I’m not going to lie, this has always been a struggle for me. 

Sometimes we like to excuse ourselves that if it’s true, then it’s not gossip.

Buuuuut I think we all know a little better than that, deep down.

Plus, let’s be honest, most conversations start with “the truth” and then turn into some judgmental comments or backhanded criticism. ⁣

I have found it is much more uplifting to just make new, fun memories with friends instead!

To share our real current joys and struggles, to bond together, to create strong, positive memories. ⁣

Or as Peter put so wisely put it:

“For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile”. (1 Peter 3:10)

(By the way, “guile” means dishonesty, deceit or fraud. In case anyone needed a refresher…)

But can we also reflect for a second about how we speak to ourselves?⁣

What do we say to ourselves first thing in the morning? When we look in the mirror? When we eat a cookie? When we yell? When we put on another TV show?⁣

Are we speaking with evil and guile towards ourselves? ⁣

Peter promises that we can grow to love life and have good days when we get rid of the guile in our conversation, and I think this can totally apply to ourselves.

I LOVE LIFE and have GOOD DAYS when I stop deceitfully thinking that my life is only filled with tough stuff.

I LOVE LIFE and have GOOD DAYS when I stop worrying about what I see in the mirror and instead focus on what my body can do. ⁣

I LOVE LIFE and have GOOD DAYS when I create a positive conversation with myself. I give myself a break. I am kind to myself. I forgive myself. ⁣

When we examine our conversations with other people, it is easy to see how refraining from evil and guile can create happier and more meaningful connections. ⁣

But I think we can improve that happiness even more when we examine our inner conversations and remove the degrading thoughts that the devil would love to derail us with. ⁣

And we can slowly find ways to love life and have more “good days”.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Love life and have good days first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I missed the traditions that I was used to.

I missed the dishes that we always ate.

And I missed the people.

I wasn’t feeling very grateful at all.

As I sat pretty quietly at the dinner table, I tried to have a change of heart.

How could I contribute to the atmosphere even if I didn’t feel very grateful?

What could I do to turn things around?

I realized that I had been thinking a lot about myself.

So instead of feeling self-absorbed and sad, I decided to try and focus on making other people happy.

Gratitude is essential.

But I love it when gratitude leads me to think, “How can I better feed or serve the people around me?”⁣

Peter encouraged us:

“Feed the flock of God which is among you. . . .” (1 Peter 5:2)

Many of us doing that literally today— gathering and feeding loved ones.

What a gift!

But looking at it from a spiritual standpoint is so cool, too!

Gather and nourish the people that you love on a spiritual level.

I don’t think that necessarily means preaching at people.

But sharing love, speaking openly of Jesus, and encouraging.

Focusing outward with gratitude.

I completely transformed how I felt on that Thanksgiving when I started trying to give happiness and joy to other people, even when I didn’t totally feel it myself.

Gratitude can help lead us to nourish others.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Feeding the flock with gratitude first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

In 1918, Joseph F. Smith read this verse and started to ponder:

“By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison”. (1 Peter 3:19)

As President Joseph F. Smith pondered, he received a glorious vision that is now recorded in D&C Section 138. ⁣

I know this is a busy week for everyone, but if you have 15 minutes, I HIGHLY suggest listening to Elder Ballard’s 2018 talk, “The Vision of the Redemption of the Dead”.

Elder Ballard spoke extensively about Pres Smith’s life and circumstances surrounding this vision. It is heartbreaking and inspiring. ⁣

But how can we learn from Pres Joseph F. Smith’s example? ⁣

What was he doing as he read 1 Peter, just as we are this week?⁣

He pondered. ⁣

What does that mean to you?⁣

To me, I’ve realized that pondering requires 3 things:

TIME, PRIORITY, and CONNECTION ⁣

TIME:⁣

Pondering means I have time to let my mind wander as I read the scriptures!⁣

I know, so many of us try to avoid letting our mind wander as we read.

But I find some of my best pondering comes as I actually encourage my mind to wander after reading different verses. ⁣

PRIORITY:

This means the scriptures are important in my mind. ⁣

Even when I’m not reading them, I have thoughts throughout the day that continue to bring me back to what I was reading that morning. ⁣

I try to think about my scripture study often. ⁣

CONNECTION⁣:

I try to make as many personal connections as I can to what I’m reading. ⁣

I think about stories that have happened to me, stories I’ve heard from others, or conference talks that relate to the subject.

Making connections leads me to ponder and receive revelation with new insights I would get from just the text alone. ⁣

Joseph F. Smith pondered on 1 Peter and was blessed with beautiful revelation for the people he had stewardship over, which happened to be the entire church membership. ⁣

When I ponder the scriptures, I can receive direct and personal revelation to the people I have stewardship over, including myself, my family members, and people connected to my church calling. ⁣

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post D&C 138 and 1 Peter first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Like, so powerful.

Here’s what he said:

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

“But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” (1 Peter 4:12-13)

Peter is very lovingly telling us to stop being so surprised when we have to deal with a big trial.

Stop thinking it is so strange that we have to endure tough stuff.

Stop being shocked that hard times keep coming our way.

What a cool perspective— because how often am I analyzing what “went wrong” to cause a trial in my life?

I have found so much peace when I’ve thought:

“This is exactly how it was supposed to go all along.”

It’s not strange— it is the plan.

And then Peter gives the sacred reminder of WHY we shouldn’t think it is strange when we have these trials:

When we suffer, we are experiencing just a small part of what Christ experienced.

It is Christlike to endure suffering.

But we don’t have to stay in the hard part, just like Jesus didn’t stay there either.

Christ was blessed with great glory for what He suffered.

Which means that we, too, will have a small part of that glory for the trials that we suffer.

This will result in exceeding joy!

Having a trial-free life isn’t the kind of life that disciples of Christ should seek.

We should expect tough times to find us.

To try us and refine us.

We don’t have to love the tough stuff.

But we will always be able to access His joy!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Your trials aren’t strange first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.