“That they may always have His spirit to be with them.”⁣

Like, this is my goal in life. ⁣

You know those people that you looked up to in your ward growing up, who just exuded kindness and love no matter what?⁣

Those people you meet now who seem so genuine and sincere in all they do?⁣

I think I’ve discovered the secret to what makes these people so awesome. ⁣

Really, there is a big connection that I’ve made: ⁣

They all attend the temple on a regular basis. ⁣

And I say “regular basis” because I have lived both near and far from temples, and these individuals all worship there “regularly”, whatever that means to them. ⁣

Try it out— talk to that person that just magnifies the Spirit in all they do, and bring up their thoughts on the temple. ⁣

Because I think they real key to always having the Spirit with us is to always be keeping our covenants. ⁣

And to keep them, we have to know them and ponder on them regularly. ⁣

King Abimelech noticed this quality about Abraham, someone who was very familiar with covenants:⁣

“God is with thee in all that thou doest”. (Genesis 21:22) ⁣

The Spirit is with those who draw priesthood power into their lives by keeping powerful and eternal covenants with God. ⁣

What have you covenanted to do?⁣

Those actions will keep the Spirit pouring into your life, in all that you do.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Always remember Him  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I had my degree, and was totally ready to finally teach professionally full-time and make a full-time salary! ⁣

But transferring my teaching license to a new state, waiting for background check results, and applying for jobs in the middle of a school year were leading me to getting a total of ZERO job offers those first few months. ⁣

I immediately started applying for substitute teaching jobs while I waited, and roadblock after roadblock kept popping up with delayed trainings and orientations and fingerprint cards. ⁣

My plan of supporting my husband and myself financially while he was in school was starting to fail, and our savings account slowly dipped lower and lower. ⁣

This was one time in my life where I really felt the concept that faith = action. ⁣

I knew that God would provide for us and that things would work out, but it was also really difficult sitting there without any income for a while, with many factors outside of my control.⁣

I kept moving forward on every path I could find, and each time I would hit a roadblock, I’d think of another path and go that way. ⁣

And overall, there was this pervasive peace, this faith that I knew everything would work out okay. ⁣

When Abraham led his beloved son Isaac up to the mountain with all the supplies to make a burnt offering, except the lamb itself, Isaac started to wonder. ⁣

Where is the sacrifice? What were they going to do?⁣

His father Abraham so wisely testified: “My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering”. (Genesis 22:8)⁣

Abraham had pure faith that God would provide that offering, no matter what that looked like. ⁣

But I love that Abraham was also teaching Isaac of what was going to come in the future: ⁣

God would eventually provide a sacrificial lamb for all of mankind.⁣

God has always provided for us. ⁣

When we really believe that God will provide, what can that give us the faith to do?⁣

“The Savior is never closer to you than when you are facing or climbing a mountain with faith.” – Russell M. Nelson

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post God will provide  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I could write out a whole list. ⁣

Some things, you would probably say are very well justified. ⁣

Other things probably seem much larger to me than they really are. ⁣

Regardless, I’ve found a lot of things that have piled up in my mind. ⁣

Getting everything done or handling everything with grace seems… well, impossible to me. ⁣

It’s all impossible. ⁣

And so this question has not been able to leave my head:⁣

“Is any thing too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14)⁣

Because it sure seems too hard for me to handle. ⁣

But here’s a beautiful connection I’ve recently made: ⁣

If my Lord can handle it all,⁣

And if He has promised to take my yoke and bear my burdens,⁣

Then nothing is impossible for me when I partner with the Lord. ⁣

Sarah laughed when she heard she was getting a son, when it was biologically impossible. ⁣

Impossible. ⁣

And yet, it happened. ⁣

The Lord can make miracles happen all on His own. ⁣

I’ve had a few, tender, sacred moments in my life where I have seen these truly impossible miracles occur. ⁣

But more often, I see it more as a partnership. ⁣

A very, very, unfair and unequal partnership. ⁣

Where my load seems quite impossible. Mentally; physically; emotionally. ⁣

But I know that nothing is too hard for Him. ⁣

And so I rely on Him even more. I invite Him in. I tell Him the intricacies of what I’m facing. ⁣

And the cliche is true— the burdens are still there. The load is still as big as ever. ⁣

But I’m able to feel those moments of peace and relief as I endure. ⁣

With God, nothing is impossible. ⁣

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Nothing is impossible to Him  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I mean, it checked most of the boxes, which is pretty good for buying a new house. ⁣

But I didn’t like the location. ⁣

And “location” is supposed to be the thing you never compromise on, right?⁣

But… the spiritual prompting was too strong to deny. ⁣

I had reluctant faith. We bought the house and moved. ⁣

But deep down, I didn’t really know if God could give me something better than what I had before. ⁣

Lot’s wife is a fascinating person because we don’t learn much about her story other than her final moments and judgment. ⁣

Most people know Lot’s wife associated with: ⁣

“But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” (Genesis 19:26)⁣

We know from modern revelation and teachings that she looked back on Sodom longingly. ⁣⁣

I don’t love casting judgment on other people, especially when I don’t know their whole story at all. ⁣

But with scripture characters, I always like to ask “Lord, is it I?”⁣

“Where am I in this story? Where can I root out weakness?” ⁣

Elder Holland has also taught about Lot’s wife:⁣

“She doubted the Lord’s ability to give her something better than she already had.”⁣

Now THAT is something I can relate to. ⁣

Time and time again, the Lord has shown me that when I am prompted and then choose to let go of something I really like, whether it’s a neighborhood, a job, a friend, a hobby, a responsibility…⁣

He will never let me down. He will always lead me to something better. ⁣

Do I have the faith to let go and look forward?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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