When the first paper was due, the professor highly suggested we meet with the Teacher Assistants (TA’s) to go over it before turning it in.

I didn’t bother doing this; I was sure I could figure it out on my own.

And… when I got my grade on my final paper, I did not like it.

I realized I had misunderstood one portion of the paper prompt.

This poor grade on the paper brought my overall class grade down dramatically!

So guess what I did for the SECOND paper of the class?

When that second paper was almost due, I signed up to meet with a TA.

It was completely free, only took about 15 minutes of my time, and she told me exactly what to fix.

She also made note of my name so that when I turned my paper in, she would be the one to grade it.

It was literally such a painless and easy process.

Guess what grade I got on that paper?

A literal perfect score.

I was frustrated with myself for not meeting with a TA the first time around. Why had I left such simple, free help on the table?!

I imagine Enoch felt a similar exacerbation as he spoke to the wicked people.

In Moses 6:43 he says, “Why counsel ye yourselves, and deny the God of heaven?”

In other words, why are you trying to give each other counsel and figure it out yourselves, when you have a loving God who literally wants to tell you all of the exact right things to do to make it back to Him?!

We don’t have to guess.

God WANTS to help us each step of the way.

But we do have to ask and claim the help we’ve been offered.

Are we leaving heavenly help on the table by forgetting to ask for it?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Leaving help on the table first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Here’s what I’ve noticed in that group, though.

Often, someone will post:

“Help! I just got called as Young Women’s President and I’m feeling very overwhelmed with everything on my plate. Can you give me your biggest piece of advice you wish you knew when you started?”

It’s pretty obvious that the person asking the question is looking for answers like: “Here’s exactly how to delegate to your counselors and secretary!” or “Here’s the link to the binder I bought that will solve all your problems” or something.

And yet time and time again, the thread fills up with similar comments that always warm my heart:

“I wish someone would have told me to not worry about anything and just love the girls.”

“Get to know the girls and just love them!”

“I wish I hadn’t been so judgmental of these girls at first and just worked on loving them exactly as they are.”

Amazing, right?!

I was blown away by Susan H. Porter’s talk in this most recent General Conference.

She told a story about a man who had left the church for a long time, but then undeniably felt God’s love and just knew that he needed to return.

But when he received his first calling after becoming active again, he said his perspective about callings changed completely:

“Now the question for him became not ‘How can I fulfill this calling?’ but ‘How can I show God’s love through my service?’

“With this new approach, he felt joy, meaning, and purpose in all aspects of his calling.”

There are important things for us to do. There are Ward Councils to attend and activities to organize and plans to execute.

But at the end of the day, are we unintentionally choosing to: “neglect the more weighty matters?” D&C 117:8

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Do they feel loved? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.