But I ended up just thinking a lot about Jesus. ⁣

Joseph and Sidney saw this vision, this glorious vision about… like, everything. Where did we come from. Why are we here. Where are we going. All the “big questions”.⁣

And yet, the very first thing they did while writing down the vision was to testify that they saw Jesus. ⁣

“And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!” (D&C 76:22)

They saw Him in vision. ⁣

They beheld His glory. ⁣

They saw the angels worshipping Him. ⁣

And then, Joseph and Sidney took time to officially bear their testimony of the Savior.

They bore a personal testimony that Jesus Christ, who was killed, lives today. ⁣

He is sitting right next to our Heavenly Father. ⁣

He created this world that we live on now, and He has created other worlds. ⁣

And after listing all these magnificent and powerful qualities of the Savior of the world?⁣

A sweet reminder that we are Children of God, too. ⁣

Joseph and Sidney then continued to record the rest of their vision that brought so much new understanding to the Plan of Happiness. ⁣

(Which also totally revolves around Jesus.)

But they felt compelled to accentuate their narration of the vision with their own personal feelings and knowledge about the Savior. ⁣

He is real. ⁣

He lives and has created so much. ⁣

And He also loves us personally. ⁣

And if it’s tough to really believe this still, then we can borrow from Joseph and Sidney’s powerful joint testimony. ⁣

I know that my Redeemer lives.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post It’s all about Jesus first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I don’t have a specific list of names (sorry), but in D&C 76:69, we get a beautiful description of who will be in the celestial kingdom:⁣

“These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus”.⁣

These are just men and women who have been made perfect through our Savior’s atoning sacrifice. ⁣

Did you catch those two elements there?⁣

People who are just, and people who rely on the Savior. ⁣

Elder Soares once taught that we need to:⁣

• have a testimony of Jesus,
• be baptized, ⁣
• and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. ⁣

For most people reading this, I’m going to bet that you can at least initially cross things off this list. ⁣

Here’s where the Savior steps in though.⁣

• Because we ALSO need to be washed clean of all our sins. ⁣

We need to be overcome by faith. ⁣

We need to be sealed by the holy spirit of promise. ⁣

These are much more lofty goals that will take a lifetime of striving, PLUS they are completely impossible without our Savior’s atoning sacrifice to even give us a fighting chance. ⁣

Once again, I’m learning that the Savior is at the center of it all. ⁣

So even though I originally thought these were TWO separate qualifications to enter the celestial kingdom:⁣

Those who are just AND those who are made perfect through Jesus. ⁣

It really is the same. ⁣

We need to be just, which ultimately means relying on our Savior in all things. ⁣

Our Savior is the way to the celestial kingdom.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Who makes it to the celestial kingdom? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Meeting together as congregations. ⁣

Ward parties. ⁣

Ministering assignments. ⁣

And yet there are so many times when I have felt alone. ⁣

I’ve sat in a sacrament meeting, surrounded by people, and felt so alone. ⁣

I’ve been ready to ask for help when I desperately needed it, but the connection was never made. ⁣

I have felt alone. ⁣

There are times when it’s good to go into problem-solving mode and be the first to reach out and create your own social activities…

But other times,⁣

It’s just good to remember that Christ was alone a lot, too. ⁣

“I have overcome and have trodden the wine-press alone”. (D&C 76:107)

I know He had great friends. I’m sure He found people whose company He enjoyed.

But there was a lot of stuff that He had to do all on His own. ⁣

Even, at the end, His Father had to withdraw His presence. ⁣

Jesus was completely alone. ⁣

So that I don’t have to ever be that completely alone. ⁣

I’ve slowly learned to make my Savior a real friend. ⁣

I’ve become accustomed to the Spirit’s presence in my life. ⁣

I can always access God’s love, even when I’m not surrounded by people. ⁣

Social activities, good friends, “good wards”, they all come and go. ⁣

But I’ve learned to ALWAYS take comfort in the fact that my Savior knows what it’s like to have choirs of angels singing His praise, AND how to be more alone than I will ever be. ⁣

He is with me. ⁣

My kind, wise Heavenly Friend.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post All alone in a social church  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

One pattern that seems to be obvious over and over in the Doctrine and Covenants this year is this:⁣

When we are studying and pondering on the scriptures, the Lord will reveal to us greater light and knowledge. ⁣

I saw this pattern when Joseph, at the age of 14, pondered on a scripture he read and said a single, humble prayer.⁣

In Section 138, the final section of the Doctrine and Covenants, we’ll learn about Joseph F. Smith pondering on the scriptures and then receiving a glorious vision. ⁣

And this week, at about the halfway point, we learn about Joseph and Sidney reading and translating the Bible together, coming to the book of John, and realizing that the traditional notions of heaven and hell didn’t seem to fit with the nature of God.

I would assume Joseph and Sidney had some sort of discussion, and maybe many discussions, about this topic. ⁣

And then, these two men received a vision. ⁣

A vision that completely revolutionized how everyone thought about heaven. ⁣

And I don’t believe that this pattern is only reserved for the prophets. ⁣

Because I’ve seen it in my life.

My stewardship isn’t over the entire church, so the Lord would not reveal anything to me that was my duty to tell everyone. ⁣

But I’ve received further light and knowledge by gaining clarity on certain topics that I had previously spent a long time wrestling with in my mind. ⁣

I’ve received further light and knowledge on what actions to take in my life, even when the words are not directly written in the scriptures. ⁣

I’ve received further light and knowledge by feeling directed and pulled to other people that are experts in their field and that I feel prompted to trust. ⁣

I’ve received further light and knowledge by feeling an extreme confidence in my testimony of certain topics and being drawn to scriptures that continue to teach these principles. ⁣

I want to be in the scriptures. ⁣

And not just in them, but immersed in them. ⁣

Thinking, writing, asking, praying, reading, and thinking some more. ⁣

When I’m studying and pondering on the scriptures, the Lord reveals to me greater light and knowledge.

“Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high.” – Richard G. Scott

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Packets of light first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.