This hymn didn’t make the cut for our current green 1985 hymn book, but it’s been in older versions.

In fact, the Tabernacle Choir has sung an arrangement of this hymn that is super fun— you should give it a listen.

But I love the message, and I’ve just got a simple thought for you today on this busy weekend.

First, take a minute to read through these inspiring lyrics:

If the way be full of trial, weary not!⁣

If it’s one of sore denial, weary not!⁣

If it now be one of weeping⁣

There will come a joyous greeting⁣

When the harvest we are reaping, weary not!⁣

If the way be one of sorrow, weary not!⁣

Happier will be the morrow, weary not!⁣

Here we suffer tribulation⁣

Here we must endure temptation⁣

But there’ll come a great salvation, weary not!⁣

If misfortune overtake us, weary not!⁣

Jesus never will forsake us, weary not!⁣

He will leave us never, never⁣

From his love there’s naught can sever⁣

Glory to the Lamb forever, weary not!⁣

Do not weary by the way!⁣

Whatever be thy lot. ⁣

There awaits a brighter day⁣

To all, to all who weary not!⁣

– William H. Flaville⁣

I bet we could all write our own verses to this song. ⁣

“I just really need a nap, weary not!”⁣

“My child keeps struggling, weary not!”⁣

“It’s a Monday morning, weary not!”⁣

“I have to interact with this person again, weary not!”⁣

Life is hard.

And we do our best to weary not.

Jesus never will forsake us.

Weary not!

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not”. (Galatians 6:9)

What would your custom verse be?

P.S. What an amazing General Conference weekend, right?!

The post Weary not!  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

He wrote a nice summary of some of the good things he had learned from his experience reading the book.

And I was… SHOCKED at how casual the article was!

I was ready to read that this pastor had read the Book of Mormon, felt the Spirit, and immediately gotten baptized.

But instead it was a nice review, as if he had read a self-help book.

The Book of Mormon has been so transformational in my life that it’s hard for me to imagine someone else reading it and not also being transformed.

But it’s true–

Religious scholars and curious critics have read the Book of Mormon and not been converted.

So thinking logically, this means that it’s not just the act of reading our scriptures that strengthens our testimonies and brings us closer to the Savior.

There has to be something else!

Paul taught:

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:16)

We aren’t saved or “justified” by the act of reading our scriptures.

We don’t feel the Spirit of God changing our hearts just because we opened a book and read a little bit.

Instead, we need to open our scriptures with FAITH in Jesus Christ!

We open that book with the intent to grow our testimonies.

We read the verses with confidence that the Spirit will show our minds exactly what we need to learn.

We search the Book of Mormon, desperately longing for our hearts to soften.

It’s our FAITH that makes all the difference as we perform GOOD WORKS.

And this goes for everything: attending the temple with faith in Jesus, paying tithing with faith in Jesus, ministering with faith in Jesus, praying with faith in Jesus…

Our faith in Jesus Christ is what makes all the difference.

And it’s what turns the scriptures from books filled with ancient stories to living, powerful words straight from God!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post How could the book not transform you?! first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

When is a kite the most “free”?⁣

Growing up, we would go to the beach a lot. ⁣

If it was windy enough (and let’s be real, it’s always windy at the beach in Northern California), we would throw kites into the air, hold on to the spools, and slowly turn the handles until we could barely see the kites flying way up high! ⁣

I remember thinking that I was holding this kite back. ⁣

The string was restrictive!

I wanted to let go of that spool so the kite could fly as high as it possibly could.

That string was just tying the kite down. ⁣

But what happened when I let go of the spool?

The kite nose dived, crashing into the sand.

I wanted to “free” the kite by letting go of all restrictions.

And yet when the kite had nothing to hold onto, it fell to the ground and stumbled along in the wind. ⁣

It turns out, the tension of the string was exactly what was holding the kite up.

Sometimes, I hear people talking about how much more “free” they are without the commandments to follow. ⁣

And listen— sure, there is more literal freedom when you don’t “have to” follow this set of rules and commandments.

But I have learned that it is the “tension” and “restriction” from these commandments that Christ uses to truly let us be FREE.

There is not-so-obvious-to-others and undeniable-to-ourselves FREEDOM when we partner with Jesus Christ and willingly make covenants that bind us closer to Him.

Eternal, emotional, spiritual, peaceful, joyful freedom.

Christ knows our full potential, and He knows the “tensions” that we need in our life in order to actually keep us afloat, as much as we think we might be more “free” without them. ⁣

Bondage is NOT being tied by a string to a masterful kite-flyer.

Bondage is NOT having anything to pull us up, leaving us to be dragged every which way by the wind. ⁣

We are free BECAUSE we are bound to Christ.

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1)

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The kite analogy  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

“Why do you live where you do right now?”

EVERY SINGLE TIME that I’ve asked someone new that I meet why they live in the area, there’s a great story.

A story that usually involves a lot of “coincidences” just working out.

A lot of answered prayers.

Really, really cool stories.

(No really, start asking this question even to people you think you know well— it’s so fun!)

And honestly, I have a similar story.

We live in our current home in our current area due to a lot of promptings, some time in the temple, a softening of my heart, and a persistent salesperson.

And I know my family is 100% meant to be where we live right now.

Whether or not they recognize it, I’ve realized that most people I’m surrounded by are here because of some form of personal revelation.

Paul went on his journeys with the same guidance in mind:

“And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles…“ (Galatians 2:2)

He traveled by listening to promptings and acting on personal revelation.

And that technique led Paul to exactly where he needed to be!

I like thinking that everyone has been guided to where they are right now for a purpose.

No matter how long they’ll be there.

If this is true, what do you think your purpose might be?

Who can you reach out to and serve in a totally unique way?

What new friends are waiting to be discovered?

Who can you love?

When we humbly lend our will to God and allow our lives to be led by personal revelation, God can lead us to the people who need our specific help the most.

No matter where we are.

No matter how new, or how short we’ll stay.

No matter whether or not we think we “fit in”, or any other mortal thoughts we use to keep ourselves small.

If we were led by revelation, we can trust that God can use us to accomplish His purposes.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Being led by revelation first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.