Probably about 5 years ago, I was reading the comments on one of these posts. I think it was about an old man who had given a candy to some lady’s son and it was an answer to her prayer.

Many of the comments said essentially the same thing:

“If only everyone was a little more like this old man!”

But one comment stood out to me.

“Everyone keeps commenting ‘if only everyone in the world was like this’ but there is no use in hoping everyone else would be nicer unless we all decide to be a little nicer. And that starts with you. When you see these types of stories, use them to reflect on how YOU can change, how YOU can be a better person, or be more like the person in the story. Don’t use them as chances to wallow in pity that everyone else isn’t more like them.”

BOOM.

I’m not exaggerating when I say this random Facebook comment changed my life.

In fact, I would challenge you to find a post that I’ve written where I call out OTHER people for how they should be different.

Ever since then, I have focused every lesson, every scripture study, every lesson I’ve taught on how I can learn.

I think the scripture application is pretty clear.

It is so much easier to read through the scriptures and see how they relate to other people in the world around us.

It takes a lot more spiritual maturity and practice to CONSTANTLY think about the sins in ourselves that are being described in the scriptures, and find ways to change.

In 3 Nephi Chapter 6, the near-perfect civilization was broken apart by pride.

Pride is pretty easy to see in other people. Disobedience, anger, contention, selfishness, grudges, defensiveness, low self-esteem, divisiveness.

But I encourage you to give your mind a break from trying to point out the sins in everyone around you, that you see on social media, or even that you hear about in the news.

And start looking inside.

Instead of wishing the world was less prideful, because we know that it’s only going to get worse…

Let’s try to become less prideful. More loving. More meek. More humble.

More Christlike.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Finding the pride inside first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Since my purpose for this account is to help others find meaningful personal applications in every single scripture, I’ve told a lot of personal stories.

If you’ve been around since the beginning, you probably know a lot about me.

But you still don’t even know the hundredth part of who I am.

Not because I’m holding back.

But because I am so much.

I feel the same way when I introduce myself to new people, or I’m asked to share an interesting fact about myself.

How do I really share and capture who I am?

Everything that I’m interested in, hopes that I have, fears that I have, life lessons I feel passionately about, random opinions I’ve formed, deep ponderings from my testimony, the importance of who I really am, the love I feel for others…

As Mormon writes to us in the Third Book of Nephi, he mentions that he cannot record even the hundredth part of everything that happened within this ancient civilization.

The Book of Mormon really only captures the stories of a few people living through really complicated times, with some additional commentary and summaries.

It’s a really small glimpse of the whole big picture.

And that’s what we share with others every day – a little glimpse into who we truly are.

And I think there’s value in remembering that about other people as well.

You only know a hundredth part of anyone’s real story, their full background, personality, future, and purpose.

And that’s what makes life messy.

But guess who does know the real full picture?

Who knows your true worth and understands every little quirk, love, anxiety, and passion?

AND everyone else’s?

Our Heavenly Parents and our Savior.

They know who everyone truly is.

They know who you truly are. Really – all of you. And They still love you unconditionally.

Life with mortal men and women can be messy, but life with a knowledge of who we truly are can be beautiful.

So let’s look at each other with a little more grace, and be at peace that we will be misunderstood and misjudged over and over. Because we all can only see a hundredth part of anyone’s story.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Just a hundredth part first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I know I can’t prepare for everything, but I can do what I can when I know what the future might bring.

So when I hosted our preschool co-op this week, I worked hard with my husband to clean the house every night and get all of the materials ready to go.

In the mornings before preschool? Peace. I was even giving my kids a bath up until 20 minutes beforehand because we weren’t in any rush.

And when I taught 6th grade, I always tried to plan my weeks out ahead of time.

That way, when it was time to prep for the day, I knew exactly what to do. Peace.

And when I performed in piano recitals, I would practice over and over so that the notes settled into muscle memory.

When it was time to play my piece? Peace.

We can’t prepare for everything (2020 has taught us that, for sure).

But when we know something is coming, using our mature sense of delayed gratification to prepare NOW for what we will need LATER is what will bring us peace.

The Nephites and Lamanites in the land spent at least a few months gathering all of their families, supplies, livestock, and food into one place.

They prepared enough for seven years.

And so when the robbers attacked? Peace. They turned to God in prayer rather that turning from their enemy in fear.

And their preparation ended up being exactly what caused their enemy’s demise.

Because the robbers had not prepared.

They couldn’t live on “borrowed oil”.

So what can we do to prepare for the future?

Whether we need to get something organized, send an email, or strengthen a part of our testimony, the principle of preparation is a beautiful lesson in using our hard work NOW to make room for peace LATER.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Peace for the future first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

My daughter may or may not be obsessed with watching The Incredibles right now.

The villain of the movie wants to give technology to everyone that will allow them to act like superheroes – in order to make the real superheroes seem less special.

The more common something is, the less special it seems.

But then I think about the abundance of blessings that Heavenly Father gives us.

He wants us to access the power of prayer every day!

He wants us to gain inspiration from the scriptures every day!

He wants us to hear the words of his modern prophets every six months, and a whole lot more in between!

He has given us SO MUCH.

But do we allow the abundance of spiritual touch points to make them seem less special?

When Christ was born, an abundance of signs and wonders were given throughout the ancient American lands.

I’m sure the first one was unforgettable.

But by the 5th, 10th, 100th, people began to be less astonished at these wonders from heaven.

Are we being continually astonished that we have living prophets who minister and speak to us today?

Sometimes, I’m astonished. I’m in a good groove of listening to Gen Conf talks, and I feel connected and inspired.

And other times, I fall into being underwhelmed.

This is where “becoming like a child” is beautiful advice.

My daughter can watch the same movie over and over, and be entranced the whole time. She’ll laugh at the funny parts every single time. She loves it!

Whereas I lose interest because I’ve seen it all before.

I’m working on becoming a little more childlike, a little more in awe at every single blessing that God shares.

So that every single time I receive new guidance or inspiration, I am astonished – whether it’s my 1st time or my 100th.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Astonished by each miracle first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I told her that I couldn’t even imagine what she was going through and that she was in my prayers as she prepared.

She responded, “It’s really been such a beautiful ride. All of it. I think it comes down to, do you trust Him? And I trust Him so I’ve just felt peace.”

And then she asked me how I was doing with my son and getting his vision impairment diagnosis (this was a few months ago when it all went down).

My response:

“Whenever people have offered condolences or anything, I love sharing the peace that I’ve felt through it all! I’m not worried about the future cuz the Savior brings me that peace, and he has through the whole process.”

These times should be dark.

Maybe you are going through a time that, on paper, sounds pretty dark right now.

Like a major surgery. Or a child getting a diagnosis. Or whatever version of “hard” you’ve been dealt right now.

But the sign of Christ’s birth in the Americas wasn’t just for the Nephites and Lamanites.

This is what Christ has always done, and continues to do.

When the sun goes down, when things are SUPPOSED to be dark,

He brings us that light.

The whole night long.

He doesn’t erase the night. He doesn’t usually get rid of the tough situation.

But He gives us that sustaining light.

The power to see true perspective, to see His plan, to feel His love.

“Oh Savior, stay this night with me.”

What a beautiful gift that He gives us, that I can never even begin to repay.

He makes things light, especially when it should be dark.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Light when it should be dark first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.