I don’t know if that’s 100% true, but I do know that when I study, truly STUDY, my scriptures every single day consistently, I know more about the gospel.

I’m able to teach better.

I receive inspiration more easily.

I feel like I’m showing my Heavenly Father and my Savior that I’m willing to put the work in to learn. ⁣

I feel comfort and peace in response to my complicated questions.

The people in Berea were ready to actually receive the gospel from Paul and Silas because they SEARCHED the scriptures DAILY. ⁣

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and asearched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

So how can we search and study the scriptures even better?

I like to take a little inventory of my current scripture study-related STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES.

Whether it is consistency, time spent studying, allowing time to reflect, finding life lessons, seeking inspiration, memorizing stories and references, teaching others about the scriptures…⁣

The gospel is all about STRIVING to be better!⁣

How can we be just a little better with our scripture study today?

Not tomorrow.

Not when I have the time.

Not once I meet this deadline. ⁣

What can I do today to make my scripture study bless my life even more, and be ready to receive God’s word?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post How can I improve my scripture study? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I love coming up with really good plans.

Whether it’s been for callings at church, my next career move, or ideas for how to help my child, I think of a lot of stuff.

And sometimes, God says, “no” to my carefully crafted plans.

Paul experienced this, too.

Paul really wanted to travel to certain areas to share the gospel. ⁣

“After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.” (Acts 16:7)

His desire was perfectly righteous!

And it made logical sense for them to preach to the people in Bithynia as they travelled, too.

Maybe Paul had travel arrangements or contacts there to make it super convenient.

But he prayed, and the Spirit told him, “no.” ⁣

For me, “no” answers usually come with stupors of thought.

I feel like the next step is not available to me.

Or I feel “off” as I pray about it. ⁣

It takes a lot of faith to NOT go through with something we want to do.

And then the trickiest part of all?

Usually the promptings for what we should do instead do not come until we have shown the faith not to go down the first path. ⁣

I’ve known that an idea I was really excited about was no longer right.

But it wasn’t until I took actual steps away from that first idea that the much better, much more powerful second idea came into focus.

It took a LOT of humility.

But I think that’s the point.

Slowly removing that pride, layer by layer.

It takes faith to align our will with God and accept that His “no” will bring the greatest future imaginable.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Accepting a “no” from God  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Maybe you’ve asked yourself this question during a time of spiritual struggle.

When you’ve had to deal with a toddler.

When you feel like you don’t have any friends in your ward.

Besides partaking of the infinitely important sacrament, Luke gives some commentary on Paul’s travels:

“And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.” (Acts 18:23)

He went around strengthening all the disciples!

What a fantastic reason to go to church.

Instead of focusing on teaching a lesson, conducting music, or listening to a teacher, we can turn outward!

We can focus on finding ways to strengthen the people around us.

I personally have been strengthened by people who had conversations with me in the hallway.

By people who have shared meaningful comments in lessons.

Or even by those who’ve just smiled at me in a moment of loneliness.

“This religion is not concerned only with self; rather, we are all called to serve.” (Elder D. Todd Christofferson)

And we certainly don’t need to be perfect to strengthen others!

Your strengths are probably someone else’s weaknesses and vice versa.

We all get to be strengthened, and we all get to strengthen others as we share what’s worked for us and how we’ve gotten closer to Jesus.

And if we aren’t necessarily feeling strengthened by others, then we can go to turn outward and lend our strength to someone who needs it.

Every time I do that, I end up feeling strengthened, too.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Strengthen each other at church first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

“None of us should be defined only by the worst thing we have ever done.” – Kevin R. Duncan

Other than not fully understanding Christ’s atoning power in our lives, this becomes a problem because we view ourselves as an imposter of some kind. ⁣

“If only they knew…”⁣

“I’m different than everyone else…”

Which leads us to separate ourselves even more from our family, friends, and ward members!

And to separate ourselves from Jesus Christ.

And then why do we sometimes do this to others?⁣

We happen to know of a big sin they committed, and we silently judge them as we see their social media pictures, because they were “that one kid in high school who…”⁣

We know of a difficult life circumstance they had to endure, and we thoughtlessly label them as “that girl who had to return early from her mission…” or “the divorced guy…”

I like to think of Paul. ⁣

Did anyone else just get EXHAUSTED reading about all his traveling and preaching?!

This missionary was on fire!⁣

And then, he gives a beautiful farewell speech to his brethren in Acts 20:18-35.

(I highly recommend you reread that speech again.)⁣

He talks about serving the Lord boldly. ⁣

He talks about never coveting what other men have. ⁣

He talks about being led by the Holy Ghost to preach of Christ. ⁣

And then his brethren weep, fall on him, and kiss him because they do not want him to go away. ⁣

And Paul emotionally closes:

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24)

Does this sound like Paul is thinking about his not-so-shiny days as the Pharisee, stoning Christians to death?

Does this sound like his friends still remember the terrible things Paul did to them and possibly loved ones?⁣

Nope. ⁣

Christ’s atoning power is real.

We don’t need to keep thinking we aren’t as good as anyone else.

We don’t need to keep thinking we have other people “figured out”.

Because of Jesus, everyone gets to change if they want to.

Our eternal potential is unlimited!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Paul didn’t let his past define him first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

A group of saints gathered at Mary’s house to pray. ⁣

There was a knock on the door, and young Rhoda went to see who it was.

She heard Peter’s voice!

Rhoda was SO GLAD that she ran back inside without opening the door for him. ⁣

She told everyone: Peter is right outside the gate!⁣

And these saints,

who are all gathered around, praying intently that Peter would be saved and set free,

tell Rhoda that she is crazy. ⁣

Anyone else see the irony there?

Do we sometimes pray and plead for answers and miracles in our lives…

and then ignore the small signs that the answer is right there?!

And then dear, excited, sweet Rhoda stands her ground.

She doesn’t second guess what she just experienced.

She doesn’t defer to the older people in the room.

But she also doesn’t argue or make a scene. ⁣

“But she constantly affirmed that it was even so.” (Acts 12:15)

Instead, she CONSTANTLY AFFIRMED that it was Peter. ⁣

Personal spiritual experiences and personal revelation are so interesting because they are just that – personal.

Nobody else is experiencing exactly what you are experiencing. ⁣

Sometimes well-meaning church members, family members, or close friends shed some doubt on our spiritual experiences. ⁣

“Well that’s an interesting decision for you!”

But Rhoda did not crumble or doubt.

She didn’t make a fuss or a scene.

She just CONSTANTLY AFFIRMED what she had heard. ⁣

THIS is what softened their hearts enough to go check the door themselves and eventually experience that same witness for themselves.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Constantly affirming with Rhoda and Peter first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

It’s not wording that we currently use, and I honestly didn’t understand what it meant!

But at some point, it clicked!

This phrase means God doesn’t favor certain groups of people over others – be that social status, race, nationality, etc. ⁣

And I LOVE the context in which Peter says this! ⁣

He’s just had a confusing vision, been summoned by two random men, and brought before Cornelius, a Gentile. ⁣

And all of a sudden, Peter realizes:

“Wait, I think that I can preach to this man, even though he isn’t Jewish. This is a righteous man, and that’s all that matters.”⁣

This was a HUGE paradigm shift for Peter with regard to the current religious culture.

For us, that realization shouldn’t be as jarring.

In fact, I’m sure most of us feel very comfortable with the idea of the gospel being for everyone!⁣

But for a moment, consider your current ward family. ⁣

Every socioeconomic class, every race, every gender.

God loves us literally each the same. ⁣

He loves the inactive lady as much as he loves a man with an important calling. ⁣

It’s a hard question to REALLY ask ourselves, because a lot of us would automatically deflect with a resounding “Of COURSE not!”…⁣

…But have we written people off from really being a part of the gospel? A member of our ward? Our friend?⁣

Do we realize God loves them AS MUCH as He loves you? ⁣

He wants them to return home AS MUCH as He wants you to?⁣

He wants other people to love and bless them AS MUCH as he wants people to love and bless you?⁣

“One of the precious things I love about the temple is that among those who attend, there are no distinctions of wealth, rank, or position of any kind.” —Quentin L. Cook

Maybe we can try asking our Heavenly Father how to be just a little more inclusive.

How we can help the marginalized feel loved.

How we can listen and just let them be on their own journeys instead of constantly adding our judgment.

Our Savior gave us the example of hanging out with the marginalized, outcasts, and those who needed the most help.

He was no respecter of persons, and with His grace, we can learn to be just as lovingly inclusive as He is!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post What does it mean that God is no respecter or persons? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Most people fall into one of two categories when it comes to how they plan and learn:

• I want to see the forest before I can see the trees!

(in other words, I need to see the big picture before you can start giving me little details)

or ⁣

• I want to see all the trees before I see the forest!

(I need to know how all the details are going to work before I can get the big picture) ⁣

Me, personally? I’m 100% the first one.

If I can see the end game, the final purpose, or the desired result for something, then I don’t really get caught up in the details.

In a gospel setting, my style of planning works GREAT sometimes!

Focusing on major doctrines instead gives me peace.

But I’ve learned that my style does NOT work with the way many of us receive personal revelation – “line upon line”.

Line upon line?!

Show me the whole book first and then I’ll figure out the lines!

But I love Peter’s example in Acts 10-11. ⁣

Peter has a big, kind of confusing vision.

While he is pondering about the meaning, he gets the inspiration:

3 men are here to meet him. He should go with them and not doubt anything. ⁣

“Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing”. (Acts 10:20)

Those are VERY SMALL TREE details, with no big vision of the FOREST.

But Peter’s FAITH is unshakable.

No questions or doubts. ⁣

And when he is brought to Cornelius, he slowly gains more details.

And then he has to listen to the Spirit even more before starting to piece together the meaning of the vision.

Eventually, he figures it out and teaches and converts the first group of non-Jews. ⁣

What an example to me! ⁣

Even though I PREFER to see the big picture first, my life has been (and continues to be!) a huge lesson that I can actually fully TRUST my Father in Heaven, more than any earthly leader.

He will not lead me astray.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post How can I be patient with the Lord like Peter? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

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.