My friend and I were having a discussion years ago about sharing the gospel, visiting teaching, and feeling uplifted, all by being social. ⁣

And her very introverted husband interrupted us and asked this question. ⁣

It kind of stopped me in my tracks, because I had just been talking about how connecting and talking with people was how I felt the love of God working in my life. ⁣

I don’t think I had a great answer for him then, but I have never forgotten his question. ⁣

Jesus taught:

“Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (3 Nephi 12:16)

And since I’m pretty extroverted, it’s not natural for me to understand others’ desires to NOT be social and interact with people. ⁣

But I feel that as I’ve matured and grown, I’ve learned that absolutely 100% without a doubt that introverted people can still let their lights shine and be perfect examples of gospel living. ⁣

Why?⁣

Because we ALL have the light of Christ within us. ⁣

Sharing our “light” doesn’t mean getting up on stage and belting out a solo.

It doesn’t mean carrying out lengthy conversations with everyone in the ward.

It doesn’t mean putting your testimony on social media every single day. ⁣

It CAN mean those things, but it certainly doesn’t have to. ⁣

Letting our light shine means letting the Light of Christ naturally shine through as we develop our strengths that we have been given. ⁣

And if that means that you think your “shining” looks different, smaller, or less interesting than the ways that other people “shine”, it truly doesn’t matter. ⁣

If we are doing good works and leaning into our unique strengths, Christ can help us become more than we are now. ⁣

He can amplify our light and stretch us to become even brighter. ⁣

So what is YOUR unique way that you can shine? It will probably look different than mine, or your spouse’s, or your friend’s –

But comparison is the thief of joy. ⁣

So turn your attention to the Savior – how can you let your personal God-given light shine in the best way that only you can?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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

He asked if I wanted to share headphones with him to watch it together.

But I turned him down, telling him I was going to take a nap.

Well, I didn’t take a nap.

Instead, I kept watching the documentary out of the corner of my eye while only reading the captions on the screen.

The main person being interviewed looked like a big, tough guy.

(It was a sports documentary.)

I could just imagine what he sounded like as he spoke the words I was reading on the screen.

Finally, my husband insisted:

“You’re watching it anyways, just wear the headphones!”

As I slipped the headphones over my ears, I was shocked to learn that this man’s voice sounded nothing like what I had been imagining for the past 20 minutes with subtitles!

I had unknowingly built up a voice for this man without ever hearing him speak.

I was surprised when I discovered that wasn’t how he sounded at all.

Jesus taught:

“But behold, ye have both heard my voice, and seen me; and ye are my sheep, and ye are numbered among those whom the Father hath given me.” (3 Nephi 15:24)

In order to choose to be Jesus’ sheep, we can’t just guess what Jesus would say and do.

We can’t make good assumptions based on what we think a good person would do.

We need to KNOW His voice and KNOW His actions.

And in my experience, the best way to really get to know Jesus?

Dive into the scriptures.

Dive in with an open and humble heart to learn what Jesus would do.

And the Spirit can do its job to testify, confirm, and teach.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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

Growing up, the attitude of many things from my vantage point in the Church was very black and white.

For example, R-rated movies = bad.

But I’ve loved this ongoing Restoration, this maturation of our understanding.

Less rules and checkboxes from the Church. ⁣

This is what my mind was immediately drawn to when reading about how Christ appeared to the Nephites. ⁣

He is telling the Nephites that the strict, prescriptive Law of Moses is gone. ⁣

“Therefore those things which were of old time, which were under the law, in me are all fulfilled. Old things are done away, and all things have become new.” (3 Nephi 12:46-47)

But here’s the important shift – ⁣

In place of these lower, specific commands and counsel, we are instead given a higher law to self-administer. ⁣

Instead of not killing, we shouldn’t even be angry. ⁣

Instead of not committing adultery, we shouldn’t even lust in our minds. ⁣

Instead of loving our neighbors, love our enemies too. ⁣

And that’s what we’ve seen as a religious people in recent years. ⁣

Instead of sitting and passively listening to a lesson for an extra hour at church, make your own plan and teach your family. ⁣

Instead of visiting your assigned sister every month, figure out what she actually needs and do it, whenever that may be.

Instead of avoiding R-rated movies, figure out how to avoid the evil influences of Satan in any way possible. ⁣

Jesus’s powerful invitations shared in His “Sermon on the Mount” and His sermon at the temple in Bountiful are beautiful reminders that restrictions being taken away isn’t a free pass – it’s a call to a higher way to live.

Because in reality, Jesus doesn’t want really good rule followers.

Jesus wants people who are ready to become better out of their own free will and choice.

He wants disciples that use their agency to seek after the kingdom of God above all else.

Jesus Himself knows the blessings, confidence, and access to priesthood power that come when we choose the higher and the holier way to live.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Higher and Holier  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I clean up a little mess that no one will ever care about.

I refrain from saying something rude and instead try to feel greater love for that person.

I choose a slightly more healthy option than I otherwise would have done.

In fact, most good, positive things that I do will never be noticed or recognized by anyone.

And it’s okay!

I don’t need a trophy for every good decision I make.

Although that would be nice…

But there IS someone who notices everything.

“Thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.” (3 Nephi 13:18)

He sees when I’m about to go to sleep, and I’ve forgotten to read my scriptures. So I roll over and read a couple verses. ⁣

He sees when I feel frustration boiling up inside, but I stay calm and kind, defusing the situation. ⁣

He sees when I get a prompting to text a friend, and follow through on it. ⁣

But the part I forget most of all?⁣

Heavenly Father actually rewards me for every little positive effort that I make. ⁣

He is constantly raining blessings on me!

Do I notice the rainstorm of blessings though?

Or are my thick umbrellas of self-criticism, slothfulness, and distraction blocking me from receiving these blessings?

Am I allowing myself to be rewarded and blessed for the good things that I do?

I’ve noticed that when I slow down and give the Spirit a chance to show me the blessings that I may have missed each day, I start to feel recognized, appreciated, loved, and blessed by my dear Father in Heaven.

“God’s greatest reward goes to those who serve without expectation of reward. It goes to those who serve without fanfare; those who quietly go about seeking ways to help others; those who minister to others simply because they love God and God’s children.” – Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post No one ever notices  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.