Not because of how many people know me.

Not because of how many friends I have, or what calling I have, or how extroverted I am.

I am known because I am His.

I am understood.

Not because of how great a writer I am.

Not because I share my feelings often.

I am understood because I am His.

I am loved.

Not because I am righteous.

Not because I accomplish my to-do list, or I have a beautiful home, or my kids are well-behaved.

I am loved because I am His.

I am never lost.

Even when I feel all alone.

Even when I’m sure no one can understand the intricacies of what I feel.

Even when I distance myself from God due to my own choices.

Even when I walk in the room and I don’t know who to sit by.

I am never lost because I am His.

He knows me, and He knows exactly who I am.

He knows where I am physically.

But He also knows where I am mentally. Emotionally. Spiritually.

He knows when I’m drowning. When I’m overflowing. When I’m desperate. When I’m fulfilled.

He is in my midst.

He is in front of me, behind me, and all around.

Keeping me from dangers I’ll never know about, and softening the blows from the trials I face.

I’m never alone.

My Good Shepherd. My solid rock.

My redeemer.

My friend.

Jesus.

I am of infinite worth.

Not because of anything I do, don’t do, think, or don’t think.

But because I am His.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post I am not lost. first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

What doesn’t edify you?

And, try not to roll your eyes too hard, because I think this is like my second time EVER citing the dictionary, BUT…

I found the definition of “edify” to be very intriguing:

“To instruct or improve (someone) morally or intellectually.”

What a perfect test, huh?!

The things that aren’t instructing me or helping me improve in some way, are not from God.

Which means… the opposite is true, too!

I LOVE reading my scriptures. Like, those totally are edifying in my life.

But there are also a ton of non-church-y things that edify me.

In fact, I love using the marker of “edify” to draw my firm line in the ever-shifting sand.

If a podcast is fascinating and it leaves me feeling edified, I am ALL for it!

And if a podcast doesn’t leave me feeling like a better person for having listened, then it’s probably one to work out of my regular listening schedule.

I don’t have to worry so much about ratings or count the bad words when it comes to media.

I just… know if I’m edified or not.

I know if I’m learning something useful. Or if I’m enjoying myself in an uplifting way.

Sometimes though, I’ve learned I have to take a much more mature approach to judging “edification”.

Because I don’t know about you, but trying to parent two little kids all day doesn’t always leave me feeling “instructed and improved”.

…in the moment.

While I’m actually scrubbing the toilet or folding that shirt for the millionth time, I don’t usually feel awesome about it.

But I know God is looking for spiritual maturity.

What is edifying me in the long-run? What is making me a better human being? A more Christlike woman?

Am I developing skills and qualities that will improve and instruct me when it comes to the big picture?

Or am I helping to improve and instruct others, thus chipping away at my own selfish tendencies?

Sometimes, judging “edification” is black and white. But other times, I have to take a step back and lean into my spiritual maturity to see what is really going to edify me.

Because if it edifies me, it is given to me of God.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post To edify or not to edify first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

As a completely monolingual individual, the idea of being able to suddenly speak or understand a different language seemed… pretty cool, to be honest.

The idea of something suddenly happening that is super cool, super unique, or completely baffling is an appeal to many people.

But as I’ve matured a bit, I’ve realized that when it comes to spiritual gifts from God…

I need to be okay with the simple.

Many of the early Saints were promised spiritual gifts as they started to preach the gospel.

I’m going to guess gifts like knowing what to teach, bearing powerful testimony, receiving little promptings, discernment…

And yet they seemed to latch on to the weird. The unique. The flashy.

The Lord kindly reprimanded many of them by asking:

“Wherefore, I the Lord ask you this question—unto what were ye ordained? To preach my gospel by the Spirit, even the Comforter which was sent forth to teach the truth.” D&C 50:13-14

And then the reprimand:

“And then received ye spirits which ye could not understand, and received them to be of God; and in this are ye justified?” D&C 50:15

They were seeking after the strange and the unclear.

I think that our spiritual gifts are meant to make sense. To be the most simple solution in any given situation.

Elder Gong told a story of a Spanish language interpreter who told him that he knew what Elder Gong was going to say by the spirit so that he could communicate effectively with the people he was translating for.

THAT was a time where the gift of tongues was actually appropriate and simple. A simple but miraculous boost of his efforts.

But when we look for gifts or talents or explanations that are unnecessary, over-the-top, or selfish, we are looking beyond the mark.

The Spirit may speak to us in quiet, simple, and straightforward ways.

And that’s totally okay.

Being dramatic is not a requisite for a righteous, spiritual experience.

And so I’m going to be okay with the simple.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Flashy and dramatic first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

As we read about church history this year, I’ve been surprised yet again by how many of these early Saints truly believed they were preparing for Christ’s imminent return.

It seems like many of them thought Christ would return during their mortal lifetime.

And yet… here we are, 200 years and many generations later, still preparing for Christ’s return.

The Saints were told in D&C 49:7–

“But the hour and the day no man knoweth, neither the angels in heaven, nor shall they know until he comes.”

Why did the Saints think Christ’s return was so soon, when it actually was quite far away still? Something that even their great-great grandchildren wouldn’t see?

I’ve been pondering on this for a while.

And I finally, in a roundabout way, rested on a thought that brought me back to my high school/college days.

When I had assignments due, I would always wait until the last minute to start. Always. The night before, I would be up all night getting stuff done.

In other words, I would procrastinate.

I am a pro-procrastinator.

And then, as I was still pondering on this, my brain made a connection that I had heard over and over, but it finally made complete sense.

What counsel have we been given time and time again?

Do not procrastinate the day of your repentance!

If I knew that Christ wouldn’t be coming to earth for 103 years, then I might not repent right now with as much urgency.

If I have no idea when He will be returning, then I can actually keep that sense of divine urgency my entire life.

He could be returning tomorrow or next week, so I want to make sure my life is in order.

Just like the the 10 virgins, we do not know when the bridegroom comes.

But I think a very important reason why is because our Savior knows that if we know, we would have an even greater temptation to lean into our mortal weaknesses and procrastinate the day of our repentance.

So today, I’m choosing to not procrastinate.

So that I won’t be caught comfortable, casual, and unprepared.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post I wonder when He comes again first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

And then I got into choirs in High School. All of a sudden, we were adding nuanced dynamics and shaping phrases. My mind was blown! This was so much more exciting, and took a lot more practice and focus.

And then I got into the Women’s Chorus at BYU. Suddenly, we were focusing on where the sound was resonating in your mouth when you sing, different styles of vibrato and tone, and tuning notes that didn’t sound that “off” to me.

If you had taken me to a BYU Choir concert when I was 12 years old, I would have said that the choirs sounded amazing because they were all singing the right notes.

If you had taken me to a BYU Choir concert when I was 17 years old, I would have told you how amazing their dynamics and phrasing were.

We only notice what we have the capacity to notice.

I like to think of some of the most Christlike people that I have known in my life.

When I was 12 years old, I would have told you they were Christlike because they were reading their scriptures and going to church.

When I was 17 years old, I would have told you they were Christlike because they were also kind and loving.

And now, at 29, I notice that they also regularly attend the temple. They volunteer to serve. They invite the spirit into their lives. They act on promptings regularly.

I only notice what I know to notice.

The Lord taught in D&C 50:24:

“He that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.”

At the beginning of our spiritual journey, we have light— but only a little.

And so I’ve been seeking to add more and more light to my life.

To gain more light and knowledge so that I recognize what other light and knowledge I still need.

And I know that my light can become brighter and brighter as I slowly become more and more Christlike, not even realizing what more I lack until I get to that next step.

Light adding to light, becoming brighter and brighter.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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