I’ve had my heart prepared to not be accepted into a program at school.

I’ve had my heart prepared for a struggle my son would have to face.

I’ve had my heart prepared before receiving a big calling that would affect our family a lot.

And as I’ve talked with others, I’ve had them share other personal, sacred experiences where their hearts have been prepared for a huge financial setback, and even the death of a loved one.

I know that God prepares our hearts in ways that are sometimes indescribable, and for experiences that we may be the only ones to know about.

God prepares hearts.

I also have learned that I can do my part to prepare my own heart for situations that I do know are ahead of me.

I’ve found literal priesthood power when I prepare my mind before entering the temple.

I’ve discovered genuine love when I prepare my heart to love and serve someone who seemed difficult to love and serve.

I’ve experienced great peace when I’ve prepared my soul to expect miracles.

“Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it”. (Ezra 7:10)

Life is busy and stressful and crazy.

But taking time to prepare our hearts or listening to promptings from God that prepare us for large tasks ahead will bring much more love and peace in the long run.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Preparing hearts first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

This relationship, this love and devotion, has been weighing on my heart.

This is what matters more than anything.

To know Them. To love Them. To serve Them.

And I’ve probably felt this strong urge lately because I’ve also been bombarded with distractors.

Things that seem important to spend my spiritual energy on.

Things that invite me to use my mind to deal with other problems.

Things that are not bad in and of themselves, but things that certainly do not matter most.

I’ve been trying to simplify my testimony while also adding real depth.

And it all comes back to Jesus and my Heavenly Father.

I’ve felt this resolve to stand with Nehemiah and say:

“I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down”. (Nehemiah 6:3)

Not “down” to imply that I’m better than anyone else, but “down” to imply what my top priority is.

Nehemiah knew that his top priority was to focus on the walls of Jerusalem.

Meeting with Sanballat wasn’t the worst thing in the world.

It wasn’t a sin.

But it would have distracted him from his main focus, his top priority.

There are so many things to worry about, to defend, to explain, to understand.

But sometimes, we need to consolidate and focus on fostering what is most essential.

God. The Savior.

I’m doing a great work when I focus on Them and what my love for Them means.

And I will not stop.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post I will not come down  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Such joy, relief!

Out of Babylon and back to the land of your ancestors to rebuild the great temple as a sign of devotion to God.

Good intentions to do good things.

But then

SO MUCH OPPOSITION.

The work stops.

So heartbreaking!

But the prophet says to keep going despite all the opposition.

Letters are written to the Persian king trying to “tattle” on the Jews, encouraging the king to use his power to stop their efforts.

So what does the great Persian king Darius do with all of his social status, influence, and power?

He says, “Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place.”

He even then tells all these complaining neighbors to give the Jews any material they may need for the temple so that, “they be not hindered”. (Ezra 6:7-8)

Darius didn’t know these Jews. He doesn’t really know much about Jerusalem.

But he stood up for the people who were getting picked on and encouraged others to assist, too.

Elder Renlund, in his talk “Infuriating Unfairness” in April 2021, said:

“Brothers and sisters, not throwing stones is the first step in treating others with compassion. The second step is to try to catch stones thrown by others.”

You may not feel that you have the power and influence that Darius used for these Jews.

But how could you be a powerful example of love the next time someone starts gossiping?

How could you be a powerful example of grace the next time someone starts criticizing?

How could you be a powerful example of inclusion the next time someone starts excluding?

Little by little, we can catch the stones meant for those around us, and share love and support instead!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Catching stones for the Jews first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

So I read it again, trying to make sure my brain was engaged.

I read it a couple more times, and realized I still didn’t fully understand what I was reading.

I get confused by the scriptures plenty of times (which is why I love digging into the research to try and learn— even though it takes a long time).

But when I don’t have the time to research and study, I am often confused by these ancient books of scriptures that were written in different generations, in different cultures, and that have often been through many translations, too.

So why would we be asked to read and study the scriptures if it can be so difficult sometimes?

Even as I read through those confusing verses recently, I had a phrase pop out to me that taught me a little gospel truth.

I know that God always prepares a way for us to keep His commandments!

Even when I’ve read through confusing scriptures…

When I haven’t understood the context…

When I feel like I wouldn’t even pass a basic comprehension test…

I’ve had phrases pop out to me that make sense and teach me a powerful personal lesson.

I’ve received personal revelation.

I’ve felt the Spirit.

When the people of Jerusalem, after they had been able to rebuild and fortify their temple, all gathered together to hear Ezra read them the scriptures, it says that the scriptures were read in a holy way, and “caused them to understand the reading.” (Nehemiah 8:8).

These people had spoken different languages, completely forgotten what had been written down, and had been exposed to other cultures and religious practices.

And yet the Spirit caused them to understand the reading.

When we have the Spirit with us, even difficult passages of scriptures can bring us the answers we need.

Being in the scriptures is so so SO essential.

Feeling overwhelmed or confused? There’s lots of ways to learn more confidence in the scriptures.

But nothing can beat having the Spirit as a companion. The understanding that you NEED in your life is always available in the scriptures when the Spirit is present.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Confusing scriptures and spiritual understanding  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.