrayed, and the power of forgiveness. The plot is simple enough while at the same time possessing emotional depth and complexity that makes it all the more beautiful. Little Laura Ingalls faces a very real dilemma when her mother has a baby who, in response to her father's obvious wishes, is a boy. Knowing how much her Pa wanted a son, Laura feels somewhat of a push to the back. She is used to being her Pa's special "half pint," and now that she is getting much less attention, she experiences jealousy that is so thick, she refuses to pray for her baby brother when he becomes very sick. The infant dies, leaving Laura swamped with overwhelming guilt that takes over her life until she runs to the mountains in search of an answer. With the sincere belief that her brother is dead because of her, she asks God to take her instead of the baby and sets her mind insistently on making it so. Something extremely hopeful and amazing brings a strange yet loving man into her midst. As he takes care of her on her journey, he gradually comes to help her face her tragedy and follow through with what she truly needs to do. It is an overall beautiful film that should not be missed. You will truly feel for Laura as she is brought to an emotional challenge in her young life, and Melissa Gilbert does a great job at bringing this historical heroine to life. She truly was an amazing child actor. Michael Landon delivers what I believe to be his most incredible, realistic, and emotionally charged performances as Laura's extremely loving Pa who learns just as much as she does from the whole experience in this story. Landon was an actor that I hope people remember for the rest of time, because as far as his acting and the qualities of his shows go, there's nothing that more inspiring or worthy of being modeled.
"Little House on the Prairie" is an excellent pick if you want something sweet, innocent, and comforting to watch. Just as it is an amazing show for adults to love for years to come, so is it for children. If you are a parent, I highly recommend that you introduce this series to your children because it was because of my mother that I discovered the magic and the wonder of these shows. You can't go wrong with them; no matter how much time passes, they will never get old because their quality and the uplifting messages of every single episode will always serve as an example and a comfort to society. The Ingalls family represents what family love should be all over the world, and although the entire series is praisworthy family material, "The Lord is My Shepherd" is a standout and truly a milestone in the show's overall success."