I brought it home, and my parents said they wouldn’t give permission — it was a movie with content they didn’t want me watching at 13 years old.

So when all my friends got ready to watch the movie for three class periods in a row, I went to the office and did an alternative activity.

And honestly?

I didn’t mind.

I was used to being different.

There had already been many times in my life where I had made decisions, or my parents had held firm on decisions, that differed from what everyone else was doing.

And also no one in my class gave me any grief about needing to leave (to my face at least!), my friends were still my friends, I was semi-cool and felt included…

It was all good.

One of my favorite minor effects of being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that I have gotten very used to NOT doing what everyone else is doing.

I naturally stood out, especially where I grew up, where our religion was a small minority.

From what I chose to wear at my prom, to not attending that Sunday pool party, to sending out wedding invites when my friends from back home thought I was a “child bride”…

I’ve grown comfortable with being different than the world.

The Israelites had a problem:

They really WANTED to be like everyone else.

Each nation has a king who rules them, takes responsibility, and leads them in battle?!

We want that, too!

“That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.” (1 Samuel 8:20)

They weren’t comfortable with being different.

But even deeper than that, they didn’t trust that the Lord’s counsel to NOT have a king outweighed the discomfort of being different from everyone else.

Because when I changed the song on the radio while driving my friends around in high school, it wasn’t for the sake of being different —

It was because I truly believed I didn’t want to invite offensive and inappropriate words and ideas into my mind, which could offend the Spirit.

Being different can be tough — at the end of the day, we all long to feel like we belong and matter in some sort of community.

And if the community we desire to belong to more than anything else is a community of disciples of Christ, then it becomes a lot easier to stand alone, understanding that we are truly not alone when we walk with Him.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Not allowed to watch the movie first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

“The gospel is perfect, the people are not.”

I’ve heard, and said, variations of these phrases many times.

It makes sense in theory, right?

The Plan is perfect.

But the Father only has mortals to work with here on earth.

And no matter how righteous some may be or how much love individuals might feel for God, it’s a fallen world.

Selfishness and pride and vanity will sneak in.

Weaknesses will manifest themselves in ways that hurt.

Misunderstandings happen even with good intentions.

People sin.

As we study people in the scriptures, especially many of the judges, we see a lot imperfections.

Ann M. Dibb said:

“Samson was born with great potential. His mother was promised, ‘He shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines’.

“But as Samson grew, he looked more to the world’s temptations than to God’s direction.

“He made choices because they ‘pleaseth [him] well’ rather than because those choices were right.

“Repeatedly, the scriptures use the phrase ‘and he went down’ as they tell of Samson’s journeys, actions, and choices.

“Instead of arising and shining forth to fulfill his great potential, Samson was overcome by the world, lost his God-given power, and died a tragic, early death.”

Somehow, God works with imperfect people to make His perfect plan come to pass.

Thank goodness.

It can be disappointing to see the imperfections in people we admire, whether living now or in the past.

But it can be a beautiful experience, as we do throughout scripture, when we take the opportunities to see the good in these individuals.

There is always something good to learn.

But above all else, the real praise is to God.

To see His WORK moving forward, sometimes in spite of the people He has asked to assist.

All of these very imperfect people, in every dispensation, and yet God’s work keeps growing.

And in our own imperfect lives, God is not limited by our own limitations.

Even in us, God’s goodness, mercy, and power can be made manifest.

Praise the Lord for that!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

Artwork: “Samson Puts Down the Pillars” by James Tissot

The post Imperfect people  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I was of absolutely no use that day, since I had recently found out I was pregnant with our first, and I was beyond sick. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

But my husband was doing great! ⁣⁣⁣⁣

My heart sank as I looked at our completely empty apartment, though. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

Because even though our stuff was all gone, there was so much CLEANING that still had to happen before we handed the keys back to management the next day. ⁣⁣⁣

And my husband’s grad school schedule meant the cleaning would all fall to me. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

Even though I was so sick and so tired. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

I remember my husband suggesting we just give the apartment back as it was, willingly forfeiting our deposit. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

But it was a huge deposit, and I wanted to get that money back. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

I prayed that night that I would feel well enough to clean. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

That next morning, I woke up to a text from a lady in our ward that we were leaving:⁣⁣⁣⁣

“Hey Cali! I heard you are feeling really sick! My family wants to come clean your apartment today so that you don’t have to. We’ll bring all our own cleaning supplies and make sure it’s super clean. You just rest and relax today!”⁣⁣⁣

I never set foot in that apartment again, and a month later, we got our full deposit back. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

I’ve thought a lot about this lady’s ridiculously kind offer, her teenage kids that probably weren’t super happy to learn about their family activity that evening, and her charitable heart that acted immediately after hearing a need. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

I also have thought about how the Lord COULD have given me strength to clean my apartment. He could have caused my sickness to subside. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

But instead he gave this family a chance to serve and to act. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

“We will surely be blessed with opportunities to be instruments in His hands”. -Elder Ulisses Soares ⁣⁣⁣⁣

It’s a blessing to be able to do what the Lord would do. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

He could make it all happen on His own, without any of us helping.⁣⁣⁣⁣

But He generously gives us the blessing of being able to act in His behalf. ⁣⁣⁣

Moses got this blessing, too. ⁣⁣

There were many ways the Israelites could have been freed. ⁣Yet the Lord was kind enough to let Moses lead.

“Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.” —Exodus 3:10

How could the Lord be calling to you to invite you to be part of His work as a massive blessing to you right now?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The apartment cleaning deposit first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I couldn’t wait!

Until the process started and I realized that we’d have to basically live upstairs with small children for the week.

The upstairs hallway was lined with snacks, drinks, toys, my laptop, puzzles, games, garbage bags… anything I could think of. ⁣

(Because of course it was also super rainy and cold for those days, so park visits were suddenly out of the question.)⁣

EVERYTHING WAS A MESS. ⁣

Upstairs, downstairs, the garage that had basically become a temporary storage unit for everything… all of it. ⁣

I don’t know about you, but I’ve heard plenty of times that it’s easier to feel the Spirit in clean and orderly places than messy ones. ⁣

This was the thought running through my mind one evening as I sat, exhausted, and looked at the chaos. ⁣

I just wanted a clean home where I could feel peace! ⁣

“Heavenly Father,” I pleaded. “There’s no way I can get this house clean right now.” ⁣

Almost immediately, I was filled with this calming peace. ⁣

I felt a strong spiritual presence, and I felt like everything was okay. ⁣

Here’s what I know: ⁣

God doesn’t wait until our house or our room is clean until He speaks to us. ⁣

When we see Jacob wandering in a wilderness and making a pillow out of stones, this is where the Lord visits him and blesses him with great power. ⁣

And Jacob’s response? “Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not.” (Genesis 28:16). ⁣

The Lord is wherever His righteous people are, whether they are sleeping on stones, or whether their house is covered in dust, crumbs, and toys. ⁣

The Lord can be anywhere, as long as we take a moment to look for Him.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Can you feel the Spirit in a messy home? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I had my degree, and was totally ready to finally teach professionally full-time and make a full-time salary! ⁣

But transferring my teaching license to a new state, waiting for background check results, and applying for jobs in the middle of a school year were leading me to getting a total of ZERO job offers those first few months. ⁣

I immediately started applying for substitute teaching jobs while I waited, and roadblock after roadblock kept popping up with delayed trainings and orientations and fingerprint cards. ⁣

My plan of supporting my husband and myself financially while he was in school was starting to fail, and our savings account slowly dipped lower and lower. ⁣

This was one time in my life where I really felt the concept that faith = action. ⁣

I knew that God would provide for us and that things would work out, but it was also really difficult sitting there without any income for a while, with many factors outside of my control.⁣

I kept moving forward on every path I could find, and each time I would hit a roadblock, I’d think of another path and go that way. ⁣

And overall, there was this pervasive peace, this faith that I knew everything would work out okay. ⁣

When Abraham led his beloved son Isaac up to the mountain with all the supplies to make a burnt offering, except the lamb itself, Isaac started to wonder. ⁣

Where is the sacrifice? What were they going to do?⁣

His father Abraham so wisely testified: “My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering”. (Genesis 22:8)⁣

Abraham had pure faith that God would provide that offering, no matter what that looked like. ⁣

But I love that Abraham was also teaching Isaac of what was going to come in the future: ⁣

God would eventually provide a sacrificial lamb for all of mankind.⁣

God has always provided for us. ⁣

When we really believe that God will provide, what can that give us the faith to do?⁣

“The Savior is never closer to you than when you are facing or climbing a mountain with faith.” – Russell M. Nelson

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post God will provide  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

 

Elder Stevenson recently said…

“The more I thought about our [Easter] celebrations, the more I found myself wondering if we are inadvertently shortchanging the true meaning of this holiday, so central to all believers in Jesus Christ.

“During December, we somehow manage to incorporate the fun of “Jingle Bells,” Christmas stockings, and gifts alongside other, more thoughtful traditions… Our family celebrations at Easter, however, have been somewhat different. I feel our family has relied more on “going to church” to provide the meaningful, Christ-centered part of Easter; and then, as a family, we have gathered to share in other Easter-related traditions…. But the First Presidency letter was a wake-up call. Not only did they invite all of us to make sure our celebration of the most important event to ever happen on this earth—the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ—includes the reverence and respect the Lord deserves, but they also gave us more time with our families and friends on Easter Sunday to do so.” – Gary E. Stevenson

So… do you have a plan for this year? I’m here to help! Easter is coming up soon on April 20th! Whether you already have great ways to remember Christ and make Easter a “big deal”, or whether you’re hoping to get started this year, I’ve compiled a list of resources that I know will help.

First, I’m sharing resources to help you and your family PREPARE for or celebrate Easter in a meaningful, Christ-centered way. (Skip to RESOURCES now.)

Second, I’m sharing Christ-centered (or faith-building) GIFTS you can give to kids, family members, or friends for Easter time. (Skip to GIFTS now.)

So whether you’re filling a kid’s Easter basket, or buying for in-laws, ministering sisters, friends, a spouse, or even yourself (hey – you deserve it!) there’s something for everyone on this list!

One note: since some of these gifts are from some incredible, talented small businesses, order soon to make sure you have them in time for your Easter celebration.

(Some of the links bellow may be affiliate links, meaning I get a small payment for each purchase with no extra cost to you! But all of these opinions are truly my own– I’ve really used and love them all!)

 

Resources for Celebrating a More Christ-Centered Easter

He is Risen: Lessons from Holy Week

 

This will become an Easter tradition in your family that you’ll wish you started sooner! Each day during Holy Week, your kids (of any age!) will love setting up the “scene” and reading the accompanying page in the “He is Risen” book. This has been our go-to ZERO PREP Holy Week guide for the past couple years because I love how interactive it is while also starting meaningful conversations with my kids! Use code CALIBLACK for 20% off your order (using this link will automatically apply the code).

He is Risen: Lessons from Holy Week – from New Tradition Crafts

 

Holy Week Flip Book

 

This page-a-day flip book is seriously gorgeous. I’m a big fan of whatever Olivet Designs produces, and her new book includes a page for each day of Holy Week, each with inspiring artwork and information. You learn, you celebrate, and you are focused on the Savior. It doubles as both a decoration and a new family tradition you can pull out year after year. Plus, it is filled with tons of activity ideas– some are perfect when I really want to go “all out”, and others are perfect when I want to do something during Holy Week that is simple. 

Holy Week Flip Book- Olivet Designs 

 

Christ is Risen Easter Advent Set

 

One of my favorite Christmas traditions I’ve loved including in my Easter celebrations is having beautiful decorations that help tell the story of Easter. This set is GORGEOUS and is made of steel that can have a white, black, unfinished, or silver finish. Our family has the white finish, and I got comments on how beautiful it was every time we had a visitor the past couple years. I love that it feels both classic and modern in design, and my kids love that it can help in telling the story of Easter in a more interactive way! Buy this for your own family, or as a gift to brighten someone else’s Easter. 

Christ is Risen Easter Advent – Rusted Orange

 

Come Follow Me Through Holy Week

 

IMAGE COMING SOON

This brand new digital download from my personal fav Kristen Walker Smith is everything you want in an Easter pack! You get SO much stuff in this download. For each day of Holy Week, you’ll get a full on study guide so that you or your family can dive into the scriptures surrounding that day’s events with purpose. You’ll also get step by step directions for setting up a simple Passover celebration, and a calendar with options of activities you can do each day of Holy Week. Use the special link below for $6.00 off this download!

“Come Follow Me Through Holy Week” by Kristen Walker Smith

 

 

From Jericho to Jerusalem by Tamara Uzelac Hall

 

This book is basically your tour guide as you examine the final week of Christ’s life. It is a book by the amazing Tamara Uzelac Hall, and she takes you day by day through Holy Week to help you understand important historical context and spiritual applications. It is short and sweet, and will enhance anyone’s Holy Week as you come to know more about the Savior’s final days on earth.

“From Jericho to Jerusalem”

 

 

The Easter Connection by Kerry Muhlestein

 

Dr. Kerry Muhlestein is one of the world’s top experts on ancient scripture and Egyptology, and yet his writing is so applicable and down-to-earth! I am truly one of his biggest fans and have many of his other books, and his latest book, The Easter Connection, is a powerful but quick read to ponder on this Easter season. This is definitely intended for adults to read, but I can’t help think of how your entire family’s perspective on Easter could change if just one adult really studied this short book. You’ll learn how we can be more unified with Jesus Christ, and you’ll study themes of unification and wholeness that are woven throughout the final week of Christ’s life.

“The Easter Connection”

 

Easter Gifts

Easter Gifts for Adults (Kids ideas below!)

One Minute Scripture Study in the Doctrine and Covenants

 

Not to toot my own horn but… This book is a MUST-BUY if you don’t already have it! My fabulous co-host of the One Minute Scripture Study podcast, Kristen Walker Smith, and I wrote an engaging and simple daily devotional book for the Doctrine and Covenants! While we may officially be a few months into studying the D&C, this devotional book can be used for years to come whenever your family (or just you!) read(s) this book of scripture again. Plus, this book includes special entries at the back of the book for Holy Week (and Christmas week!). This is absolutely the perfect gift for everyone, from teenagers to families to any individual looking to boost their scripture study.

One Minutes Scripture Study in the Doctrine and Covenants

 

Book of Mormon Adult Coloring Book

 

Coloring isn’t just for kids anymore! I honestly pay attention better when I am able to doodle on something, and this is a fun book to focus my scribbles on! This GORGEOUS adult coloring book features inspiring quotes from the Book of Mormon and is a great way to relax while listening to Conference, a podcast, or even watching a comfort TV show.

Scriptures in Color Book of Mormon Adult Coloring Book

 

Amber Oil Vial

 

When was the last time the men in your life got a new oil vial? Well, let me tell you why this one is a big upgrade! First, it’s made of amber, which means no more rancid-smelling oil when giving a blessing. Second, it actually has a dropper, which means you can’t accidentally pour too much oil! Plus, you can add a little sleeve with a keychain attachment when purchasing so that he can always be prepared to minister to others. Use code CALIB at checkout for 10% off your order.

One by 1 Amber Oil Vial Link

 

It is Well with My Soul Gratitude Journal

 

Easter is such a nice time of the year to focus a little bit more on gratitude. I love this beautiful gratitude journal that includes quotes, stories, and words of encouragement as you record things you’re grateful for. The journal provides 100 prompts to help you think of things to write – but I love that it doesn’t dictate which prompts you answer when. I can just go to the list if I need a little inspiration. The journal is really good quality, so it would make a meaningful gift for a friend, ministering sister, or family member in your life.

It is Well with My Soul Gratitude Journal

 

A New Approach to Studying the Book of Mormon

 

I’ve been singing this book’s praises for years now! It’s the unchanged text of the Book of Mormon, but split up by events and paragraphs instead of chapters and verses. It highlights who is speaking and at what dates these events take place, and even has extra wide margins for easy note-taking. Trust me – this is a great purchase for yourself or someone in your life. 

A New Approach to Studying The Book of Mormon by the Rosenvalls

 

Hearing Him: The Savior’s Voice in the Book of Mormon

 

If there’s anyone in your life that would benefit from learning more about recognizing God’s voice, get them this book! It’s from best-selling authors Diony and Trent Heppler and focuses on the patterns of how God speaks in the Book of Mormon, and how we can better hear Him today. It’s a longer book with lots of short stories– so you could treat it like a little devotional book and take it day by day!

Hearing Him: The Savior’s Voice in the Book of Mormon

 

Words from Heaven Blessing Journal

 

Have you ever received a priesthood blessing or setting apart and thought, “Oooh I want to remember that part of the blessing” or “I wish I could write that down!”. Well that’s exactly the purpose of this beautiful journal! Its pages are meant to record parts of sacred blessings after you receive them, so you can go back and remind yourself of the things that have been promised to you. This would make the most thoughtful gift for anyone in your life, including those going on missions soon, or even for a new baby to record important things from their baby blessing and keep with them throughout their life. This is on major sale right now!

Words from Heaven: A Blessing Journal – by Kara Murri

 

Easter Gifts for Kids

“Seek And Ye Shall Find” Church History Search Book

 

It’s like Where’s Waldo… but with beautiful artwork from different scenes in Church history! My kids love looking through the pictures, and it always inevitably leads to some great discussions about what’s going on in the pictures. It’s also the perfect companion for studying the Doctrine and Covenants! 

“Seek and Ye Shall Find”

 

 

Aquabrush Reusable Activity Books

 

IF YOU HAVE LITTLE KIDS, BUY THESE RIGHT NOW. I seriously have sold all my friends on these, because they are our lifesavers during Sacrament meeting. My 6, 4, and 2 year-old ids all reach for these in our church bag as soon as it starts and it keeps them focused and occupied on scripture stories while Dad is sitting on the stand, so I call that a win! If you aren’t familiar with Aqua Brush books, they are completely reusable, and kids LOVE “painting” with the water brush. I love these ones from Kanga Toys so much because my kids are becoming familiar with scripture stories as they “reveal” the colorful picture on each page. I can’t overstate how much I love these! Use code CFM20 for 20% off your order.

Aquabrush Reusable Activity Books – Kanga Toys

 

“Jesus Felt it Too”- Bible Stories of His Emotions

 

I guess I have all the emotions, too, because I CRIED when I first read this book. Each page showcases a different emotion that Jesus felt and tells the story around how He dealt with His emotions. My kids love the beautiful artwork and it has led to so many great discussions about how Jesus is the perfect example for dealing with even the most complicated emotions.

“Jesus Felt it Too”

 

 

Scripture Song Books from Latter Day Kids

 

Okay it’s honestly a little hard to explain these without experiencing them, so if you want to learn more, click on the link and you can watch and listen to some examples. But I LOVE this set of scripture song books along with the audio tracks. I have one kid in particular who connects with music really well, and ever since we played the soundtrack through a few times, he will randomly start singing scriptures because they get “stuck in his head”. The kids LOVE the interactive narration telling them when to turn each page, and I LOVE that they are learning scriptures through song. If you’ve got musical bones in your family, this is for you! I would say all Primary age kids would love this, but I could even see younger teens enjoying it, too. 

Scripture Songs Books – Latter Day Kids

 

 

Easter Dot Marker Activity Book

 

Are your kids as obsessed with dot art as mine are?? My kids absolutely love using dot markers, and this Easter activity book has been such an easy activity I can pull out on Sundays (or any day!) to incorporate the Easter story into their fun art time. It includes tons of pictures your kids can fill in using dot markers, including the tomb, a lamb, and a Bible. And if you don’t have dot markers yet, I’ve included a link to a great set of the 8 colors. But beware – your kids may want to use them ALL the time!

Easter Bible Story Dot Art Book

 

Christ Picture Books from Palm and Fig

 

If you are looking for picture books for your littles that both teach simple spiritual truths AND are absolutely gorgeous, look no further! These beautiful Christ-centered board books Palm and Fig, an awesome small business, would make the perfect Easter gift for the kids in your life. Use code CFM10 for 10% off your order!

Jesus Christ Picture Books – Palm and Fig Link

 

 

Salt Lake Temple Brick Building Kit

 

My 7 year old recently got into Lego kits, and so when we got this “building brick” set of the Salt Lake Temple, she got right to work! This set is 45 pieces and it was pretty easy for my daughter to assemble, but she loved it and now we have a great model of the temple for them to use while they play. And yes, it’s totally compatible with any other traditional building bricks you may have. I also think this would make a PERFECT baptism gift! 

Salt Lake Temple Brick Building Kit

 

 

 

Giant Easter Resurrection Coloring Page

 

My kids have absolutely LOVED using this giant coloring page. It depicts the Savior’s Resurrection with lots of fun details your kids will love adding color to. It would make the perfect Easter activity, or a fun way to keep little ones entertained during General Conference! And when it says giant – it means giant at 30 inches by 72 inches! Use code CFM20 for 20% off your order!

Giant Coloring Page – Kanga Toys

 

 

 

My Favorite Scripture Marking Pencil

 

It might sound silly, but this pencil will make your kids excited to read the scriptures! It has 8 colors packed into one pencil, allowing you to color-code your markings, or just make it more fun and exciting to write notes and highlight verses. Plus, it’s something that will last years, so it can be used as a kid, missionary, young adult, and beyond!

Scripture Marking Pencil

 

 

 

My First Scriptures – Set of 3

 

These are the CUTEST first little scripture books, perfect for babies and young toddlers. Inside, you’ll find fluffy pages filled with beautiful artwork and simple words that represent the best stories from the book of scripture. The pages are wipeable and perfect for diaper bags! This set of 3 includes the Book of Mormon, the New Testament, and the Old Testament.  

My First Scriptures – Set of 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Divine Daughter: Inspiring Women in Latter-Day Scripture

 

This inspiring book focuses on the women of faith in Latter-Day Scripture (the Book of Mormon, D&C, and the Pearl of Great Price). It’s written as a story-book, so it’s easy and fun to read. You can read stories about 27 incredible faithful women, including the mothers of the stripling warriors, Polly Knight, the Queen of the Lamanites, and Vienna Jacque. This is such a fun and unique book that would be a great gift for any faithful woman in your life AND it’s great for young kids!

Dear Divine Daughter: Inspiring Women in Latter-Day Scripture

 

Easter Scene Sticker and Mat Sets

 

If you want little kids to really listen and learn about the story of Christ’s Resurrection, add stickers! This cute set of mats and stickers allows kids to create their very own Easter scenes. This product comes with 12 sets, each with one mat and one page of stickers, so it’s perfect if you have multiple children or grandchildren you want to gift these to, or if you want to use this as an activity or gift in your Primary class!

Easter Scene Sticker and Mat Sets

 

Norman Books

 

These books are a staple in our household. My favorite thing about these books is that Norman, the mouse-y main character, is really a normal kid. In the Sabbath Day book, he’s complaining about not being able to go to the circus with a friend on Sunday; in the Holy Ghost book, he’s concerned that he can’t actually feel the Holy Ghost, even after receiving the gift; in the Temple Marriage book, his friend tells him all about weddings, only for Norman to learn that temple weddings don’t match what we see on TV… I could go on and on! Each topic is covered in doctrinally sound ways, and they are the perfect way to start important conversations with your kids! And try the board books for younger kiddos – Norman learns about everything from going to nursery to taking the sacrament! Use the code CFMS10 for 10% off of your picture book bundle purchase on Etsy! (Or you can find these books in English OR SPANISH sold separately, too!) 

Norman the Latter-Day Saint Books – Etsy Shop

 

 

Did I miss anything that you LOVE using to celebrate Easter, or to gift for Easter? Drop a comment below and let me know, and maybe I’ll add it to my list!

The post Christ-Centered Easter Gift Guide 2025 first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

With the holiday season upon us, are you looking to gift something that is memorable and meaningful?! I have gotten the opportunity to connect with so many amazing people who create gifts and products that are not only religious or “church-y”, but are also high quality and SO creative! I can’t wait to share just a few of my favorites with you.

And my favorite part? Each one of these gifts comes from a small business! AND each one will build faith in some way.

So whether you’re buying for kids, in-laws, ministering sisters, friends, a spouse, or even yourself (hey – you deserve it!) there’s something for everyone on this list!

One note: since these gifts are from some incredible, talented small businesses, order soon to make sure you have them in time for your Christmas celebration.

The guide starts with a section of “Before Christmas Gifts” that includes some incredible advent calendars and Christmas countdowns from small businesses. Click here to go directly to gifts for adults. Or here to skip to church-y gifts for kids.

(Some of the links bellow may be affiliate links, meaning I get a small payment for each purchase with no extra cost to you! But all of these opinions are truly my own– I’ve really used and love them all!)

Before Christmas Gifts

25 Days of Christ Ornament Advent Calendar

This is one of those things that will become a Christmas tradition you’ll wish you started sooner. My family got one a few years ago and it is FANTASTIC! There are 25 unique, wooden ornaments that each tell a little bit about Christ’s life story. We used our small 4-foot-tall Christmas tree and turned this into a nightly devotional and scripture study each night throughout December. Truly a highlight of the spiritual season, and a simple way to bring the real spirit of Christmas into each day of the month! Use code CALIBLACK for 20% off your order (using this link will automatically apply the code).

Christ-Centered Christmas Advent Calendar

This simple but elegant advent calendar from Christ Was Love is one we’ve had for a few years now! Each day, we turn a card over to see the beautiful new Christ-centered artwork for the day, as well as a scripture to read. And since the backs of each card are so festive (there are a few different design options you can pick from, but the one in the photo here is the one we chose!), this really doubles as another Christmas decoration! I also appreciate that the kit is all ready to go, with the twine and the clothespins included– I didn’t have to buy a thing to make it work. Use the code COMEFOLLOWMESTUDY10 for 10% off your order!

Gifts for Adults

One Minute Scripture Study in the Doctrine and Covenants

Not to toot my own horn but… This book is a MUST BUY this year! My fabulous co-host of the One Minute Scripture Study podcast, Kristen Walker Smith, and I wrote an engaging and simple daily devotional book for the Doctrine and Covenants! For 365 days, you’ll have a daily devotional focused on a scripture from the Doctrine and Covenants that also includes lots of personal stories and easy-to-digest commentary. And of course, every entry includes our signature TAKEAWAY OF THE DAY in 5 words or less! This is absolutely the perfect gift for everyone, from teenagers to families to any individual looking to boost their scripture study next year.

Hymn Necklaces and More Faith-Centered Jewelry

This incredible small businesses makes the most BEAUTIFUL and meaningful jewelry. This is seriously one of my favorite gifts of all time. My personal favorite are the reversible hymn necklaces (hymns have so much power!), but there are so many simple, beautiful pieces of faith-centered jewelry on this Etsy shop. Whether you’re shopping for someone who loves music or just loves the Savior, there’s something for any woman of faith. But hurry! She closes up shop in December, so get those orders in this month. Use the code CFM25 for 25% off your entire order!

Dear Divine Daughter: Inspiring Women in Latter-Day Scripture

This inspiring book focuses on the women of faith in Latter-Day Scripture (the Book of Mormon, D&C, and the Pearl of Great Price). It’s written as a story-book, so it’s easy and fun to read. You can read stories about 27 incredible faithful women, including the mothers of the stripling warriors, Polly Knight, the Queen of the Lamanites, and Vienna Jacque. This is such a fun and unique book that would be a great gift for any faithful woman in your life AND it’s great for young kids!

Dear Divine Daughter: Inspiring Women in Latter-Day Scripture

Prints of Christ from 3LittlePeaches Studio

How GORGEOUS are these prints of Christ from artist and small business 3LittlePeaches Studio?? When choosing artwork that go along with some of my social media posts, I love to use some of these peaceful, and inspiring pieces. Her print “The Light of the World” (first image above) would make a beautiful gift leading up to Christmas, or take a look at her other pieces of artwork for prints that work year round! These unique images of Christ are sure to make great gifts for anyone on your list this year. Plus, use code CALI10 for 10% off your entire order from this Etsy shop!

3LittlePeaches Studio

Doctrine and Covenants: Journal Edition

If you haven’t tried a journal edition of the scriptures before, just trust me and give this one a try. It has all the text from the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price that we’ll be studying in the coming year, but includes extra wide margins with space for notes and annotations. I prefer the paperback version (linked above) because it lays flat on a table, but if you’re a hardback lover, here’s another gorgeous option. This is a perfect gift to purchase for yourself or someone in your life for the coming year!

The Doctrine and Covenants/Pearl of Great Price Journal Edition

Jesus Felt It Too: Bible Stories of His Emotions

I LOVE this book! Sometimes we focus so much on the divine attributes of Christ that we forget that He was human and experienced many of the difficult emotions we go through every day. This book highlights and celebrates the emotions of our Savior – from joy to anger, sadness to compassion. This is a perfect gift for any youth or adults in your life who could use the reminder that Jesus felt it too.

Jesus Felt It Too: Bible Stories of His Emotions

Religious Puzzles from Havenlight

Who’s the puzzler in your family?? This is a perfect, unique gift for anyone who loves a good puzzle, or could use a great Sunday-afternoon activity! There are options from 100 up to 1,000 pieces of some of your favorite pieces of Christ-centered art by artists like Yongsung Kim and Del Parson.

Religious Puzzles

2025 Church History Come Follow Me Calendar

This calendar features gorgeous photography by Scot Facer Proctor from real-life locations from the events we’ll be studying in the Doctrine and Covenants. It makes a FANTASTIC gift for neighbors and friends because 1) EVERYONE needs a new calendar for 2025, and 2) It has images from church history that remind you to follow along with the CFM curriculum for next year! Let’s be honest, you’ll probably want to grab one for yourself, too… 

Church History Come Follow Me 2025 Calendar

Habits of a Peacekeeper by Steven T. Collis

I think this book needs to be required reading for EVERYONE. If you have ever felt like you needed to brace yourself for that “political” conversation with a coworker or family member, then you are going to love the practical and realistic tools Steven Collis shares in his book. While not an overly religious book, I couldn’t help but think of our prophet’s current message for each of us to be peacemakers. We don’t have to wait for other people to do it first– we can lead out, by using the habits in this book, and bring peace into every conversation we have, regardless of whether or not we agree. Gift this to yourself and bring peace to your holidays this year OR this could make a great gift for parents and in-laws.

Habits of a Peace Maker: 10 Habits to Change Our Potentially Toxic Conversations into Healthy Dialogues

Amber Oil Vial

When was the last time the men in your life got a new oil vial? Well, let me tell you why this one is a big upgrade! First, it’s made of amber, which means no more rancid-smelling oil when giving a blessing. Second, it actually has a dropper, which means you can’t accidentally pour too much oil! Plus, you can add a little sleeve with a keychain attachment when purchasing so that he can always be prepared to minister to others. Use code CALIB at checkout for 10% off your order.

One by 1 Amber Oil Vial

Christ-Centered Art from Havenlight

Aren’t these pieces of artwork just gorgeous? And who doesn’t need more Christ-centered art in their home?? Havenlight partners with some of the most talented religious artists around the world to provide high-quality prints shipped right to your door. Look around on their website, and you’ll find they literally have something for any person’s preferences or needs.

Havenlight Art

A New Approach to Studying the Book of Mormon

I’ve been singing this book’s praises for years now! It’s the unchanged text of the Book of Mormon, but split up by events and paragraphs instead of chapters and verses. It highlights who is speaking and at what dates these events take place, and even has extra wide margins for easy note-taking. Trust me – this is a great purchase for yourself or someone in your life who loves the Book of Mormon. And while we aren’t officially studying this book for Come Follow Me in 2025, the Book of Mormon should ALWAYS be part of our lives!

A New Approach to Studying The Book of Mormon

Come Follow Me Co

This is a fun way to keep each week’s Come, Follow Me lesson at the front of your mind all year long! (Which makes it the PERFECT gift for friends, neighbors, or even members of a church class!) Each week, you’ll change to the next card, which has a featured scripture (with the cutest designs!). You can spend the week memorizing or pondering on the scripture, and it can remind the whole family to stay focused on Christ. It even comes with a wooden block to display the pictures anywhere you’d like! Plus, there’s both an English and Spanish version! Use the code CFMStudy for 15% off your entire order starting November 1st.

Come Follow Me Co Weekly Cards

Gifts for Children

A Great Calm by Nicole Clark

Helping the little kids in your life understand and learn from scripture stories is not a simple task, but with this gorgeous picture book, it really is! It includes beautiful original artwork, and a simplified story of Christ calming the seas, using engaging onomatopoeias and short phrases from the Bible. This is a perfect gift for the young kids or families in your life! Use the code CFMS10 for 10% off your entire order at Popcorn Tree Books! (P.S. Popcorn Tree Books is coming out with a few new books in upcoming months that are also AMAZING… they just won’t be available by beginning of December so I couldn’t include them on this list. But check out their website and pre-order– the quality of their books is next-level.)

A Great Calm by Nicole Clark

Aquabrush Reusable Activity Books

IF YOU HAVE LITTLE KIDS, BUY THESE RIGHT NOW. I seriously have sold all my friends on these, because they are our lifesavers during Sacrament meeting. My 6, 4, and 2 year old kids all reach for these in our church bag as soon as it starts and it keeps them focused and occupied on scripture stories while Dad is sitting on the stand, so I call that a win! If you aren’t familiar with Aqua Brush books, they are completely reusable, and kids LOVE “painting” with the water brush. I love these ones from Kanga Toys so much because my kids are becoming familiar with scripture stories as they “reveal” the colorful picture on each page. I can’t overstate how much I love these! Use code CFM20 for 20% off your entire order!

Aquabrush Reusable Activity Books

Doctrine and Covenants Coloring Book

This coloring book will be the CUTEST and SIMPLEST way to get your young kids involved in Come, Follow Me in 2025! There are over 50 unique coloring pages (about one per week!) related to things we’ll be studying in the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price in the coming year. If you have a kid in your life who loves coloring, this one’s a no-brainer!

Doctrine and Covenants Coloring Book

How I Became Friends with God by Becky Childs

I’m not kidding when I say the first time I read this book, tears were streaming down my face. This is the SWEETEST picture book with the most gorgeous illustrations and heart-warming story. It tells the story of a mother teaching her children about how she began noticing God’s hand in the world, and became friends with Him. Reading this with your kids or grandkids can help prompt discussions with them about your own relationship with God, and how they can notice God more in their lives.

How I Became Friends with God by Becky Childs

The Life of Jesus Sticker Stories – Spiral Bound Activity Book

This one is a BIG hit with my 6-year-old, and a perfect book to keep in your church bag! It includes 10 pictures and over 700 stickers the kids get to use to complete the adorable pictures taken right from the life of Christ. This is the perfect Christ-centered gift for a kid anywhere from around 6 to 12 and will provide hours of fun as they work to use stickers to complete the pictures. Use code CFM20 for 20% off your entire order!

The Life of Jesus Sticker Stories from the New Testament

Norman Books

These books are going to be the new staple in your household! My favorite thing about these books is that Norman, the mouse-y main character, is really a normal kid. In the Sabbath Day book, he’s complaining about not being able to go to the circus with a friend on Sunday; in the Holy Ghost book, he’s concerned that he can’t actually feel the Holy Ghost, even after receiving the gift; in the Temple Marriage book, his friend tells him all about weddings, only for Norman to learn that temple weddings don’t match what we see on TV… I could go on and on! Each topic is covered in doctrinally sound ways, and they are the perfect way to start important conversations with your kids! And try the board books for younger kiddos – Norman learns about everything from going to nursery to taking the sacrament! Use the code CFMS10 for 10% off of your picture book bundle purchase on Etsy! (Or you can find these books in English OR SPANISH sold separately, too!) 

The post Church-y Christmas Gift Guide 2024 first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

It had “LDS” in the name. ⁣

President Nelson had already made statements about the full name of the Church, but in my mind, “LDS” wasn’t really a harmful acronym. ⁣

But in March of 2019, the Church announced that they were changing lds.org to churchofJesusChrist.org. ⁣

And that’s when I had the strong impression that I needed to change the name of my Instagram account to remove the “LDS” acronym. ⁣

I, personally, didn’t feel that putting the name of our Savior into my name was the right thing to do; but I knew that I didn’t want to perpetuate any names for our Church that removed our Savior. ⁣

It seems kind of small looking back on it, but it was an important and powerful, tangible change for me at the time. ⁣

I already had a few thousand followers on my account at that point, and I was growing exponentially every day. ⁣

And yet, I knew I needed to change it. Thus, “Come Follow Me Study” was born!⁣

The Savior taught his disciples in 3 Nephi 27:5 that the church needs to be called in His name. ⁣

“Have they not read the scriptures, which say ye must take upon you the name of Christ, which is my name? For by this name shall ye be called at the last day”.

It is His church. We worship Him. And others need to know. ⁣

Elder Neil L. Andersen taught us recently that, “As the world speaks less of Jesus Christ, let us speak more of Him.”⁣

We can do our part to remove harmful or dismissive abbreviations or nicknames for our Church. ⁣⁣

But then we have to fill their places with more talk of Christ! ⁣

In virtually every post that I make on this account, I try to make the connection between the principle I’m sharing thoughts about, and my Savior. ⁣

I would hope that anyone scrolling through my feed would know that I am not afraid to preach of my Savior. ⁣

And I’m working more on making sure my family and friends get that same dose of “Jesus” from me, too!⁣

This is Jesus Christ’s church. Any little adjustment we can make to rid ourselves of harmful phrases and add statements about our Savior will yield blessings! ⁣

As Christ himself teaches, “whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last day.” 

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post LDS no more first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Suddenly, I remembered that I had a small homework assignment that was due online. ⁣

It was the end of the semester at BYU, it was an easy Education class, and I really wanted to sleep. ⁣

I knew I would get 10% off for each day it was late, and I knew I could still easily get an A in the course no matter what grade I got in this small assignment. ⁣

So I went to bed. ⁣

I was doing some basic “risk assessment”… and I was accurate in my conclusion.

I got a 90% on the assignment, and an easy solid A in the class at the end of the semester. ⁣

I willingly chose the “punishment” because I knew it wouldn’t affect my overall outcome. ⁣

But can we do risk assessment with our salvation?⁣

Can we calculate what the negative consequences will be and then decide whether or not we want to follow the rules exactly or whether we want to fudge the lines a bit?⁣

Well, we can.

But Nephi gives us the Lord’s dire warning against mindsets like this:

“…if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.” (2 Nephi 28:8)

Because the purpose of this life is not to “pass” or to turn in the correct assignments. ⁣

We are here to fundamentally CHANGE who we are and become more like God. ⁣

So when we use risk assessment and decide that we are fine with the eternal consequences for a little bit of sin and merriness, we mock our Savior’s atoning sacrifice.⁣

We are willingly doing something wrong because we think we’d rather face a little bit of godly punishment than deal with disciplined growth. ⁣

“Eh, yeah I know I shouldn’t be watching this show but I want to do it anyways. If the Spirit leaves me for a bit, I’ll just get it back tomorrow.”

Now, we WILL commit sin.

Even with all the knowledge we have, we will sin.

But when we decide that we would rather sin and deal with the consequences than try to change our desires, we’re trying to do risk assessment with our souls. ⁣

And we miss out on true godly sorrow, growth, and softening our hearts.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Late homework first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I love this book so much.

If you have read it too, you know about the wooden Wemmicks.

These Wemmicks give each other gray dots if they do something “lame”.

And they give each other gold stars if they do something “cool”.

Public judgments, with stars and dots for everyone to see.

But Lucia is a special Wemmick.

She doesn’t have a single dot OR star on her!

The reason?

Lucia honestly does not care about the other Wemmicks’ judgments of her.

She learned that caring what other people thought gave them power over her own emotions and actions.

The gray dots and gold stars have no power over her.

And why doesn’t she care?

Lucia knows who created her.

I have always loved Lucia’s powerful example of not caring what other people think.

Which surprisingly includes when people praise us as well as when they criticize us.

She knew whose opinion actually mattered!

This reminds me so much of those who were partaking of the fruit in Lehi’s dream and then looked over to the people in the great and spacious building.

“They did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but we heeded them not.” (1 Nephi 8:33)

The laughter and mocking from the great and spacious building didn’t matter.

That is often easier said than done.

It’s tough to just try and convince ourselves “to not care”.

Cuz… we all do. At first.

But the key to not heeding the judgments from the big building for a super long time?

Learning more about our Creator.

Reading His word and feeling of His love.

And then enjoying the delicious, peaceful, joyful fruit of that focus.

Everyone else’s opinions and actions and judgments just seem to matter a little less.

“We will heed not what the wicked may say, but the Lord alone we will obey.” -Hymns, “Let Us All Press On”

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post A lesson from the Wemmicks first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.