The atonement isn’t some event that had its own power that we worship and revere.

Instead, it’s all about the Savior!

It is the Savior’s atoning sacrifice.

He is the one who made the amazing, selfless sacrifice and chose to atone for our sins.

We worship the Savior, not “the atonement”!

Now I was recently at our stake conference where our visiting general authority taught us that President Nelson has also started teaching about another angle of this same truth, all focused on:

The temple!

I love the temple.

But we often mistakenly attribute the power of the temple to the temple itself.

As if the building has power because it is a temple.

But why are temples so amazing?

It’s because they are the literal houses of the Lord!

Jesus Christ’s spirit is even more present in the temple walls, and that is what the “special spirit of the temple” is really all about.

Isaiah taught us in Isaiah 2:3:

“And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths”.

The temple is where we go to learn about Jesus, to be taught by Jesus, in the home of Jesus.

It’s all about Jesus.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The temple’s power first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

It was over a year ago now, but I remember it like it was yesterday.

“I know everyone says that bishops aren’t perfect, but I didn’t realize they would call someone so normal like us!”

“Oh no, we are going to be judged a lot.”

“This isn’t a convenient time in our life.”

“Will I ever see my husband again?”

“Hey this actually might be a lot of fun!”

… and a lot more weird, conflicting thoughts.

But it’s like our stake president could read my mind as we sat there in his office, processing the call.

He very wisely said:

“The Lord didn’t call you guys because you are perfect. Or even near-perfect. The Lord has called you because you are willing to serve.”

Prophets, apostles, bishops, RS presidents, counselors, leaders of any kind throughout time have never claimed to be perfect.

I’ve loved reading in the Old Testament this year about flawed, VERY FLAWED, humans that God used to spread His message and accomplish miracles.

But He was able to use them because they were WILLING to serve.

Isaiah, the man that we often revere as some kind of special guy who could spout off powerful prophecy that is complicated and deeply spiritual, felt unworthy for his call, too!

He felt so inadequate.

But then the Lord cleansed Isaiah from his sins, and he had a change of heart:

“I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” (Isaiah 6:8)

Now Isaiah was ready to accept the call.

Not because he no longer had any weaknesses or desire to sin.

Not because he would always make good decisions in the future.

But because he was now willing to accept the call.

That’s all God really wants from us.

Willing moms and dads, not perfect moms and dads.

Willing ministering brothers and sisters.

Willing missionaries.

Willing musicians.

Willing scriptorians.

Willing hearts.

He wants you, not in some future, perfected state.

But exactly as you are right now, if you are willing to give your heart to Him.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Bishops and willing hearts first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Like ALL over.

Before washing the shirt, I treated it with some stain remover.

When I pulled the shirt out of the washing machine, I realized you could still totally see the stain.

I started googling all the tips and tricks to get this kind of stain out, and realized we probably weren’t going to have much luck.

I tried a few different cleaners, but I wasn’t having much luck on this light-colored shirt.

Eventually, the shirt had to get tossed in the trash.

When something is stained, it takes so much work to get the mark out.

And let’s be real, even if you “get” the stain out, there is usually some sort of faint marking that never lets you forget what used to be there.

I think that’s what makes this famous scripture so powerful:

“Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

Repentance is so complete and whole, that after we feel sorrow and turn our heart back to God, the place where the sin used to be is now as white as snow.

No stains left behind.

No lingering remnant of when “we used to…”

No discernible difference than something that had never been stained in the first place.

From large sins with life-altering effects, to smaller omissions or changes in attitude.

The Savior can help create a future with us that has no trace of what we are willing to leave behind.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Scarlet to white first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.