To be rich.

To be successful in the eyes of the world.

None of these are bad! In fact, they can be fantastic. Huge blessings and opportunities for growth.

Buuuuut they also start to open the door wider and wider to PRIDE.

When we are smart, we know the answers to many things and build authority. We are given accolades or offered jobs based off of our knowledge and experience, thus elevating ourselves above others.

The same thing can happen with riches and fame.

It becomes a lot harder to feel that desperate reliance on the Lord, because it seems like we are actually doing pretty well for ourselves on our own.

You start to forget where those blessings came from – the opportunities to learn, to make a living, to provide positive influence.

And who the source of all knowledge, wealth, and power truly is.

And that’s why we see the famous caveat:

IF they hearken unto the counsels of God.

I LOVE learning. It’s a trait I’ve had my whole life, and has led me to be an educator in many different areas.

So for me, I have to be careful. Is my education and success something that draws me closer to my Father in Heaven?

Or do they elevate me above the people around me, resulting in pride and separation from my dependence on God?

Education, riches, and fame may or may not be your sources of pride right now. But what is it? What is that source of separation from God?

It can still be a good thing in your life! Just add the caveat: IF I hearken unto the counsel of God.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post To be learned is good! first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I picture the wildernesses in my heart. They are things that I have neglected that have then grown out of control.

They are my vices that I have left unchecked for too long.

They are the things that add craziness to my life that I don’t ever stop to get rid of.

Then I picture my deserts. They are the dry and barren areas in my life that are longing for water that is not there.

They are my missed opportunities to connect with heaven.

They are my failing habits that I forget should actually be getting the most attention.

We know that the Lord promises to comfort us.

But isn’t it sometimes difficult to see where that comfort is in our lives?

Where is He? Where is His comfort?

He says that He will make our wilderness like Eden. And our desert like the garden of the Lord.

He comforts us by helping to prune back the areas of our life that we have left unchecked, changing wildernesses into pristine gardens such as Eden.

His comfort is found when it is a little easier to let go of a bad habit than I anticipated.

His comfort is found when I have more clarity on what needs to be cut out of my life.

And then He comforts us by providing the everlasting water needed to turn our deserts into flourishing gardens.

His comfort is found when I make a minuscule effort to connect with God and I receive an abundance of His spirit in return.

His comfort is found when I try to start up a good habit again and feel that motivation to continue.

The Lord has promised to comfort us and He always is! But sometimes we have to find new ways to look for His comfort. He helps to weed and prune away what should be gone, and gives us nourishment to help our godly connections grow.

Happy Studying!

– Cali Black

The post My wilderness and my desert first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

There have been tons of theories as to how things will exactly play out in the next life, but Jacob reminds us in his sermon in Chapter 9 that, “they who are righteous shall be righteous still, and they who are filthy shall be filthy still.” (v16)

In other words: A change in circumstances won’t magically change our hearts.

How many times have I fallen for that trap, though?

I’ll be better at reading my scriptures once it’s fall break.
I’ll be a better ministering sister once I’ve got my own life under control.
I’ll attend the temple more once my kids are older.

Now, I totally agree that there are “seasons of life” where some things will be easier for us than others. However, when we are always waiting for the proverbial grass to be greener in order to change our habits, I think we miss out on having a mighty change of heart and the sacred personal growth that comes with it.

So what have we been putting off? What can we tackle today in order to align our wills even more closely with God’s?

What text can we send TODAY?
What conversation can we have TODAY?
What small habit can we start TODAY?

Changing our hearts is a lifelong process, no matter how long we are given on this earth.

Because when we pass to the next phase, our heart is all we will be able to take with us.

So let’s stop falling for the trap that repentance and change will be easier when…

And let’s make some little changes today! And tomorrow. And the next day.

So that when we meet our Maker, we can present Him with the purest heart that we could create.

Artwork by Kero.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Changing our hearts NOW first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Because immediately, I think of all the things I’m not doing right.

“I can’t ask for comfort because I should be a better mom who knows how to calm down her child.”

“I can’t ask for comfort because this really isn’t that bad of a situation and I should know how to make it better.”

“I can’t ask for comfort because I don’t even know why I’m upset or sad! These changing hormones are getting to me.”

And yet – I KNOW my Heavenly Father wants to comfort me when I am sad and overwhelmed. With no prerequisite of perfection, or even righteousness.

But I do have to ask.

And when I overcome my pride and offer a meager or desperate prayer asking for comfort –

He comforts me immediately.

I feel love. My burden feels a little bit lighter. My perspective is widened.

The Lord promises that our “sorrow and mourning shall flee away”.

Do we TRUST that the Lord can actually comfort us in our trials?

Do we know that asking for comfort is never selfish or frivolous?

Do we remember to call upon His name in the moment that we need His comfort?

Even more than our spouse or a good friend, our Heavenly Father knows that sometimes we don’t need answers. Or correction. Or direction.

Sometimes, we just need to be comforted by the One who knows our experiences and emotions perfectly.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Comfort is not selfish first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Which wouldn’t be a big deal because I had studied music my whole life, and this class was extremely easy music theory.

The professor started the class by saying, “Alright, the test scores from your exam in the testing center last week were pretty good!”

My heart sank.

I hadn’t taken any test. I had missed one of three exams that my class grade would be based on.

At the end of the lecture class, I sheepishly walked up to his podium.

I took full responsibility for my mistake and asked him if there was anything I could do for even partial credit.

He looked at me and said, “My office hours are from 1-3 tomorrow afternoon. If you can be there, you can take the test in my office.”

I was so gracious and took the test in his office the following day.

When I checked my score online a few days later, I saw that I had received 100% on the exam.

I was go grateful for my professor’s GRACE in allowing me to take an exam after the testing period has closed, something that was completely my fault.

But I was also grateful for his JUSTICE in scoring the exam, where I was given full credit for every question that I got correct.

I noticed that in 2 Nephi Chapter 9, Jacob praises God for His “mercy and grace” (v8) AND says, “O the greatness and the justice of our God!” (v17)

We praise God for offering us His MERCY when we don’t do what we are supposed to, and feel full sorrow for it.

We praise God for offering us JUSTICE when we are actually doing our best, giving us credit for our intentional good deeds (or intentional bad deeds).

Both justice and mercy are the kindest things that our God can offer us, and only He is the perfect example of knowing when to extend each gift.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Great mercy and great justice first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.