As I was reading the Book of Mormon my attention was arrested by a phrase that I hadn’t thought about before.  The Spirit had told Alma that Christ would be born at Jerusalem of Mary, “a precious and chosen vessel.”  (Alma 7:10).

“Precious?” yes.  “Chosen?” yes.  But why a vessel?  Was it because of the precious spirit that her body housed?  Was it because of her obedience and faithfulness and willingness to be the handmaiden of the Lord?  Or was it, as Marjorie suggested, because of the precious baby that she carried?  I’m sure it was all of these.

Was she the only precious and chosen vessel, or are there others?

I’m sure that Lucy Mack Smith would have to qualify.  It was no accident that she was chosen to be the mother of the prophet of the last days.  Thousands of years before they were born, Joseph of old was able to name both that prophet and his father.  I’m sure that he could have named the prophet’s mother, too, had that been his purpose.  God had his eye upon those lines from times of old.

Surely the companions of our modern-day prophets would have to qualify.  I think of Emma Hale Smith, Emma Rae Riggs McKay, Camilla Eyring Kimball, and Marjorie Pay Hinckley, wonderful women of faith who supported, cherished, and comforted their husbands in their heavy responsibilities.

And of course there is my own wife.  No more precious and pure woman ever lived.  It is a constant cause of amazement to me that she condescended to marry me.  I am astonished.  She is precious, and she is my chosen.  She is the vessel who bore the 10 most outstanding, talented, spiritual people that I’ve known in my life.  I love her, and them, with all my heart.