Crickets are jumpy little guys, and super loud.⁣

And I don’t enjoy having them in my home. ⁣

This lasted for a couple months before my husband and I realized we were going to need to pay for regular pest control. ⁣

After the company’s first visit, the crickets were completely gone. ⁣

It was like they put up a giant shield around our house, and no bugs could get through. It was awesome! ⁣

Our company continues to come regularly, but I don’t really think about crickets as much anymore. ⁣

I just enjoy a bug-free life without a lot of worry. ⁣

When the Lord spoke with Abram, He sweetly told him: ⁣

“Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield”. (Genesis 15:1)⁣

There is so much that the Lord protects us from. ⁣

Sometimes, it’s dramatic, like the sudden removal of a whole bunch of crickets. ⁣

Like a temptation that doesn’t affect our family. ⁣

Like a scary situation where we are protected. ⁣

But other times, it’s a little more difficult to see the shielding that He does for us, because it seems so normal. ⁣

Do we realize we are missing out on the fear that others are dealing with, because of our faith in Christ?⁣

Do we realize the comfort we feel during the hard times isn’t shared by everyone else?⁣

Do we understand that the Lord is keeping us protected from so many more things than we realize? ⁣

But I also love looking forward: ⁣

When there are dangers, both physical and emotional, headed our way, do we really trust that the Lord will be our shield? ⁣

⁣I realize that the Lord needs a whole lot more gratitude than my pest control guys, no matter how awesome they are. ⁣

There is so much He protects me from, so many emotional wounds.

But I also know there is so much He has shielded from my mortal experience, without me even recognizing it. ⁣

And I especially know that I can look forward in faith, trusting that He will continue to be my shield, as long as I call upon Him for help.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Shielded from crickets first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

You know, that one they did at Stanford years ago where they placed a marshmallow in front of a kid and told them that if they didn’t eat it before the adult returned, they would get two marshmallows. ⁣

(For the record, my mom always said that I was the type of kid who would have waited for the two marshmallows, even from a super young age.)⁣

As I’ve studied about the famous covenant that God makes with Abraham, one thing that really caught my eye is that so many of the blessings of this covenant are for AFTER Abraham’s lifetime! ⁣

The Lord makes promises that Abraham’s seed will know God, and that “unto thy seed have I given this land”. (Genesis 15:18)⁣

His seed were promised land and great spiritual blessings, but most of this would not be during Abraham’s lifetime. ⁣

And yet Abraham still rejoiced in this covenant! ⁣

Not all of our covenant blessings are going to be fulfilled while we are here on the earth. ⁣

Some will, just like Abraham was still given a firstborn son. And certain covenants, such as our baptismal promises to always have His spirit to be with us, are being fulfilled constantly here on earth. ⁣

But there’s also a huge portion of our “reward” that we can barely even imagine right now. ⁣

Promises for our future posterity that won’t be fulfilled until after this life. ⁣

Promises about our own future that won’t be fulfilled until the eternities. ⁣

⁣Blessings of peace and rest that we can get glimpses of now, but that might not be fully realized until much later.

There is so, so, so much good that God gives us right now on the earth. ⁣

It’s like He is giving us one marshmallow and telling us we can enjoy it now. ⁣

But there is also another marshmallow waiting on the other side. ⁣

Probably a million more marshmallows, actually. ⁣

So are we willing to be patient? To look for the blessings filling our life now, but also to expect so much more in the future?⁣

Covenants are powerful and binding and real, and we can count on God to pour out the blessings when we fulfill our portion, even if that means practicing some delayed gratification. ⁣

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Covenants and marshmallows first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

“Keeping the peace” is associated with someone who just wants there to be external peace. ⁣

I can think of many times in my life where there’s been an issue with someone else, but I’ve resorted to just keeping the peace.

I’m still upset or sad or frustrated, but I make everything seem fine and say the right words to keep people happy. ⁣

But being a “peacemaker” is associated with someone who wants to help find internal peace for everyone. ⁣

(Which, side note, often ends up in external peace, too, but might take a bit longer to get there.)⁣

As I’ve matured emotionally and spiritually, I’ve learned that sacrificing my own inner peace to keep situations “happy” is NOT the answer. ⁣

Having sometimes uncomfortable conversations about what is wrong, in calm and level-headed ways, inviting the Spirit, is the real way to bring inner peace. ⁣

Abraham and Lot were having some land issues. ⁣

There just straight up wasn’t enough room for both of them anymore. ⁣

No one was being evil, this was no one’s fault. Life is just messy sometimes. ⁣

Abraham DIDN’T tell his herdsmen to just deal with it and be nice. He didn’t pretend like nothing was wrong. ⁣

He had the conversation with his nephew Lot. Maybe it was awkward at first. Maybe Abraham was dreading the conversation. ⁣

But he led with love, with peace, AND with straightforwardness. ⁣

“Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.” (Genesis 13:8) ⁣

He also came with a solution ready to go, one that would require action on both of their parts. They would both move to different lands of their choosing. ⁣

And it worked!⁣

Abraham sought true inner peace for both himself and his nephew who he cared about. He was kind and Christlike. He had an idea for a solution. And Abraham was blessed greatly. ⁣

“To be a peacemaker is not to be weak but to be strong in a way that the world may not understand.” – Elder Stevenson

How can you do the harder, but more rewarding, work of being a peacemaker today?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Peace keeping vs. Peacemaking  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I can think of a few who taught me in Young Women’s, in Seminary, at BYU, and in Sunday School that I will truly never forget. ⁣

They are some of my favorite teachers because they always pointed me to my Savior!

Sure, there might have been other teachers who were more popular or cool at the time…

But they aren’t the ones who still stick out in my mind years and years later. ⁣

These favorite teachers weren’t just always talking about themselves and why they were the best teachers–

They showed it by teaching me more about the Savior with every class. ⁣

I’m sure that Abraham was an amazing teacher as well. ⁣

Right as he was starting his ministry, I love that the Lord gave Abraham this same little lesson: ⁣

“Through THY ministry MY name shall be known in the earth forever”. (Abraham 1:19)⁣

The purpose of Abraham’s ministry was not to spread Abraham’s name far and wide. ⁣

It was to spread the Lord’s name far and wide! ⁣

And that should be our real purpose every time we teach the gospel, too.⁣

To be transparently honest, I struggle with what people might perceive of me on social media when it comes to this. ⁣

If you know me in real life, you know that I’m not pursuing fame here, and I truly have very little “pride” built up by what I do. ⁣

At the end of the day, am I pointing the people who have chosen to follow my account to Cali Black, or to Jesus Christ?⁣

I hope it’s Jesus. I hope it’s always Jesus. ⁣

My ministry is for HIS name.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post My ministry for His name first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

And like honestly, I was a pretty good kid.

But I also realize that maybe I shouldn’t have participated in that prank, or I wonder why I felt I was justified in being rude to someone. ⁣

I can just totally see now that there was a disconnect in my integrity—⁣

My actions did not always line up with my beliefs. ⁣

And I didn’t even always realize it in the moment

When I read about Noah, he is spoken of so highly in the scriptures: ⁣

“Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations”. (Genesis 6:9)⁣

Perfect?! ⁣

Well, I’m a big fan of footnotes, and when I looked at the footnote attached to “perfect”, I noticed something:⁣

The Hebrew meaning could also translate to, “complete, whole, having integrity”. ⁣

Now THAT makes sense to me. ⁣

Noah must have been a man of great integrity. ⁣

When he said that he loved God, his actions aligned with making God a priority in his life. ⁣

When he said he would be obedient, he didn’t purposefully cut any corners. ⁣

When he said he would love and care for those around him, he didn’t make exceptions for anyone. ⁣

He was consistent in each area of his life to the best of his abilities.

This is what makes Noah such a great example and disciple of God.⁣

And it makes me want to consider:

How does my integrity measure up? ⁣

Not my perfection, but my degree of integrity?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Noah’s integrity  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

That is totally and completely. . .

Partially right.

The Lord said with the rainbow, He would “establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you.” (Genesis 9:9)

The rainbow symbolizes His covenant! 

All of the covenant.

This is the same covenant the Lord had already made with Enoch.

That their seed would multiply in righteousness and spread the gospel far and wide and that God would remember these people.

It’s the same covenant God later renewed with Abraham.

And it’s the same blessing we experience today. 

Yes, this covenant to Noah specifically mentions not flooding the earth again, but it’s important to remember there is another half to this.

We are still benefiting from and fulfilling this same covenant, this same promise with God, today!

Rainbows are a beautiful token of this covenant that God will remember and bless His people who remember Him.

“Just as in Noah’s time, we live in a day of prophetic promise and fulfillment.” – Paul E. Koelliker

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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

I think the adversary is super good at helping us get caught up in false benchmarks. ⁣

“Ugh, once I can actually stay up with the Come, Follow Me schedule, I’ll be okay.”⁣

“I reach out to my ministering sisters once a month so I’m good.”⁣

“If he serves a mission and gets married in the temple, then he’ll be fine.”⁣

Building our own benchmarks. ⁣

Building our own tower, brick by brick. ⁣

While those are fine and worthy goals to have, those aren’t what save us or change us. ⁣

The people in Babel had their sights set on the wrong benchmark. ⁣

“Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven”. (Genesis 11:4)⁣

We need to get closer to heaven? Okay, let’s build a big building to get there, and everything will be fine. God will bless us then. ⁣

It’s relying too much on our outward appearance to judge our closeness to the Savior. ⁣

So… what are your benchmarks to know if you are actually coming closer to Christ?⁣

They probably don’t look too impressive from the outside. ⁣

Here are a few benchmarks that I’ve tried: ⁣

Benchmarks like… becoming slower and slower to anger. ⁣

Reacting with compassion when someone tells me a story instead of judgment. ⁣

Desiring more opportunities for service and honestly seeking them out. ⁣

Finding excuses to show love as often as possible. ⁣

Thinking about Jesus and His goodness often.

Meeting outward benchmarks will never save us, just like the Tower of Babel didn’t save the citizens of Babel.

It’s what’s on the inside that matters, and that’s a little bit more difficult to measure. But it’s worth putting the real effort there!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Building our own tower first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

The Lord noticed that when looking at these people, “every imagination of the thoughts of [their] heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5) 

They had evil intentions behind their wicked actions. 

The Lord knows everyone’s intentions. 

This is sometimes great to remember.

Like when I intend to do something good, but the messiness of life or just plain forgetfulness seems to block me from doing it. 

I get credit for having good intentions! 

This is just a comforting thought. 

The Lord can kindly remind me that I’m doing better than I think I am when I’m trying my best but falling short. 

But on the opposite end, God also knows when we do things with bad intentions. 

He knows if I said a rude comment ignorantly or purposefully. 

He knows if I didn’t go to church because it was too much for me to handle or because it wasn’t a real priority in my heart. 

He knows.

Our actions matter! 

But the thing that only God knows is the intentions behind our actions, for better or worse.

This can comfort me. 

And this can motivate me. 

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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

We are sent into this world with so much going in our favor, regardless of our physical circumstances. ⁣

We are here on a beautiful earth. ⁣

We are given bodies that are totally unique and have been especially created for us, with minds that can think and problem-solve. ⁣

We are given the light of Christ to point our consciences toward good and righteous things. ⁣

And we are given a Savior who keeps rushing to our assistance every single time we make a mistake, as long as we sincerely call on Him for help. ⁣

And so can you imagine how Jesus Christ feels when we actively choose to turn away from Him?⁣

“They are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge”. (Moses 7:32)⁣

Christ weeps. ⁣

Not to try and guilt us into choosing the right. ⁣

Not to shame us. ⁣

Not to make us feel bad for Him. ⁣

But He weeps because He knows what brings true happiness and peace, and He is so sad to see us bring more pain into our lives. ⁣

Christ weeps out of pure compassion. ⁣

Pure love. ⁣

As our Creator, as someone who has given us absolutely everything, He weeps. ⁣

He has probably wept for you and wept with you many times. ⁣

He loves you so much and He cares so much about the decisions you are making each day. ⁣

What does it mean to you to know that the Lord weeps?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The Lord weeps first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

And he wept. ⁣

This encouraged him to plead with the Lord for a blessing on Noah’s descendants. ⁣

And the Lord made an oath:⁣

Never again would the earth be covered in a flood of water, and Noah’s descendants would be blessed to multiply and stay on the earth. ⁣

Ready for some of the most poetic language I think the Lord uses throughout all of scripture?!⁣

I love it. ⁣

When He talks about the dark days that will accompany the Savior’s Second Coming, Enoch becomes mournful again. ⁣

And so the Lord makes this promise, RIGHT after they had discussed Noah’s flood:⁣

“Righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood” (Moses 7:62). ⁣

Righteousness and truth is sweeping the earth like what?! ⁣

Like a FLOOD! ⁣

The destructive flood waters will not cover the entire earth again.⁣

But now, WE are the flood!⁣

Sharing righteousness and truth across the entire world in unprecedented ways. ⁣

Covering literally every corner of the earth with the influence of goodness. ⁣

Helping Christ to be known, loved, and worshipped by anyone who desires to. ⁣

I am beyond grateful that I am not living in the time of Noah’s flood that Enoch foresaw. ⁣

We missed that flood. ⁣

But I am also beyond grateful that I am here when another flood is sweeping the earth:⁣

This one filled with truth and righteousness. ⁣

And I think this is one I definitely want to be swept away in! 

“We live in the day foretold when righteousness is sent down out of heaven and truth out of the earth ‘to sweep the earth as with a flood,’ and to gather out the elect ‘from the four quarters of the earth.’” – Dallin H. Oaks

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Two types of floods  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.