It’s common to hear: “Don’t judge others”.

And I agree with that 100%.

We have absolutely no business judging others.

But we still need to judge.

I can see someone making a choice with what they are doing on the Sabbath day.

And I can think, “Hmmmm. I don’t think that represents the sign that I want to give to my Heavenly Father on the Sabbath.

“That’s not something I will choose to do on Sundays.”

And it has nothing to do with my feelings about that other person.

I may not know the whole story of why they made that choice; that choice may have actually been right for them in their circumstance; they might be struggling with their testimony… It’s not my business to know it all.

I can still feel so much love for them.

And make the judgement call about MY behavior.

I can repeat this over and over with different examples, like choosing when to wear garments, choosing different political candidates, choosing how to fulfill callings, etc.

It’s so easy to go too far in the wrong direction.

To see someone making a choice and then judging them, harboring bad feelings, and thinking that we know better.

Alma counseled his son to “judge righteously”. (Alma 41:14)

And modern leaders have echoed with similar messages:

“We are to judge righteously, never self-righteously, never unrighteously.” – Jeffrey R. Holland

Judging righteously is focused completely on ourselves and our own relationship with God.

It’s taking in information from the examples around us, observing the fruits of others’ labors, dealing with the results of other people’s choices.

And then using that information to refine our own actions, desires, and motivations.

We have to judge.

But we do not judge others.

We just get to love.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post  I judge first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

“If you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

I had been thinking about how Alma counseled that in the next life, everyone will “partake of the fruits of their labors or their works”. (Alma 40:26)

And it made me think:⁣

What am I laboring in right now?⁣

Would I be able to be clearly labeled as a Christian if someone was scrutinizing my life?⁣

I mean, yeah, I’ve got pictures of Jesus Christ in my home and I attend church each Sunday…

But I think the real conviction comes from how I conduct myself and interact with others. ⁣

Do I reflect Christ in my day-to-day living?⁣

When the restaurant forgets my order and it takes another 30 minutes? ⁣

When my toddler has a meltdown because she didn’t get to eat the crouton she wanted? ⁣

When I’m feeling left out from activities with friends?⁣

Do I still behave as a Christian would?⁣

Not that we know the clear, exact way Christ would handle any of those situations.

… But there are clear ways in which I deviate from the examples He showed. ⁣

And then, other times, I feel my entire will being melded with His. ⁣

When a gossipy conversation arrives, and I quietly excuse myself. ⁣

When I react to a tough situation with love and grace, instead of impatience and anger. ⁣

When I teach my kids about Jesus.

My labors are good. ⁣

Which means my fruit will be good. ⁣

But I know I can work on making my labors even better. ⁣

So everyone I interact with will know that I have a special relationship with my Savior.

Even if we never talk religion. ⁣

I hope that I can be the most obvious Christian.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post If I were accused… first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Alma knows all about repentance.

He’s an expert.

He also knows that his son has taken a detour from the iron rod.

And he wants to encourage Corianton to make it back and partake of God’s love. ⁣

”Now my son, I would that ye should repent and forsake your sins.” (Alma 39:9)

And Alma knows Corianton can do this.

Why?

Because Alma himself made that same difficult journey of repentance years ago.

But one thing Alma didn’t know?

He didn’t know that this conversation would be a positive turning point in Corianton’s life.

He didn’t know that Corianton would eventually travel the land with his brothers for many years preaching the gospel and baptizing many.

⁣Alma was the perfect father for Corianton.

⁣Two strong men who showed examples of not letting the lowest points in their lives define them.

“None of us should be defined only by the worst thing we have ever done.” -Kevin R. Duncan

They both used that Godly guilt and pain to push themselves into repentance and rededication. ⁣

Like father, like son. ⁣

And boy, am I grateful I don’t have to be defined by my worst decisions either.

My past does not need to be my label, my definition, or my eternal judgment sentence.

All thanks to Jesus Christ.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The perfect father first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I went to my closet to get dressed. . .

And the blouse that I wanted was curled up in a ball on the floor, stinky, wrinkled beyond repair, and unwearable.

Panic set in.

In my mind this was a disaster.

I was nervous enough for the job interview, and now my planned outfit wasn’t going to work out?!

Immediately, I folded my arms and said a quick prayer. ⁣

I asked for comfort to calm my heart, and for me to figure out what to do next.

I looked at my closet, found a new shirt I felt confident about, and I was in my car just a few minutes later. ⁣

As I was driving to the interview, I was praying that I would interview well, that I would get the job if it was His will. . .

And then I laughed a bit. ⁣

Had I really just prayed about what shirt I was wearing?⁣!

This is my favorite thing that I’ve learned about my loving Father in Heaven:

There’s nothing too big AND nothing too small for Him to care about. ⁣

Alma testified, “I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind.” (Alma 36:27)

Every single kind of trouble.

He’ll support us through the heartbreaking tragedies. The big stuff.

But He’ll also support us when we can’t find the shirt we wanted to wear.

He’ll support us when we don’t know how to respond to some contention in our calling.

He’ll support us when we are sad to miss out on something we were excited for.

He’ll support us when we forget something that causes a little inconvenience.

God really will support us through every single kind of trial and trouble that we can have.

We just need to remember to actually turn to Him whenever any sort of trouble sets in.

If it matters to you, it matters to Him.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The wrinkled shirt first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

There are quite a few theories out there…

But no scientist has ever figured out how to prove that the law of gravity is 100% true 100% of the time. ⁣

So how do we know gravity exists?!

Even though we can’t see gravity or find exact proof for why it happens, I think we can be very confident in expecting it to work because of all the evidence around us.

Every single day, gravity has existed and worked in my life.

So it seems extremely reasonable to continue to expect gravity to work the same way in the future.

You see where I’m going, right?

Alma was preaching to the poor and lowly amongst the Zoramites.

He gave a beautiful analogy comparing our faith to planting a seed and nourishing it. ⁣

But then he addressed the question that I think many of us have grappled with:⁣

How can we possibly KNOW the gospel is true while here on this earth?

“⁣And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.” (Alma 32:33)

We can know because we’ve planted the seed, given it a chance, and it’s brought forth good fruit. ⁣

And we’ve seen others plant the same seed, given it nourishment and time, and it’s brought forth good fruit, too. ⁣

And eventually, we notice that this has happened so many times–

People hearing about Christ, having a desire to believe, nourishing their faith, holding fast while the sun scorches, and then bringing forth beautiful lives filled with service and happiness.⁣

Over and over and over again.

It becomes like a law of nature to us. ⁣

We’ve run the experiment enough.

We can trust in the good fruit of the results.

And we can expect that following the gospel of Jesus Christ will continue to yield peace and joy.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Does gravity exist?  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

There were some friends who experienced a miraculous spiritual conversion together.

Then they spent years apart on long missionary journeys.

One day, 14 years later, despite having lived in totally different areas, they randomly ran into each other and were so happy to see each other!

Actually, you may have guessed that this is exactly what happened to Alma and the sons of Mosiah.

“And now it came to pass that as Alma was journeying from the land of Gideon southward, away to the land of Manti, behold, to his astonishment, he met with the sons of Mosiah journeying towards the land of Zarahemla.” (Alma 17:1)

We all love a good coincidence story.

Except we know that God doesn’t do “random.”

He does “divine design.”

Although this might have seemed random to Alma…

The sons of Mosiah were actually desperate to find a home for the newly converted Anti-Nephi-Lehies that they were leading away from the rest of the Lamanites. ⁣

They needed help, and God put Alma in their path. ⁣

⁣For us, running into a friend at the store is never random. ⁣

Connecting with someone over Facebook is never random.

Moving to a new place is never random. ⁣

Each little puzzle piece is designed by God who knows everything, and also loves everyone.

He sees the big picture!

“[God] does not do things by ‘coincidence’ but instead by ‘divine design.’” – Neal A. Maxwell

What are some little miracles that God has designed to happen in your life recently?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post God doesn’t do “random” first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

There are a few examples of the opposite that have always stood out to me.

(I’m not talking about bad examples, I promise! I mean a different kind of opposite…)

After Alma and Amulek watched one of the most tragic events imaginable, here’s what happened:

“The judge stood before them, and said: Why do ye not answer the words of this people? Know ye not that I have power to deliver you up unto the flames?

“And he commanded them to speak;

“but they answered nothing.” (Alma 14:19)

Silence.

They said nothing.

I think of Jesus and the times when He chose not to verbally respond to people.

Speaking up is important.

Defending our beliefs is important.

I can think of countless times in the scriptures and in modern-days when people have been moved to speak up.

In fact, we are often explicitly asked to speak up.

But sometimes the Spirit can move us to just be silent. ⁣

Maybe it’s because the Spirit warns us that saying anything wouldn’t help.

Maybe it’s because the Spirit knows we can be a better example through our actions than our words.

Maybe it’s because we need to be quiet and listen to someone else’s perspective.

“Jesus Christ, the only perfect person to ever walk the earth, taught us through quiet example to say nothing or to be silent in stressful times in our lives rather than to spend time and energy bashing for whatever purpose.” – Marvin J. Ashton

Talking and sharing are so important.

But sometimes the best way to share our testimony is through silence.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The opposite of teaching  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

An angel had visited Alma the Younger in Alma’s youth.

The angel reprimanded Alma and called him to repentance.

And Alma repented!

Now, years later, an angel visited Alma on his missionary path, praised him for his efforts, and told him to return to the city of Ammonihah.

This angel said, “. . . thou hast been faithful in keeping the commandments of God from the time which thou receivedst thy first message from him.

“Behold, I am he that delivered it unto you.” (Alma 8:15)

Did you catch that?

This angel was the SAME ANGEL who had visited Alma in his troubled youth.

And now he was directing Alma as a powerful missionary of God!

Same angel, two totally different Almas.

I don’t often think about the emotions that angels feel…

But can you imagine how this angel felt?!

Probably filled with humble joy to witness Alma’s growth.

Probably filled with righteous pride to see how Alma had changed.

Angels are still with us today!

They are sent to guide our paths and bring us comfort. ⁣

Some people have sacred spiritual gifts that allow them to recognize the presence of angels more than others…

But that doesn’t mean they aren’t there.

We are also surrounded by mortal friends and family members who can act as literal angels as they listen to promptings and respond.

God will never leave us alone and without help.

And I have a feeling that angels are probably so excited to assist!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post SAME angel! first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

There were two different groups of people.

Both oppressed by the Lamanites.

Both wanting to escape to Zarahemla.

The first group, led by Limhi, thought about how they were going to escape.

They brainstormed ideas, listened to Gideon, and came up with a plan.

Their result?

Limhi’s men gave strong wine to the Lamanite guards and escaped while they were in a drunken sleep.

It worked!

The second group was led by Alma.

They prayed for a long time for relief, and finally got an answer:

“Thou shalt go before this people, and I will go with thee and deliver this people out of bondage.” (Mosiah 24:17)

Not knowing exactly what was going to happen, the people packed their belongings and waited with faith.

Miraculously, the Lamanite guards were in a deep sleep, and everyone escaped!

The Lord answers the prayers of His people.

But He answers them in different ways, in different situations, and in different times.

While Limhi had to come up with ideas, talk with others, and execute the plan…

Alma and his people were just waiting in faith, acting on directions they didn’t quite understand yet.

But guess what was the same with both groups?

The result!

They both were freed from bondage because they relied on the Lord.

“Every one of our paths is different.” – Reyna Aburto

No matter the path the Lord takes, He will provide a way to make miracles happen.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Two groups, two paths first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

He was firm and steadfast in staying with his armies at the top of the mountain.

He knew the only way Amalakiah would win was for Lehonti to move.

And so he refused to move.

He kept the high road.

But then… Amalakiah realized Lehonti was going to need to meet him halfway.

(Figuratively and literally.)

Lehonti agreed to come halfway down the mountain to meet with Amalickiah, struck up a deal, and soon after, Lehonti had been poisoned by degrees, and Amalakiah was in charge of the entire army.

What’s urging you to come just halfway down the mountain right now?

What might be poisoning you in small degrees?

What’s taking you even one step away from the top of the mountain?

You know what mountains are often symbols for throughout scripture?

Temples.

And this is our answer.

The Lord taught saints living thousands of years later this same lesson:

“Stand ye in holy places, and BE NOT MOVED.” D&C 87:8

Don’t come down the mountain for anything.

Not any Facebook argument, not any TV show, not any friend, not any pleasure.

Stay in the holy places (and the cool thing is, we can CREATE places that are holy), and then don’t come down the mountain.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Stand ye in holy places first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.