How do you keep the Law of Tithing holy?

I’ve often heard that while most commandments are on a spectrum (you can’t ever say, “yup, I’m perfect at loving my neighbor now!”), tithing is the one law you can say that you are keeping 100%.

But… what if we could still do better?

I mean, yes, attend tithing settlement and confidently proclaim whether you are a full tithe payer.

But could we keep this law even more holy?

I think of the commandment we often associate with keeping holy— Sabbath day observance.

That’s a HUGE spectrum, right?

“Keeping the Sabbath holy” to me means focusing on my mental intention for each activity I choose on Sunday.

So what if we could keep the Law of Tithing even more holy by being more intentional with our thoughts around it?

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE paying tithing online. Super convenient.

But has it become just something that we do each month while looking at our online statement? Possibly.

Could there be more intentionality and holiness associated with this act?

For sure.

“And I say unto you, if my people observe not this law, to keep it holy, and by this law sanctify the land of Zion unto me… behold, verily I say unto you, it shall not be a land of Zion unto you.” D&C 119:6

That’s my question I’m pondering on today, and I’d love to hear your thoughts.

How do you feel you can keep the law of tithing more holy?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Keeping tithing holy first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

It was the expectation that my sisters and I would help set the table and get the food ready to be served.

The problem was…

They always asked me to come and help at the most inconvenient times.

I was always in the middle of some math problem, or writing an essay, or reading a book, or talking with a friend.

It was never a good time.

And so, more often than I care to admit, about five minutes later, the call would come up the stairs again, “Cali, we need your help! Come on down!”

The thing about calls to service are that they rarely come at a convenient time.

Whether it’s your mom, your kid, your neighbor…

I’m sure I’m always “in the middle of something”.

But what I’ve learned as I’ve matured, and thank goodness that teenage Cali matured, is that service isn’t about us.

My parents weren’t trying to inconvenience me and annoy me and make my life harder.

They just straight up needed help.

My mom or dad had already just made dinner for me (DEFINITELY did not appreciate that as much as I should have!), and they were asking for help getting everything ready to go on the table.

And my sisters who had already gotten downstairs needed help with their tasks so it wasn’t all on them.

This was not about me and if I was in a convenient stopping point. At all.

It was about the people who needed help.

When the Lord called someone to serve in D&C 117:14, the reason given for him to come speedily to fulfill his assignment wasn’t just because the Lord wanted him to be rushed and inconvenienced.

It was “for the benefit of my people.”

People around us need help. And when they ask for help or when we feel that prompting, it’s not about what works best for us.

(Although yes, I’m all for setting healthy boundaries when needed.)

It’s all about the benefit of the person in need.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post It’s not a good time first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Here’s what I’ve noticed in that group, though.

Often, someone will post:

“Help! I just got called as Young Women’s President and I’m feeling very overwhelmed with everything on my plate. Can you give me your biggest piece of advice you wish you knew when you started?”

It’s pretty obvious that the person asking the question is looking for answers like: “Here’s exactly how to delegate to your counselors and secretary!” or “Here’s the link to the binder I bought that will solve all your problems” or something.

And yet time and time again, the thread fills up with similar comments that always warm my heart:

“I wish someone would have told me to not worry about anything and just love the girls.”

“Get to know the girls and just love them!”

“I wish I hadn’t been so judgmental of these girls at first and just worked on loving them exactly as they are.”

Amazing, right?!

I was blown away by Susan H. Porter’s talk in this most recent General Conference.

She told a story about a man who had left the church for a long time, but then undeniably felt God’s love and just knew that he needed to return.

But when he received his first calling after becoming active again, he said his perspective about callings changed completely:

“Now the question for him became not ‘How can I fulfill this calling?’ but ‘How can I show God’s love through my service?’

“With this new approach, he felt joy, meaning, and purpose in all aspects of his calling.”

There are important things for us to do. There are Ward Councils to attend and activities to organize and plans to execute.

But at the end of the day, are we unintentionally choosing to: “neglect the more weighty matters?” D&C 117:8

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Do they feel loved? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

You are surrounded by little people all day, and yet you can feel pretty lonely.

I have felt this, a lot.

I’ve also had other solitary moments in my life where I may have looked fine, or been surrounded by friends, but I still felt all alone.

Have you felt like this before? Or maybe, do you feel it right now?

Attending school, being given certain callings… these things can lead us to feel like we are in a solitary, draining place.

And honestly, it’s hard to feel like I can give service when I’m feeling drained and alone.

I don’t feel like getting out there and being proactive and doing things.

But the Savior is real.

He can take my solitary place and give it the nutrition that it needs.

To give it the light that it needs to still grow, even if it’s all alone.

To recognize that even when I feel completely drained, the Savior makes it possible for me to still give.

And not just give, but to be overflowing with ABUNDANCE.

“Therefore, will I not make solitary places to bud and to blossom, and to bring forth in abundance? saith the Lord.” D&C 117:7

He sees you in your lonely place.

But he doesn’t want you to stay there.

He wants to see you blossom and bring forth abundance, even when it seems impossible.

Because honestly, impossible is what Jesus does.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Abundance from Nothing first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Let me tell ya, there is nothing like a funeral to get you reflecting long and hard about what you are doing with your life right now.

Because not a single person who spoke at this man’s funeral said anything about his home.

Nothing about his car.

Virtually nothing about his work achievements.

Nothing about his possessions (except his golf clubs!).

It was all about who he was and how he made other people feel.

It was about the moments he comforted, and joked around, and led.

He was so so so loved, and it was all because of how he made other people feel.

The Lord told the two men who kept waiting around in Ohio to wrap up their business endeavors:

“Let them repent of all their sins, and of all their covetous desires, before me, saith the Lord; for what is property unto me? saith the Lord.” D&C 117:4

What is property unto me?

What will we be keeping with us when we leave this world behind?

What will our loved ones on this side actually care about and remember the most when we depart this life?

And so that brings me to this question that’s been on my mind these past few weeks that I’d love to extend to you:

How will I use my choices today to reflect my real priorities?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post My thoughts from a funeral first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.