That’s how I feel every time I get to this final verse in the Book of Mormon!

Sweet Moroni signs off with an emotional:

“And now I bid unto all, farewell.” (Moroni 10:34)

What lessons have you learned from the Book of Mormon over the past 365 days?

Maybe you learned that very real and imperfect people can make miracles happen when they work with Jesus.

Maybe you were reminded that the blessings for believing in Christ aren’t always temporal blessings.

Maybe you were taught that pride is the biggest trap because it is so easy to justify.

Maybe you gained a testimony that God answers prayers. ⁣

And maybe you’ve learned more about who Jesus Christ is and what He does.

This book has been life-changing for me personally, and is consistent as the foundation of my testimony of Jesus Christ.

It’s a useful, practical, heartbreaking, inspirational, and powerful book.

As we finish up this final verse, I invite you to think about what lessons the Book of Mormon has taught you.

What is your big takeaway from the greatest book ever written?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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

She was not a member of our church, but she was very spiritual and religious. ⁣

She had just shared what she felt her “spiritual strength” was:

She said she could sense other people’s emotions, even when they wanted to hide them. ⁣

I told her that I felt that the Spirit told me truths all the time, both eternal truths, and also about things that I needed to know would happen in the future.

We had an interesting discussion together about how we both felt that these “powers” were meant to be kept privately. ⁣

She totally believed the few sacred experiences I shared with her were true, and she shared some of her beautiful experiences, too. ⁣

I’ll never forget that conversation.

It was reverent, it was sacred, and it was respectful. ⁣

Although she used different vocabulary than I usually would, we really were just speaking freely about the powers of the Spirit that can make a real difference in our lives⁣

The Spirit has told me the truth many times.⁣

I’ve had pure gospel truths confirmed to me, like the validity of the Book of Mormon. ⁣

I’ve had truths revealed to me about my relationships, like who to become friends with or who to distance myself from. ⁣

And I’ve had truths about future events revealed to me, like whether or not I was getting a job or whether something I was worried about would actually happen. ⁣

And each time, the Spirit tells me truth in the most peaceful and meek way. ⁣

I don’t feel any pride. I don’t feel the need to tell others. I don’t boast. ⁣

I just know the Truth. ⁣

And I know that God knows that I know. ⁣

I think that the truth is quiet. It is powerful and confident, but it is quiet. ⁣

And I also think that the Spirit can bring that same truth to anyone who seeks. ⁣

I know that I can’t know the answer to every question. I can think of many times when I’ve asked, and NOT received truth. I’ve just received nothing. ⁣

But those moments are even still a little comforting. Because I know that if I’m not having the truth revealed to me, it means I’m not meant to know yet. ⁣

And then I feel peace. ⁣

We can seek for truth. God wants us to know truths, and He gives us His Spirit to let us hear the truths we need.

“And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.”

(Moroni 10:5)

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post My mentor teacher  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I sometimes think about how I could literally do anything I wanted to right now. ⁣

I could take off running down the street and never come back.

I could lay in bed all day.

I could drive anywhere.

I could stop doing things that I’m doing right now. ⁣

I could also call someone right now and catch up with an old friend.

I could make a treat and drop it on someone’s doorstep.

I could immerse myself in General Conference talks.

I could make a goal and take a step to achieve it.

I could do something super fun.

Like… isn’t it overwhelming the amount of freedom that we have every single day?!⁣

Obviously, I don’t have freedom from any consequences.

But I can do literally anything that I want at anytime. ⁣

Which was what I thought of when I read Moroni’s warning exhortation to us in Moroni 10:8:⁣

“Deny not the gifts of God”.⁣

I know that there are some spiritual gifts that I’ve been given. ⁣

And I’m also very aware of my imperfections. ⁣

So… what if I asked God to give me gifts of the Spirit that will help turn my imperfections into glorious strengths?!⁣

I have the agency to ask that. ⁣

And Pres Dallin H. Oaks encouraged us to do just that:⁣

“We should seek after spiritual gifts. They can lead us to God. They can shield us from the power of the adversary. They can compensate for our inadequacies and repair our imperfections.”⁣

We can ask. ⁣

We can pray and ask for more personal revelation. We can pray and ask for a stronger testimony. We can pray and ask to understand the scriptures better. We can pray and ask to behold angels in our lives. We can pray and ask to be better teachers. ⁣

I want to ask.

Humbly, meekly, with the intent to serve others and grow closer to the Divine. ⁣

I want to ask for the spiritual gifts that will strengthen my imperfections and bring me closer to my Savior.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post I can do anything!  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Growing up in Northern California, I felt like we were always taking road trips.

Whether it was across Nevada to visit family, down south to Disneyland, or just to the mountains.

I learned from a young age that I like to just stare out the window of a car.

My mom would get really fun activities for my sisters and me…

But I would still find myself spending half the day just staring out my window, thinking.

Does this make me weird?

Probably.

But I love just letting my mind wander!

My life is much busier now, so it takes a lot more effort to find time to be still and think.

But making time to ponder has completely transformed my relationship with God.

Moroni counsels us to, “. . . receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.” (Moroni 10:3)

All of my moments of transformation have come from letting my mind think on things.

When I’ve made big decisions, when I’ve had greater resolve to keep a commandment, when I’ve received impressions of which relationships to pursue and which to let go, and even when I’ve grown my testimony…

I’ve been pondering.

Because when I stop everything and let my mind run free, I find that God speaks.

“Being still is an act of faith and requires effort.” – L. Todd Budge

At the busiest time of year, how can you show an act of faith and WORK to stand still and ponder on the simple truths of the doctrine of Christ?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Staring out a window first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.