Gratefully, that has not been the case in my life thus far.

But… I sure face temptations.

In my teenage years, the temptations were more focused on “choosing the wrong”.

It wasn’t all that difficult to figure out where the enemy was tempting me: to lie, to cross that line, to make that choice.

It was a clear temptation to do something I knew logically was wrong.

But as I’ve matured spiritually, I’ve recognized that the adversary has needed to change tactics with me.

Now the temptations are more like “choose this fun thing over this thing that would be best” or “you’re doing fine compared to these other people so no need to improve” or “you’ll never be good enough so why even bother trying”.

And I’ve noticed it’s actually harder to call these out as “temptations”.

But Moses gives us the perfect pattern that can help.

When we remember who we are and our divine identity, the temptations are a whole lot easier to call out and rebuke.

“I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten… Get thee hence, Satan; deceive me not”. (Moses 1:13-16)

Elder Stevenson taught:

“Command the enemy of your soul by saying: ‘Go away! You have no glory. Do not tempt or lie to me! For I know I am a child of God. And I will always call upon my God for His help.’”

He tempts and he lies. That’s his work.

God’s work and glory is infinitely more magnificent.

And we are His children.

The more I understand this, the easier it is to identify: “Wait a second, why would I ever think that it’s not worth trying to improve? I’m a daughter of God and so of course I’m going to keep trying.”

“I’m a daughter of God and I know that so much more joy comes from service and work than from another round of that TV show.”

“I’m a daughter of God so I know I can’t compare myself to others to judge my progress. I want to keep getting closer to God, no matter what.”

Knowing my identity makes it easier to call out the lies.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Calling out the lies first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I sat through a fascinating church discussion one time about this concept.

“If you feel any fear, it means you’ve lost your faith. If you had perfect faith in God, you’d never feel fear.”

One person made this comment and some agreed.

Another said:

“I’ve had to deal with some truly terrifying things in my life, and I have felt fear. But I feel like it was a natural response to what I was facing.”

Others agreed with this.

I feel like “fear” can often be a loaded word at church.

We’ve been told to fear not, and yet here we are feeling fear from time to time.

Which is why this verse from Moses jumped out to me so much:

“Moses began to fear exceedingly; and as he began to fear, he saw the bitterness of hell.

“Nevertheless, calling upon God, he received strength”. (Moses 1:20)

That word: NEVERTHELESS.

Moses felt fear.

And for great reason too— the adversary was literally yelling at Moses to worship him.

It was a scary situation.

So Moses felt fear.

NEVERTHELESS Moses still called upon God and received strength to know what to do next to conquer his trial.

It sure doesn’t sound like Moses waited for all the fear to leave before he started calling on God.

The fear and the faith-filled pleading to God happened at the same time.

And it resulted in great strength.

I think we can feel fear in our life from time to time and nevertheless, still choose to pray to God for strength to know the next step to take.

I’ve had some terrifying moments where I’ve felt some fear at the same time that I’ve been filled with faith that God could give me the answer.

And truthfully, those moments have given me some of the most powerful experiences in my life.

I don’t think Moses dwelt in fear. I think he felt the fear and then got rid of it pretty soon after.

But his fear didn’t negate the fact that he also had faith in that moment, knowing exactly who to call on to be delivered from that fear.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Are fear and faith really opposites? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Like, there were HUGE binders that got passed around.

Binders filled with sheets for taking meals to someone in need, asking for donations for hygeine kits, volunteering to clean the temple, and pretty much anything else I could think of.

And I would watch certain women in my ward who would always sign up for everything.

They’d go through every paper and write their name next to every opportunity they could.

And I remember thinking, “I want to be like that someday”.

Before the world was, when God the Father asked who He should send to create the earth and help fulfill His purpose, there was someone else who volunteered.

Our Savior Jesus Christ said, as recorded in Abraham 3:27: “Here am I, send me.”

He volunteered.

He didn’t have to, and yet He stepped up.

And why?

He volunteered out of love for us.

He loved us so much that He voluntarily agreed to be our Savior.

“This divine love should give us abundant comfort and confidence as we pray to the Father in the name of Christ. Not one of us is a stranger to Them. We need not hesitate to call upon God, even when we feel unworthy.” (D. Todd Christofferson)

We are so loved, and it means that we have this same intimate connection to our Savior that we have with anyone else who has ever chosen to serve us.

I’m sure that Jesus would be the person writing His name on every sheet that gets passed around in a church meeting.

I’ve got some mortal limits to what I’m able to do, and I’ve learned that sometimes me saying “no” to a sign up sheet means I’m actually saying “yes” to more family time.

But anytime that I’m able to say to the Lord: “Here I am! I’m ready to serve! Send me!”

Anytime that I’m able to CHOOSE to do something new out of love, I feel like the Savior’s cheering me on.

And whether the volunteer opportunities come through Relief Society, a community group, work, or through individual prayer, every chance that I get to say “Here am I! Send me!” is a chance to practice using my agency for good.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Binders and Relief Society first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Growing up, we lived in a house for a while with a giant pebble path in the front yard that led through a garden.

I’m sure it looked beautiful.

But when it rained and weeds started popping up in between every little pebble on the pathway, I knew that my mom would make my sisters and me go out and weed.

It was the worst!

President Eyring shared a similar experience about having to weed the garden at their home when he was young, and how frustrated he got with the weeds breaking off in his hands, leaving the roots behind.

“This is too hard!” he would say.

And his mother would respond: “Oh, Hal, of course it’s hard. It’s supposed to be. Life is a test.”

At BYU, I remember taking a final exam for my Physical Science class.

Every time there was a question about the properties of light, I realized I was a little fuzzy on the details. I guessed the best I could and moved on.

At the end of the exam, there were two written response questions.

As I read the first question and started writing my response, something clicked, and I finally remembered the right answer!

I wrote an accurate response for my written answer, and then I spent time going through all the previous questions and changing my answers to fit what I had finally remembered.

In Abraham 3:25, the Lord describes the whole plan: “And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them”.

Life really is a test, to see if we are going to keep the commandments and turn our hearts to God.

But the cool part?

I’m only going to be judged by where I end up.

If I “figure out” the right way to serve better, to love better, to study better, to worship better, halfway through the test, I don’t have to go back through and change all my answers from before.

I get to progress.

And in order to pass the test, to “prove myself”, I just need to reflect on where my heart is right now.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Life really is a test first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

And holding it separate from any other scriptures has made me realize just how MASSIVE it is.

So many people I have talked to have mentioned they feel excitement for a fresh start in the Old Testament, but they also feel that huge gap in knowledge as to what’s going on.

Have you felt that before?

Starting a new task, or a new book of scripture, or a new job, or a new parenting adventure, and you suddenly realize how LITTLE you know?!

I think Moses could relate as he talked to God on the mountain.

In Moses 1, God starts teaching Moses, humble sheep-herder, that there are “worlds without number”.

And the worlds are filled with numberless inhabitants.

In the grand scheme of things, there is so much that our Heavenly Father has not shared with us yet.

And I love Moses’ meek yet inquisitive response:

“Tell me, I pray thee, why these things are so…?” (Moses 1:30)

Why are there so many creations? Why so many worlds? So many people? Why are we here? What’s the purpose of it all?

You know, the BIG questions.

And what amazes me is that the Lord answers this question!

The Lord tells Moses what the big WHY really is for each creation, each trial, each life.

“For behold, this is my work and my glory–to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” (Moses 1:39)

It’s for immortality and it’s for eternal life. For us.

That’s why we are here.

That’s why we have a veil and can’t remember anything from before.

That’s why Jesus is so important.

It’s all for our immortality and eternal life, and He’s got a plan to help us get there.

As we move through the Old Testament this year, you’ll have plenty of moments where you’ll realize just how little you know about this ancient book of scripture, or the people or doctrines contained in it.

But that’s okay. We don’t have to know it all right now.

In the big picture, we know the almost incomprehensible concepts of immortality and eternal life will be ours if we focus on the simple ways that we put God first in our life each day.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post There is so much we DON’T know! first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.