“That they may always have His spirit to be with them.”

Like, this is my goal in life.

You know those people that you looked up to in your ward growing up, who just exuded kindness and love no matter what?

Those people you meet now who seem so genuine and sincere in all they do?

I think I’ve discovered the secret to what makes these people so awesome.

Really, there is a big connection that I’ve made:

They all attend the temple on a regular basis.

And I say “regular basis” because I have lived both near and far from temples, and these individuals all worship there “regularly”, whatever that means to them.

Try it out— talk to that person that just magnifies the Spirit in all they do, and bring up their thoughts on the temple.

Because I think they real key to always having the Spirit with us is to always be keeping our covenants.

And to keep them, we have to know them and ponder on them regularly.

King Abimelech noticed this quality about Abraham, someone who was very familiar with covenants:

“God is with thee in all that thou doest”. (Genesis 21:22)

The Spirit is with those who draw priesthood power into their lives by keeping powerful and eternal covenants with God.

What have you covenanted to do?

Those actions will keep the Spirit pouring into your life, in all that you do.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post In all that you do first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I mean, it checked most of the boxes, which is pretty good for buying a new house.

But I didn’t like the location.

And “location” is supposed to be the thing you never compromise on, right?

But… the spiritual prompting was too strong to deny.

I had reluctant faith. We bought the house and moved.

But deep down, I didn’t really know if God could give me something better than what I had before.

Lot’s wife is a fascinating person because we don’t learn much about her story other than her final moments and judgment.

Most people know Lot’s wife associated with:

“But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” (Genesis 19:36)

We know from modern revelation and teachings that she looked back on Sodom longingly.

I don’t love casting judgment on other people, especially when I don’t know their whole story at all.

But with scripture characters, I always like to ask “Lord, is it I?”

“Where am I in this story? Where can I root out weakness?”

Elder Holland has also taught about Lot’s wife:

“She doubted the Lord’s ability to give her something better than she already had.”

Now THAT is something I can relate to.

Time and time again, the Lord has shown me that when I am prompted and then choose to let go of something I really like, whether it’s a neighborhood, a job, a friend, a hobby, a responsibility…

He will never let me down. He will always lead me to something better.

Do I have the faith to let go and look forward?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Lot’s wife and trusting something better first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I had my degree, and was totally ready to finally teach professionally full-time and make a full-time salary!

But transferring my teaching license to a new state, waiting for background check results, and applying for jobs in the middle of a school year were leading me to getting a total of ZERO job offers those first few months.

I immediately started applying for substitute teaching jobs while I waited, and roadblock after roadblock kept popping up with delayed trainings and orientations and fingerprint cards.

My plan of supporting my husband and myself financially while he was in school was starting to fail, and our savings account slowly dipped lower and lower.

This was one time in my life where I really felt the concept that faith = action.

I knew that God would provide for us and that things would work out, but it was also really difficult sitting there without any income for a while, with many factors outside of my control.

I kept moving forward on every path I could find, and each time I would hit a roadblock, I’d think of another path and go that way.

And overall, there was this pervasive peace, this faith that I knew everything would work out okay.

When Abraham led his beloved son Isaac up to the mountain with all the supplies to make a burnt offering, except the lamb itself, Isaac started to wonder.

Where is the sacrifice? What were they going to do?

His father Abraham so wisely testified: “My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering”. (Genesis 22:8)

Abraham had pure faith that God would provide that offering, no matter what that looked like.

But I love that Abraham was also teaching Isaac of what was going to come in the future:

God would eventually provide a sacrificial lamb for all of mankind.

God has always provided for us.

When we really believe that God will provide, what can that give us the faith to do?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post God will provide first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Someone gave me a small bag of trail mix recently, and I picked through to find the M&Ms and ate those instead.

Because, chocolate.

My husband took the bag from me to pick out his favorites, and I saw a couple M&Ms that I had missed at the bottom.

“Wait!” I said, and quickly found the pieces I had missed, doing a final sweep for any other chocolate that was hiding.

I didn’t want to give my trail mix away while leaving any valuable pieces of chocolate behind!

God told Abraham that Sodom and Gomorrah were going to be destroyed.

Abraham, with his kind and compassionate heart, pleaded for the Lord to not destroy them if 50 righteous people were found.

Abraham continued to try and prove how much a righteous soul would be worth to the Lord until he stopped at:

“Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.” (Genesis 18:32)

One righteous person can make a huge difference within a home, a school, or a community.

Every effort that you make to turn to the Lord and show love, despite what may or may not be happening around you, matters.

One little light.

Even if you feel like you are the only M&M in the bag, the Lord sees you.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The M&Ms worth saving first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I could write out a whole list.

Some things, you would probably say are very well justified.

Other things probably seem much larger to me than they really are.

Regardless, I’ve found a lot of things that have piled up in my mind.

Getting everything done or handling everything with grace seems… well, impossible to me.

It’s all impossible.

And so this question has not been able to leave my head:

“Is any thing too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14)

Because it sure seems too hard for me to handle.

But here’s a beautiful connection I’ve recently made:

If my Lord can handle it all,

And if He has promised to take my yoke and bear my burdens,

Then nothing is impossible for me when I partner with the Lord.

Sarah and Abraham both laughed when they heard they were getting a son, when it was biologically impossible.

Impossible.

And yet, it happened.

The Lord can make miracles happen all on His own.

I’ve had a few, tender, sacred moments in my life where I have seen these truly impossible miracles occur.

But more often, I see it more as a partnership.

A very, very, unfair and unequal partnership.

Where my load seems quite impossible. Mentally; physically; emotionally.

But I know that nothing is too hard for Him.

And so I rely on Him even more. I invite Him in. I tell Him the intricacies of what I’m facing.

And the cliche is true— the burdens are still there. The load is still as big as ever.

But I’m able to feel those moments of peace and relief as I endure.

With God, nothing is impossible.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post It all seems too hard first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.