Do you ever have that moment where you realize just how much you don’t know?

I once had someone start talking to me and they said, “I just heard of a school that is trying out not assigning homework. I’m interested to see what happens, cuz I’ve always thought homework is a waste of time!”

This person didn’t realize that as an educator, I had read countless studies and attended trainings about the complex topic of the pros and cons of homework.

Plus, various schools have already been trying it out for years.

But this topic was completely new for this one person.

We don’t know what we don’t know.

And I’ve felt exactly the same way when I’ve listened to a speaker, brought up a problem to someone who already has the solution, or wondered about a topic only to find out people have already come to great conclusions.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.” (Isaiah 55:8)

Can you imagine how much more the Lord knows than we do?!

We’re like, “Hey, I think I’ve figured out how mercy works!” Or “Wow, I think I got a glimpse of true charity!” Or “Oh, THAT’s how you make fasting meaningful!”

And His way of thinking and understanding is so much infinitely more than what we can even realize.

But He’ll help us out and give us glimpses of His ways.

Personal revelation is huge for this.

But so are other opportunities where people have been given priesthood authority to receive revelation that will also enrich, enlighten, and educate us.

And that’s what general conference is.

A chance to hear from men and women who are speaking with priesthood authority.

People who are assigned by the prophet of God to put in the work to receive revelation for the general population of the church.

We’ve got a chance to learn what other people have learned about God’s ways.

We’ve got a chance to learn what He has already taught them about where we might be lacking in God’s ways.

It’s a time to gather, reflect, and receive directions that we may not even know we need yet.

General conference helps us learn the Lord’s ways just a little bit better.

Who is ready to go?!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post General conference and learning His ways first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I’ve done it three times now, and each time, as that due date approaches, the intensity starts to build.

I’m so excited to bring a new baby into the world.

But I know that I have to experience a lot of physical pain, uncertainty, potential complications, and sleeplessness in order to get to the other side.

It’s excitement, it’s anxiety, it’s trying to be peaceful and hoping everything will go smoothly.

And then, after the journey, the new baby is laid on your chest.

What a feeling.

“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows:” (Isaiah 53:4)

I’ve carried and birthed sweet little babies.

And Isaiah teaches us that our Savior has carried and borne every sorrow, trial, and tragedy we’ve experienced.

He’s struggled and become fatigued with what we currently have to endure.

Which in turn, I believe, gives Him a special kind of love toward us.

“No love in mortality comes closer to approximating the pure love of Jesus Christ than the selfless love a devoted mother has for her child.” – Elder Holland

I love this motherly imagery because I am a mother, and the relationship between brutal physical sacrifice and devoted love is one that I’ve experienced firsthand.

But I also know that you don’t have to be a mom to know this.

The Savior loved us and was willing to endure real actual physical pain to then love us even more wholly.

Which means that maybe, just maybe, when we willingly sacrifice on a much smaller scale on His behalf, we grow a special kind of love for Him, too.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Borne and carried first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

We’ve had many friends in our ward turn 8 and choose to be baptized, and it’s been so fun to attend and celebrate each one.

I’ve noticed some patterns though.

First of all, grandparents give the sweetest baptism and Holy Ghost-themed talks, and it’s so fun to see how each person puts their own spin on it.

But secondly, I’ve remembered how simple the baptism ordinance is.

It’s over in literally just a few seconds.

This powerful, soul-saving essential ordinance accompanied by everlasting covenants is so…

Simple.

Pure.

Un-complicated.

It’s little 8 year olds who love Jesus, want to follow Him, and choose to keep a commandment.

It’s so simply beautiful.

“Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.” (Isaiah 52:11)

When these young children take upon themselves the name of Jesus and receive the Holy Ghost, they are bearing the vessels of the Lord.

These girls and boys have access to the priesthood power of the Almighty God as they keep their covenants.

Life is going to get a whole lot more complicated for these 8 year olds as they navigate what it’s really like to be Christlike in a world filled with fallen mortals and temptations everywhere.

But the premise is still pretty simple.

Whether it’s our initial baptism, or whether it’s the weekly renewal in another simple ordinance, we are invited to be clean so that we can access our priesthood power and bear His holy name.

Scrub off that sin, that tarnish, that anger, that hard heart, and just be clean.

And when that cleanliness doesn’t stay too long, we can try it again next week. 

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post It’s simple to be clean first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

What area of your life seems totally crazy and overwhelming right now?

Maybe housework, your calling, school work, teaching loved ones, scripture study, keeping up with schedules, work…

And then what is one area of your life that seems really empty right now?

Maybe spiritual nourishment, physical excercise, gratitude, family time, organization, social life…

It’s these two opposite extremes that are pretty prevalent in mortality for everyone.

We’ve all got areas that are like a crazy wilderness, and other areas that are like a dry desert.

I love that the Lord promises us that He will help us in BOTH of these areas:

“For the Lord shall comfort Zion… he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein”. (Isaiah 51:3)

We can turn our hearts and our desires over to Jesus.

And then He can help us find the beauty within the overwhelming wildernesses we have to face.

He turns that overwhelming, exhausting overgrowth into an Eden, with purpose and love in every flower and vine.

He’s helped me find purpose in finishing that last load of laundry, or find fulfillment in saying “no” to that extra commitment.

And He can help us build up a flourishing garden in places where there were deserts.

He gives some of His everlasting water to the dry ground to bring new energy and life.

He’s helped me to see clear paths forward for how to study general conference talks more often, or given me promptings on how to find new activities to start.

So what’s your wilderness right now?

Where is your desert?

How has the Lord helped you in the past to turn both of them into beautiful gardens, and how might He be able to help you right now?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Wildernesses and deserts first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.