Great quote that I lifted off of FB with no attribution other than it is not mine:
Last night as I was reading in the New Testament, I noted that the angel Gabriel told Mary she was "highly favored" of the Lord. That stuck out at me, and eventually I was reminded that "Hannah" and "John / Johannan" mean exactly that phrase: "highly favored of the Lord". It is an unusual phrase in the scriptures - it only occurs 7 times (aside from the names) in the Book of Mormon, and once in the Bible that I can find.
Then, as I pondered that, I remembered that Hannah's situation in the Old Testament is remarkable in a couple of ways that tie directly to the Savior.
First, her son Samuel was dedicated to the Lord completely from his very youngest years. While not exactly the same method, the Savior also was dedicated completely to God from His youngest years.
Second, Hannah was called "favored" because she had been blessed when she was barren. Her child's birth was prophesied, as Mary's child's birth was prophesied.
And third, Hannah's psalm after learning that she would have a child is the first instance in the Old Testament that overtly discusses the coming Messiah.
I believe that the angel used this phrase with Mary to reinforce his statement about Who this new baby was going to be.
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