BUSY

members of the church spend time researching names

and then attending the temple to do temple work?⁣

There’s all the technical doctrinal reasons.

The reasons that help explain this super unique aspect of our Christian religion.

In addition to baptizing people in behalf of those who have passed away, we also know that all temple ordinances are made available by proxy for people who have died. ⁣

“Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?” (1 Corinthians 15:29)

But why do we continue to attend the House of the Lord?

I think the real answer is

Christlike love and compassion. ⁣

Have you ever thought about how that’s what temple work really is?⁣

We literally are spending time, effort, and often some amount of money in the form of gas, food, or childcare in order to show love and compassion for those who were not able to perform temple ordinances in their lifetime. ⁣

And, these deceased people might not even accept our work. ⁣

And yet, we still go. ⁣

We love them so much,

OR we at least understand that Christ loves them so much,

that we are willing to give up our time in order to give them a chance. ⁣

That is such extreme love and compassion. ⁣

And I think that’s one of the reasons why it’s so important to go to the temple!

Even when it’s difficult.

We are developing a truly advanced ability to love others when we sacrifice so much for what may not be accepted at all. ⁣

In fact, that sounds an awful lot like what our Savior did for all of us. ⁣

When we attend the temple, we get to experience just a small portion of what He did as He sacrificed His comfort in order to give everyone the opportunity to develop spiritually. ⁣

I’m so grateful that attending the temple helps me become more Christlike, from the things that I learn as I worship in the House of the Lord, to the mere physical act of just being willing to attend.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Why do we do baptisms for the dead? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

“The atonement”

“The enabling power of the atonement”

“Applying the atonement”

“Being strengthened by the atonement”

They are all phrases that President Nelson has asked us to STOP using. ⁣

Why?⁣

Because they completely take Christ out of the picture!

President Nelson has encouraged us to use terms like “the Savior’s atoning sacrifice” that keep our focus on Jesus.

I used to attend church and learn about lots of different topics:

Service, church history, families, spiritual gifts, my Savior, peace.

But I remember it clicking in my mind one day that everything is actually tied back to Christ!

And I think we could all try to do a bit better at making sure our lessons, talks, and thoughts always connect to Jesus.

“And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:14)

Our faith needs to be in Jesus Christ, and our preaching needs to point others to Jesus Christ.

We go to church to partake of the sacrament as a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice.

We learn about service to become more charitable like Christ.

We study church history to see how others turned to Christ during their trials.

Everything is connected to and possible only because of Jesus!

Give it a try– the next church lesson, class, or talk that you sit through, make an effort to see how it is all possible only because of Jesus Christ.

And then share that testimony with others!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post How do we connect it all to Jesus?  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

When we fall short of a goal, we tend to throw the whole thing out for a bit.

It’s human nature for many of us.

We don’t have time for our full workout, so we just skip the whole thing anyway.

And we do it with gospel habits, too!

“I’m way too tired to study a whole chapter of scriptures tonight so I’ll just go to bed and start again on Sunday.”

Paul gives us some really powerful counsel:

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Paul gives us counsel to be STEADFAST and UNMOVABLE in the work of the Lord.

But what about when we fall short of our habits and goals?!

I like to think of this scripture as two parts:

First, Paul is counseling us to be steadfast and unmovable— in Jesus.

Be so firm in our commitment to Jesus Christ that there is NOTHING that anybody could say or do to take that away from us.

And then, Paul’s asking us to abound in good works.

Do good things as much as we can!

It doesn’t need to be an “all or nothing” approach.

We miss one month of our temple attendance, we just try again the next time.

We read just a couple scriptures as our eyes are closing because we want to invite the Spirit into our lives as much as possible.

We can’t give our full commitment to our calling, so we just show up and give what we can.

The Lord isn’t looking for perfection, so He doesn’t want us to throw our efforts away when they aren’t perfection, either.

Be steadfast in Jesus.

Be unmovable in our testimonies.

And then fill our lives with the good works that we are able!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Steadfast and unmovable first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

In my personal life, I’ve been experiencing a lot of change.

Honestly, most of it has been really good!

But good, bad, mediocre…

Change is always a little bit uncomfortable.

I’ve thought:

God is refining me.

Jesus is waiting for me at the other end, ready to embrace me once I’ve become more Christlike through this change.

But one morning, I was listening to music and heard an arrangement of the hymn, “Be Still, My Soul.”

I love that hymn.

But one phrase in particular stood out to me this time:

“The Lord is on thy side.”

The Lord is on my side!

I don’t have to “get through” these changes and adjustments in order to find my Savior on the other side.

He’s with me right now!

He wants me to conquer and smash and totally rock every challenge and change coming my way! ⁣

He’s walking next to me, helping me find some peace even when I need to adjust again.

God is not the author of confusion.

He’s not trying to trip me up by throwing things my way.

He’s not waiting to see if I make it or not.

⁣He is the author of peace. ⁣

And He is on my side.

“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” (1 Corinthians 14:33)

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post God is not the author of confusion first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.