Traits From His Mother and Father

In my scripture study, I focused on Setting. I wanted to learn a little more context through customs and traditions of the time.

We know of the Godly and divine traits Jesus obtained from God the Father. Someone in class posed the question "What traits did Jesus receive from His Mother and His Father?"

From what I have learned, according to Jewish tradition at the time, an unwed pregnant woman was subject to being stoned to death. (Deuteronomy 22:20-21) Joseph had decided that he wanted to "put [Mary] away privily," (Matt 1:19) prior to the angel visiting him. (vs 20)

What this teaches me about Joseph is that he was a very kind man. He wanted to spare Mary the indignity of a public trial and divorcement.

What we know about Mary is that she was obedient and virtuous, she was "highly favored, the Lord [was] with [her]," and she was blessed among women. (Luke 1:28)

We can rest assured that they both were victims of much speculation and ridicule because of the situation in which they found themselves.

I think Jesus would have learned traits of humility, obedience, kindness, and love, to name a few. How much of that was inborn because of his divine parentage we don't know, but I am sure his parents were examples of those traits and helped him to incorporate them into his behavior and way of being.

Male Role Models

I just love the story that Elder Christofferson tells from his youth. His mother suffered injury to her arm from cancer treatments and it was difficult for her to do any ironing without extreme pain. Her husband surprised her by buying an ironing machine with pedals and a roller. She didn’t understand how they could afford such a luxury.

Elder Christofferson said: “Finally Dad told her that he had gone without lunches for nearly a year to save enough money. ‘Now when you iron,’ he said, ‘you won’t have to stop and go into the bedroom and cry until the pain in your arm stops.’  She didn’t know he knew about that.” He goes on to say “I was not aware of my father’s sacrifice and act of love for my mother at the time, but now that I know, I say to myself, ‘There is a man.’” [1]

He also said: “In large measure, true manhood is defined in our relationship to women.” (ibid)

What a blessing it is to have men like these to emulate and look up to, instead of what passes for role models and authority figures in society today.

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[1] Let Us Be Men, Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Ensign November 2006