As we worked through “what came next” on a series of different patterns, I noticed how many of the kids worked very differently. ⁣

Some of the kids would try and figure out the color patterns on their own. ⁣

(Sometimes they were right; other times they were very wrong.)⁣

And other kids wanted to wait and see what the answer was before they colored in their pattern. ⁣

(“Wait, what’s the answer? What color should I use?”)⁣

These two approaches are pretty universal, right?⁣

Sometimes we have questions and problems, and we do our best to find a solution. ⁣

Other times, we have questions and problems, and we wait for the answer to come to us before we move forward. ⁣

Guess which approach always leads to the best learning?!

When we do our best to do the work and find an answer, whether it is right or wrong, we learn infinitely more than when we just wait to be told the right answer. ⁣

Abraham’s servant is such a perfect and sweet example of this. ⁣

Tasked with finding a wife for Isaac, the servant came up with a plan and presented it to the Lord. ⁣

“And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.” (Genesis 24:14) ⁣

The servant came up with a possible solution.

It doesn’t matter so much if it was a “good” plan or the “right” plan as much as the fact that he came up with something.

The Lord can always work with something.

This servant chose to at least come up with the plan, which is where the most learning and growth happens. ⁣

It’s so tempting to want to sit around, waiting to be inspired or told to do the right things. ⁣

Who should I serve? How should I simplify my life? What can I do to teach my family the gospel?⁣

It takes a lot of faith to make plans and move forward.

But moving forward, right or wrong or in between, is where we learn.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Preschool patterns  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

They were well-meaning saints who gathered together weekly and had copies of the Book of Mormon, but Warren recognized that his congregation needed someone with some greater priesthood authority and direction to assist them in Freedom, New York. ⁣

He wrote a letter to his brother Oliver’s good friend Joseph Smith asking for him to send someone with greater priesthood authority out to visit their branch.

I imagine Warren was excited to get someone to lead them. ⁣

Wouldn’t it be so nice to have someone step up and take charge?⁣

Someone who actually knew what they were doing?⁣

Warren had been familiar with the church since his brother had first met up with Joseph a few years earlier. ⁣

But Warren himself had only been converted and baptized for less than a year. ⁣

Finally, Joseph wrote a letter back to Warren! ⁣

“It is my will that my servant Warren A. Cowdery should be appointed and ordained a presiding high priest over my church, in the land of Freedom and the regions round about;” (D&C 106:1)

Wait, what?⁣

Doesn’t Warren’s story sound familiar? ⁣

Sometimes we see the need. ⁣

It is so glaringly obvious. ⁣

Someone needs to step up and do something about that. ⁣

And then…⁣

We are the ones called to fill that position. ⁣

Or, we realize on our own that WE could be the one to step up and be the solution. ⁣

It’s a lot easier to notice what’s wrong and wait for someone else to solve the problems we see. ⁣

“If only someone would fix that bulletin board!”⁣

“If only someone would help that lady!”⁣

“If only someone would start a fun hangout group!”⁣

“If only someone would start advocating for that cause more!”⁣

But what if… we were the person we were waiting for?⁣

We can see a need, and we can be the one to step up.

“Heavenly Father may have placed those who need us closest to us, knowing that we are best suited to meet their needs.” – Bonnie L. Oscarson

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Waiting for Someone to Help first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

There was one day in particular when we both hadn’t been on our phones very much because we had a packed schedule of fun events.

It was evening before we both had a chance to sit down and pull out our phones to scroll social media.

We sat down to just chill and scroll social media a bit.

However, as soon as I had opened it, I immediately had to put my phone away.

I’ve always thought people posting their opinions on social media didn’t affect me much.

But in that moment, I felt such a stark contrast.

I had been living in the moment all day—

Connecting, experiencing, relaxing, having fun, and having meaningful conversations.

And then I opened my phone and saw a literal “war of words and tumult of opinions.”

It was too much for me.

That evening, I stayed off social media, FaceTimed my kids, read my scriptures, and went to bed.

Ignore any historical context you may know about this verse, and try to read it from your current perspective:

“In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done?” (JS-H 1:10)

As I sat there, looking at this war of words online, I realized I could do what Joseph did.

Instead of thinking:

“What do I need to post? What do I need to comment on? Where should I share my opinion?”

I tried to ask myself:

“What is to be done right now? What do I need to do?”

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the war of words?

Weighed down by the tumult of opinions?

Instead of adding to the words and the opinions, I think we would be wise to follow Joseph’s thought process.

Try focusing on what good things we can DO.

In our own spheres of influence.

We can create, serve, worship, love, solve, restore, and praise.

What is to be done?

Let’s do it.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post What is to be done?!  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

They had believed in false traditions but then completely converted their hearts and made covenants when they learned about Jesus.

They uprooted their families from where they had probably lived their whole lives and moved to a safer location.

They didn’t give the anti-Christ, Korihor, a second of their time when he came to town.

They took in poor Zoramites who had been kicked out of their city, giving them food and clothing.

They uprooted their lives and moved again to give room for the Nephite armies.

Have you ever wondered WHY the Ammonite sons didn’t have even a shadow of a doubt that their mothers had faith in God?

“And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.” (Alma 56:48)

Why would their children believe their moms?

Because these Ammonite women backed up whatever they taught at home with action.

These women weren’t just sitting back, hoping dearly that their kids will gain a testimony.

They lived the gospel of Jesus Christ, and their children couldn’t help but notice.

They kept their covenants with exactness.

They turned away from evil.

They served with their whole hearts.

They sacrificed when needed.

There was no way to doubt their mothers knew that God would provide because they had proved it over and over already.

Sharing our testimonies with others is so powerful.

But backing up what we say with whole-hearted action leaves no room for doubt.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post How could there be no doubt? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

COMPASSION.

Have you noticed it in the parable of the Good Samaritan?

First, a priest and a Levite pass this “half-dead” man on the side of the road.

Probably pretty good people.

Probably with legitimate excuses to be somewhere.

Probably knew this guy didn’t really have a chance, or maybe even deserved the trouble he was in. ⁣

But then…

“A certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him”. (Luke 10:33)

The Samaritan passes the man and is filled with COMPASSION.

How are we doing with feeling compassion towards other people?

When we see a homeless individual on the side of the road, do we make fun of them and make some snide remark?

Or are we filled with COMPASSION?

When someone tells us they are going to do something and then they don’t, do we think negative thoughts about them or even “tell the story” to someone else?

Or are we filled with COMPASSION?

When a family member disappoints you, do you take it personally and add drama to it?

Or are you filled with COMPASSION?

But this Good Samaritan didn’t even stop at compassion!

After he was filled with COMPASSION, he acted.

He got right to work to solve the problem. ⁣

I love that. ⁣

When other people aren’t acting the way we think they should, let’s be filled with COMPASSION and then GET TO WORK. ⁣

When bad things happen to people we know, let’s be filled with COMPASSION and then GET TO WORK. ⁣

When we see people in need, let’s be filled with COMPASSION and then GET TO WORK.

COMPASSION and then GET TO WORK.

It’s a beautiful duo.

A divine duo.

The perfect combination to make this famous Samaritan “good”.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Compassion in the Good Samaritan first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

My husband and I went on a little vacation this past week.

One day, we hadn’t been on our phones very much, and had a fantastic fun-filled day together. And then we opened up our phones in the evening.

And I immediately had to close social media.

I’ve always thought that people posting their opinions on social media didn’t affect me that much.

But in that moment, I felt such a stark contrast.

I had been living in the moment all day. Connecting. Experiencing. Relaxing. Having fun. Meaningful conversations.

And then to open my phone and see the “war of words and tumult of opinions”?

It was too much for me.

I stayed off of social media that evening, wrote my (hopefully) inspirational thought for this account that would air the next day, FaceTimed my kids, read my scriptures, and went to bed.

I’ve had to ask myself this a lot this year:

“What is to be done right now?”

And slowly, one word keeps jumping out to me.

DONE.

What do I need to DO?

Not “what do I need to post”, “what do I need to comment on”, “where should I share my opinion”…

But what is to be done?

Sometimes, I’ve felt strongly to make adjustments in my life based off of events that I’ve witnessed.

But mostly, I’ve felt that making my home a place filled with love and faith is the most important thing.

I’ve tried to be more loving. Serve more. Pray more. Read more. Laugh more. Connect more. Wish more people a Happy Birthday. Check in on friends.

I’ve been trying to do things.

And I wonder what Christ would do if He were on the earth right now?

I personally don’t think He would be sharing His opinion very often on current events. Maybe I’m wrong, but this is what I feel.

I think He would be out in the real world. Serving. Loving. Helping.

Seeing the good, and then doing the good.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the war of words or tumult of opinions?

What is to be done? Let’s do it.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post What is to be done? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

He teaches the Zoramites to cry unto God wherever they may be – refuting their claims that they couldn’t worship due to being cast out of the synagogues.

Pray anywhere and pray everywhere.

Have your heart drawn out in prayer continually to Him.

But then he goes into the most important part of his sermon:

“Do no suppose this is all;

“For after ye have done all these things (praying everywhere), if ye turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance… to those in need…

“YOUR PRAYER IS IN VAIN.” (Alma 34:28)

What a humbling lesson.

We can’t pray for more income, and then not improve our skill set or apply to new jobs.

We can’t pray for peace, and then share divisive articles that demonize “the other side”.

We can’t pray for a child to regulate their emotions, and then refuse to regulate our own.

It’s a tough pill to swallow, but I think sometimes we have to own up to the fact that we’ve prayed for a result, and then done nothing to achieve that result, or even worked against it.

That’s what Amulek calls being a hypocrite.

Yikes.

So, as with all things, the best way to repent for past hypocritical actions is to change moving forward.

What’s a prayer in your heart right now?

Maybe it’s for yourself, or for your family, or for your community, or for the world.

If you’ve got the first half of the equation down, and you are realllly good at praying fervently about it, that is beautiful!

And now might be a great time to think about how you can act to make it happen.

What’s something you can do TODAY in order to move that desire forward?

Here’s mine for right now:

I’ve been praying to manage my time more wisely for quite a while, but I’m realizing I haven’t actually changed what I’m doing. So I’m setting time boundaries for accomplishing certain tasks, and I’ve been reading up on some new strategies (like the Pomodoro 25-minute method) that I’m going to start. Changing my “wishful prayers” into real effort! And then I have faith that my productivity will increase, or I’ll be led to discover the right routines that will work for me!

If you feel comfortable sharing, I’d love to hear what your ACTION goal is in the comments!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Pray and then ACT first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.