I always cringe a bit when reading Moroni’s epistle to the chief judge Pahoran in Alma 60.

Moroni is getting angry and assuming a whole lot of things very incorrectly. Awkward.

But this time, verse 33 in Alma 60 made me do a double take. ⁣

Moroni tells Pahoran that the Lord told Moroni to go to battle against the Pahoran if he didn’t repent of his sins and iniquities.

What?!

Pahoran actually wasn’t committing sins and iniquities, and this was all a misunderstanding on Moroni’s part.

Moroni was receiving revelation to battle Pahoran even when he wasn’t actually doing anything wrong?

Why would the Lord prompt Moroni with incorrect information?⁣

And then I got to Pahoran’s response in Alma 61. ⁣

“I was somewhat worried concerning what we should do [about these rebels taking over the government and pushing Pahoran out], whether it should be just in us to go against our brethren. ⁣

“But ye have said, except they repent the Lord hath commanded you that ye should go against them.”⁣ (Alma 61:19-20)

And then Pahoran calls for Moroni to join him and bring troops for a battle against the rebels in the capital. ⁣

Pahoran had been praying to know whether or not he should go to battle against his own people. ⁣

He had been kicked off the judgment seat, but he wasn’t sure what to do next. ⁣

And Moroni’s inspiration that Moroni totally thought was about going to battle against Pahoran, was actually God’s way of answering Pahoran’s prayers – by telling him that they should go to battle against the people who had kicked him out. ⁣

So this whole misunderstood letter from Moroni? The false accusations and warnings and calls to repentance?⁣

They were all really just a messy vessel for God to answer Pahoran’s prayer. ⁣

And AMAZING and HUMBLE Pahoran was able to overlook the misunderstandings and offensive phrases in Moroni’s letter in order to find the truth within it. ⁣

Because at the end of the day, it’s not just a cliche: God really does only have imperfect people to work with. ⁣

And sometimes we have to just ignore and forgive the messy parts in order to find the gold we need in each other.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Was the Lord wrong?! first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

(Also how the heck was that already four years ago?!)

I don’t think many people escaped that year without any “battle wounds”.

Whether emotional, social, or even physical, “hurt” was experienced by virtually everyone.

Here’s one of my absolute favorite observations Mormon makes in the entire Book of Mormon.

During the brutally long war between the Nephites and Lamanites, two interesting groups emerged:

“. . . many had become hardened, because of the exceedingly great length of the war; and many were softened because of their afflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility.” (Alma 62:41)

So, many hearts were softened.

And many hearts were hardened.

By the SAME EXACT EVENT.

Everyone experienced the same war, but there were different personal outcomes.

Isn’t that so true?

I believe that our agency and attitudes play a huge role in how our hearts react to events.

When reflecting on 2020 or any other major event in your life, have you felt your heart get a little harder or a little softer?

Have you empathized more or judged more?

Have you been a creator of joy and peace or of confusion and division?

And as life continues to be tough, divisive, and frustrating, how do we continually choose to react?

“Do not let unfairness harden you or corrode your faith in God…. Rather than becoming bitter, let Him help you become better.” – Dale G. Renlund

The outside circumstances don’t matter nearly as much as how our hearts choose to respond.

And when we choose humility, meekness, and Jesus Christ, we can let even the hardest of situations soften our hearts.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Harden or soften? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

The 2,000 young men that Helaman called his sons were described as:⁣

“true at all times in whatsoever things they were entrusted.” (Alma 53:20)⁣

“firm and undaunted” (Alma 57:20)⁣

And they did “obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness.” (Alma 57:21)⁣

They weren’t looking at their neighbor, waiting to see if he would do what was right. ⁣

They each had that conviction of integrity. ⁣

Which is interesting for me to reflect on. ⁣

Do I sometimes only do things because I know other people are watching?

Or because they would notice if I didn’t? ⁣

Ugh. Unfortunately, sometimes, yes. ⁣

But, more often, I think I’m building up my integrity. ⁣

I’m not looking to cut spiritual corners. ⁣

I’m not looking for praise. ⁣

I’m just fulfilling my covenants with the best integrity that I can. ⁣

When no one’s paying attention to me, I still watch the same shows and listen to the same music.

I still read my scriptures and pray. ⁣

My standards don’t change based on who I am with. ⁣

And I feel like I am in the great company of the sons of the Ammonites when I make these commitments. ⁣

I’m not sure what the Ammonite daughters were doing, but I imagine they were using their strong integrity to serve and support their brothers, to take on the jobs their brothers would have been doing at home while they were out fighting. ⁣

I am always drawn to people with integrity.

To the people who do what they say they will do, and who will do it in an honest way, or communicate if they can’t get something done. ⁣

Whenever I want to make grand statements about, “The world needs more people with integrity”…⁣

… I stop and bring it back to myself. ⁣

Where can I be filled with integrity even more? ⁣

How can I make sure my beliefs and my actions align at all times?⁣

How can I be just as proud of what I do when no one is watching, as I am when everyone is watching?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Integrity  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

They had believed in false traditions but then completely converted their hearts and made covenants when they learned about Jesus.

They uprooted their families from where they had probably lived their whole lives and moved to a safer location.

They didn’t give the anti-Christ, Korihor, a second of their time when he came to town.

They took in poor Zoramites who had been kicked out of their city, giving them food and clothing.

They uprooted their lives and moved again to give room for the Nephite armies.

Have you ever wondered WHY the Ammonite sons didn’t have even a shadow of a doubt that their mothers had faith in God?

“And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.” (Alma 56:48)

Why would their children believe their moms?

Because these Ammonite women backed up whatever they taught at home with action.

These women weren’t just sitting back, hoping dearly that their kids will gain a testimony.

They lived the gospel of Jesus Christ, and their children couldn’t help but notice.

They kept their covenants with exactness.

They turned away from evil.

They served with their whole hearts.

They sacrificed when needed.

There was no way to doubt their mothers knew that God would provide because they had proved it over and over already.

Sharing our testimonies with others is so powerful.

But backing up what we say with whole-hearted action leaves no room for doubt.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post How could there be no doubt? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.