This article is part of a series called “12 Days of Christmas: A daily study guide to bring the Savior into the season.” See the full list of days in the study guide and learn more about how it’s formatted here.
Anna, a prophetess, also recognized the Lord at the temple. According to the King James Version of the Bible, she had been a widow for four score and four years—or 84 years total—and is described as someone who “departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day” (Luke 2:37).
Verse 38 reads, “And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”
What can we learn from these verses?
- Anna gave her all to God. She clearly loved the Lord, spending all her time in the temple and making sure that she gave everything to God while she was there. She is an example of diligence and devotion that can inspire us in our worship. While it may not be possible for us to constantly be in the temple, her story is a reminder of how we can prioritize our temple worship and give all of our heart to God like she did.
Anna was rewarded for her dedication. Life was likely not easy for Anna—being a widow for 84 years must have been a lonely road for her to walk. But she dedicated her time and her heart to working in the temple. Because of that, she was already in the temple to see the baby Jesus when He was brought there. In fact, not only did her dedication enable her to be in the right place at the right time to physically see Jesus—it helped her spiritually recognize His divinity right away. Her dedication didn’t end there, either: afterward, she told everyone about Him.
We can follow Anna’s example by striving for that same dedication in our worship. Even though our efforts may sometimes feel small and the wait can feel lonely and long, if we dedicate ourselves to the Lord we will be blessed for our efforts and experience unique opportunities.
Quote: “I have often wondered … what the motivation was behind Anna’s constant and prolonged dedication to the temple. It surely couldn’t have been simply a job or an assignment. If that were the case, she would have retired or would have been released long before—but still she came. At her age, it couldn’t have been physically easy for her to get to the temple or to spend so much time there—but still she came. Perhaps she, unlike many of her contemporaries, saw beyond the outward manifestations of the temple ritual. Perhaps she understood the true purpose behind temple worship; and, for one day, that purpose became a reality as she came into the presence of God’s Only Begotten Son. Is it any wonder that this wonderful woman recognized Him immediately?” (Gaye Strathearn, “He That Hath the Scriptures, Let Him Search Them”).
Ponder: How can I increase my dedication to the Lord?
Read more about Anna in “He That Hath the Scriptures, Let Him Search Them” by Gaye Strathearn.
Listen to more about prophetesses in “Learning from Women in the Old Testament” with Camille Fronk Olson.
Women of the New Testament
In this well-researched and richly illustrated companion volume to Women of the Old Testament, author Camille Fronk Olson focuses on many of these remarkable women and explores the influence of Jesus Christ and His gospel on women living in the meridian of time. And with exquisite paintings created by the artists of Al Young Studios (Elspeth Young, Al R. Young, and Ashton Young) especially for this volume, Women of the New Testament provides illuminating perspectives on individual women whose examples of faith and devotion continue to inspire us today.
