Mary arose with haste and went to a city of Juda in the hill country. Here she entered the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. When Elisabeth heard this salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She spoke out with a loud voice, Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. How is it that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she that believed for there shall be a demonstration of those things which were told her by the Lord. Mary said, My soul does magnify the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden and, henceforth, all generations shall call me blessed. He that is mighty has done great things to me. Holy is His name. His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree. He has filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy; as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to His seed forever. Mary stayed with her cousin, Elisabeth about three months, then returned to her own house. Elisabeth's time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. Her neighbors and her cousins heard how the Lord had showed great mercy on her; and they rejoiced with her. On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. They called him Zacharias after the name of his father. But his mother said, No. He shall be called John. And they said to her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. Then they made signs to his father asking how he would have him called. He asked for a writing table, and wrote, His name is John. Then Zacharias' mouth was opened immediately, his tongue loosed, and he spoke and praised God. This news was carried throughout all the hill country of Judaea. All who heard were filled with wonder at what kind of child this would be! And the hand of the Lord was with him. His father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel; for He has visited and redeemed His people, He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant, David; as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant; the oath which He swore to our father, Abraham, that He would grant us, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, to serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness, all the days of our life.