Savior of the World Act 1 Scene 2.4

This scene is Mary at Elizabeths home....it is purely fictional, much of the play is, but I always find great truths hidden, especially in the music. But in this scene it is definately in the words.

Mary is embroidering swaddling bands for the baby Jesus....( I recently learned that in Jewish custom it is considered bad luck to plan for what sex the baby might be...even though Mary knew it was a boy...it would have been considered inappropriate for her to make anything but swaddling clothes for the baby until it arrived.)

Mary is struggling with the stiches. She says, "It would be easier if I only had to worry about one side, and not about all the threads on the other." (she is talking her about the front side and the back side of the bands)

Elizabeth replies. "First in your marriage, and then in your home, nothing can be hidden. We must try to make everything beautiful front and back, inside and out."

In the scene Elizabeth is implying to Mary that she needs to be honest with Joseph, but there is great application in these simple words.

Wouldn't it be great if we only had to clean up our yards...mow the lawn, trim the grass, keep it weed free and liter free and then everyone would know that we had the perfect house. Even though the inside could be cluttered, destoryed, filthy. We could assume that since what the world "sees" is in order that what is within is in order.

How about the woman who exercises, eats very little, has plastic surgery, designer clothes, and perfectly weaved hair. Inside she could be depressed, lonely, angry, controlling, frightening. We could assume that since what she shows the world is in order that what is within her soul is in order.

How about a book. Nice cover, hardbound, enticing pictures of action and adventure, on the best seller list. Inside it is riddled with swearing, magic, anti-God theme's, anger towards families, or socialist agenda's. We could assume that since the cover shows the world that this is a great book that what is held in it's pages must be.

Okay, I think you get the point. But isn't this exactly what Elizabeth is saying to Mary. We cannot pretend that everything is great and good and perfect and neglect the inside, the hidden parts that are unseen. "We must TRY to make everything beautiful."

Since I have been studying about marriage lately I thought that this was a good reminder for a marriage. If we only worry about the front side and neglect the back side we are not doing our job. For example maybe a wife is really good about keeping the house clean and tidy and making sure all the meals are made, but she neglects her husband and children to do their own things. Maybe a wife is really good at making time for fun and games and lots of bonding time, but the house is in shambles and no one learns to be responsible for themselves. Maybe she is a great cook, but laundry never gets any attention. Maybe a wife is a concert pianist and spends hours of her time playing the piano while neglecting those who need her time and attention. Maybe a wife is a concientious mother who forget she is also a wife. I could go on and on and on....most of these are me btw :)...but I am not a concert pianist.

We must find balance. I hate it when people say that. Because today's balance looks different than tomorrow's balance. Today I may get to read a book for 5 hours. Tomorrow I may get to clean the house. The next day may be reserved for a bit of bondng and a bit of service and a bit of husband and wife time. Each day must find the right amount of balance. We must work on the back and the front; the inside and the out.

I think the most important thing that Elizabeth tells Mary is that nothing can be hidden. This is not an excuse to dump on your husband when he walks in the door so that nothing will be hidden. It just mean that the Lord sees all that we think and feel; and if what we are thinking and feeling and doing is not right before His eyes, or before our eyes then we need to turn to Him. We need to ask Him to help us make it beautiful. The Lord will magnify our weakness in stiching just as He will in temperment, in personality, in desire and in willingness. We can turn to Him to help our work become beautiful.

Elizabeth ends by saying to Mary, "You're ready (to tell Joseph) because you know you need the Lord." We are ready to be made beautiful, and to make beautiful things when we know that the Lord is the only way we can accomplish all the things we need to do in this life, and all the things we want to do.

Savior of the World Act 1 Scene 2.2

My little moo is too cute in this scene where she(Anna) and Mary discuss marriage. I think all big sisters should have these kinds of conversations with little sisters. Just like a little girl Anna is amazed by all the beautiful things surrounding a marriage...where you'll live, the big wedding party, the beautiful dress. And then Anna realizes that she will be loosing a sister, and Mary realizes this is the end of her growing up stage. A beautiful time shared with sisters.

These wonderings cause Mary to pray and then she has her beautiful conversation with Gabriel.

Mary sings a beautiful song called Look on Me This Day, where she ponders the things that have happened and the feelings in her heart. But admist all these emotions she only feels to Praise God's name from day to day, for always.

Okay, so here is my most controversial opinion so far, and it is just an opion. I have no scriptural basis to back it up, none at all.:

So I have been thinking about Mary. And from what I believe about Mary she was as pure and true and obedient and virtuous a lady that ever lived. THEN, (To the views of an outsider) She becomes pregnant while being unwed. I am sure that it brought her much comfort that she was pure and true and obedient and virtuous in the sight of God. But what persecution did she have to suffer, what looks came her direction, what gossip was spoken behind her back, what fears and sorrows did she carry in her heart because of this blessing and trial. How hard it would be to be Mary, to be judged, scolded, ridiculed by others who did not know, who did not understand. And yet...this woman who was the most pure, the most true, the most obedient, the most virtuous may have been treated just the opposite. She may have been treated as one who commited a great sin, she may have been looked down upon, she may have had to endure great social persecution. And yet I am sure she endured with all the attributes of a true daughter of God. Sometimes the Lord test our greatest strengths. Sometimes the strongest gifts from the Lord bring us the greatest trial.

I often think of those who suffer the greatest in service of the Lord also are some of the most pure and true and obedient and virtuous. I think of the pioneers. They loved the Lord, they were willing to sacrifice so much over and over and over again and yet they had their own refiners fire and it was not an easy one. So many suffered great thing. The Lord tested their greatest strengths to survive. As one man in the Willey and Martin Handcart company said, You'll never hear one of us complain. We would do it again to experience that closeness with God. (that was paraphrasing btw)

We were reading about Jacob today in the Old Testament, about when Laban came to him to ask him why he ran away, why he snuck out, why he "stole" his daughters. And Jacob's response is...I have never wronged you, why do you wrong me. Even though he was mistreated for 20 years by his father in law, he did not retaliate, he bore it with patience with all the attributes of a true son of God. We talked about how Jacob relied on the Lord to fill up his cup. He relied on the Lord to make up the difference of Laban's crafty and sneaky and deceptive ways. He did not turn against Laban, instead he turned to the Lord.

I think that sometimes I think...I'm righteous I won't have to go through THAT. Or I think that the Lord will bless me to not have to deal with THAT. Or I feel entitled to my anger and my resentment of others because obviously they were in the wrong. But even the very elect have to endure their trials ...Adam, Noah, Moses, Job, Joseph Smith, and the greatest of all; The Savior. The only perfect Son of God had the greatest trial of all to bear. He he bore it with ALL the attributes of a true Son of God. He said He would do the Lord's will. He said He would suffer. He said He would overcome the world.

It makes me consider, what trials do I have that are also blessings. When I am judged, scolded and ridiculed, when I am mistreated by those who should love and care for me what do I do. I can choose. I can choose to bare my trials with patience and with all the attribute of a daughter of God. I can choose to whom I will turn.

I am grateful to Mary for her courage and endurance of her trials. I cannot marvel enough at the woman she must have been. I cannot value highly enough her role in raising the Son of God.

Savior of the World Act 1 Scene 2.1

Mazel tov!

This is the betrothal of Mary and Joseph.

I love learning about Jewish culture. For example, in the play Joseph makes a pledge to Mary and hands her a cup. Her father explains that if she drinks then they have a covenant. If she puts the drink away then all is forgotten.

Things I love. It is done in public where everyone has gathered...Mary and her family, and even (in the play anyway) all her aunts and cousins, and Joseph's family. No "special date", no secret rendevous, nothing loud or flashy, just a girl choosing a boy.

I also love that she gets to choose. I know, I know...all girls get to choose, but I believe that this is a principle of God. She chooses because once she has chosen she gives herself to him. He chooses to love and support her and lead their family. She chooses to give herself to what he wants and desires. It is more than just a choice to take a ring and to be married. It is a choice to become a part of someone else.

After the ceremony their is no grand party there is WORK to do! I wonder how often in our culture we think of marriage as just one long party from engagement to wedding day....where is the work? where is the preparation? no wonder after the wedding day so many young people become disenchanted, all the excitement is over, no longer the center of attention, now it's all housework and jobs and schooling and work.

Right away Mary's family starts planning for the things she will need to run a house, and Joseph actually starts planning for the house. These things were required before one got married during this period of history. You were not ready until you had a home and all the things needed to run it. That takes a lot of work, but also a lot of preparation. Thinking, and planning and preparing and working to get yourself as well as a home ready for a new family. I wonder if anyone would get married if our standards were so strict....It's probably a good thing that they are not. But ideally, ideally we would prepare our children to be ready. I have a good friend who does this. Christmas time and birthday time are not about toys and gifts, they are about preparing...about preparing a girl or a boy to become a woman and a man. She gets kitchen gadgets and he gets tools, she makes a quits, he works outside building things with dad. They plan to be ready when the marriage time comes in their lives....they are only 10 and 8. How many of us waste time and resources on things of little value when we could be teaching a valuable lesson about planning and preparing.

We all sing a song about Rules and Building

"There are rules for joining of two timbers

First you find the surest, truest ground

Then you sink the footing where it always will stand,

And nothing under heav'n can bring it down

There are rules for joining of two people;

First betrothal known throughout the land

Then a year of raising high a good Hebrew house,

Then wrapping up the hands in swaddling bands..

Build a house for a prophet

Filled with law and truth

A house for a handmaid

Obedient as Ruth

Build it firm as a mountain

A house of faith and prayer

For the children

Israel's children

Ever pure and fair."

Building a marriage is like building a house. I'm not going to go into too much detail since I wrote a post a few days ago about this very thing about houses and homes. But I will say that I think this song is a beautiful description of what I should be building, Law, Truth, Obedience, Faith, Prayer. It reminds me of the scripture in D&C 88..A house of faith, a house of fasting, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order a house of God. There are some specific things that the Lord would like me to make sure and teach in my home. Am I teaching them? It is always good to be reminded of where you are going, and where you've been. I want to build little prophets and obedient handmaids in my home. That looks a little different than building little sports hero's and princesses.

I am grateful for the preparation that Mary and Joseph would have put into their home and marraige to be worthy to raise the Son of God. I am grateful for their obedience and courage and thoughts. I hope to become more like them someday.

Savior of the World Act 1 Scene 1.3

In this scene Joseph's uncle Micham comes to arrange the marriage between Mary and Joseph. As you can imagine it is an emotion filled scene...excitement, worry, nervousness.

I personally think arranged marriages are a great idea. Ofcourse that might be because I am a parent :). I might feel differently if I was 16.

During this scene I get to visit with Mary about her concerns to be married. I get to remind her that I was once betrothed and then I sing her a song.

"Ask God all your questions

Tell him all your fears

Thank Him for His mercy

And wait with open ears.

Listen as He answers

Hear the voice so still,

Let the Spirit's whipser

Teach how to do His will

Then go and do His will."

Beautiful words and Beautiful advice for any mother to give to her daughter, a daughter about to be married, or a daughter about to do something out of her comfort zone, or a daughter with a question.

This song reminds me of how to pray....we thank, we ask, we ponder, we wait, we tell the Lord the feelings of our heart, we ask for his help in finding the answers.

This song reminds me of how to feel and recognize the spirit....we listen, it is a still voice, a whisper. It teaches us. Then we must do what he tell us to do.

I believe I should take all of my questions to the Lord. He has all the answers, why would I take my questions anywhere else. What a treasure for a mother to teach to her daughter. That mother doesn't have the answers, that God has the answers. That sisters don't have the answers, that God has the answers. That friends don't have the answers, that God has the answers. And that when we listen, queitly-with a heart willing to hear and do, we receive His answers.

My two favorite lines that I get to perform are in this scene with Mary. I say, " I think it's good to wonder a litlle about yourself, if you will be true to the covenants you're going to make. But we need never wonder about the Lord.

It is good to wonder about ourselves....part of this is humility, part of it is the fact that none of us are perfect and will make mistakes so we should wonder it we are being and doing all that we should be becoming and doing. BUT we don't need to wonder about the Lord. And if we have received His words by asking our questions and by listening to His words then we don't need wonder. We can have His peace and His confidence.

My second favorite line is after I sing. We embrace and then Mary begins to leave and I say, "And Mary....I have never wondered about you." This makes me cry every time I say it. Because I think of my own daughter and how much a mother loves and trusts her daughter. Another beautiful thing for a mother to teach her daughter. And what a tribute to Mary. What an exceptional person Mary must have been to have her mother say...I have never wondered about you. I believe it was not just lip service. I believe that Mary must have been an exceptional woman to be chosen to be the mother of the Son of God. I believe of all women who have ever lived on earth Mary and Eve were exceptionally valiant and noble, and I believe Mary's mother did not worry about her making good decisions. I want to be that kind of a daughter of God.

Savior of the World Act 1 Segment 1.2

s

"Come Deliver Us

Come Deliver Us

He will come, in mightiness and power with watchmen on the tower, He will come deliver us

He will come, His sword aloft and blazing, resplendent and amazing, He will come deliver us"

These beautiful words are spoken in the second scene of Act 1. It takes place at the temple with Zacharias choosing the lot and seeing the angel Gabriel.

So....my pondering of this scene....What was the difference between Zacharias and Mary

...Angel appears...

Fear not

Thy wife shall bear a son

Thou shalt call his name John

He shall make ready a people prepared for the Lord

....Zacharias questioning....

Whereby shall I know this?

I am an old man

my wife well stricken in years

....Angel appears....

Fear not

Thou shalt conceive in the womb, a son

Thou shalt call his name Jesus

He shall reign over the house of Jaco forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end

....Mary's questioning...

How can this be?

Zacharias is struck dumb.

Mary is blessed with understanding and agrees.

I do not know Mary, I do not know Zacharias, Nor do I consider myself a scriptorian. But I have a few thoughts about why. I can be completely off base but my thoughts have helped me understand my own hearts and why questions.

As we know, the scriptures are meant to be "types" of Christ and every story in the scriptures is meant to teach us something about Him. Pretty ironic then that Gabriel says almost the exact thing to Zacharias as he does to Mary. So why the great punishment for Zacharias?....he just asked a question right?...and so did Mary.

What about this: Zacharias doubted.....not so profund I know, and yet...isn't it. The scriptures tell us that the angel condemed Zacharias not for asking a question but for doubting. How can this be? I am old and so is my wife. He does not believe the angel's words. He doubts even though he is standing, or kneeling before an angel.

So what about Mary? Can we be lead to believe that she did not doubt. Can we believe that she asked her question purely out of a desire to know how this was going to happen seeing as she was not married and was a virgin? I believe so. I believe that Mary heard the words, wondered at them and then asked a question, a question seeking for more information, not a question desiring to disbelieve. And then she closes with the beautiful words....Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy words. With understanding she now is ready to do God's will.

So lets look at the questions: whereby shall I know this?

AND how can this be?

my own rephrasing: how will I know that what you say is true?

AND how is this possible?

These two questions are entirely different questions....one is seeking for information, one is asking for a sign (poor man, he got one)

So, how does this apply to Me Myself and I. Well, for one thing I think I'll be pretty carefully how I word any questions that I might need to ask an angel :). But seriously, even in my prayers can I be more careful in the language that I use when talking to God. Can I be more faithful in tone and reverence and more obedient and thoughtful in the questions. I know I can. I truly believe that the Lord wants me to ask questions. He wants to me seek him. "Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you." He wants me to look and seek and ask. Questions aren't the problem. My heart is the problem. Am I doubting or faithful. Am I looking for a sign before I jump in with both feet, or am I seeking for more information to know if it is God's will.

I love Mary's example. What a blessed woman. (I'll talk more about Mary later)

Come deliver us

Come deliver us

I love this prayerful song. It is my favorite song in the whole play...and not just because those Male vocals are amazing opposite the women, but because I have this prayer in my heart. I need the Savior to Come....to come and deliver us...In mightiness and power, with watchment on the tower, His sword aloft and blazing, resplendent and amazing. He will come deliver us. I need Him to come and deliver me every day and I truly desire Him to come again and deliver the whole world with His power.

Savior of the World Act 1 Scene 1.1

A while ago I mentioned that I, moo and hub are all in a play.
The play is the Savior of the World.

For those who have not seen the play; it is a story of Jesus' birth and ressurection.
Hub is a shepherd, I am Mary's mother, and Moo is Anna, Mary's sister.

We started practicing back in May...yep May. The performance is in October...yep October. They asked us when we auditioned to make a commitment. A commitment that we would be at EVERY practice once a week for 2 hours May to October...okay, they said 90% commitment, but still. That is quite a commitment for a mom and dad of 4 young children.

But, I don't feel picked on. Nope. Not even a little bit. I love it....not the glamour of show biz, not the getting out of the house once a week, not performing, not singing in front of people, not impromptu acting. I LOVE all the things I have been learning about relationships and about myself and about the Lord.

For example
Act 1 Scene 1.1 This is Zacharias and Elizabeth....you know the story.....she's barren, he works at the temple, but has not been chosen to enter the holy place in the temple....then they recieve a miracle....a lot chosen, a son conceived.

My insight:
How beautiful are the Lord's plans. Two people, a husband and a wife, both struggling with feeling worthy before the Lord, with feeling loved by the Lord, with a social disgrace, with a great challenge, with a loss of a great blessing from the Lord. What a merciful Father we have to let two people suffer together. Suffer through grief, regret, loss...together. How great their sorrow must have been.

And then, AND THEN, to let them experience a miracle together. He is chosen to burn the incense and sees an angel, she is chosen to bear the child who will prepare for way for the Lord. They both receive the righteous desires of their hearts. How great their joy must have been.

It never occured to me before that this suffering and this joy must have made their relationship so much stronger. As I have been studying about marriage, and my role lately, this truly was beautiful to me. The Lord in His wisdom allowed them to learn patience and wisdom and gratitude and sacrifice and hope and then gave them the gift of having a son...not just any son, a son who would lead the people to the Messiah, a son who fullfilled prophecy, a son who would Baptize the Son of God.

They sing a beautiful song together about waiting on the Lord and their desires to trust in Him and to turn their wishes and their hearts over to Him. Everytime I hear the song it stirs those same desires within me. My favorite line is from Zacharias....I'll give God forever, but not to do my will. Give my plans and give my dreams. Give up all my lofty schemes. I'll give God forever and then give one day more. Giving Him forever means I'll wait and watch and see.....We still trust in the Lord, that He will fulfill His promises, in His due time.

How many plans and dreams and lofty schemes do I need to give up? There are a few....I'm sure I'll find many more. But when I do His will and turn my hope and love over to Him I can find hope and peace and patience and gratitude just as Zacharias and Elizabeth did. My hub and I have been trying to have more children for over 2 years now. I understand a bit of waiting and watching and seeing...only a little bit, but I also understand that it is in His hands. That He knows and He blesses and He gives according to His will which is perfect. I can trust in that.