You can start with an anticipatory set to pique interest, you can read from a common piece of literature and analyze different components, or you could go inquiry-based. ⁣

And… I love them all!⁣

To me, crafting a lesson plan is exactly that— a beautiful craft of mixing creativity and logic. ⁣

After my formal teaching training and degree, I finally had the first opportunity to teach a full lesson in church to a youth class. ⁣⁣

I jumped into “lesson planning” mode and crafted prompts and stories that were going to perfectly take these kids through the concept of “tender mercies”. ⁣

Sunday arrived, and I was so excited to teach the lesson. ⁣

I walked into the classroom, and within five minutes, I knew what I had prepared was NOT going to work. ⁣

These kids needed something different. ⁣

A common teaching mantra popped into my head:⁣

“Teach the kids, not the lesson.”⁣

I said a silent prayer and felt prompted to share a lengthy personal story with the kids— one that I usually wouldn’t think to share. ⁣

I have no clue why I was prompted to share that story. No kid ever said anything to me afterwards, other than a customary “thanks for the lesson” as they walked out the door. ⁣

Or maybe I was the only one who needed to learn the lesson that day. ⁣

“It shall be given thee in the very moment what thou shalt speak and write”. (D&C 24:6)

That was the first time that I can remember having my formal plans being completely overthrown by a spiritual prompting. ⁣

But it’s happened time and time again since then. ⁣

I plan out a post, and as I start writing, I completely change direction. ⁣

I think of a testimony to bear, and while speaking, I share completely new thoughts. ⁣

But letting the Spirit guide me doesn’t mean throwing caution to the wind and relying on Him to do all the work. ⁣

I still lesson plan and craft and create. ⁣

But it’s the calm feeling that I know I might follow my plans to a T, or I might throw them out the window. ⁣

And either way, it’s all good. ⁣

Amazing preparation + being filled with the Spirit = the best teaching possible

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Writing lesson plans  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

While I’ve since learned that everyone experiences the Spirit differently…

And that it is perfectly fine to not cry,

There is actually one sure way to get my tears flowing:

Play beautiful music.

When I sit down to watch General Conference and I hear the choir begin singing a song, the tears usually start flowing.

My absolute favorite way to bear my testimony is to play a piano solo of a hymn arrangement in church.

Or to sing with a choir, all united together in perfect harmony.

The Lord asked Emma Smith to compile sacred hymns for the Church, and then He told her:

“For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.” (D&C 25:12)

God delights in our music.

Songs of righteous people are prayers.

And these song-prayers will be answered with blessings.

No talent, audition, or training required.

Where can you add even more joyful music to your life?

“Some of the greatest sermons are preached by the singing of hymns.” – First Presidency Preface to Hymnbook

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post I thought something was wrong with me first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

That’s why I’ve always loved math. ⁣

And so when I have problems come up in my life, I want to fix them right away. ⁣

If I’m not feeling the Spirit in my life, then I need to figure out what is hindering me so that I can open myself up to inspiration again. ⁣

If I’m having a medical issue, I want to get the diagnosis quickly so that we can treat it appropriately. ⁣

If I’m waiting to make a decision, I try to get all the information and make the best decision that I can as soon as possible. ⁣

But I’ve noticed something in the scriptures. ⁣

The Lord never asks us to solve our afflictions. ⁣

Although I’m sure He appreciates the qualities of being a good problem-solver, most scriptures give us completely different counsel about how to deal with difficulties: ⁣

“Be PATIENT in afflictions ⁣

“For thou shalt have MANY;⁣

“But endure them,⁣

“For, lo, I am with thee.” D&C 24:8⁣

We are told that we will have afflictions. ⁣

No amount of preparation or knowledge can change that. ⁣

And when those afflictions come?⁣

We are asked to just be patient in them. ⁣

To sit in the miserable. ⁣

To wait without an answer. ⁣

To see no solution in sight. ⁣

That is what we are asked to do. ⁣

That doesn’t sound very awesome. ⁣

Because I don’t like to have a problem, and just wait. ⁣

But the Lord gives us a redeeming promise that should be more than enough to carry us through any dark path we have to endure:

I AM WITH THEE. ⁣

Fear not. ⁣

The Lord is with us. ⁣

Sitting right beside us in the miserable. ⁣

Waiting without an immediate answer, but with tons of quiet encouragement. ⁣

Showing us that waiting in affliction doesn’t mean the end of the world. ⁣

We are going to have a lot of afflictions. ⁣

And sometimes, a whole bunch all at once. (I’m with ya there!)⁣

And we aren’t asked to solve them all by ourselves. ⁣

We are asked to just be patient and to endure. ⁣

And as miserable as waiting during an affliction can sound, when the Lord is with us every step of the way, we can still find those moments of peace, love, and even joy.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Don’t solve my problem?! first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

She made the big decision to be baptized…

But it seemed like as soon as she was baptized, the storms of the adversary blew in with full force.

Hecklers gathered around the baptism site, followed Emma, Joseph, and their friends back into their home, and eventually arrested Joseph.

Emma was afraid.

She prayed with other women for her husband for two days.

Finally, Joseph was released.

The two of them escaped back to Harmony.

She knew their family had felt opposition before, but this was a new level.

She needed comfort because her desire to follow her heart and move forward with joining the Church seemed to add even more struggles.

And so Emma was given a divine revelation.

She was called by her name.

She was told, “Behold, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou art an elect lady, whom I have called.” (D&C 25:3)

God knew how difficult Emma’s past few months had been and how much more difficult they would become.

So He comforted her and promised her blessings.

He also told her she had some duties and responsibilities.

It was the exact divine message that she needed after her trials.

God sees us in our trials.

He always remembers His elect daughters and sons.

He knows when we need comfort.

He knows when we need encouragement.

And He knows when we need to be invited to do more.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post What do you need? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.