She had a second home in Providence, was unmarried, enjoyed a lot of social clout, and earned quite a bit of wealth by her 40s.

She obtained a copy of the “Mormon Bible” and read it, but was pretty indifferent to it.

Until one night, as she prayed, she had a “vision of the Book of Mormon”, and she felt she should ask if it was true scripture.

She immediately received her answer.

She traveled to Ohio to be baptized, and then returned to Boston to help missionaries establish a branch of the church.

About a year later, she said goodbye to Boston for good and headed to Ohio.

She freely gave of all her money to the church, and her giant $1400 contribution directly helped Joseph purchase land for the upcoming Kirtland temple.

And then Vienna was asked to move to Missouri.

“It is meet in mine eyes that she should go up unto the land of Zion, and receive an inheritance…“That she may settle down in peace inasmuch as she is faithful”. D&C 90:30-31

Peace, rest, and a land of inheritance was being promised to her.

Literally a month later, mobs attacked the printing press in Missouri, scattering manuscript pages and tarring and feathering the Bishop.

Vienna knelt in the night, gathering as many pages of the Book of Commandments as she could.

When the saints finally arrived in Nauvoo and started to build up the great city, Vienna was present when the very first baptisms for the dead were performed.

She received her own endowment in the Nauvoo temple before being forced out yet again.

Where was her peace? Her rest? Her inheritance? Her blessing for consecrating her money to the Lord?

She arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847 and was given a city lot.

She called that her “inheritance” for the remainder of her 40 years left on earth.

She was a powerful scriptorian, fiercely independent, and self-sufficient. She loved the temple, she loved the prophet, and she had faith in Jesus Christ.

She died at the age of 96 and others said she was “strong and full of faith in the principles of the gospel”.

There is true power in faith, and Vienna lived that.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The amazing faith of Vienna first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I really liked the post, and agreed with a lot of the things this person was saying.

And then I read one line with a thought I had never heard before.

I said a quick little prayer: “Hmmm I’ve never thought of this that way. Is that true?”

And almost immediately, I heard a voice.

“That is not truth.”

It was calm and quiet.

But it was firm and sure.

I closed the post and moved on.

The Holy Ghost knows what truth is.

“The Spirit manifesteth truth”. D&C 91:4

And in a day when everyone has unprecedented access to publish and spread their opinions far and wide, I think the need to discern truth is greater than ever.

And I think it’s also important to realize how much work it takes to keep the Spirit with us.

Because we are also humans with brains who have opinions and varying backgrounds.

And when we read something that goes along with our opinions, our brains like it.

God doesn’t want us all to think exactly the same way, so I don’t believe the Spirit is given to us to change every opinion and thought that we have.

But I’ve found that it feels different when the Spirit is confirming something or warning me.

Instead of, “Yeah, I agree!”

I feel a calm but firm feeling.

“This is truth.”

I’ve also found success when I ask.

When I say a deliberate prayer to ask if this is truth or not, I virtually always get a response.

Or a prompting on what I need to do in order to get the Spirit’s constant presence back with me before I can be ready to receive an answer.

Just as it was important for saints of all generations, we need to make sure that we know what is truth for the things that matter most.

We will all still have different opinions and viewpoints and personal revelation for how to apply something specifically to our life.

But we can still feel the Spirit testify of the things that are eternal truths.

Or warn us of things that are not.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post What is truth? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

It wasn’t until she walked away that I realized… this was not what I had ordered. 

I had ordered a burger.

Ugh. I knew what this meant.

I sat there and silently gave myself the pep talk that I knew I needed.

I saw the waitress serving a few tables away, and she wasn’t walking anywhere near me. 

Finally she got close enough and I waved her over. 

“Excuse me! I am so sorry, but I ordered a burger, so I think I got the wrong order.”

I seriously felt so rude, even though I knew I was technically saying nice words. 

I was just so uncomfortable about asking for something and disrupting the normal flow of a server/customer dynamic. 

“Oh, you are totally right!” She quickly said. 

“You can actually go ahead and keep that sandwich, and I’ll be out with your burger in just a minute.”

In D&C 90:1, the Lord is giving a revelation to Joseph Smith, and he starts by saying: 

“Verily, verily I say unto you my son, thy sins are forgiven thee, according to thy petition, for thy prayers and the prayers of thy brethren have come up into my ears.”

Did you catch what the Lord said that Joseph had been doing?

Joseph had been petitioning the Lord in prayer for forgiveness from his sins.

I know that I fall victim to sinning, feeling remorse, and wanting to improve without ever actually asking my Father in Heaven for forgiveness.

But it’s not rude to ask. 

It’s not pretentious. 

It’s just good communication and a necessary part of creating a good, honest relationship. 

When we need something, we have to ask.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post We have to ask first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

It has things to do and things not to do. 

It’s got advice.

It was given “for the benefit” of the saints. 

But my absolute favorite part of it right now comes at the very end. 

The very end of section 89 has some of the most beautiful and real blessings I’ve seen in all of the Doctrine and Covenants. 

Read through these four verses and let me know which phrase stands out to you the most:

“And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;

“And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;

“And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.

“And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.” 

D&C 89:18-21

Aren’t those beautiful blessings and promises?! 

Powerful, specific protections are promised us as we “keep and do these sayings” in section 89.

One thing I’ve discovered is that when I am choosing foods that are really nourishing for my body, I feel more alert in my mind.

That wisdom, that knowledge, it comes much more easily.

I also recognize that following the direction in section 89 doesn’t mean you’ll be immune from health problems your entire life.

But that doesn’t negate the real, tangible blessings that come from obeying the Word of Wisdom. 

I want to keep the Word of Wisdom even better than I am now.

Not because I love keeping lots of rules.

But because I have a testimony that there are promised blessings waiting in store for me when I obey the laws on which those blessings are predicated.

What blessings have you seen in your life from obeying the counsel found in section 89? What promise stood out to you from reading section 89?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The Word of Wisdom first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

That takes a whole lot of faith to believe.

Not everything that I have to deal with is good.

Some things are lame, some are frustrating, and some are just heartbreaking.

There is sad and tired and confused and bored.

Not all of it is good.

But, do I believe that it actually all works together for my good?

Honestly… why not believe that?!

What a fun idea, really.

All the lame and disappointing and frustrating is actually for my good.

For my development.

For my glorious future. 

Fear not, the Lord is on my side.

Life’s hills, no matter how steep, seem a little more manageable because I know how this all ends.

Spoiler alert!

This all is going to be okay.

Not even just okay, but it will make me good.

It doesn’t take away the sad and the tedious and the frustrating.

But it doesn’t add to it either.

It’s a little lighter of a burden to bear.

I continue doing my part the best I can.

I search the scriptures and other fountains of doctrine diligently.

I pray as often as I can.

And I believe in Jesus Christ and believe what He has promised me.

And I won’t just randomly have things go my way.

No, the orchestrater of the universe has promised me that all things will actually work for my good.

So I’ll keep my faith.

“This is rough, but this is working for my good. I’m going to be okay in the end.”

Happy Studying!

–Cali Black

The post It’s all for my good first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.