We talk a lot about “holy places” – our homes, temples, sacred locations, meetinghouses. ⁣

I want to take a look at Stephen.

They can’t even mention him in the scriptures without talking about how “full of the spirit” he was.

He wasn’t an apostle – just a good guy who followed through on promptings and assignments. ⁣

The local government was getting a little nervous.

So they set up some false witnesses against him, and tried him before the council. ⁣

Here, in this government building, surrounded by people who were literally out to get his life, he delivered a beautiful sermon about how people have always doubted the prophets. ⁣

He told stories. He referred to scripture.

Stephen was so full of the Holy Spirit that he looked up.

And he saw Jesus Christ standing on the right hand of God the Father. ⁣

Did it matter where Stephen was? ⁣

No. ⁣

All that mattered was that Stephen was so full of the Holy Ghost. ⁣

Although I don’t want to diminish the power that comes from being in the temple or in a Spirit-filled home, we do not have to be in those locations to have life-changing spiritual experiences. ⁣

All that matters is that we are keeping ourselves filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁣

It’s not likely to always result in a visitation from the Father and the Son, but we can get what we need in that moment. ⁣

Stephen probably needed this vision to get him through the events that followed. ⁣

And we can receive light, knowledge, revelation, comfort and peace no matter where we are. ⁣

Driving in our car. At work. Making lunch for a toddler. Hanging out with a friend. ⁣

All we need for that deep connection is to invite the Spirit to always be with us.

And our loving Father in Heaven will give us what we need from there.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Holy places can be everywhere first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

He had all of Samaria looking towards him as a “great one” through his use of sorcery and persuasion. ⁣

But then the great missionary Philip came to town. ⁣

And Simon believed and was baptized!

He experienced true conversion and changed his ways. ⁣

Then Peter and John came to town, hearing of Philip’s success!

They started to give the gift of the Holy Ghost to all the people that Philip had already baptized. ⁣

And what did Simon do when he saw these apostles of the Lord bestowing the gift of the Holy Ghost on others?!

It makes me laugh a bit, honestly.

“He offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power” (Acts 8:18-19).

Simon deferred to his old ways of looking at money as a bargaining tool for power.

It’s a fairly common question posed in the church to consider if we value the gospel/Book of Mormon/our testimony more than money. ⁣

But I actually really love Simon’s gut response here!

(Don’t worry, he gets chastised by Peter and has a further change of heart.)⁣

Simon sees this gift of the Holy Ghost and he KNOWS how important that power is.

I imagine he can see the change in the people who have it.

Are we living our lives in such a way that we are depending on the Holy Ghost for constant nourishment, guidance, and peace? ⁣

Could someone intimately look at your life and jump forward, offering money, to have that same gift in theirs?⁣

I think it’s a beautiful question to consider.

“Covenant keeping leads us to seek after whatever invites the influence of the Spirit.” —Milton Camargo

If you’re like me, you aren’t perfect at that total dependence yet.

But how can I INCREASE that dependence on the spirit? Every day?⁣

Not waiting in indecision, waiting for the Spirit to “command in all things”.

But instead having a constant and living connection with the Godhead, being prepared to be be guided if we need to be, and always seeking comfort and peace. ⁣

THAT’S the power that Simon, somewhat naively, but definitely sincerely, offered money for the chance to have.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post How can we be dependent on the Holy Spirit?  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

She is described as a disciple.

Full of good work and almsdeeds. ⁣

She was sick. I like to think she was still full of good works and kind acts even in her sickness. ⁣

She made coats and other clothing items. She probably gave them away as service. Maybe this was her passion that she enjoyed fulfilling, too. ⁣

And then, she died. ⁣

Peter came.

Her friends were all there, crying. They showed Peter all the clothes that she made. ⁣

I don’t know if Peter knew Tabitha prior to her death, but it’s hard to not feel compassion for someone when you see what their life story was. ⁣

Peter sent everyone out, and then prayed.

It’s difficult to imagine what sincere and humble words he might have prayed in that moment.

Should he use his priesthood power to bring her back?

How could he comfort these grieving friends and disciples?⁣

What was the Lord’s will for Tabitha?⁣

Peter got his answer.

And he told Tabitha to arise. ⁣

“But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise.” (Acts 9:40)

Peter didn’t keep God small. He didn’t walk into that tragic situation and think, “How can I comfort these grieving friends by myself?”

Instead he allowed God to do the big miracle.

He probably asked for or left space for the biggest miracle of all to occur.

And he got a yes. ⁣

What miracle do you need right now?

What seems almost impossible to you but would fill you with great joy?⁣

Have you asked in sincere and humble prayer if that miracle could be yours?⁣

I have found that when I remember that I can ask the Lord for BIG blessings, He actually blesses me with them quite often.

These brave moments with the Lord have created some truly humbling and miraculous experiences that are too personal to share. ⁣

Sometimes it’s hard to remember to just ask. ⁣

I’m glad that Peter allowed God to do the big, impossible miracle.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Peter, Tabitha, and asking God for the big miracle first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Stephen knows a thing or two about sacrifice.

He is known as the first martyr following Jesus’s resurrection. ⁣

He sacrificed his life because he would not move from what he believed. ⁣

So what have you had to sacrifice?

Friends?

A certain lifestyle?

Family?

Money?

Time?

Energy? ⁣

It’s a sacrifice to be “all in” with this gospel.

Sometimes we get a nice groove going, where we are focused on the fun and joy.

And other times we are painfully aware of what we are sacrificing. ⁣

But here’s where I think Stephen teaches us a valuable lesson. ⁣

His last words were:

“Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.”⁣ (Acts 7:60)

Stephen sacrificed with a spirit of forgiving and love. ⁣

We are all sacrificing…

But HOW are we sacrificing?⁣

Is it with resentment?

It is longing for things we are missing?

Is it self-pitying or self-righteous?⁣

Or do we GLADLY sacrifice? ⁣

Out of love for the Lord and for those around us.

Not holding resentment for anyone.

Maybe even forgiving others for forcing us down paths that require a lot of sacrifice. ⁣

“The more I cheerfully respond to difficult circumstances with faith in the Lord, the more I grow in my discipleship.” —Elder Isaac K. Morrison

I want to follow noble Stephen’s lead in taking whatever comes my way, joyfully sacrificing whatever needs to be sacrificed out of love for God, and freely forgiving those who force the sacrifice upon me.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post How do you sacrifice with joy like Stephen?  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.