We all recently found that the “Church-supported” portion of our gospel learning is being put on hold for a bit. 

Since I run a huge account and website focused on Come Follow Me Study, I’ve felt this urgency and desire to help out as much as I can.

I asked my followers for questions and concerns they have while making this transition, and I’ve collected them all here! Some answers are from my own experiences as a middle school teacher, avid studier of the Come Follow Me curriculum, and as a young mom to two little kids. Other answers have been crowd-sourced from my followers or from other Come Follow Me resources. 

What are we supposed to do?!

I LOVE this question because I think it has a powerful but simple answer. We do not HAVE to do anything. We are not even SUPPOSED to necessarily do anything. 

Let me ask you a different question: What do you WANT to do? 

What do you want to do now that you have a day of total rest with your family? 

What a cool opportunity to pray to decide what is best. I’ll give you quite a few options and ideas below, but ultimately, you are the authority within your home. You can decide what Sundays are going to look like as you counsel with your spouse if you are married, and with your Heavenly Father. What a blessing!

I do want to add – please do not administer the Sacrament in your home unless you have been given explicit permission by YOUR Bishop. If you have been given permission, please follow your Bishop’s counsel with how to administer the sacred ordinance. 

How do we make Sundays special, especially if work and school are cancelled, so we are home all day every other day, too?

One of my favorite quotes goes something like: “If you don’t do anything differently, how can you expect it to be different?”

So what will you do differently on Sunday morning than a Saturday morning? 

Different shows on the TV? Different meals (eating breakfast together vs. on your own)? Getting ready for the day at a different time? Different music being played? 

My advice? PLAN. PLAN. PLAN. And then expect things to not go according to plan. (That’s one of the first lessons you learn as a teacher. I guarantee any other teacher can attest to that!)

Think about what type of schedule might work well with your family. Set clear expectations beforehand so people, especially kids, know what to expect! Do you have a set start-time for an activity or lesson together? Let people know!

And then be flexible during the day. This is NOT a situation where you need to wrap up on time or else the next ward is waiting out in the foyer for you to finish. Let things go as long or as short as they need. Pay attention to the natural timing and flow. Has an activity run its course in five minutes? Let it be. 

Consider your plans for the ENTIRE day. Late afternoons are usually tough times for everyone, from toddler to teenagers to adults. So will you plan a family walk to get everyone moving? Have everyone take a nap? Watch an uplifting movie together (which probably means Dad is taking a nap)? 

(I’ve got more specific tips for families with YOUNG KIDS and families with TEENAGERS, too!)

What if you or your family haven’t really done Come Follow Me yet? Or haven’t done it in a long time? 

First of all, literally no judgement. You are certainly not alone! 

But, what a nice little tender mercy in the midst of all the chaos, that you now have a little impetus to get you started again!

It might seem awkward or weird (check out point number 4 in my “5 Ways to Make Come Follow Me work for you this year” article). But really, it’s just reading and studying the scriptures! 

And what does it mean to study the scriptures?! Just slow down and think about them a bit. Stop and reflect. Discuss. If you need ideas of questions, check out the current Study Guide HERE (or look back on previous ones, too!). 

Crack open that curriculum manual, turn to today’s date, and start. Let go of any guilt you may feel from “missing” previous weeks. Trust me, you’ll learn exactly what the Spirit needs you to know when you put in some effort. 

What are some ideas for home-centered worship on Sundays?

First of all, the Come Follow Me curriculum is absolutely perfect for this situation. If you haven’t immersed yourself in this curriculum and scripture study yet, now is a great time to start.

Here are some ideas for using the Come Follow Me curriculum on Sundays:

• Give everyone individual time to read the assigned chapters on their own and mark a few verses that stand out to them. Come back together and share what you learned.
• Read through a few of the sections in the manual for the week. Talk about the discussion questions asked in each section. 
• Read through the posts that I made on Instagram @comefollowmestudy for this week and discuss your thoughts. (Or, don’t forget, all my Instagram posts are also posted on my website. You can click on the dates for the week and it will pull up all the posts for that reading!)
• Assign each family member a section of that week’s reading. Give them time to prepare a short lesson, thought, or summary about what they learned from their section. Have each family member share from their portion. 
• Act out or draw portions of the lesson. Hang up the artwork around your home for the following week. 
• Give everyone time to write in their journals about how they can apply the lessons from the Come Follow Me readings to their own lives. Have people share what they wrote if they are comfortable. 
• Watch the Book of Mormon video that corresponds to the assigned reading. Talk about what stood out to you from the video. 

Looking for ideas to specifically keep your little ones engaged? Check out this article!

Do you have teens you are trying to keep involved? Check out these ideas!

Here are other ideas for Sunday that are not related to the Come Follow Me curriculum:

• Prepare for April 2020 General Conference by studying about the Restoration of the Gospel and the First Vision in the Doctrine and Covenants.
• Read, watch, or listen to previous General Conference talks.
• Watch “Music and the Spoken Word” live from the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square (broadcast on BYUtv or the Choir’s Facebook page at 9:30 am MDT).
• Assign a “topic” for Sunday that you feel like your family would benefit from. Assign family members to prepare messages or thoughts about the topic. 
• Sing hymns or primary songs. Learn a song that your family might not be familiar with. 
• Do family history work or index names. 
• Keep in touch with distant family members through video calls.
• Keep in touch with ward family members, especially those you are assigned to minister to, through phone calls, texts, or visits (where appropriate). 
• Hold a “Fast Sunday” and have family members bear their testimonies if they are comfortable sharing. 
• Give everyone time to write in journals. 
• Do anything else that you consider “Keeping the Sabbath Holy”

What if I don’t have a picture-perfect “family” situation for Sundays?

If you live alone, this is a beautiful time to slow down and focus on your scripture study habits. How can you dive into the scriptures even more? How can you learn to love them? What good habits would you like to make and keep? You can also reach out to friends and loved ones through technology. Consider forming a study group through a group chat or video call so that you can encourage others to keep themselves emerged in the gospel, too!

If you live with only one other person, this is a great time to connect on a gospel level. Whether you are newlyweds, empty-nesters, or any other situation, take the time to connect with each other about the scriptures. This will also give both of you plenty of time to focus on your individual study. It probably isn’t necessary to be overly “formal” or scheduled with your time together, but commit to making some form of partner study happen. 

If you are the only member living with others who might not be observing the Sabbath day, consider how you can create time to be by yourself for some personal worship. Invite others to participate with you in non-threatening and uplifting ways, if possible. Connect with the people you live with in positive ways while still committing to keep the Sabbath holy. 

Final Thoughts

In Jacob 4:14, we are warned to not look “beyond the mark”. This means over-regulating ourselves, or looking for things that aren’t necessary. 

You don’t have to create a perfect experience for everyone in your home. You don’t need to become the Primary President and the YW leader and the Bishop and the chorister. Keep it simple. Think ahead and plan, but keep it simple. Use the Spirit to be your guide. Your family’s day will probably look different than everyone else’s and that’s totally fine.  

Think of all the emphasis that has been put on “Keeping the Sabbath Holy” over the past 5 years. You know what kinds of things will keep the Spirit and what won’t. Use personal revelation to continue to decide what is appropriate for the Sabbath.

And don’t forget to reach out! We are all in this together, in little homes and apartments throughout the world. Share your successes, your “let’s not try that again” moments, your testimony a-ha’s. Leave them here in the comments on this post, or on my Instagram or Facebook. 

Things might feel a little lonely, but you are certainly not alone. 

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Totally Home-Centered Church Survival Guide first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

P.S. If you’ve got young kids, check out my tips here, and be sure to read my full Survival Guide with tons of advice HERE!

I seriously love working with teenagers. I got my degree in Elementary Education, but I wound up teaching middle school for 4 years and getting my middle school endorsement. I know, I know, I’m that weirdo who enjoyed teaching middle school. Since I run the @comefollowmestudy social media accounts and website, I asked many of you what questions you had now that we are taking the “church-supported” portion of our Sundays away. 

And tons of you asked for advice on teenagers!

I’m going to share some ideas that I have from working as an English teacher for middle schoolers, EFY counselor, and YW leader, but I’ve also crowd-sourced some amazing ideas from my followers at @comefollowmestudy as well! If you have any thoughts to share, please comment below or join the conversation on my Instagram page!

LOVE is the answer

Teenagers are all over the map when it comes to their spiritual development. 

• If you’ve got a teen who is ready and willing to participate in any gospel activities you have at home, then make sure you express your love and appreciation for them. 
• If your teen is more casual about the gospel right now, make the Sabbath a day when you can express your love to them and meet them where they are.

If Sundays become a source of contention, then it will be difficult to get any gospel learning done.

Remember Elder Holland’s sage advice: “Maybe you can’t teach them yet, but you can love them. And if you love them today, maybe you can teach them tomorrow.”

Get them involved in planning

Just like the new youth initiative focuses on youth making the plans for activities and goals, have your youth help plan Sundays. 

Ask them what activities they think might be appropriate for the Sabbath. Ask them what they want to work on now that church can be whatever they want it to be. Allow them to seek personal revelation to contribute to the planning. 

If there is something that you want them to prepare for Sunday (check out all of my ideas for using the Come Follow Me curriculum in your families here), consider giving them time on Sunday morning to do that preparation. The rest of their week is probably filled with school assignments or other activities, so set realistic expectations and have them prepare a short message or thought on Sunday to share later in the day. 

Keep things fun and interesting!

Just because they might act like they are too cool for school (that phrase alone makes me seem uncool, I know), doesn’t mean that they don’t want some fun. 

Ever tried giving a room full of teenagers paper and crayons and asking them to draw an image from a story? It will literally be the highlight of some of their days. 

You might not get too much enthusiasm from asking them to dress up and act stories out, but stick to drawing, writing, physical games, songs, and videos, and you can keep them engaged pretty well!

Make room for discussion

Pretty much everyone likes to talk about themselves. Given the right conditions, think of discussion questions that might help them open up about personal struggles, questions, or testimonies that they have. To help you out, I’ve created Study Guides for every book in the Book of Mormon so far that give you tons of guiding questions for each chapter. 

I also post at least 5 spiritual thoughts every week on my Instagram page @comefollowmestudy. You could read through all of these thoughts and discuss your ideas afterward. (You can also access all my posts on my website HERE.)

And moments of silence are SO IMPORTANT for teens. There have been so many times where I have shared a message, and just waited in the silence for a bit. Suddenly, hands shoot up as kids make connections and think of stories to share. 

Get them in the scriptures

Sometimes, it is tempting to act as their “teacher” a little too much. Who is the best teacher of all? The Savior. And we learn about him through the scriptures. 

Have they read the assigned scriptures for “Come Follow Me” this week yet? If not, set aside time on Sunday to just sit and read! If they’ve already read the chapters, consider teaching them how to “study” a little better by re-reading and looking for connections and questions. 

Ask them questions that get them looking back in the scriptures to answer.

Do you know a specific struggle or question that they have right now? Give them a personal challenge to look for answers within the scriptures. 

Again, look through my long list of ideas for using the Come Follow Me curriculum HERE for even more ideas to get them in their scriptures. 

Set expectations beforehand

Is everyone sleeping in? Should they be awake and ready by a specific time? Are you meeting as a whole family at a specific time? Whatever you decide is best for your family, make sure they know the expectations beforehand. 

Nothing will cause more contention than teens not meeting expectations they didn’t even know existed. 

Analyze and be willing to change

Your teens will appreciate being respected enough to ask their opinion on a Sunday night. 

“How did today go? How can we do better next week? What should we start, stop, and continue?”

Their feedback will be invaluable for making adjustments for the following week, instead of just plowing along with what you think is working. 

Keep your own studies going

Actions speak louder than words. ESPECIALLY to teenagers.

The best way to teach them that reading the scriptures is important is to have them see you reading the scriptures. 

So take time to make sure your spiritual tank is filled. Be a great example of immersing yourself in the gospel on Sundays, and your family will naturally follow suit. (Or, if they don’t follow suit right now, they’ll always have that example in the back of their mind.)

Your teenagers will be such a helpful tool in this home-centered church. They are awesome. Their testimonies are powerful and pure. Share your successes with others! Help them with what has worked well, and don’t be afraid to let go of habits that aren’t working well.

Comment below with any other tips specifically for teens, and be sure to read my full post on using Come Follow Me HERE. 

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Teenagers Edition: Totally Home-Centered Church Survival Guide first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

P.S. If you have teenagers, check out THESE TIPS – or read my entire general Survival Guide HERE!

Solidarity to all of you who have had the thought, “No more nursery?!” or “No more primary?!” cross their minds recently. 

I’m a young mom with a 2-year-old and a 2-month-old, and I also have my degree in Elementary Education. I’ve run the @comefollowmestudy social media accounts since January of 2019, and also have my own site with all of my study thoughts each week. I know a fair amount about kids’ development, how to appropriately teach at each age level, and I have a huge passion for studying the scriptures.

And still, this is no walk in the park. 

But here are some tips that I have for making your new completely home-centered Sundays run as smoothly as possible. Some of these ideas come from my own experiences, and others have been crowd-sourced from my amazing followers on Instagram. Please, if you have anything else to add, comment below on this post, or head over to @comefollowmestudy and join the conversation!

Flexible Routine, NOT Rigid Schedule

Two super important words for young kids! 

First, make a routine. I recommend creating “blocks” of time. For example, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. we are doing “arts and crafts”, even though the hour might look like coloring for 5 minutes, drawing with chalk for 20, coloring a picture for 10 again, building a temple out of blocks for 15 minutes… you get the picture. Routines help little minds know what to expect, and they also give you as the adult some structure to work with. 

And second, be flexible. If “song time” is going great and your kids are rocking out to all of the Article of Faith songs over and over, then keep it going. If next week, “song time” runs its course in 10 minutes, don’t stress. You’ll lose their attention fast if you are trying to force something that they aren’t interested in right now. 

Make it Fun!

In my undergrad classes at BYU, I was taught that during the first week of school, I needed to have my students leave my classroom thinking, “That was such a fun class!” If I could get them to leave thinking that for the first few days, then I could throw in all the hard work and rigor I wanted to later, and they would buy into it because my class was “fun”. 

So find ways to make the Sabbath fun! Sundays do not have to be boring days. You might not want your kids watching the same shows or playing the same games they do on weekdays, so what can you offer to make the day more special instead of seeming like a chore?

Some ideas to make the day fun in appropriate ways:

• Church videos on YouTube or on the Church’s website
• Listen to Primary songs
• Listen to other Church songs on YouTube by current popular artists
• Delete their normal game apps for the day so they aren’t as tempting of an option
• Pull out board games or card games that might not be used as often
• Get some outdoor activities for your backyard that you don’t usually use or have time for
• Get new church-related or uplifting books

If “fun” is a theme of the day, then it’s a lot easier to get real “learning” in!

Let Them Help Plan!

Kids LOVE getting buy-in. During the week (or even on Sunday morning), ask them what they would like to do as Sunday-appropriate activities. You might be surprised at the good ideas they come up with! If they have some ideas that you don’t want to pursue on the Sabbath, keep it positive by telling them it’s a great idea for a Wednesday, and put it on your calendar if possible. This helps keep them feeling like their contribution is meaningful! 

For super young kids, giving them two choices is a fun way to still create buy-in (“Would you like to take a walk around the neighborhood, or read a picture book?”)

Give Them Jobs!

Along with getting their buy-in in the planning phase, get their help executing the plan, too! This can look completely different based on the ages of your kids, but can be really effective in keeping them engaged. 

For the older kids, have them help plan part of an activity. They can: 

• Cut out olive trees to use for a reenactment
• Learn how to read a few verses so they can read it out loud to the family
• Color visual aids
• Think of a personal story to share
• Come up with a fun game for the family to play in the backyard

For the younger kids, give them jobs during the activity to keep their interest. They can:

• Bring you supplies when needed
• Hold visual aids or props
• Act stories out
• Dress up for a story
• Repeat simple phrases over and over

Spread it Out!

Kids are usually most attentive in the morning to mid-morning. Consider:

• Activities or lessons that require more focus earlier on in the day
• Nap time or “quiet time” in the early afternoon
• More active plans for the later afternoon
• A church or uplifting movie for the evening 

Don’t feel like you need to cram all of the day’s activities into a two-hour block, just like church. 

Take the Wins, Ignore the Losses, and Don’t Stress

A million things will go “wrong”. Because that’s what happens when you try to work with little, developing personalities and maturities. 

But Jesus loved the little children, temper tantrums and all. Reframe the Sabbath as a way to just shower your kids with love while teaching them correct principles, and you can’t go wrong. Get them in the scriptures if you can. Bear your testimony in small and simple ways. Share personal stories that they can connect with. 

Make it a process that YOU enjoy, because this is your Sabbath day, too. 

Find time to reconnect with your spouse. To dive into the scriptures by yourself. Put that oxygen mask on yourself before helping others. 

I know, easier said than done with little ones. 

But when you make Christ a priority in YOUR life, it will naturally spill over into the way you interact with and teach your kids. This was my complete motivation behind starting @comefollowmestudy and it is what keeps me going. We’ve got to fill our own buckets first and feast upon the words of Christ. 

Have any more ideas for working with young kids on the Sabbath? Drop them in the comments below or head over to Instagram and share there! We are in this together.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Young Kids Edition: Totally Home-Centered Church Survival Guide first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Come on. This is easy. 

Just kidding. I would NOT have known the answer to that without the coolest Book of Mormon map that Sarah from @olivet.at.home shared with me. (Bountiful is more northward, FYI.)

AND the best part is that she is offering it to all of my readers FOR FREE!!!

That’s right, you can snag your own black-and-white printable Book of Mormon map. 

Anyone else out there a visual learner?! Or have a kiddo who needs to see things in order to make connections?

Print out this adorably designed map, stick it on your fridge or your desk area all year long, and these locations will make MUCH more sense! (Especially once we get to those pesky war chapters!)

If you love this FREE Book of Mormon black-and-white map, you’ve got to check out Sarah’s Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/OlivetShop?ref=search_shop_redirect and see what other Come Follow Me goodies she has.

(By the way, you’ll notice this map is being sold for $4 on her Etsy shop. But she’s giving it to my readers for free. Score!)

Download your FREE map HERE!

Once again, a HUGE thank you to @olivet.at.home! And check out her Etsy shop here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/OlivetShop?ref=search_shop_redirect

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post FREEBIE! Book of Mormon Map first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

First of all, I LOVE that the curriculum writers gave us a full week to just bask in the glory and wonder of the Book of Mormon before diving into the actual readings.

In fact, that’s my first tip.

Just bask in the glory of the Book of Mormon this week. 

Can I give you one more assignment, though? 

Use this week to ALSO read through the introductory pages of the Come Follow Me manual. These pages are filled with super helpful tips, strategies, testimonies, and reminders about the Come Follow Me curriculum. I especially loved the “Ideas to Improve Your Personal Scripture Study” article. Check it out!

If you are looking for MORE things to actually study and read this week, type “Book of Mormon” into the Gospel Library app or the church’s website, and check out some powerful talks on the Book of Mormon. (President Nelson and Elder Holland have given killer talks on the topic!)

Okay, back to the assigned study for this week.

What are these Introductory Pages for the Book of Mormon and where did they come from??

Title Page of the Book of Mormon

Written by Moroni. This gives a beautiful and powerful little summary of the Book of Mormon. Look for its purpose, history, and potential. It also gives a great little reminder as to WHY we call this the Book of Mormon. Mormon is the author (or “abridger”) of much of the book, and the compiler of the entire record. 

Introduction

A clear-to-understand history of the Book of Mormon written in more recent times. It includes part of Joseph Smith’s testimony of this book, and an explanation of the testimonies of the witnesses that follow it. It ends with some powerful promises! Think about what it means to be a “keystone”. 

The Testimony of the Three Witnesses and The Testimony of the Eight Witnesses

Look for what they are actually bearing witness of. Why would it be important to have witnesses? How can we be a witness? 

Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith

This is an excerpt from “Joseph Smith – History” that tells specifically about Moroni appearing to him and his challenges retrieving the ancient plates. This story is obviously not told as often as Joseph Smith’s great First Vision, so this account is a good one to review! What directions were given to him? What was repeated? What obstacles did he face and how did he overcome them? What miracles can you see? 

A Brief Explanation About the Book of Mormon

SO IMPORTANT! I will refer back to this page many times as we read through these different sections. This gives background for where each part of the Book of Mormon came from. Each book is NOT just written by the person it is named after. And conversely, the whole thing was NOT written by Mormon. We’ve got a little bit of everything! This page is super clear and lays out who is the author and where we got each part. No need to remember it all now, but it will be great to refer to as we read. 

That should be enough to get you started! Remember, just fall in love with the Book of Mormon again this week.

Happy Studying!

The post Introductory Pages for the Book of Mormon – STUDY TIPS first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

You’re probably making some spiritual goals too, and more than likely they revolve around the Come Follow Me curriculum.

As I’ve run the @comefollowmestudy Instagram account for the past year, I’ve heard from people from all walks of life and the struggles they hit this past year with making it work for them.

So I’ve put together my 5 most popular tips on how to make Come Follow Me actually work for you this year!

1.  You don’t need to do this every day. Or you can. But you don’t have to.

Some of us LOVE making up new rules and schedules, so when Come Follow Me was introduced, we jumped into planning mode. Every morning at breakfast. Every night before prayers.

If studying the Come Follow Me scriptures has worked for your family every day, then YOU ROCK. KEEP GOING.

But if that didn’t work for you, try something else!

I have scoured the CFM Manual and all of the talks that introduced it in General Conference – there is literally NOTHING about using this every day.

Make it work for you and your family, no matter what that “schedule” looks like. Everything on Sundays. Everything for FHE. Random days of the week wherever you can squeeze it in.

It all works.

2. (This is especially for those moms out there) : Don’t forget YOUR study!

One little google search, and you can find blogs, products, and accounts for teaching weekly Come Follow Me lessons to your family (literally no shade being thrown – I LOVE many of these accounts!).

BUT are they coming at the expense of your personal study?

Are YOU learning from the scriptures each week?

Are YOU being spiritually fed?

This is actually literally the whole reason I started my @comefollowmestudy Instagram account last year. I saw how easy it could be to forget about our own STUDY.

I am a firm believer that when YOU (moms in particular) take your own time to study the assigned chapters and study in whatever way works for you, then the lessons you are learning will naturally spill over into your family. 

So make YOUR study a priority this year. You can’t pour from an empty cup, amiright??

3. This is NOT a college curriculum. No one is taking attendance.

Remember the good ol’ days, like a year-and-a-half ago, when you would miss church because you were sick or traveling and you DIDN’T GIVE A SECOND THOUGHT to “making up” the lesson you missed??

Some of us hear the word “curriculum” and jump right back into our school days. We miss a week for some reason, and then we spend the next few weeks trying to do the make up work, while trying to do the current work, while trying to keep an A+, while drowning in real life work too.

Can I give you permission to just let it go?

If you miss a week, or two, or three… then just start with wherever the curriculum is at when you start back up again.

I GUARANTEE you will not miss any life-changing doctrine that you will not find anywhere else if you do this.

And honestly, you’ll probably be able to still catch the same lessons you missed in a couple weeks. The gospel doctrines are super repetitive. Thank goodness.

4. JUST DO IT.

Alright, switching audiences for a hot second. If you’ve been reading these and thinking, “Uhhhh, I’m definitely not ‘overdoing it’. We pretty much never started in the first place.”

Then you are NOT ALONE!

Trust me, I’ve got the Instagram DMs to show that you are not alone.

If you’ve ever put your head down when there was ANOTHER Sacrament meeting all about Come Follow Me and thought, “This just doesn’t work for my family”, then now might be a good time to reflect for a second on why you might want to jump in.

All that this new curriculum does is give you assigned scriptures to study. Sure, there’s a manual with some guiding quotes and questions. But that part is not necessary. All you need to do is read the assigned chapters and study them in whatever way works for you. It’s just reading the scriptures! Only good things can come from this, I promise. 

It can be super awkward sometimes to start a new habit with your family, though, right?

But what if you just embraced it?!

“Hey fam, I know we never really started that Come Follow Me thing last year, but I know how important it is to study the scriptures. I would really like to make it more of a priority this year – any suggestions on how we can make this work for us?”

Bam. Just try it. 

Cuz Come Follow Me can be life changing.

5. The goal of everything in this church is to help us become more CHRISTLIKE.

Has your Come Follow Me study CHANGED you? 

This was also a huge guiding prompting that led me to start my @comefollowmestudy Insta account. 

Are we learning lessons from the scriptures and then applying them?

Cuz that’s the way we become more Christlike. 

It’s super fun to focus on the stories and the background info and the timelines sometimes, but at the end of the day, all that really matters is that we are learning spiritual lessons from what we read. 

In fact, even little toddlers can do this. Sure, it might be super engaging to act out Ammon cutting off arms. But a little child can also learn the importance of following spiritual promptings and notice that in their real life.

Bring it all back to the doctrine, and let it CHANGE you and your family. 

So, really, I think your spiritual goal should really be about becoming more CHRISTLIKE.

Any little goals relating to Come Follow Me should support your overarching goal to become more Christlike, and not be in a separate category. 

So here’s to looking forward to 2020 and jumping into the Book of Mormon! When we make our own personal study a priority and really let these scriptures change us, then we are doing exactly what we are supposed to be doing. 

Happy studying!
Cali Black @comefollowmestudy 

The post 5 Ways to make Come Follow Me work for you this year! first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.