I was also freshly postpartum.

And a pandemic had just started, leaving me feeling overwhelmed.

This is when I learned that the excruciating pain I kept experiencing meant I needed to have an immediate, unexpected gallbladder removal surgery.

And on top of that, I didn’t take my phone charger with me to the hospital when my husband dropped me off at the ER.

Suddenly, in one of my busiest seasons of life, I was forced to completely slow down.

(While also asking kind nurses to let me borrow their charger from time to time so I could at least communicate with my husband.)

It was really hard at first.

I ended up spending 3 days virtually alone in the hospital.

But I remember the Spirit whispering to me, “Just slow down for a bit.”

It turned into a really sacred time of reset for me.

Alma had to deal with two jobs–

One as the high priest of the church.

And the other as the chief judge of the land.

He said that he felt sorrowful with everything he had to deal with!

And so Alma, “. . . retained the office of high priest unto himself; but he delivered the judgment-seat unto Nephihah.” (Alma 4:18)

Alma gave up one job and kept the other.

And guess what this meant for Alma?

He was suddenly able to do so much more!

By saying no to one thing, he was able to travel the land and be the best high priest that the people needed.

Sometimes, whether by choice or by a completely unexpected surgery and hospital stay, I am reminded that when I say no to some opportunities, I’m actually able to do more.

Simplifying where possible helps me magnify the few roles that I have.

And the Spirit can lead me to know the next right step.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Forced to slow down first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

For some reason, we started talking about different callings in the church. ⁣

I felt like I should ask him what his favorite calling had ever been. ⁣

This is a man who had been a mission president in Romania, a branch president at the MTC, a bishop, and pretty much every other “prestigious” calling in the book. ⁣

He thought about my question for a while. ⁣

I was pretty sure he would say mission president.

But then he said his favorite calling was being a ward Sunday School teacher. ⁣

He said that he loved just discussing the gospel with other people. ⁣

That conversation has always stayed with me.

Because to me, he had served in so many “important callings”…

And yet the one that he picked seemed so mundane. ⁣

But my grandpa also really loved the gospel. ⁣

I think he understood that the “prestige” of his callings didn’t really matter.

They didn’t make him any better than anyone else. ⁣

At the end of the day, he loved teaching the gospel and listening to the gospel being taught. ⁣

I love the beautiful, cyclical nature of callings in the church. ⁣

We get taught lessons by new converts, by young moms, by former stake presidents…

And there’s always something to learn!⁣

I love this commentary from Alma chapter 1:

“And when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God.

“And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors;

“and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner;

“and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor, every man according to his strength.” (Alma 1:26)

It’s a beautiful reminder that in this church, none of us is greater than the other. ⁣

Unlike other establishments where people seek power or high ranks or to “move up the ladder”, we get the cool opportunity to serve other people in different ways at different times. ⁣

And when pride or jealousy start to creep in, those are great reminders to keep in perspective. ⁣

Every “calling” in this church is temporary.

None of them dictate how much value we hold.

All of them give us opportunities to serve and become a little better.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post My grandpa’s favorite calling first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

“Nevertheless the Lord did strengthen the hand of the Nephites, that they slew the Amlicites with great slaughter, that they began to flee before them.” (Alma 2:18)

The Lord can strengthen us during tough times in our lives.

As the Amlicites came to battle against the Nephites, the Lord gave the Nephites that extra strength to be able to prevail.

But do you want to know what heartbreaking information is revealed in the very next verse as the battle nears its end?

“. . .There were slain of the Nephites six thousand five hundred sixty and two souls.” (Alma 2:19)

Wait, so the Nephites were strengthened to conquer their enemies…

But over 6,000 righteous individuals were still killed?

I’ve learned that living in a mortal world means that we can’t endure tough times completely unscathed.

Good people endure tragedies and live with lasting trauma.

Brutal chronic and mental illnesses stick around.

Hearts that have been healed still have tender spots.

But I’ve also learned that it is always better to go through tough times with Jesus instead of without.

In fact, the Amlicites lost dramatically more people than the Nephites did when you look at the ending tally.

Life with Jesus means we will still experience blows, heartache, and pain.

We aren’t always shielded from all harm.

But the Nephites were still victorious in battle.

And I know we can also still rely on His strength to carry us through as the ultimate victor.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Victorious but not unharmed  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.