And then I got into choirs in High School. All of a sudden, we were adding nuanced dynamics and shaping phrases. My mind was blown! This was so much more exciting, and took a lot more practice and focus.

And then I got into the Women’s Chorus at BYU. Suddenly, we were focusing on where the sound was resonating in your mouth when you sing, different styles of vibrato and tone, and tuning notes that didn’t sound that “off” to me. 

If you had taken me to a BYU Choir concert when I was 12 years old, I would have said that the choirs sounded amazing because they were all singing the right notes. 

If you had taken me to a BYU Choir concert when I was 17 years old, I would have told you how amazing their dynamics, phrasing, and breaths were.

We only notice what we know to notice. 

I like to think of some of the most Christlike people that I have known in my life. 

When I was 12 years old, I would have told you they were Christlike because they were reading their scriptures and going to church.

When I was 17 years old, I would have told you they were Christlike because they were also kind and loving. They liked to serve other people.

And now, at 28, I notice that they also regularly attend the temple. They volunteer to serve beyond what would be expected. They invite the spirit into their lives. They act on promptings regularly, without analyzing their way out of it. 

I only notice what I know to notice.

This makes me think of the Savior. We study his life and learn of him through the scriptures, church, Conference talks, spiritual promptings. 

But we only learn what we are ready to learn.

What a perfectly individualized spiritual education plan. 

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Line upon line first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

There’s no secret for who is winning this war. We KNOW that Satan will lose. 

But we also know that he will take many souls down with him. 

In 2 Nephi 28, we are also given some details about his top 3 strategies for dragging people down to hell and misery with him. 

ANGER. “Stir them up to anger against that which is good.” (v20)

PACIFY. “All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth”. (v21)

FLATTER. “There is no hell… I am no devil, for there is none”. (v22)

Now, I can almost guarantee that it was easy to think of OTHER people who have clearly fallen for each of these tactics from the adversary. 

But, my mantra for scripture study has always been and will always be: “Lord, is it I?”

First, do I have ANGER? Am I ever angry because someone else is doing good things and they are getting recognition that I am not? Am I frustrated when someone wants to do something the right way instead of the easier way, and it becomes inconvenient for me? Am I ever angry at a group of people who are just trying to do good?

Second, do I allow myself to be FLATTERED? Am I ever flattered to think that Satan wouldn’t spend any of his time on me? Do I allow the adversary to whisper in my ears without realizing it? Do I think that my sins aren’t that bad and that I would never actually receive punishment? Do I allow Satan to feed off of my pride?

And then there’s PACIFY. I think it is interesting that this is the only tactic of the adversary that mentions “Zion” – which makes me think this is the biggest stumbling block for people IN the church. Do I think that everything is just fine and dandy in my life right now, simply because I am a member of the church? Do I become too comfortable with my spiritual progression? Do I not even notice the little sins that have crept into my life because I have let my guard down? Do I think “enduring to the end” means coasting and not actively reaching out in love to people around me? 

Whew. Those are a lot of questions to consider. 

And, just like a battle, there are certain strategies that are going to work on certain people more than others. 

So what tactic is Satan using to try and lead YOU “carefully down to hell”? 

I honestly think that just recognizing his sneakiness and calling it out makes a big difference in casting him out of our lives. 

And we can do this, because we have his playbook! We KNOW he will lose, but we KNOW what desperate attempts he will make on us on his way down. 

“Get thee hence!” 

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Anger, pacify, flatter first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Suddenly, I remembered that I had a small homework assignment that was due online.

It was the end of the semester at BYU, it was an easy Education class, and I really wanted to sleep.

I knew I would get 10% off for each day it was late, and I knew I could still easily get an A in the course no matter what grade I got in this small assignment.

So I went to bed.

I was doing some basic “risk assessment” – and I was accurate in my conclusion. I got a 90% on the assignment, and an easy solid A in the class at the end of the semester.

I willingly chose the “punishment” because I knew it wouldn’t affect my overall outcome.

Can we do risk assessment with our salvation?

Can we calculate what the negative consequences will be and then decide whether or not we want to follow the rules exactly or whether we want to fudge the lines a bit?

Well, we can. But Nephi gives us the Lord’s dire warning against this.

Because the purpose of this life is not to “pass” or to turn in the correct assignments.

We are here to fundamentally CHANGE who we are and become like God.

So when we use risk assessment and decide that we are fine with the eternal consequences for a little bit of sin and merriness, we mock our Savior’s atoning sacrifice.

We are willingly doing something wrong because we think we’d rather face a little bit of godly punishment than deal with disciplined growth.

This can look like refusing to confess a sin. Making media choices we know are wrong because the rest of the world watches it, so it can’t be that bad. Knowingly committing a sin but thinking it’s justified because of all the good we do.

We will commit sin. We will commit sin when we know better.

But when we decide that we would rather sin and deal with the consequences than try to change our desires, we’re trying to do risk assessment with our souls.

And we miss out on true godly sorrow, growth, and progressive change. 

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post “Risk assessment” with our salvation first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I was a good kid, and I told him honestly that I read my scriptures and prayed every day, was obedient to my parents, kind to my siblings, went to all my church meetings…

He told me how awesome all of that was.

And then he asked me, “So what are you working on improving right now for how you live the gospel?”

I literally froze. I was doing everything right, right?!

So I responded, “Uh, I don’t know.”

I remember he smiled so kindly at me and said, “Well maybe you can work on trying to answer that question next.”

This has always made me cringe/laugh in embarrassment now that I look back at it.

In my developing mind, checking all the gospel “boxes” meant that there wasn’t anything left for me to improve! And I can promise you I actually had plenty of things to improve.

I can’t even imagine feeling that way anymore – I’ve got a long list of things I need to work on and change, and I am VERY well aware of it!

I don’t think that are many of us who really feel “at ease” in Zion.

But we have to make sure the pendulum doesn’t swing too far the other way from “overly-confident teen” to “never-good-enough adult”.

Nephi isn’t saying, “Wo unto those who feel happy or comfortable in Zion at all!”

We are a part of Zion. Can we acknowledge what we are doing right? AND have our list of qualities we want to improve? Can both of these exist at the same time?

I think so. And I think it is a balancing act that takes a lot of work to get just right.

We can go to a temple recommend interview and respond with confidence. AND we can fully recognize the things we still need to improve.

We can belong in Zion and be happy, but always look for ways to be a little bit better.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Not at ease but still belonging first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I explained that a baby’s tummy is so small that you should only fill it with milk that gives him all the nutrients he needs.

If you gave him water, he would think he was full, but he would starve because he wouldn’t have the nutrients he needs.

I told her that even though it may seem counter-intuitive, he gets all the “hydration” he needs from the milk he drinks!

So this scripture in 2 Nephi jumped out to me when I read it.

What are the things that I am doing with my time and energy that I THINK are giving me nourishment, but are really just taking up space that the important things need?

Social media. Watching shows. Checking email (again). Lots of outside commitments. A to-do list filled with things that aren’t necessary. Perfectionism. Busy work for a calling instead of focusing on the most important parts. Keeping up appearances.

And many more depending on different stages of life.

Sometimes, we trick ourselves into thinking that we are busy with important things.

But in reality, we are fooling ourselves, and we end up depleted of spiritual nourishment.

And sometimes, it can confuse us for a bit! “Wait a second, I spent a lot of time planning a great lesson for Sunday. I’ve been keeping up with lots of good friends on Facebook. I’m making sure my house is clean before I go to bed. My kids are involved in lots of good activities. Why am I missing my connection with God? Why do I feel spiritually starving?”

None of these things are bad on their own.

Water is good! It’s a component of breast milk or formula!

But when we stuff ourselves full of these things, we miss out on the things that truly NOURISH our soul.

We’ve got limited time. Let’s make true nourishment our priority.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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