Among the fantastic theories and advice that I learned in that class was the idea that every single culture is just one generation from becoming extinct.

Especially when you use the word “culture” in relation to individual families: every single family has a different set of traditions, hobbies, values, language patterns, shared experiences, specific food, etc.

Every single family’s specific culture is just one generation from disappearing.

And this is why it become so essential to learn about our ancestors and predecessors.

Because we are teaching the importance of our family culture and helping the next generation learn the patterns, values, and events that have shaped them.

When Alma was preaching in Ammonihah, he got a little frustrated:

“How have ye forgotten the tradition of your fathers”! Alma 9:8.

How can you possibly forget the miracles that brought Lehi across the ocean?

How can you possibly forget the countless times that God has saved us from our enemies?

It sounds like the people in Ammonihah had stopped learning about their history – both from spoken record and from reading scriptures.

How are we doing at remembering the traditions of our fathers and mothers?

We all have family culture to study. And the cool part is that we can prayerfully and wisely decide which parts of our culture need to continue.

And which parts need to stop with us.

And we ALL can use the scriptures to see even more examples of how God has helped the people who turn to Him.

This helps convince us more fully that He will still help us as we turn to Him today.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Keeping our culture alive first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

She’s really good at rolling out the different colored play-dohs, pressing them into molds, and folding them into “tacos”.

She’s still learning how to clean it up, though.

A few hours after we play with play-doh, I inevitably find little “tacos” that fell underneath the table. They are a little crusty around the edges, but I usually try to squish them back into a container.

But after repeating this too many times, the play-doh becomes hardened to the point that I have to throw it away.

It doesn’t usually happen all at once. It’s a gradual process, becoming just a little more difficult to mold each time.

Whereas the play-doh that’s been put away nicely each time is still perfectly moldable.

It might be a silly analogy, but to me it’s the perfect representation of how our hearts and desires can change over time.

We are all little balls of clay that are being exposed to the harsh air of mortality – we’re naturally going to start to harden around the edges if we aren’t put away in a secure container.

We are given two choices:

Repent or become hardened.

When we keep repenting and changing, we allow those little rough bits to be picked out.

We show that we are willing to continue being molded into something better than the “taco” we might harden into. (I know, tacos are fantastic. But we can become even better than tacos, imagine that!) 

So what are we doing to prevent our hearts from naturally hardening?

Exposing our minds to harsh worldly entertainment, constant debates on social media, or rude attitudes will eventually keep us from being molded as easily.

And the key to preventing this?

Constant repentance. CONSTANT repentance.

Constantly changing and constantly being molded into something new at the hands of our Savior.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Hardened play-doh first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I sometimes think about the millions and billions of people who live on this earth.

While many of my brothers and sisters are doing righteous things and know their Savior well, I am one of the few on earth who has access to ALL of the blessings of the gospel, and has made covenants to do my part.

And sometimes I like to think, “Well, compared to everyone else, I think I’m doing alright.”

(Which 100% is prideful thought to have, and I’m working on that.)

But Alma reminds us in chapter 9, that we are judged according to the light we have been given.

So other people will be judged according to their limited knowledge of anything religious, or their truths they can grab from the Bible, or their absolute unawareness of Jesus Christ.

But I will be judged according to my wealth of knowledge about the Savior and God’s plan for me.

For a second, I think, “Well, that’s not very fair.”

And then I snap out of it.

Would I really rather NOT know what I know so that I can have a supposedly easier time on Judgment Day?!

Absolutely not.

My light and knowledge and covenants are more than worth it.

My friendship with my Savior is worth it.

I don’t want to be afraid of learning new things.

I don’t want to sacrifice the highest highs just so that I avoid the lowest lows.

I’ll take the risk.

I’d rather be held up to the highest standard, because I know that my Savior can help me measure up.

Is knowing Jesus Christ worth it to you?

Artist credit: @kenziejoscollection

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Is it worth the risk? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

For some reason, I get a little emotional when I think about the angel who visited Alma and told him to return to Ammonihah.

Because we get a small glimpse of this unknown angel’s emotions.

This angel praises Alma in a way that only someone who sees the “big picture” can do.

He tells Alma to lift up his head and rejoice, because he has stayed faithful and kept the commandments. And not to let his head hang down because of perceived “failures”.

And then I can hear the hint of pride and love in the angel’s words as he reminds Alma that he was the same angel who had appeared to him during his first life-changing vision.

But I have a feeling Alma didn’t need the reminder of who the angel was.

What a cool privilege for this angel – to be the one to twice visit Alma and guide his paths.

I imagine that this small encounter outside of Ammonihah was an emotional one.

And has the day of angels ceased today?

Absolutely not.

Angels, both seen and unseen, are still sent to guide us on our path and bring comfort.

I believe that it is a sacred and special spiritual gift for some to be able to recognize their presence more than others.

But we are also surrounded by mortal friends and family members who can act as literal angels as they listen to promptings and respond.

Ultimately, God will not leave us alone and unaided.

Whether he can use a loving mother, an inspired friend, or send a literal angel’s presence, we will not be alone when we trust that God will provide.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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

You know what I’ve learned about Alma?

He seems to have established his personal boundaries pretty well.

He had two giant jobs (chief judge and high priest). It was causing him a lot of sorrow, so he gave up the chief judge position.

And then, after teaching the saints in Gideon, “he returned to his own house at Zarahemla to rest himself from the labors which he had performed.” (Alma 8:1)

He needed to go home and rest – so he did!

He knew that he couldn’t keep going from city to city without a break. Other people had done it, but he knew that HE could not handle that without resting.

So he went home.

He used his down time to rest and refresh himself, and then he got back to work the next year as he traveled to Melek and Ammonihah.

That’s a delicate balance in the self-care realm, right?

To know when to rest, and to know when to get back to work.

I most certainly do not have this balance down perfectly. But I think I’m improving each day.

We can’t do the work we are meant to do on this earth if we are too tired.

And we also can’t do the work we are meant to do on this earth if we get lost in our relaxation.

The cool part? I guarantee Heavenly Father wants to help us find this balance.

I’m sure Alma prayed as he traveled back home to rest, and I’m sure he prayed for guidance when he knew it was time to continue his high priest duties.

So I’m trying better to include my Heavenly Father in my self-care habits – to know when I’m over-indulging, and to know when I’m over-stretched.

Alma knew how to say “no” and how to rest when he needed it – and I can learn how to set those necessary and divine boundaries, too.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Self-care guru Alma first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.