No one likes feeling like a project. ⁣

We all want to matter to other people in real ways.

Which makes fake friendships or very obviously being a “project” especially harmful. ⁣

Maybe your mind is starting to feel frustration or resentment for moments when you’ve lacked authentic connection and friendship.

But let’s look forward with a “Lord, is it I?” mindset.

Do we sometimes treat others just like an assignment? ⁣

Do we forget that each person we interact with is an extremely valuable Child of God that He loves more than we can comprehend?

Do we avoid the vulnerability of “real” for the comfort of “safe”?⁣

Jesus Christ, of course, taught the perfect example of this. ⁣

First, he instructed the Nephites that if someone isn’t worthy, they should not be partaking of the sacrament anymore. ⁣

(A command that always seemed harsh to me until I realized that “being damned” is less about a curse from an ruthless God and instead a natural consequence of stopping our own progression.)⁣

But then, Jesus tells His disciples to never cast out those who have become unworthy. ⁣

Instead?⁣

“Ye shall minister unto him and shall pray for him”. (3 Nephi 18:30)⁣

We always minister and pray and love.

So how do we accomplish this without making someone feel like a project?⁣

This is something I’ve been working on for a while – developing and showing true, authentic love. ⁣

And something that I’ve only been able to do by seeing beautiful examples from other women that I look up to.

What have they taught me? ⁣

Listen much more than we talk. ⁣

Most people just want someone to connect with.

And connection comes through conversation and shared experiences. ⁣

And when I listen to a sister who has lived a very different path than I have, and I listen and pray and listen some more…⁣

I am filled with the true love of God towards them. ⁣

Some people aren’t ready to open up and talk yet, which means finding small ways to show them I care and remember them. ⁣

But at the end of the day, we all crave true connection. ⁣

So I challenge you to reflect today:

How can I become more authentic in my relationships with others?⁣

How can I show love, no matter what others choose to do?

How I continue to minister and pray in precisely the way my Savior would to each of His children?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post No one likes a project  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

But He said to NOT travel to find Him?

You had to stay at home.

How would you prepare mentally and spiritually?

When I know something spiritual is about to happen, my preparation makes a huge impact on my experience.

I’ve had stake conferences where I’ve embraced preparatory challenges or talks to study from my stake leaders.

I’ve also had stake conferences where I completely ignore them because I’m too busy.

And guess which stake conferences have been more meaningful to me?

The ones where I put in the hard work and sacrificed my personal time to prepare!

When Christ told the Nephites that He would be returning the next day, they all spread the word and went to work.

“An exceedingly great number, did labor exceedingly all that night, that they might be on the morrow in the place where Jesus should show himself unto the multitude.” (3 Nephi 19:3)

Preparation can be hard work.

It can be a sacrifice.

But putting in the effort to prepare for experiences with Jesus will always be worth it!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Preparing for Jesus first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

All 3 kids were excited to get started.

We were reading about Jesus visiting the Nephites and blessing the little children and looking at pictures.

“Why is Jesus crying?”

“No, it’s my turn to read, you just went!”

“There are angels!”

“Did Jesus create all the United States?”

“She’s making me laugh!”

“If we were there, we would have been part of that group of kids too!”

A little all over the place, which is pretty normal for a 2, 4, and 6 year old.

We did our best, and it was all good.

Then it was time for family prayer and all three kids wanted to pray.

So we literally had all 3 kids say the family prayer, one after the other.

It was chaotic but also so sweet.

Young kids are often a lot of work. Frustrating. Impatient. Constantly in need.⁣

But other times, I catch a glimpse of their pure and powerful spirits.

My kids are real people. They’ve got a full mortal life and a spiritual forever ahead of them.

And although they need to mature developmentally…⁣

They have faith now. ⁣

They have pure, simple faith. They believe Jesus really did visit the children of the Nephites with all their heart.

And I think that’s why Christ wept when He was with the little children. ⁣

His joy was full because of their great faith. ⁣

President Henry B. Eyring once shared that he felt frustrated with a son who was jumping on the bed. ⁣

He grabbed his son by his shoulders, and immediately the Spirit spoke to him:⁣

“You are holding a great person.”⁣

Children are not easy to raise. They are not always obedient, kind, and willing to share. They are not perfect in that sense. ⁣At all.

But they are perfect in their faith. ⁣

It is unwavering. It is pure. ⁣

And that is what filled Christ with such joy that He wept. ⁣

I like to reflect on whether or not I’ve lost that Christlike faith. If I’ve become just a touch too cynical or conditional or “realistic”.

I want my faith to become more childlike and pure, so that I can make my Savior’s joy full. ⁣

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post A glimpse into our family study  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Have you ever noticed that often, the commandment to “pray always” is accompanied by the reasoning that we need to conquer the adversary?

Jesus implored the Nephites to:

“. . . pray always, lest ye be tempted by the devil, and ye be led away captive by him.” (3 Nephi 18:15) 

As I’ve gotten better at praying, I’ve noticed that my best prayers are ones that turn into a conversation with God.

They are prayers where I’m sharing my true feelings.

I’m pondering.

I’m even receiving promptings for what to pray for next.

Think about that:

An actual conversation with God.

It’s no wonder that Jesus asks us to pray so often that we end up aligning our wills with Heavenly Father.

When we want exactly what God wants for us in our lives…

Then the devil doesn’t stand a chance!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The power of prayer  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.