Kara Murri Podcast Kara Murri

Matthew 13, Luke 8, 13

Mary Magdalene


This is our first introduction to Mary Magdalene.
It is also interesting to note that she is listed first, in these verses as well as other verses we will get to. This may indicate that she was a leader or had seniority to some of the other women in the group.
Luke tells us right away that she has been healed and had 7 devils cast out. We can assume that this was a severe case of mental health for her. That it was a miracle indeed for her to be able to function again.

As we read these accounts, it seems like these devils create these people to not be in their right mind - like mental health struggles.
Christ was healing these men and women.
Elder Holland reminded us “Though we may feel we are “like a broken vessel,” as the Psalmist says, we must remember, that vessel is in the hands of the divine potter. Broken minds can be healed just the way broken bones and broken hearts are healed. While God is at work making those repairs, the rest of us can help by being merciful, nonjudgmental, and kind.”


We can learn from Mary that Christ is the ultimate healer, and that He can make all things possible and heal all infirmities.

Joanna


Luke 8:3
Joanna is the second woman listed of those that Christ healed.
Just so we know who she is, Chuza Herod. The title her husband has, in Greek, means to manage a household or an estate. He was likely one of Herod's head servants and he and Joanna would have lived very well and been close to the family.
Quote by Richard Holzapefel

Walking with the Women of the New Testament page 86. (affiliate link)



Susanna


Luke 8:3
We do not know much about Susanna. Only that she was healed and followed Jesus Christ. It even says, “...and other certain women.” It is likely that as these women followed along with Jesus they helped meet His needs of food, clothing and even shelter.
Luke 23:27, Matthew 27:55
We learn that Christ wanted women to be with Him to be disciples with everyone else. He loved and encouraged them.

Other Certain Women of the Company


Luke 13:11-13
Christ is teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.
We find out that there is a woman who (read verse 11).
It would have been common if men and women were both attending that the women were on one side and men on the other side. Sometimes, women would even be covered by a vail.
In verse 12 we are told that Jesus saw this woman. Then He called her to come to Him. This doesn’t happen often in scripture. Most of the time people are coming to Him - He doesn’t call to others as often though.
We aren’t quite sure what is happening with her. It says, Spirit of infirmity for 18 years, and that she was bowed together. In verse 16 it says that Satan had bound. Those are the only clues we really have though.
So, Christ calls this woman over and He lays His hands on her head and immediately she sits up straight and glorifies God.
The rulers of the synagogues are angry b/c He healed on the Sabbath. He comes and says you are more worried about your animals than about this woman. In verse 16-17 says …

Sermon on the Mount
Chapter 12-14 the people in Americas are getting the opportunity to hear the 


Beatitudes
Love your enemies (12:44)
How to pray (13:6-8)
Pattern of prayer (13:9-14 Lord’s Prayer)
Seek first the kingdom of God (12:31-34)
Ask, seek knock (14:7)
False prophets (14:15)
Wise man vs foolish man (14:24-27)

These are the Other Sheep of My Fold - Chapter 15


Law of Moses is fulfilled in Him
Nephites are the other sheep spoken of.
They understood not THREE times.
Other sheep TWO times.

Healing and Blessing - Chapter 17


Heals + blesses children

Sacrament - Chapter 18


Jesus teaches the sacrament
Verses 15-24 are about praying alway and holding up your light. TALK ABOUT THIS.

Desire for the Holy Ghost - Chapter 19


I love that in verse 9 we learn that the greatest desire to to receive the Holy Ghost. Then a few verse later Jesus goes up away from the people to pray. While he’s praying in 21-23 we get to read Jesus Christ advocating for the people! We get to read this incredible gift that we’ve all been given happen! Right there.

Miracle Sacrament - Chapter 20


In verse 6  we read that there was no bread or wine, but that it didn’t matter and there was bread and wine to have the sacrament a second time.

Remember, Remember - Chapter 23


Verses 9-14 we learn that the words and teachings of Samuel the Lamanite were never written down! It’s been 39 years since it happened! Jesus reminds Nephi that it was never written down, and Nephi hadn’t ever realized it.
Elder Anderson said in his talk Spiritual Defining Memories from April 2020

"Embrace your sacred memories. Believe them. Write them down. Share them with your family. Trust that they come to you from your Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son. Let them bring patience to your doubts and understanding to your difficulties. I promise you that as you willingly acknowledge and carefully treasure the spiritually defining events in your life, more and more will come to you. Heavenly Father knows you and loves you!"



3 Nephites - Chapter 28


3 Nephites - talk about this entire chapter.

Call to Action - Chapter 30


Verse 2 at the end - Nephi’s call to action for all of us. 

Matthew 11-12 + Luke 11

Come Unto Me - Matthew 11:28-30


28 ¶ Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you crest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Footnote for 29a is for the word YOKE. It says, “Jesus Christ, Taking the Name of.” So when we take His yoke - we are taking His name, or making covenants by being baptized. When we are yoked WITH Him, He is able to offer us this help.
Footnote 29c is for the work MEEK. The footnote for this says, “gentle and humble.”

In the talk by Elder Bendar called “Meek and Lowly in Heart” Elder Bednar discusses in detail the attribute and gift of meekness. He says, “Please notice the characteristic the Lord used to describe Himself in the following scripture: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Instructively, the Savior chose to emphasize meekness from among all the attributes and virtues He potentially could have selected. A similar pattern is evident in a revelation received by the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1829. The Lord declared, “Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me.” Meekness is a defining attribute of the Redeemer and is distinguished by righteous responsiveness, willing submissiveness, and strong self-restraint. This quality helps us to understand more completely the respective reactions of Amulek, Pahoran, President Nelson, and President Eyring.”
Footnote 29f is for the word REST. President Nelson has gone into great detail about this word, and I would direct you to His talk “Overcome the World and Find Rest.” The footnote does tell us that we can look up the word COMFORT though. I love this idea of finding comfort in our souls when we come unto Him. That is what he offers and comfort and rest can be one and the same.





A Certain Woman in the Company


In Luke 11 verses 27-28 we learn about a Certain woman of the company.
There was a group gathered and Jesus cast out devils of a man that was dumb and heal him. Then Jesus taught that a house divided will fall.
Then in 27 we read ...
 I believe that Christ's response in 28 is one of agreeing and also comparing. Just as our mothers and their nurturing us as babes is essential and something to rejoice in - so it shall be rejoiced that those that hear the word of God and keep it.
Walking wtih the Women of the New Testament page 93. (affiliate link)

Nephi Prophecies

Samuel the Lamanite

Signs of Christ's Birth

Signs of Christ's Death

Jesus Speaks

Jesus Comes!

Matthew 9-10, Mark 5, Luke 9


Jairus’ Daughter


Jairus was a ruler of a synagogue in Jerusalem. He comes up to Jesus, falls at His feet and asks Him to come. In verse 23 …
Jairus must have been acquainted with Jesus to some extent. He knew exactly who Jesus was when he saw Him - and knew that He could heal.
Jesus begins to go with Jairus. There are a lot of people following them.
In the midst of their walk to the young girl - a woman tuches His garment and is healed. Jesus stopped to talk with her for a moment.
While they are stopped - Jairus' servant finds him and lets him know that his daughter has passed.
I love the words Jesus offers Jairus in verse 35 as he’s just gotten this news.
Jesus, Jairus, Peter, James and John all go to the house.
When they arrive Jesus lets everyone know that the girl is alive and sends everyone except the apostles, Jairus and his wife away.
Let's read the miracle in verse 41-43
Sometimes it feels like it’s too late to ask for our Saviors help. Sometimes we think He’s being slow - as in this story when He stops and talks to someone else.
He is with us. He can comfort us and guide our lives so that miracles will still take place even when time, and people and circumstances don’t see to be on our side.  

Woman with the Issue of Blood


In the middle of this story of Jairus trying to save his daughter - we meet a “Certain woman”.
To begin I would like to read an excerpt from Walking with the Women of the New Testament (affiliate link)pages 52-53. This explains in detail more about what menstruation was like for these women and about being clean/unclean.
In verse 25, footnote A we see that the “issue of blood” could be called hemorrhage - or intense vaginal bleeding. Something like this today would be if a woman we going through 1 pad/hour!
During the time of the Mosaic law - a woman who had an issue of blood was unclean during that time anything she touched (lay on, sat on, food prepared) was considered unclean. If others touched her they had a washing ritual they had to do.
This woman had been unclean for TWELVE YEARS! That meant that she had no had any contact with anyone. She was not able to even attend the temple or worship services.
Mark 5:26 - this is where we get a glimpse into what her life had been like.
Having lost so much blood for so long - we can assume that she was probably exhausted. I’m sure just going to the Savior - then being around so many people (who she wasn’t supposed to touch b/c she was unclean). We know from verse 24 that there were a lot of people following Him in this moment.
She didn’t need to talk to Him. She didn’t need to ask Him. She just KNEW that if she could TOUCH Him - she would be healed.
Her faith has always amazed me. She just wanted to TOUCH Him. And she did.
Verse 29.
I love verse 30 though. She didn’t tell or ask or anything. She touched. He knew. He felt virtue - or power - leave Him. He asked. His disciples thought He was crazy. There were so many people around - everyone was touching Him. But this was different. Jesus could feel the power leave Him. He knew something beautiful had just happened to someone in this crowd.
Verse 33 - she was so scared. She was worried. She had been unclean. But, she told Him the truth.
Jesus responds in verse 34 - Thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
The tenderness that Jesus offers her. The understanding. The compassion. The love. It just touches my heart every time.
How has the Savior healed you when you’ve reached out in desperation - even in just a moment where He was your only hope in that moment? Look for ways that He is manifesting His li

Alma 52 - Helaman 8

The Army of Helaman Forms.


Lamanites had begun to take possession of some of the Nephite lands. The Nephites needed help - but the Anti-Nephi-Lehies had made the covenant to not fight anymore.
In verse 16 we see the beginning of the formation of the Army of Helaman.
Description of them in verses 20-23

The Webster 1850 Dictionary defines “Stripling” as:

A youth in the state of adolescence, or just passing from boyhood to manhood; a lad.
These are going to be like the teachers in your ward. Maybe some priests. That’s who these young men were.





2,000 Stripling Warriors.


56:17, 19, 44-48, 54-56
2,060 – 57: 5-6, 20-21, 25-27
58:11-12, 33 + 37

Moroni’s Epistle to Pahoran


Chapter 59: Moroni is pretty upset with Pahoran. He isn’t sure why things aren’t being sent, and why they aren’t getting the help that they were anticipating. He writes a kind - yet firm, letter to Pahoran.
Chapter 60: Pahoran writes back and explains that the people have come against the government and are trying to overthrow everything.
Moroni leaves and comes to help Pahoran with the situation. They were successful and they were able to get things under control again.

Nephites vs Lamanites


The Book of Helaman is actually the Son of Helaman. So he begins this book. We learn immediately about the darkness that is happening all around. One of my favorite verses is Helaman 3:23.
They had been going through this period where the Nephites were extremely righteous and prospering. Then by Helaman 4 the Nephites are now weak like the Lamanites when they are fighting.
Then they repent and do well for a while, then cycle back down. It’s constant up and down through a lot of these chapters.

Nephi + Lehi (The Son's of Helaman)


Helaman (the son of Helaman) gets old, and gives the land and everything over to his sons Nephi and Lehi. They are great missionaries.
Chapter 5 verses 6-7 – family history.
Then verses 9 - 12
Nephi and Lehi go and teach. They are reject and everyone is very unhappy with them. Verse 23, 24, 26.
Voice comes 3 times. 31, 32, 33
Some repent and are encircled with fire along with Nephi and Lehi.
Nephi and Lehi have done great missionary work and the Nephites and Lamaites are living and working side by side.

Exceedingly Wicked


Three years into that situation - they became exceedingly wicked.
Secret murderers and robbing and other things begin to take hold of these people. Chapter 6, verses 21, 27, 28, 29 - all of it is Satan.
Chapter 6:34, 36
Chapter 7 and 8 are the beginning of the Lamaintes being the righteous people.
Verse 7 - how many times do we wish that? However, Nephi went through a LOT of really hard things. Sometimes the grass seems greener - but it’s important to remember it’s not.

Prophets Called by God


Chapter 8: 10-20
The importance of prophets who are led by God.