We can learn from Mary. (Matthew 1, Luke 1)

Matthew

1:19-20, 25

Joseph, Mary's husband, was a good man. "Joseph her husband, being a just man..." I've often put myself in his shoes. Imagine being engaged and your spouse becomes pregnant. It would have been expected for him to be embarrassed and angry. Before any angel appeared to him, he was "not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily." He didn't succumb to any desire for revenge - which would be typical.

The next event is interesting. "But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost." So Joseph was thinking on "these things" and suddenly dreamed a dream. It sounds like he wasn't asleep but had a vision. I'm glad if it wasn't just a dream while asleep. Based on my dreams, I couldn't put too much weight on what I saw or heard. Last night, I was chased by a gang. I'm pretty sure it didn't mean anything....

Another thought about Joseph. "And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus." He must have married her soon after his vision, but did not consummate the marriage until after Jesus was born. Certainly this was out of respect. Joseph was not a typical man.

1:22-23

"Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." It's interesting to note that Matthew is quoting Isaiah. It's one more example of seeing how important it is for us to know the words of Isaiah.

Emmanuel is a perfect name for Jesus. In that name, we understand that the creator of the universe is willing to be born in the humblest circumstances. He is not above going through the daily challenges of life. He was sore and tired and hurt. He experienced hunger and pain and anxiety. He felt perfect empathy for us because he shares this mortal experience.

He's our advocate and brother. He is on our side. In every way, he is with us.

Luke

1:6

"And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless." What made them righteous? Walking in the COMMANDMENTS and ORDINANCES of the Lord. Why those two things?

I think the commandments are a list of things that we are commanded to do, or not do. Do's and don'ts. Very clear. No misunderstanding. These are the guard rails on the side of the road.

Ordinances are more nuanced to me. They aren't guard rails. They are more like mile-markers/milestones. Consider some ordinances: baptism, confirmation, ordination to the priesthood, temple endowment, sealing, blessing the sick. Consider how we participate in the ordinance of the sacrament weekly. From churchofjesuschrist.org, "While they are not essential to our salvation, they are important for our comfort, guidance, and encouragement. Ordinances and covenants help us remember who we are. They remind us of our duty to God. The Lord has provided them to help us come unto Him and receive eternal life. When we honor them, He strengthens us."

In the days of Zacharias and Elizabeth, ordinances were very sacred yet frequent. Much of their worship involved ordinances.

If they spent their time preparing for, participating in and being worthy of the ordinances they performed, they would definitely steer clear of the guardrails but would stay precisely in the center of the road. They wouldn't be bouncing up against the commandments. Instead, they would be striving to live in a higher and holier way.

For me, the temple helps me do this. Rather than focusing on the commandments, I am focusing on spiritual growth. I am focused on learning and being more worthy to participate in what happens in the temple. I am drawn to family history and have an increased desire to serve and help others - especially in ways that they cannot do for themselves - like salvation for the dead.

The sacrament is the primary ordinance for keeping my life on course. During the sacrament, it's a good opportunity to review how I have lived the past week and make commitments to live better.

1:13

Zacharias was promised that his wife would bear a son. "But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John." Was Zacharias currently praying that his aged wife would be pregnant? Or, was the Lord finally answering a prayer given decades earlier? I think it's likely the latter - but let's consider both.

1. Zacharias praying that his post-menopausal wife would get pregnant. If this is the case, it's a good example of praying for those things that we desire - even if they seem impossible. We should have faith that the Lord can answer our prayer regardless of how our mind considers something impossible. It's a great example of unbounded faith.

2. The Lord answering a decades old prayer. This would be a great example of the Lord answering prayers in his time - not ours. It's a good example of having faith that the Lord does hear and answer prayers - even if it doesn't appear evident that he is. We should have faith that we are never ignored. The result of our prayers may not happen when or how we want, but he ALWAYS hears us.

The good news is that our Heavenly Father hears us.

1:15-17

There are several attributes, predictions for John that are outlined here:

• "He shall be great in the sight of the Lord." BTW, this is the only way to be great that actually matters. Being great in the eyes of the public is eternally meaningless.

• "Shall drink neither wine or strong drink." This is interesting.

• "He shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb." It sounds like that would accelerate his progress in childhood. Children now receive the gift of the Holy Ghost at eight years old. This also challenges the idea that life only begins when the newborn takes his or her first breath.

• "Many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God." This is significant. Many, at the time, would believe that the children of Israel were already turned towards the Lord. Apparently not.

• "He shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just." To turn the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous is hard. It means that the disobedient will need to be humble and acknowledge that what they were doing was wrong. Having said that, those who have been disobedient and have turned have a degree of wisdom that is hard for an always-righteous person to acquire. Repentant people can empathize more with disobedient people who need to repent. They've 'been there.'

• "To make ready a people prepared for the Lord." Current mindset is critical. If someone doesn't have the mindset to hear and understand truth, it will go right over his or her head. This is true for all of us. If I'm in the midst of a temporal storm, I'm not really in the mindset to learn. For example, if I am very busy and stressed and turn on conference, I may not get much out of it. If I take the time to get spiritually prepared and get in the right mindset, I can learn and feel promptings of the Spirit. I believe that John served a vital role of getting folks ready to hear from the Lord.

1:18-20

Zacharias didn't believe immediately EVEN THOUGH IT WAS AN ANGEL TELLING HIM. "And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. 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." I'd like to think that I would immediately believe anything an angel tells me - but maybe I would question also.

The consequences seemed harsh. There must have been a purpose in striking Zacharias dumb. I think it was a strong lesson about faith in God - that he can do all things. We can never put limits on what is possible. God's ways are not our ways. Some things may not make sense to us, miracle or not, and we must realize that our puny mortal brains can't comprehend how the Lord works.

For example, Lazarus should not have come back to life if he was dead for days. Decomposition would already have permanently changed his body. However, with God, nothing is impossible.

I would imagine that Zacharias never questioned the Lord or an angel ever again.

1:34-38

Gabriel met Mary and explained that she would give birth to a son, that he would be called Jesus and that he would be called the Son of the Highest.

Mary's response to the angel was, "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" It sounds kinda similar to how Zacharias responded. Instead of a curse, she received an explanation. I personally believe that she wasn't questioning the possibility of it happening - she was curious about how it would happen. I don't think it was evidence of a lack of faith.

The explanation she received was, "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."

She receives a final reminder, instruction, declaration: "For with God nothing shall be impossible." What can we do to nurture this kind of faith in our lives?

Mary's response to this was simple and clear. "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." She simply presented herself. She was willing to do whatever God willed. She had plans. She was engaged. She had family and friends who were excited for her and looking forward to the wedding. She had dreams for her life. All of that changed in an instant when this angel appeared to her. She gave it all up in this single conversation. God's plans became her plans. We should all strive to become like Mary. What are we willing to give up to follow the Lord?

1:46

"And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord." What does it mean to magnify the Lord? Magnify is an interesting word. How can my soul magnify the Lord. Obviously, I cannot make the Lord any greater. I cannot add power to someone who has infinite power.

However, I can amplify his works. Whenever I serve, or share, or teach, bless others, I am magnifying his teachings and deeds. I am like a mirror that is reflecting is light in different directions. My good deeds are not a testament to me - but of Christ. He retains the glory of my discipleship. I am his servant and, with millions of us, his work is magnified.

1:48-49, 51-53

Mary is humble. Consider how this whole thing would be an opportunity to be prideful. Of all women, Mary was chosen to be the mother of the Son of God! She could be feeling pretty good about herself. She might believe that she is the greatest mortal who has ever lived - considering her role.

However, she remains humble. "For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed." She sees herself of low estate. She is obviously marveling at why she was chosen.

"For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name." She is giving credit to God. She is just a woman. What makes her special is what God is doing with her. God, not her, is the hero of her story. We should all be this way. Whatever success we have achieved, the glory should go to God.

Mary understands the importance of being humble and NOT being proud. "He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away." Sometime in her life, she was thoroughly taught the importance of being humble. When the time came that she may be tempted to be prideful, that instruction acted as a protective shield around her. She resisted the temptation to be proud.

Notice how many times she talks about the Lord and uses the pronouns HE instead of I. She doesn't talk about herself. She talks about the Lord. It is an example of how we should give glory to God when we are chosen.

It is an important note to think about Mary's religious and political importance at the time of this angelic visit. She didn't have any. She was no one from a backwater town. No religious leader was even aware of her I am sure. However, God knew her very well. God was aware of her spiritual status even though not many others knew her name.

Because she was likely so young when she was 'called,' she didn't have much life experience. This makes me tend to think that God was considering her pre-mortal strengths and achievements. Clearly, she had earned this assignment prior to even coming to earth. It makes you think about how he knows us much better than we know ourselves.

1:63-64, 72-73, 74-75

Zacharias was made dumb when he questioned the angel after he was told what his son would do and that his name would be John. It wasn't until the final part of the prophesy happened that Zacharias tongue was loosed. "And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God."

It's an example of God's word being fulfilled to the smallest degree. Zacharias' tongue wasn't loosed when most of the prophetic events happened. It happened immediately following the final event. God is exact.

Zacharias understandably refers to God keeping his word as he preached to the group assembled. He said that the Lord would "perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he sware to our father Abraham." Relying on the Lord is essential for all of us to act in faith. There can't be a question whether God is going to fulfill his end of the bargain.

"That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life." This makes sense that some of the first words out of Zacharias' mouth were those of God fulfilling his promises. Exactly what God had said transpired for Zacharias - both the blessing of a child and the curse of being stricken dumb.

1:76-79

With this testimony Zacharias knew that John would be everything that Gabriel said he would be. The angel had prophesied that "For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Zacharias had 9+ months to think about what the angel had said. He definitely had a testimony of God's word. He said, "And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." We can always bet our lives on God's word. Zacharias learned this in a very pointed manner. For us, whether it's an angel or a scripture delivering the word of God, we can have complete faith that everything we read will be fulfilled.

It is interesting that Zacharias appears to understand the real purpose of John's and Christ's mission even though many contemporaries believed that Christ would be a military and political leader. "...to give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins." Salvation wasn't coming from political liberation.

I think to be struck dumb would be a blessing in a lot of ways. The focus wouldn't be to communicate to others your own thoughts and perspectives. It would be to listen and take in. I imagine it would be a time of self-reflection and introspection. It would be a thoughtful time. There are blessings attached to not being able to speak. I should try it.