Purpose
To develop greater faith in Jesus Christ through a study of the lives of Elisabeth, Zacharias, John the Baptist, Mary, and Joseph.
Scriptures
Additional Reading
Lesson Resources
- Teacher's Manual
- Class Member Study Guide
- Meridian Magazine
- Mary and Elizabeth: Lesson 2 Scripture Footnotes, By John A. Tvedtnes
- LDS Living 2011
- LDS LIving 2015
- Brother Beardall's Outline
- James E Neumann Institute
- BYU Study Series
- Seminary Manual: Luke 1-3
- Seminary Manual: Matthew 1-2
- Institute Manual: Luke 1-3
- Institute Manual: Matthew 1-4
Additional Talks
- To Live Well Amid Worldly Decay, Elder Richard G. Scott (BYU Idaho Devotional, 2004)
- How to Live Well amid Increasing Evil, RICHARD G. SCOTT (General Conference, April 2004)
- Knowing Who You Are—and Who You Have Always Been, Sheri Dew (BYU Women's Conference 2001)
- Faith Is the Answer, DAVID E. SORENSEN (General Conference, April 2005)
- Mary, His Mother, SUSAN EASTON BLACK (Ensign, January 1991)
- The Gifts of Christmas, HENRY B. EYRING (Christmas Devotional, 2011)
20 comments:
PART 1 of post
I spent my Christmas break from seminary studying the nativity really indepth. I know that I really am just an adolescent when it comes to scripture knowledge and there are so many of you that are much further down that path. However, I learned so much from my study last month and I thought I would share a few thoughts in the hopes that they might help someone. Where to begin?
I love the title of this chapter. I looked up the word magnify (I teach teenagers and so we do this quite often). The definition that fits here is to extol; praise. So replacing that word, the title reads "My soul doth praise the Lord" That ties right in with the talk Whit gave us the link to last week. I have to ask myself, does my soul praise the Lord?
I found it very interesting to study the different reactions in these chapters. Zacharias, Mary and Joseph all had an angel appear to them. Zacharias, a priest in the temple. He was obviously a righteous man to be worthy of a heavenly vistor. It is interesting that Luke says that when he SAW the angel, fear fell upon him. Just merely seeing the angel caused Zacharias to fear. Then, after being told his wife would bear a son, he showed disbelief by asking for a sign (whereby shall I know this?) Fear is the direct opposite of faith. Zacharias had fear when he SAW the angel. We are taught throughout the scriptures that signs follow those who believe. Faith does not come by signs. (see D&C 63:9) Zacharias again lacked faith by asking for a sign. Again, I have to ask myself, do I have enough faith to accept and not ask for a sign?
Luke says that the angel told Mary that she was highly favored of the Lord. I find it interesting that Luke says that when Mary saw the angel she was trouble by WHAT he said. He did not saw that she was trouble by seeing the angel; she was trouble when he said that she was highly favored of the Lord. (Interesting side note here - this is the exact thing Noah (aka Angel Gabriel) was told as well - see Genesis 6:8 or Moses 8:27.) Mary's humility is obviously showing here. How many times are we asked to do things that are a bit overwelming? I know that I have been lots of times. However, I love Mary's response in verse 38 - "be it unto me according to thy word." Notice the submissive obedience. To me there is a big difference between saying "I'm too _________ (fill in the blank with all the things we hear). There are plenty of people who can do this better than I" versus saying "Heavenly Father, this is a mighty big task you are asking of me. However, I am willing to give it my best and I know that you will make up the difference." Again, do I really believe verse 37 when it says that "with God nothing [is] impossible"? In their culture, being pregnant before marriage could bring a sentence of death. Even with that possibility and the humiliation this would cause her family, Mary still chose to be obedient. It is not too difficult to be obedient during the easy times. However, am I obedient even when things are hard?
PART 2
Joseph - how can I even put into words what I am feeling about this man after my study? I gained a love and respect for Mary years ago. I think it is easy for we women to relate to her. However, this time studying my heart just swelled with love and respect for Joseph. I love how Matthew describes him as a "just" man. I looked up the GR definition for just - "a man of character". I know that describes exactly what I desire for my daughter to marry. I hope my sons grow up to be men of character. What a perfect match for Mary.
Imagine Joseph's struggle. He was not given his witness until after a trial of his faith. Seems like that happens to most of us most of the time. He obviously had great feelings for Mary as is evidenced by his wanting to keep things private and "not being willing to make her a public example." However, Joseph was also a God-fearing man and did not want to offend God by marrying Mary if she was not a virgin. Can't you feel the internal struggle he had? It makes you wonder how long the Lord allowed him to struggle before his answer was given. However, look at Joseph's response. He "awakened from his vision (JST)" and married Mary, as the angel had told him. He did not question, but went and did as the Lord asked him to. Oh, what I have to learn from that response. I believe I often question too much. Questioning is good; often that is how we learn. However, I need to learn to quit questioning when I receive my answer and just do!
John's response in the womb is definitely what I am striving for. Like John, we are out of the sight of our Father in Heaven and the Savior right now. However, John's spirit was so in tune that the Holy Ghost was able to bear witness to him of this truth without him seeing. It is my daily struggle to keep my spirit so in tune that I can recognize things from the Lord immediately in my life. I still have a long way to go on my journey, but it is the greatest desire of my heart that my soul will praise the Lord at all times.
Well, this is a bit longer than I thought it would be. Just a few of the thoughts I had as I looked over these chapters again this morning. I look forward to learning more from your sights as you study this week.
~Kim
P.S. An interesting fact I have written in the margin of my scriptures from when I taught this a couple of years ago - there are 42 generations between Abraham and Christ and 28 generations between David and Christ. (see Matt 1:17)
I was struck by the first four verses of Luke. It starts out "as a messenger of Christ" (boy the JST makes things so much better!)I absolutely love that phrase. Are we not messengers of Christ as well? It reminds me of D&C 18:15 where it talks about bringing souls to God. Being a messenger of Christ means being a member missionary. The JST also calls the book of Luke, the testimony of Luke which goes along perfectly with the whole missionary beginning.
Luke then goes on to say how he wrote this not for his benefit because he already believed but for our benefit. So "That thou mightest aknow the certainty of those things" I love how he used the word certainty, he wanted to make sure that we know without a doubt in our minds that it is true. What an awesome missionary!
I have a few other thoughts rolling around but I will have to post them later!
~Tricia
I was reading this month's Ensign (Jan 2007) while I was waiting for my boys to come out of practice tonight. Elder Scott's article in there, taken from the address he gave at BYU's commencement in April 2004, I believe, is an excellent talk. While it is not directly related, I did think of our discussion here as I read it. He talks about how we become people of character (reminded me of Joseph being described as a 'just' man and how the greek meaning of the word just is character). He also talks about the two different types of decisions, which reminded me of the choices I talked about when I posted earlier. Excellent article - I would highly recommend it if you have not read it already.
~Kim
Thanks, Kim for the article. Here are the links:
To READ:
http://tinyurl.com/y7kg35
To LISTEN:
Okay, I can't find the EXACT talk in MP3 format - but he gave two talks within a couple of months of this one and they contain similar information. You can choose one (or both!):
To Live Well Amid Worldly Decay
BYU-Idaho Devotional (2/24/2004)
http://byubmp3.byu.edu/byuidevos/scott022404.mp3
AND/OR
How to Live Well Amid Increasing Evil
Conference Report (4/4/2004)
http://broadcast.lds.org/genconf/2004/apr/5/5_6english.mp3
I'm definitely going to listen tomorrow while I work.
Audio Links
Luke, Chapter 1:
http://www.lds.org/ref/scriptures/nt/luke/1.asx
Matthew, Chapter 1:
http://www.lds.org/ref/scriptures/nt/matt/1.asx
Enjoy!!! Thanks, ladies!!!!!
This lesson always makes me think about Mary and what it means to be "highly favored." How many of us are highly favored? We may not feel like we are if our lives are hard, but think about Nephi. He was highly favored and saw many afflictions in the course of his days. We may think if we are highly favored God should pave our way with ease. Maybe those most highly favored have very difficult trials.
Back to Mary....she was a simple teenager with an arranged marriage to her cousin. In her mind she would probably get married, have a few kids, Joseph would be a carpenter, and she'd die and no one would remember her. It would be as if she never even lived. NOT TO BE. She was highly favored of God - the most spiritually talented capable daughter in the preexistance. When she comes back from seeing Elizabeth it is obvious she's pregnant. No more angels tellling her "Hang in there Mary, it will be OK." Just a disgruntled Joseph and a small town of gossipers. What could she say? "Let me tell you about this overshadowing thing...." Nevermind...they wouldn't believe it anyway. She was just Mary the pregnant woman in a small town of people who couldn't understand. 3 days before birth she rode over 100 miles on a donkey. (Ladies - how about that) God didn't know there would be a census? He couldn't even arrange a room at the inn? Everyone else had a room, but not the one who was highly favored. She gave birth in the most unsanitary of conditions that looks so picture perfect as it is portrayed today. Then the angel tells them to go to Egypt. 150 miles on a donkey with a newborn. Joseph doesn't have a job. They don't speak the language. They have no family or friends. They come back to Bethlehem and Mary gets the awful news that every woman there lost her son when Herod had them killed. They don't know why, but she knows it was her son they were after and she has to live with that thought for the rest of her life. Dozens and dozens of women were deprived of their sons in the worst way imaginable because of her and her son. They moved back to Nazareth. We see her losing Jesus when he was at the temple. (Have you ever lost a child for a minute in the grocery store?) Later we will see her in front of the cross watching her son die the cruelest death imaginable. ANY of these experiences could scar you for life. These are the kinds of things people never fully recover from.
Now for the important part---in Acts 1:14 we see Mary in the room with the Apostles being taught by her resurrected son, and we could ask her at this point, "Mary, was it worth it?" Was it worth it? I'm sure she would do it again and again....I really believe that we will all have a time, no matter how hard things are here, when we kneel at the feet of the resurrected Savior and he will ask us, was it worth it? And we know it will be then, and so it is now! If things are really hard for us here maybe it's because we are "highly favored." We are in good company!
nylifecoach
What an incredibly beautiful post. Thank you.
You all amaze me. I do see Mary & Eve and other great women from history in the "eyes" of those on this MB.
I was reminded of the wonderful talk by Sheri Dew, "Knowing Who You Are - And Who You Have Always Been."
Read it here:
http://ce.byu.edu/cw/womensconference/archive/2001/dew_sheri.html
Listen here:
http://byubmp3.byu.edu/wconf01/sdew.mp3
that nylifecoach lady needs to post more often, doncha think? I agree, gorgeous. So important to liken the scriptures unto ourselves. Gives me chills.
egillespie
Okay, Whit. Here is a start:
18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
Old. It’s truly all in your head! Honestly, this is huge for me because I find myself wondering, as nylifecoach alludes, what is left, what can I still accomplish, what is my mission from here on out? Or do I do as Satan would advise, decide I am old, and hang out in my rocking chair thinking about my aches and pains?
If we are to set the faith of Zacharias next to the faith of Mary and try to look at it--(Kim! I appreciated your thoughts on this. I would have loved to have been in your class!)
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God
A question comes up. Why did Zacharias get chastised for his lack of faith while Mary did not. To Zacharias:
20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
We can not truly tell, but I do notice that Mary didn’t say, how shall I “KNOW” this, (she already knew it), but only inquired as to HOW it would be done.
And another thought concerns how Jesus was conceived...
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the bSon of God.
I had a religion teacher at Ricks, (yup, I’m old too), who taught that Christ was conceived in “the natural” way...that His conception validated the sacredness of human intercourse.... I have since read differing opinions. I am okay either way...but today as I read this I noticed what the angel did NOT say. He didn’t say that the Highest shall “come in unto thee” as is the language in other verses dealing with conception, but that that POWER of the Highest shall overshadow thee.
Either way I feel a great reverence for this incredible validation of Heavenly Father’s love for us and for His respect of womanhood and the process of pregnancy, labor, and delivery. He is God! and could have accomplished this many different ways. He could have done a “poof” and planted the newborn baby in Mary’s arms, He could have had the Savior born to an earthly man and a Heavenly Mother...I hesitate to go into all the things that could have happened and I am not qualified to delve. But may I say that the beauty of this account, for me, is in its simplicity. I feel quite sure that the laws of nature were followed by Him who created all things.
For example, that natural birth process, being immersed in amniotic fluid (water) and then being born are analogous to entrance into the kingdom of God here on earth, or baptism...
Thinking about the humble circumstances in which He was born, I think He may have chosen exactly them! I wonder then, how He feels about the materialism that has become the hallmark of Christmas celebrations today.
In spite of all these wonderful aspects of His birth, the fact is that He was born; using the same birth process that all of humanity uses...It is His death that is so very different, along with the fact that He was resurrected. But I guess I should save that for an Easter post.
I didn't get very far into the assignment yet...I seem to have a problem ever finishing the scriptures.
Elaine
Thank you SO MUCH, Whit, for starting these lessons! I loved listening to the addresses you linked last week. And what a blessing it is to be able to come here today and read everything that has been posted here!
Tricia, I have to say that I've always just breezed right through those opening verses in Luke with hardly a second thought. I loved your insights there!
Kim, WOW! I'm so glad you're here and that you took the time to post what you did. It was so beautiful that it brought tears to my eyes as you went from one profound concept to the next profound concept. I loved what you said about Mary's obedience and attitude (and everything else you said!)
NY--Elaine is right!!! You DO need to post here more!!! Again, I couldn't stop crying when reading what you wrote. It was SO gorgeous (good word, Elaine!) and to the point. I immediately copied what you wrote and put it in a word file so I can keep it forever. "Highly favored" doesn't mean things will be a walk in the park.
Elaine -- where should I start? I loved your thoughts on Heavenly Father's reverence for womanhood. I don't think I've ever thought about that in this way. Have I ever told you how much I love and admire your depth, sincerity and intensity? I'm SO glad you're here and that you share things with us often. I don't always comment because it's really busy here sometimes, but I always appreciate it.
XO,
Vickie
Elaine, you are right about nylifecoach... nylifecoach - Your beautiful words about Mary were like poetry to me. They brought tears to my eyes. Thank you.
Elaine - I enjoyed (as always) your remarks and they took me back to the scripture in Moses, chapter 6. I learned SO much about the symbolism of birth and our salvation (through baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost and the atonement - see verses 59-62: http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moses/6/59-62#59 ) and I REALLY appreciate your bringing this symbolism back to the birth of our Savior for me. You are RIGHT. That birth is symbolic as well as literal. Again, He is our example. Beautiful!
Kim - I have been asking myself often now, "Does my soul praise the Lord?" And in reading the footnotes it refers to Samuel, when Hannah says, "My heart rejoiceth in the Lord." I do feel that my heart rejoiceth in the Lord!!
And as part of that praising - didn't you find it interesting that the footnotes refer to the TG for SINGING???? When Mary gave her beautiful speech (that the title of this lesson is from "My soul doth magnify the Lord") the footnotes take us to singing... Hmmm...
As far as the "begats" are concerned, I mentioned previously that I have a newfound love of them. Doing the math had become a passtime of mine - until my brother came over a few days ago. He brought _Lectures on Faith_ which I'm embarrassed to admit I have never read. There is a whole section on the begats in the second lecture and it is really cool. It still amazes me that Adam taught Enoch - seven generations later!! The reason I don't have to count anymore is it's all laid out in the lecture....
You also put me onto what sort of became the theme of my week - faith. Some of these points you and others here have already touched on, but as I read the account, these were my thoughts...
With faith as the background for the three accounts of visitations...
First, we have Zacharias. Poor Zacharias... he was obviously a religious man and a good man. But he just didn't have unwaivering faith. He just didn't BELIEVE that what Heavenly Father said, he could/would(?) do.
Then we have Mary. Mary believed Heavenly Father could do what He said. But, I believe she questioned that she was up to the task. In my opinion, she lacked faith in herself. I think that's where the response, "Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God." came from... And once she was reassured, she responded so beautifully, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." It really does give me chills. I really want to be able to respond that way!
And then, Joseph. Like you, Kim, I REALLY love Joseph. I think his position would have been the most difficult. The thing he had to believe seems hard to me - at least without FAITH. And Joseph had it. Joseph had the vision and "then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife." Wow!
What great stories to illustrate faith - in our Father in Heaven and in ourselves. I want to be like Joseph and GO and DO.
And, of course (you knew this was coming) - this reminded me of the wonderful talk by Elder David E. Sorensen from conference a couple of years ago.
Read it here:
http://www.lds.org/conference/talk/display/0%2C5232%2C23-1-520-24%2C00.html
Listen to it here:
http://broadcast.lds.org/genconf/2005/apr/4/4_3_sorenson_000_apr2005.mp3
Thanks everyone for sharing. I look forward to reading more in the next couple of days before SS. :O)
Because of Chris Stewart (Great and Terrible), I think about the premortal life and the Council in Heaven all the time. I love that Mary says, "Be it unto me according to thy word." I read a quote by Elder Bruce R. McConkie where he points out, "Then Mary gave the answer that ranks, in submissive obedience and divine conformity, along with the one given by the Beloved and Chosen One in the councils of eternity. When he was chosen to be the Redeemer and to put into operation the terms and conditions of his Father's plan, he said: 'Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.'" Mary had to have been there in the Council in Heaven and heard Him speak these words. Maybe she already knew something of her earthly role as His mother and learned humble submission to Heavenly Father's will by following the example of her Son. And we know we also have a Heavenly Mother. I wonder did she help prepare Mary for the trials to come, for Jesus was her son, too? Just some things I've been pondering and wondering.
moosee
Beautiful thought moosee!!! I love the thought of Mother in Heaven helping with Mary's preparation - and that got me thinking about ancestors as well.
I am a big believer that our ancestors help us. I believe that this is one of the reasons family history is so important. I have had too many experiences NOT to think this is true. Mary, descended from King David, had an amazing heritage. Certainly those women from the other side of the veil sustained her in her role as Mother of God.
Thanks for this thought!!!
What always stands out to me is Zacharias. Or rather not so much him, but how even though he had a huge amount of faith, there were somethings he had trouble believing. I think that sometimes that there are somethings that I'd have difficulty accepting. Actually, I know that there are. I've been promised things and sometimes wonder if the reason I haven't seen them happen is because I doubted.
ctr2002
Hi to all! I am new to this so bear with me. I have been a member for some 40 yrs. and I still do not know how to study the scriptures. I can read them, but I do NOT know how to study them. I am grateful to be able to come to this site and read / listen to the thoughts, ideas suggestions from other sisters. One of my goals this year is to overcome this obstacle and weakness of mine.
In case some of you do not know about this I wish to share it with you. I have for several years also used Meridian Magazines articles as a means of helping me understand the lessons better. Also Ted Gibbons (LDSLiving) has an online lesson each week. I just recently discovered Gospellink.com. And one more resource that has been helpful to me is from BYUBroadcasting and the discussions on the New Testament each day that can be listened to and watched from the archives.
I don't think I have any original thoughts and have problems with thinking, pondering, symbolisms etc. but I will certainly be able to learn something. The posts that I have read from everyone have been wonderful to me and I am so appreciative of your knowledges and understandings. Perhaps I will be able to grow and be able to more readily have something worth contributing in the near future. I am so thankful for the sisterhood that we share and for this study group that I can participate in.
Call me Sis "Tooty"
Oooooopppppsss! Sorry that I forgot to mention one more thing in my last post. I am so thankful that I went to see the movie "The Nativty Story". I went before Christmas and the spirit of what I saw lingered with me throughout the whole Christmas Season.
Sis Tooty
No time, no time - but I wanted to pop in and say ctr... don't feel like you HAVE to make a lot of comments, just know that your comments are appreciated when you make them!!!! I am married to the strong silent type and I know that the old saying "still waters run deep" is very true. I loved your insight into Zacharias!
Sis Tooty (I LOVE tooty in Meet me in St. Louis!!)... You gave some GREAT resources. I can't wait to add them to next week's study list o' links!! And, YES - WELCOME!!
Still haven't seen The Nativity....
Well, I'd better go finish being productive. Miles to go before I sleep and all that...
I want to thank each of you for the insights you have posted on the SS lesson for this week. I don't go to church until Sunday afternoon so I often study the lesson on Saturday night or Sunday morning. I did the reading and wrote down my thoughts then came to the MB to see what others had said. Everything that was on my list was talked about. I so enjoy studying this way and like the rest of you, appreciate Whit's work to make this happen.
lorig
I wasnt able to study like I wanted too. I am like sis Tooty and dont really know how to study the scriputers very well. But this thread has been wonderful for me. I have just LOVED reading what everyone has posted.
I guess I have one thought. I have been thinking about this for a few weeks. And with all this studying we have been doing about Mary I guess I will share my (last minute) comment. Its about how the Lord tells MAry she is highly favored of the Lord. Emma Smith was called an Ellect Lady. These women are so wonderful and I thought about how HEavenly Father must have welcomed them with open arms when they met on the other side. I thought about myself.
How will Heavenly Fahter welcome me? Will He welcome me the same way? I have made some really STUPID mistakes in my life. I have repented from them and I know that our sins will be no more.
Just a quick side note here. Back in college we had a sacrament meeting about sin. Our bishop ripped a piece of paper in half. Said it was like sin. He said that with the Atonement it can be restored whole. So the paper will look like it was never ripped. He then showed us a whole piece of paper that had no rip in it. Did that make any sense at all?
So back to what I was thinking about with my returning to HF some day. Will He welcome me like Mary or Emma or Eve or any of these great ladies and make me feel like I never sinned and that I am favored of the Lord or will He tell me something like I remember what you did when you were in your 20's. This sould have been a no brainer right.....well I had to think about it a litte while before I went duh.
Of course my most dear Father in Heaven will take me into His safe arms and hold me and tell me that He is so proud of me and that He loves me. There will be no mention of my mistakes on this earth. What a grand thought that is to me.
We are so blessed to have such a wonderful Father in Heaven and to KNOW that He loves us. He loves ME. Little tiny me that lives in a little town that doesnt do much to make myself known. He knows me. He knows my trials and my efforts. I am just so filled with a sweet spirit right now. I love this feeling. I have needed this feeling too.
Lots of love......
Huri
Huri--
I felt such a sweet spirit just reading this. We've ALL done some really stupid things of one kind or another. I cringe with regret when I look back on some of mine. But because of the atonement and the gift of repentance, He will indeed "will take us into His safe arms and hold us and tell us that He is so proud of us and that He loves us" as you so beautifully said.
We all deal with different things. But we are ALL in need of our Savior in order to make it through. Thank goodness He is there!
Thank you for making my Sabbath beautiful today by posting this!
Lots of love,
Vickie
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