Mary the Mother of Jesus

http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-10-027-mary-the-mother-of-jesus?category=topics/christmas

This is from, Bible videos.  It shows snippets of Mary's life, and her relationship with Jesus.  I like to think of Mary through the eyes of Nephi, and the vision he saw of her 600 years before the birth of Jesus.

13 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the great city of Jerusalem, and also other cities. And I beheld the city of Nazareth; and in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white.
14 And it came to pass that I saw the heavens open; and an angel came down and stood before me; and he said unto me: Nephi, what beholdest thou?

 15 And I said unto him: A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins.

 16 And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God?

 17 And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.

 18 And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh.

 19 And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the Spirit for the space of a time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look!

 20 And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.

 21 And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!
I love those verses, and the image it paints of Mary, with the Lamb of God in her arms.

Nephi's Psalm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CcvtoZ6Ra0


"I Love the Lord" John S. Tanner
I love the Lord. In him my soul delights.
Upon his word, I ponder day and night.
He's heard my cry, brought visions to my sleep,
And kept me safe o'er deserts and the deep.
He's filled my heart with his consuming love,
And borne me high on wings of his great dove.
Yet oft I groan,"O wretched man am I!"
My flesh is weak and I'm encompassed by
A world of sin, which holds me in its thrall,
If I give in and to temptations fall.
Then strength grows slack, I waste in sorrow's vale.
My peace destroyed, my enemies prevail.
Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin.
Rejoice, my heart! And let me praise again
The Lord my God, who is my rock and stay
To keep me strict upon his straight, plain way.
O let me shake at the first sight of sin
And thus escape my foes without and in.
 I love the Lord. In him my soul delights.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r3_mhDvFEc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jaod4mqf1FY

Three links dealing with Nephi's Psalm.   The first is a song sung by BYU Men's Choir, the second a reading of the psalm, and the third is linked to a verbal essay on the psalm.  Nephi's Psalm is found in 2 Nephi 4 15-35.  In this psalm, Nephi bares his soul.  It is so interesting to ovserve that Nephi was aware of his own failings and his own sins.  17) " O wretched man that I am."  But he responds with such faith.  19) "I know in whom I have put my trust."  And then Nephi takes five verses to list his blessings from the Lord:  (20-25) 

 20 My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.

21 He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh. 

 22 He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me.

 23 Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night-time.

 24 And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.

 25 And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.

His admonition to himself, is also a call to us.  "Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul."  Awake and rejoice, this is a call to all of us.  Nephi finishes his psalm with a prayer, in which he commits to continue putting his trust in God and not the arms of men.  

It is my prayer that I can away, and do better, and rejoice in the redemption of God's grace.