This is the moment I learned that some of my colleagues and I had very different classroom management strategies. ⁣

There was one 6th grader in particular who was a challenge that year. ⁣⁣

Although I was not perfect at handling him, I had decided to take a different approach:

I talked to him a lot individually.

Year after year in the classroom, I found myself being able to connect with even the most difficult kids. ⁣

(Not that everything was amazing, but I felt like there was mutual respect and a glimpse of understanding, even despite some of their continued poor choices.)⁣

I came to learn that pulling kids aside and talking to them one-on-one was the best way to maintain that respect.

Calling kids out in front of their peers either caused shame, or it reinforced that they only got attention when they were exhibiting poor behavior. ⁣

And I didn’t want to cause either one of those outcomes.

So I found that creating unique opportunities to talk to that child one-on-one gave me the best chance to actually get my point across to them. ⁣

I think about Hiram Page. ⁣

He believed that he was receiving revelation for the entire church.

I don’t know how this all started, or if he knew at some point that this was not truly of God…

But Joseph, as directed by the Lord, gave him the benefit of the doubt. ⁣

In D&C 28:11, the Lord directed Oliver to pull Hiram aside for an individual conversation about his behavior. ⁣

“Thou shalt take thy brother, Hiram Page, between him and thee alone, and tell him that those things which he hath written from that stone are not of me and that Satan deceiveth him”.

No shaming, no name-calling, and no unnecessary attention. ⁣

Just using discretion, solving the problem with respect, and lots of love. ⁣

I’ve seen the same principle carry over as I teach youth in church, and have kids of my own. ⁣

I truly believe that most people don’t want to be bad. ⁣

If we give them the benefit of the doubt, speak to them privately with an open heart and ready to hear their side of the story, that’s when hearts are mended. ⁣

No ganging up, no mob mentality, no shame. ⁣

Just kind, loving, individual correction and connection.

I imagine, just as Jesus would.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The tough 6th grader  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

It makes it much easier to share thoughts when I have the Spirit.

But as much fun as it is to share spiritual messages with you here, I want to point out that I am not authorized to receive revelation for any of you!

(I mean, unless one of my children or someone in my Sunday School class is reading this…)

I am so grateful that Heavenly Father wants to answer your prayers and comfort you.

And I’m so grateful that He sometimes uses the words that I write to answer those prayers.

But I think it is super important to know who we have stewardship over…

And who we don’t.

I love that the Lord is so organized when it comes to how revelation happens in this Church.

The Lord reminded Joseph and Oliver that “. . . no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church excepting my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., for he receiveth them even as Moses.” (D&C 28:2)

So, the prophet is the only person who can receive revelation for the entire Church.

How I serve or keep the Sabbath holy, or how I prioritize my time, will not look exactly the same as everyone else around me.

And that’s because the prophet has not told us specific details on how to do so.

And so I know that as long as I’m in line with what the prophet is teaching, I can access my own personal revelation to work out all the rest of the details.

“Most of our guidance comes from the Holy Ghost…. Guidance for the Church, as a whole, comes to the President and prophet of the Church.” – Quentin L. Cook

I have found that when I’m really clear on why God gives each of us access to revelation for various ideas or people, then I can better lean into learning the messages from God that are meant for me.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Know your stewardship first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

But I was still nervous. ⁣

It was my first time going into a real elementary school classroom as an assistant while I was earning my teaching degree. ⁣

Everyone kept saying that we should just jump in and help but… I still didn’t know what to do. ⁣

I spent way too long standing at the back of classrooms afraid that I would mess something up. ⁣

Years later, as I stood in front of 35 sixth graders and an assistant walked in to help me, it did not even cross my mind that my helper would “mess everything up”. ⁣

I just desperately needed help and was happy someone was there!

The Lord told Joseph, as Joseph was concerned about procuring the proper materials for the sacrament:⁣

“It mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink when ye partake of the sacrament, ⁣

“if it so be that ye do it with an eye single to my glory—remembering unto the Father my body which was laid down for you, and my blood which was shed for the remission of your sins.” D&C 27:2⁣

In other words, stop worrying about all those details. ⁣

Stop worrying about not understanding every aspect of that new calling you just received. ⁣

Stop worrying about that new position at work. ⁣

Stop worrying about getting all of the parenting techniques right. ⁣

And just get your heart in the right place. ⁣

That’s what the Lord wants when we take the sacrament, more than anything else. ⁣

Are we focused on Him?⁣

Then the details will work themselves out. ⁣

Then the details of that calling, that job promotion, and that tough parenting situation will work themselves out. ⁣

That doesn’t mean, of course, that we throw the details out of the window. We don’t use candy and soda for the sacrament every week for a good reason. ⁣

But when we let go of trying to get every single detail right, and instead focus on turning our hearts and desires to what matters the most…⁣

That’s when our hearts start to change.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Nervous teaching assistant  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I can see the picture in my head, and I would look ridiculous.

I can imagine others looking at me with all my armor on.

“That looks so restrictive!”

“How do you have any fun with that stuff on?!”

“What are you preparing for? Nobody is coming.”

Similarly, to keep God’s spiritual armor on, I’m trying to learn truths, share the gospel, keep the Spirit with me, be righteous, and increase my faith daily.

It’s a lot of work to actively decide to wear it every single day.

So why do I choose to put that armor on and keep it on?

“Wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand.” (D&C 27:15)

It’s all more than worth it when the tough times come zooming at me all at once, and my time for preparation is suddenly gone.

When the health challenges, the huge life decisions, the sorrows, the heartbreaking events, and the overwhelming days start piling on…

I’m grateful for the heavy suit of armor I’ve built around myself.

Sure, the armor might seem restrictive to an outsider.

But when the fiery darts start to come, as they always do, boy, am I grateful for my preparation of spiritual armor.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Heavy armor first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

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.

The syllabus said we were literally studying the 15 men (3 in the First Presidency and 12 in the Quorum of 12) who we CURRENTLY sustained as prophets, seers, and revelators. ⁣

And it was true!

In that class, we studied about their lives, their careers, their families…

And we studied their most notable talks and messages. ⁣

I LOVED IT!⁣

Instead of seeing these men get up in General Conference and then forgetting about them for six months, I found myself studying and learning from their lives and messages.

Just as we would any other important historical or religious figure. ⁣

One of my biggest spiritual takeaways from my time at BYU was a deep understanding that what the current prophets say, in their official capacity as prophets, is doctrine. ⁣

It is our most current scripture. ⁣

“No man becomes president of the church of Jesus Christ by accident, or remains there by chance, or is called home by happenstance.⁣

“The most important prophet, so far as we are concerned, is the one who is living in our day and age.” – Pres Benson, “Teachings of the Presidents”⁣

And in Doctrine and Covenants 21:4-5, the Lord commands the freshly organized church, in relation to Joseph Smith, to:⁣

“Give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me;⁣

“For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth.”⁣

President Russell M. Nelson is the prophet that we need to listen to THE MOST today. ⁣

He is giving us the Lord’s words for us. ⁣

The people in Nephi’s time didn’t need to worry about restoring a church. ⁣

And the people with Joseph Smith didn’t need to build a boat. ⁣

President Nelson is telling us the most current, up-to-date messages, straight from the Savior. ⁣

So… am I following the CURRENT prophet?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Living prophets first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

After a recent funeral, I started to think:

What will people say about me?

What kind of life am I living?

What kind of legacy will I leave behind?

I want to be a force for so much good in the world.

I want to proclaim my testimony boldly and arrive in the next life exhausted from doing my best.

The Lord says:

“For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you;

“yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you,

“and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory.” (D&C 21:6) 

THIS is the kind of impact I want to make!

Dispersing the powers of darkness!

Causing the heavens to shake for my good!

So, what do I need to do to have this kind of legacy?

Right before this verse, the Lord tells us the key:

Follow the prophet.

Sometimes, it’s easier to follow the prophet’s counsel and other times it takes a lot more humility and prayer.

But when I do my best to stick with what the prophet is teaching, I have felt power flowing into my life.

If I am looking for darkness to disperse and for the heavens to shake for my good…

Then I want to stick with the prophet.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Cause the heavens to shake first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.