The story of Christ’s birth was foretold by ancient prophets then later documented in the gospels. Since then, it has been retold in story books throughout history; the details have been analyzed, debated, and scrutinized generation after generation.
Today, this tale of old continues to be shared around the world in front of home hearths, school Christmas pageants, and church congregations.
When I visited the Holy Land earlier this spring, I was especially impressed with the churches that commemorated Mary, the young mother of Christ. In Jerusalem, we visited Dormition Abbey, the burial place of Mary. Then we visited her hometown of Nazareth where she was betrothed as a young woman to the carpenter, Joseph. In Nazareth, the Basilica of the Annunciation is an awe-inspiring church built to commemorate one of the most sacred and powerful events in history.
Visitors are required to dress modestly and to view the church in relative silence. Amid the tourists milling about the church, one can imagine another time in an ancient setting—a dusty village perched at the top of a hill, with only a few dozen houses situated around a common courtyard. The wind still blows frequently. The days are warm, and the nights are cool. In Mary’s era, the town of Nazareth was a quiet place, tucked away from the busy commerce of the other towns throughout Galilee.
Like other towns throughout ancient Israel, Nazareth was steeped in religious tradition and followed the Mosaic law to the letter. The legal age for a woman to become betrothed was 12 and ½ years of age. Mary was already betrothed to Joseph when Angel Gabriel paid her a visit. She might have been as young as 12 ½ or a year or two older. Regardless, this presents the view of a young woman, innocent and pure, whose life was about to completely change.
The betrothal period typically lasted one year and was as binding as a marriage. If the groom should die during the betrothal period, the bride was considered a widow. Also, any discretion on the part of the betrothed individual would be punishable according to the strict marriage laws.
We might imagine the excitement a young woman had in those days of planning her marriage festivities. The families knew the wedding date well in advance, and each of the matriarchs had plenty to do in order to produce the week-long celebration that would culminate in the wedding ceremony and feast.
But the Lord had other plans. Mary was the Chosen Mother of Israel, chosen from the beginning of time; and in her innocence and purity, she was selected to bring forth God’s only begotten Son. The events that were about to transpire had been foretold for centuries. In fact, Nephi saw young Mary in a vision 600 years before Christ’s birth. “In the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white” (1 Ne. 11:13). How did Nephi know Mary was a virgin? A few verses later, the angel calls her as such, but Mary may have been wearing the veil of a virgin or the double sash, plainly indicating her status to Nephi (See Mary and Elisabeth by S. Kent Brown, 13).
Before Nephi saw Mary “bearing a child in her arms” (1 Nephi 11:20), he saw her standing alone, as a woman and a daughter of God. First and foremost, Mary appeared as a beloved and divine daughter of God.
Part of a young woman’s preparation for marriage and motherhood not only included homemaking skills, but an appreciation for the Sabbath day and its rules. Mary wouldn’t have been able to read or write, but she would have been taught about God and His commandments. Mary’s personal relationship with God was made manifest when she responded to Angel Gabriel, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38).
While standing in the courtyard that surrounds the Basilica of the Annunciation, I studied the dozens of Mosaic frescoes that decorate the courtyard wall. Sent from countries all over the world, the frescoes depict unique and beautiful representations of the Madonna and Child. It was amazing to think of all the countries, all the peoples, and all the religious sects who came together in one mind in recognition of such a sacred event. Scholar S. Kent Brown said, “The angel Gabriel’s annunciation to Mary of the coming birth of her Son is one of the most revered events in Christian history. Music, art, architecture, and literature all celebrate this moment” (Mary and Elisabeth, 43).
A moment that had been prophesied of for thousands of years. Interestingly enough, there are four prophecies about Mary in the Book of Mormon and only one in the Bible. In fact, two prophets in the Book of Mormon referred to Mary by name: King Benjamin (Mosiah 3:8) and Alma the Younger (Alma 7:10).
It is astounding to realize that Mary’s name was revealed by God before her birth. She was the first and only woman to have her name foretold. Therefore, she joins a small selection of those whose names were also foretold: “Noah, Moses, Aaron, John the Baptist, Joseph Smith, and . . . Jesus Christ,” (Mary and Elisabeth, 15–16).
Soon after the angel visited Mary, she undertook a journey to visit her cousin, Elisabeth. The journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem would have taken several days of travel, and we can only imagine the turmoil that might have occupied young Mary’s mind. She was the first earthly witness to receive sure knowledge of the Savior’s impending arrival.
Mary need not have feared, because her cousin, Elisabeth, would become the second witness of the Savior. Miraculously with child herself, Elisabeth opened her door to her young, unmarried, pregnant cousin, only to experience her own personal revelation as she “was filled with the Holy Ghost” (Luke 1:41) and proclaimed Mary “the mother of my Lord” (Luke 1:43).
Elisabeth, another divine daughter of God, became the second woman and the second witness to the Savior’s arrival.
As we ponder on the divine nature of Mary, Mother of Christ, we can find comfort in President Gordon B. Hinckley’s words about our own divine natures: “Of all the creations of the Almighty, there is none more beautiful, none more inspiring than a lovely daughter of God who walks in virtue with an understanding of why she should do so, who honors and respects her body as a thing sacred and divine, who cultivates her mind and constantly enlarges the horizon of her understanding, who nurtures her spirit with everlasting truth” (“Our Responsibility to Our Young Women,” Ensign, Sept. 1988, 11).
By Heather B. Moore, author of Alma the Younger and Women of the Book of Mormon
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