This is the fourth article in the series, Praying Women in the Scriptures. So far, the following women who prayed either explicitly or implicitly have been discussed:

• Mothers of stripling warriors
• Anna the prophetess
• The woman with the issue of blood

Another praying woman who comes to mind is Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. 

Elizabeth and her husband, Zacharias, did not bear children for many years. I can only imagine how many times Elizabeth must have petitioned the Lord for a child. Luke 1 describes Elizabeth as righteous. During this time, it was a woman’s duty to bear a child and especially a son. 

As Zacharias is in the temple, the Angel Gabriel, tells him that he and Elizabeth will bear a son named John. Zacharias questions this, as they are past child-bearing years, and the angel tells him he will be silent until these things come to pass because of his disbelief. 

As the story unfolds, Elizabeth does conceive a child. 

The Angel Gabriel then visits Mary and explains how she is the chosen one to bear our Lord and Savior. As Mary questions how this can be, what stands out to me is Luke 1:36. The angel says, “thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.” 

Verse 37 states: “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” 

The scripture later describes Mary’s visit to Elizabeth. This visit always touches me to see the special bond they had. When Mary arrives at their home, she greets Elizabeth and Zacharias. At this salutation, the babe in Elizabeth’s womb leaps for joy and Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth exclaims that Mary is blessed and there would be a performance of those things which were told from the Lord.

Elizabeth and Zacharias were both Levites of the house of Aaron. Zacharias was a priest, Elizabeth, a daughter of Aaron. Given this lineage, Elizabeth must have grown up with scriptural knowledge, and her husband was a priest. Eizabeth was entrusted with being the mother of John, who would prepare the way for Jesus. He also used her as a comfort to Mary when she learned of the call that God placed on her.

There is a common thread in the story of Elizabeth, as in the previous examples of

the mothers of stripling warriors and Anna the prophetess. Christ had not come, but there was an expectation that He would. It was evident in their words that when they prayed, it was filled with expectancy. 

For example, the story of the stripling warriors is explained in Alma 56:47. It explains that because of the atonement of Jesus Christ that death had no power. The mothers taught this to their sons, who went to battle and did not doubt or fear physical death because of their mothers’ teachings. 

In the example of Anna the prophetess and Simeon, they prayed and waited in the temple for the Lord. Their prayers were answered when Jesus was brought to the temple with his parents when He was eight days old. 

In the example of Elizabeth, she is filled with the Holy Spirit when Mary visits her and her child leaps for joy in her womb. She knows that Mary is bearing our Lord and Savior.

Lessons learned from Elizabeth

1. An unanswered prayer should not bring judgment on a person and their relationship with God. Elizabeth was a righteous woman past child-bearing years. The Lord’s timing was the antithesis of condemnation. It actually meant she was chosen for a greater blessing.
2. Elizabeth’s name means “My God is an oath.” It comes from the Hebrew name, Elisheva, which means “My God is an oath or my God is abundance.” Like Simeon and Anna, Elizabeth and Zacharias held out hope for the promise of the Messiah’s birth.
3. Even in our advanced years, God can bring life through us. God doesn’t play favorites with the young or old. He used Mary, who was young and Elizabeth, who was more advanced in years, to contribute to the plan of redemption.

Elizabeth’s responses to her situation of being barren, then conceiving, giving comfort to her relative, Mary, all depict a woman of faith who no doubt prayed. The attributes that describe her don’t suddenly appear but are a result of much faith from a woman who prayed.

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.

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