Growing up, we are taught about the right thing to do and the wrong thing to do.

That’s what I’m teaching my little kids right now.

But somewhere along the way, I realized life is a whole lot messier than that.

Whether or not we serve others, attend the temple, or choose to be a good spouse are crazy complicated questions that have entire spectrums of choices we get to make each day!

Like… there are a lot of options for every single little thing.

In D&C 29:35, the Lord teaches:

“Behold, I gave unto him that he should be an agent unto himself” (meaning Adam).

Agency is the power that we have to become whoever we want to be.

In the million degrees of every aspect of life, we get to choose and work toward where we want to be.

How service-oriented, how kind, how educated, how devoted to a calling, how temple-loving, how patient…

We get to choose.

Not so much in a “big picture” kind of way (because I would totally choose to be awesome at every single one of those and more!)

But in the day-to-day interactions.

How much am I going to push, to get outside my comfort zone, to decide to become a little bit better person instead of staying as who I am?

That’s the real test of agency.

I can only imagine our Heavenly Parents watching us and seeing opportunity after opportunity pass by, and then cheering when we decide to move a step forward that day.

We aren’t going to reach the “best” in every area, or even come close.

But we can decide to use our agency to move that need forward just a tick every single day.

Agency is so important to our Heavenly Father that He allows so many people to use it terribly each and every day.

It is so so so important that we all choose exactly who we want to be.

So who am I choosing to be today? Where are my priorities and my heart?

Do I like the person I’m choosing to be?

Because agency gives me the power to become whoever I’d like to become.

And… I think I’d like to become just like my Savior.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The overwhelm of agency first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I know a lot of people have different opinions on why some people are considered “elect” or “chosen”, and we could dive into some deeeeeep doctrine if we wanted to.

But I want to keep it simple with a little phrase that jumped out to me in D&C 29:7.

“Mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts”.

When I’ve read this before, I’ve thought that the Lord was just mentioning what characteristics elect people have.

But… what if THAT is what makes people “elect”?

What if people are elect and chosen BECAUSE they choose to:

• Hear the Lord’s voice

• Not harden their hearts when they hear His voice

God pours out extra blessings and gives service opportunities to those who are willing to hear Him with a soft and willing heart.

What do you think?

I think these are interesting points to ponder as we look forward to General Conference in just one week.

Are we going to listen?

Or if we can’t listen live for any reason, will we make it our top priority to listen/read as soon as we can?

And as we listen to the words being spoken, will we try to connect with the spirit and really, truly #hearHim?

Will we approach each message with a “Lord, is it I?” mindset, ready to change in any way we are inspired, even if it is unexpected?

Will we keep a soft heart?

I really think that these qualities are what make people elect.

Part of the chosen House of Israel, being gathered together unto Him:

Those who are willing to listen to what God has to say.

Those who make it a priority to listen, even when it is difficult.

Those who hear difficult commandments and soften their hearts in response.

Those who are always looking for ways to improve and to draw closer to Christ.

We can all choose to be part of God’s elect.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post One of God’s elect first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

They are all signs of the Second Coming, as described in Doctrine and Covenants Section 29.

Hailstorms will destroy all of our crops, flies will eat our flesh, and beasts will devour us up.

Sounds awesome, right?!

And there are even more crazy and frightening signs through this Section.

Now, I’m gonna be real.

Usually, when people start talking about signs of the Second Coming, with all their doom and gloom, I start to tune out.

I am all about PRACTICAL application of gospel principles.

(In case you haven’t noticed.)

So honestly, it’s been difficult for me to figure out how knowing these signs can actually change my life right now.

But here is one reason I’ve been thinking about recently when it comes to WHY we should know about the Second Coming—

So much of what we have is temporary.

I don’t know exactly how the Second Coming is going to play out and look in real time, or whether or not I will even be here on the earth to see that time.

But I have a feeling that a lot of my possessions aren’t going to matter.

My hairstyle isn’t going to matter.

The color of my walls in my living room isn’t going to matter.

Which means I’ve gotta focus on what I CAN take with me.

No matter the hailstorms, flies, or whether or not I am gone before then.

My mind.

My heart.

My soul.

What am I doing to nourish those things today?

What am I doing to educate, to soften, to stretch, to show love, and above all, to become more Christlike?

Because that is what will matter in the end.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Why does this matter? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

And I love it.

In case you aren’t familiar, “toxic positivity” is when people respond to other people’s trials or suffering with unhelpful statements like:

“Just think positive! It’ll all be fine!”

“So many people are worse off than you. You’ll be okay!”

“Life is easier when you just stay happy all the time!”

In other words, telling someone to “stay positive” while invalidating or ignoring the tough parts of life.

I totally used to be a “toxic positivity” person with fantastic motivations who just wanted everyone to be happy.

And then I learned after going through my own trials that all I really wanted was people who would listen to me and mourn with me and comfort me in real, connecting ways.

Because, life is not always happy.

I think of prophets in every book of scripture, feeling great anxiety and sadness.

I think of our Savior who stopped to help and comfort and mourn. He wept out of compassion, even when He knew things were about to get a whole lot better.

So when the Lord teaches us in D&C 29:5 to:

“Lift up your hearts and be glad”,

… how are we supposed to pull that off in an authentic way?

When life is sad and unfair and heartbreaking, how do we feel true gladness without forcing ourselves to just “be positive”?

I don’t know that I have the perfect answer, but I do have one.

I can think about my Savior.

I can think about my Savior and what He has done for me, personally. His sacrifice, His love, His atonement, His death, and His resurrection.

And when I focus on the hope and peace that He gives to me, I feel gladness AND sadness.

He doesn’t take away all the hurt (most of the time).

But He gives me strength to bear it and the peace to not feel quite as worried.

No forced positivity. No brushing aside.

But instead, realizing that I can feel both.

I can feel whatever emotions I need to feel as I go through something tough.

AND I can lift up my heart and be glad for what my Savior has done and will do for me.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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

… I like being comfortable.

I like making others feel comfortable, both physically and emotionally.

Comfort isn’t bad!

In fact, I’ve learned that my Heavenly Father is a God of comfort.

I’ve gone to Him when I’ve struggled or felt completely “less than”.

And He has just comforted me.

Comfort is beautiful and necessary.

But… God is also a God of improvement.

He wants me to change.

To be better than I was yesterday. To overcome that temptation even faster. To love my neighbors more.

To get outside my comfort zone.

Because I’m sure not going to become more like my Savior by staying comfortable.

This is what I see God capture so perfectly time and time again.

When speaking to Joseph, the Lord taught:

“Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that at this time your sins are forgiven you, therefore ye receive these things;

“but remember to sin no more, lest perils shall come upon you.” D&C 29:3

Comfort. And then the encouragement to grow.

I feel many of these feelings when I partake of the sacrament each week.

A perfect mixture of comfort for what I’ve done right, and a push to improve and leave my sins behind.

Sometimes, I think I want comfort as I kneel down to pray. But instead I feel promptings for how I can step up my spiritual connection.

And other times I feel desperate for guidance, and instead I feel overwhelming love and comfort.

Both are important.

We can look for both from our perfectly loving Heavenly Father.

Comfort. And growth.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Comfort and growth first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.