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.

Scary health issues.

Scary potential futures.

Scary financial situations.

Scary social or political concerns.

Scary moments of personal growth.

But can I be honest?⁣

When the opportunities for fear have surrounded me, I feel like I’ve had a pretty peaceful life.⁣

I’ve felt a lot of stretching and growth.

I’ve gained new perspectives and refined priorities. ⁣

But I haven’t felt a lot of fear. ⁣

To be clear, I don’t say that with a sense of pride or superiority. ⁣

In fact, I am well aware that this is a special spiritual gift that I have, and I have been specifically told that. ⁣

But… there are still scary things.

And in those moments when I have felt that fear start to creep up, I have tried to turn to my Father in Heaven. ⁣

In humility, in meekness.

In love. ⁣

Loving my Heavenly Father is what casts out those little inklings of fear. ⁣

Loving my Savior is what transforms my fear to peace and confidence. ⁣

Fear isn’t a bad emotion to feel, but it’s honestly just not a feeling I want to indulge in very often.

I’m not perfect at it, but when I have been in my most desperate times, I have still been able to find moments of pure and perfect love.

Pure and perfect devotion to the Divine. ⁣

And I have found for myself that these moments of true, pure, perfect love for Heaven have cast out my fear.

“Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear.” (Moroni 8:16)

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Casting out fear first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

He talked about the wars and destruction.

He told his son about the tragic futures were to come. ⁣

Sounds like a super fun conversation, right?

But then Mormon reminded his son:⁣

“My son, be faithful in Christ;

“and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death;

“but may Christ lift thee up.” (Moroni 9:25)

What a beautiful and practical lesson from a father.

There’s a lot of dark, dismal stuff out there.

BUT

Don’t let the evils of others bring your own faith down.

Don’t let the wickedness of the world dim your light.

Don’t let other people’s poor decisions affect your own.

Instead, let Christ lift you up!

Think about His atoning sacrifice.

Ponder on His mercy.

Appreciate His goodness.

Let THAT be what lingers in your mind.

Jesus has already won the victory.

And our faith in Him can help lift us up, even when we are surrounded by heavy times.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post May Christ lift thee up first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I’ve been pondering on that this week. ⁣⁣

I think most of us can recite that “charity is the pure love of Christ”.⁣⁣

But then I hope I’m not alone in often picturing charity as an action.

Reaching out. Making a call. Pulling weeds. Making beds. Being a listening ear. ⁣

(Which are all amazing actions to take, of course!)⁣

But I think it’s important to remember that charity is actually just a feeling. ⁣

In fact, according to the Bible Dictionary, charity is “the highest, noblest, strongest kind of love”. ⁣

In the scriptures, the word “charity” is never even used to refer to good deeds. ⁣

Instead, it is an emotion we feel inside of ourselves. ⁣

It can totally be the motivating factor for us to then reach out and perform acts of service for other people! ⁣

But charity is love. ⁣

Feeling love NEVER fails US. ⁣

I clarify “US” because our acts of service can certainly fail other people. ⁣

I may think I’m being a fantastic ministering sister, while someone complains that I don’t fulfill my assignment very well. ⁣

I may think I’m being a helpful volunteer, while someone thinks that I’m wasting my time. ⁣

I may think I’m being thoughtful, while someone thinks I’m being overbearing. ⁣

I can’t control how the pure love that I feel in my heart is then perceived by other people.

(Of course, tact and sensitivity are always qualities I strive for, too! But at the end of the day, I can only do my best.)⁣

But the Godly love that I try to cultivate can change me.

It can save me. ⁣

What a timely message, right?!⁣

The more love we feel for other people, the more Christlike we become. Because He loves everyone, too. ⁣

Everything else will fail in the end. ⁣

But feeling a deep love, a love that is kind, patient, and humble… THAT will sustain us through everything.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Charity never fails… who? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Wasn’t making me a more Christlike person at all.

I had a really poor attitude about this particular calling.

I mean, I actually performed my duties very well.

I was on the ball.

I probably looked like I was “fulfilling my calling” perfectly from the outside.

But on the inside?

I felt resentful, annoyed, and prideful.

Months went by.

At our next stake conference, someone gave a simple talk about serving with “real intent” in our hearts.

Mormon actually summed up this lesson when he said, “. . . except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing.” (Moroni 7:6)

As I listened to this random talk at a stake conference, I felt personally called out by the Spirit.

I knew that if I changed my attitude and tried to have real intent in my calling, I could be uplifted by it.

I worked really hard to have a change of heart.

My calling did not change—

In fact, I kept it for another year.

But it worked!

Slowly but surely, fulfilling my calling became a source of joy, connection, love, and overwhelming experiences with the Spirit.

It took hard work.

But switching from being resentful to trying to serve the Lord with “real intent” completely changed my outlook on service in the Church.

“When we recognize God’s hand in our calling and serve with all our hearts, additional power comes into our service, and we become true servants of Jesus Christ.” – Carl B. Cook

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post I was a grouch first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Moroni’s life and his own commentary reveal that he was going through pretty much exactly what brave Anna was experiencing in her dark cave. ⁣

Can you imagine being all alone?

And not knowing what was going to happen to you next?⁣

After having lived a life of general predictability, being thrown into a situation where you have absolutely no idea what tomorrow might bring?⁣

Moroni had been honest ever since his father died. ⁣

He didn’t think he was going to live very long. ⁣

So he hurried and wrote down his father’s last teachings. ⁣

But then… he was still alive. ⁣

So he looked at the Jaredite records, and had a prompting that he should abridge those. ⁣

Halfway through, he said goodbye again. ⁣

But after still being alive, he kept going until those records were complete.⁣⁣

And then he was still alive. ⁣

As unpleasant as it might seem, Moroni was actually expecting to be killed, time after time. ⁣

And so when his plans changed and he was left with unexpectedly large amounts of free time, what did he do?⁣

He did the next right thing. ⁣

He didn’t spend his days wasting away, thinking that his death would come eventually. ⁣

And he didn’t wait to see the whole big picture before jumping in. ⁣

He just took a step.

And then another step.

And then another, not being able to see the next step until he had taken the one right in front of him. ⁣

I’ve had plenty of times where my life has turned upside down.

Searching for a job that wasn’t coming, leaving an opportunity that I loved, or even having some summer plans completely change. ⁣

On a much, much smaller and less dramatic scale, I have often needed to remind myself of this same lesson. ⁣

I can’t see the whole plan.

I can’t know the purpose for every action. ⁣

But I think I can figure out what the very next right thing is, and take that step.

And that keeps me moving forward, through the darkness of uncertainty.

“Now I, Moroni, after having made an end of abridging the account of the people of Jared, I had supposed not to have written more, but I have not as yet perished…” (Moroni 1:1)

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Ready for a spiritual thought from Frozen 2?! first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I was preparing a lesson I had to give on Friday to my group of teenage girls in my counselor group.

I prayed and pondered a lot.

Eventually I had a story pop into my mind to share and center my lesson around. ⁣

Friday came, and it was a beautiful experience!

The Spirit was present.

Girls opened up about their feelings.

I knew that I had followed the promptings of the Spirit. ⁣

⁣The next week came, now with a brand new group of girls.

I felt so excited for Friday’s lesson since it had gone so well the previous week!

Except, I kept having the thought to re-plan it.

I didn’t feel good about it.

I pushed that thought to the side, though, because the previous week’s lesson had been so successful.

I never replanned.

Friday came, and I taught the lesson the same exact way. . .

And it was a total flop.

I didn’t feel the Spirit, I could tell my girls weren’t feeling it, and I just felt confused.

We can’t do the exact same thing every time and expect Him to be present.

The Spirit is not a calculation.

Moroni taught, “. . . the power of the Holy Ghost led them whether to preach, or to exhort, or to pray, or to supplicate, or to sing.” (Moroni 6:9)

The Spirit is dynamic, adaptive, and exactly what we need it to be.

If we cling too much to how the Spirit worked for us in the past or how it worked for others, we might miss out on the blessings that come from asking the Spirit what we need right now.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The perfect EFY lesson  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.