⁣”. . . He was a man of many words, and did speak much flattery to the people; therefore he led many of the people to do after the manner of his iniquities.” (Mosiah 27:8)

It seems like Alma was a natural leader.

And it seems like he was a charismatic speaker.

He was able to convince a lot of people that their parents had foolish traditions.

But then what happened a few years later?

Alma used those same strong speaking and leadership skills to unite, baptize, and convert countless Nephites as their high priest.

He convinced many people of the error of their ways!

Alma had innate, God-given talents.

But it was up to Alma how he used them.

What talents have you been blessed with?

It’s worth considering if we are using our talents for good.

Or for evil.

Or . . . are we not using them at all?

God wants us to use what we have to offer to build up the world.

He wants us to improve our local church community.

He wants us to contribute to our families.

He wants us to build ourselves up.

The talents that we have matter.

And what we choose to do with those talents matters a whole lot!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Charismatic and persuasive Alma first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

My friend stopped talking to me. ⁣

She hung out with new people at lunch and recess for a few days.

For a kid in elementary school, this was a big deal. ⁣

I felt really badly about what I had done, but I also didn’t know what to do about it.

Well, my mom found out what happened. ⁣

We talked about how I hadn’t been kind.

My mom made me write an apology letter, and we walked over to this friend’s house with my letter and a treat in my hand. ⁣

While I waited for my friend to answer the door, I realized how awkward this was going to be.

I felt this pressure in my chest.

What was my mom making me do?!

My friend answered the door.

I handed her the letter and treat, said that I was sorry, and then my mom and I walked back home. ⁣

I felt better.

I mean, yeah, it had been pretty awkward, but it felt really good to finally confront the problem instead of running away from it.

That was distinctly the first time I remember the freeing power of repentance. ⁣

After my sin, I had felt that weight of guilt.

And that guilt was amplified by a million when my mom made me actually face my friend and apologize.

It felt uncomfortable to face someone and admit that I was wrong. ⁣

But that freeing feeling afterwards?!

THAT was worth it. ⁣

And I’ve felt that over and over again as I’ve matured and worked through my relationship with my Savior.

That weight of guilt when I sin is so heavy. ⁣

And I know that it’s going to get even heavier when I go to repent. The pressure gets even higher because I’m actually facing what I did wrong. ⁣

But once I face that pressure, and give my soul over to my Savior, I feel that relief.

And I’ve learned turning to the Savior is really an essential step of the forgiveness process that changes my heart in permanent ways.

“My soul hath been redeemed from the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity. I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold the marvelous light of God. My soul was racked with eternal torment; but I am snatched, and my soul is pained no more.” (Mosiah 27:29)

No matter the size of the sin, that weight can be gone.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post No friend at recess first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

He kept wasting everyone’s time by calling for help where there was no danger.

Eventually, he cried “wolf” so many times that no one came to help him when a wolf actually arrived.

No one believed him when he really meant it.

It’s so easy to believe that we, too, only have a certain amount of times of calling out for help before we look like a hypocrite.

“Really? You think you are actually going to change this time, even though you thought that last time, too?!”

“You must not really be trying.”

But I’ve learned that the Lord never gives up on us.

“Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me.” (Mosiah 26:30)

He never gets to the point where He says we’ve used up His trust and that He won’t believe us anymore.

He’s cheering us on!

As often as we need.

Even when we feel like a hypocrite to the outside world, we’ve still got the Lord by our side.

No matter how many times it takes!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The boy who cried wolf  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.