Mary, Did You Know?

I recently bought Aled Jones's Christmas album, and it was a fantastic decision. The first song on it is one I hadn't been fond of before, but now quite like because of Aled's delivery of it.

In my New Testament class, we talked about how mental it must have been for Mary to do all that she did, and it made me think of this song. I wonder what it's like to be the mother of a new baby and think of all the things that are going to happen to the little body that just separated from you. I think they've got to wonder what the little babies they've just had will do with the life they're working so hard still to give their children.

I was thinking about how young Mary was, too. We don't have a definitive age, but it seems likely that she was around 14. I think think that's poetic. It connects to Joseph Smith being just 14 when his divine mission began to be revealed. Joseph and Mary are similar in that from a young age, they were called of God to bring together Christ and the people of the Earth. Both Joseph and Mary have been vessels for truth and light, and both doubtless faced much persecution for their perceived wrongs.

There's no doctrine that says Mary was 14, or that 14 is some magical age, but I think that's okay. It's fine for us to think about things in ways that might not be totally accurate if it helps us to understand divine principles and doctrine. "All models are wrong, but some are useful." I believe that God speaks to us in ways we will best understand. For the literature nerd, the Lord has given wonderful symbolism in scripture to help us understand His truth. For the musician, He has given us hymns and songs of praise. For the scientist, He has left His mark upon every trace of the universe. For the pilot, He has given us President Uchtdorf.

God loves us. That's the only conclusion. God loves us more than mortal comprehension allows us to understand. And that's the best thing there is.