And two different styles of believing. ⁣

I think it’s interesting that both of them followed their father and mother into the wilderness BEFORE receiving their own witness that they were really following the Lord. ⁣

They had borrowed their parents’ faith. ⁣

But after a few days in the wilderness, they both needed to know for sure. ⁣

“I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father…” (1 Nephi 2:16)

NEPHI prayed. He cried unto the Lord. The Lord softened his heart. ⁣

“And I spake unto Sam, making known unto him the things which the Lord had manifested unto me by his Holy Spirit. And it came to pass that he believed in my words.” (1 Nephi 2:17)

And SAM believed Nephi’s words. ⁣

“Don’t be discouraged if you find yourself having to believe on the testimony of others. That in and of itself is a gift.” – Elder Rasband

I think a lot of the time I’m like Nephi. I need to know for myself. I plead with the Lord and He eventually softens my heart. ⁣

And other times, I am like Sam. The experience and strong witness of others is good enough for me. In fact, it is often accompanied by my own quieter spiritual confirmation. ⁣

But Sam might have had a hard time believing if Nephi hadn’t shared his experience.

Nephi shared his witness. And then Sam believed. ⁣

When I am like Nephi and I gain a strong witness of a principle or a doctrine, am I sharing it with the people I love? ⁣

Am I sharing it with the people around me who may benefit from it? Or just keeping my testimony and witness to myself?⁣

Conversion is powerful and personal. ⁣

But we also have the chance to uplift the Sams around us who may NEED to hear our story in order to start their own conversion. ⁣

How many times have WE been grateful for the touching stories that others have shared that have encouraged further conversion in our lives?⁣

Sometimes we are Sam, and sometimes we are Nephi.

And when we are Nephi, let’s have his courage to share what we have learned to help convert others.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Sometimes Sam and Sometimes Nephi first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

But I am so grateful for the few glimpses we get into how Lehi and Sariah interacted!

Sariah started complaining and murmuring that her sons were probably killed in the wilderness.

She couldn’t believe she trusted her “visionary” husband.⁣

She blamed her husband for her trials.

And I completely understand where Sariah was coming from–

I have blamed my husband for much more minor offenses than forcing us to leave our home and losing our children.

After Sariah complained, but before her sons returned, we see how Lehi responded:

He reaffirmed the truth of the visions he had.

And then he comforted her.

“And after this manner of language did my father, Lehi, comfort my mother, Sariah, concerning us  . . . .” (1 Nephi 5:6)

Lehi comforted his grieving and frustrated wife.

Pointing fingers in a marriage (or any relationship) is easy.

But often, what we all need is just comfort.

Despite our weaknesses, we want to know that we are loved and cared for.

Jesus did this a lot.

He comforted and mourned with those who were distraught.

And it’s a great pattern for each of us to try to emulate just a little bit better.

To try to show love in a mortal world where it is so easy to criticize.

To take off the judgmental lenses and embrace the child of God.

Great relationships involve showing comfort and love, especially when we are the most vulnerable.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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

Isn’t it CRAZY sometimes to think about how people in very similar circumstances can receive completely different responses to their prayers?⁣

A young couple gets married, and everyone has advice on how long they should or shouldn’t wait to have a kid, based on their own experiences and personal answers. ⁣

Parents pray together about how to deal with a specific child, and receive an answer that seems completely incomprehensible to someone else dealing with their own child. ⁣

A Bishop prays and feels that the ward should have certain initiatives or priorities, even though another Bishop has completely different ideas for his ward. ⁣

So who is wrong, and who is right? ⁣

Nephi clarified this for us in a beautiful, but often complicated lesson.⁣

“I was led by the Spirit”. ⁣(1 Nephi 4:6)

Two people, praying for exactly the same advice, may receive two completely different answers.

And if they have the Spirit with them, this is completely fine. ⁣

Two mothers may pray.

One mother may get a full-time job, and one mother may stay with her kids full-time.

As long as both are staying close to the Spirit and listening to their personal promptings, this is exactly how it should be. ⁣

It is sometimes a little difficult to read the account of Nephi slaying King Laban.

How could this make sense? Couldn’t there have been another way for Nephi to obtain these important plates?⁣

But when it comes down to it, Nephi reminds us:⁣

“I was led by the Spirit”. ⁣ (1 Nephi 4:6)

The answer he received in that moment was meant exactly for him in that situation.

And since he was close to the Spirit, that was clearly the right thing for him to do. No concerns about it. ⁣

Sometimes it can be hard to see when other people act on different promptings than we receive. ⁣

But Nephi followed the personal instructions he was given, no matter how difficult they were for him to follow. ⁣

And I think our lives are best lived when we stop worrying so much about and comparing the decisions other people are making, and instead focus on this big question:⁣

Do I have the Spirit with me?⁣

And that’s all that matters.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Married way too young first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

His older brother Laman had tried and failed to get the brass plates from Laban.

So Laman and Lemuel were about to return to their father with the bad news.

They hadn’t been able to get the plates.

Bummer, it would have been so nice to have the scriptures.

But this was just impossible. Their dad would understand that!

But Nephi wasn’t going to let that happen.

Failure wasn’t an option for him.

And not just because he didn’t want to fail.

No, Nephi had an even better reason.

He explained:

“I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.” (1 Nephi 3:7)

Nephi knew that if there was a commandment, a prompting, a divine direction…

Then God would absolutely provide a way.

This wasn’t just Nephi being a tenacious go-getter.

This was Nephi demonstrating his ultimate faith.

So what righteous things would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?

What if you knew you COULD figure out how to be a more kind and patient mom?

What if you knew you COULD love the people in your ward and want to willingly serve them?

What if you knew you COULD learn to love the scriptures, or General Conference, or attending the temple?

Sure, we might fall short in the little tasks.

We might have very discouraging setbacks.

Over and over again.

But when we have the ultimate faith that the Lord WILL provide a way for us to accomplish the things we need to accomplish, we will not give up.

And ultimately, we will not fail.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Not just tenacious first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.