In March, it seemed crazy that we would be going a few weeks without church.

And now…

I don’t think I’m alone when I say I’ve really had to examine my “why” for attending church.

If the sacrament can be administered at home, if we take away many of the social aspects from church, if the way we fulfill callings has dramatically shifted…

Why do we go to church?

Moroni reflected on this exact question at the end of his life.

He said that after being baptized, the members of the church would meet together for these reasons: (Moroni 6:4-7)

• To be nourished by the word of God
• To pray and fast together
• To speak about their welfare
• To take the sacrament
• To get rid of all iniquity

Elder Christofferson added in his 2015 talk, “Why the Church?”:

• To be called out in our faults and then repent
• To combine our efforts for more effective responses to poverty and disasters
• To take the gospel to all the earth
• To take part in essential ordinances
• To perform temple work for those who have passed on
• To build up the kingdom of God on the earth

I’ve come to a new realization this year of the separation between the Church and the gospel.

Because they aren’t the same thing.

We can love the Church, but we become converted to the gospel.

Even though the Church’s functions have changed dramatically this year, the gospel of Jesus Christ has never been shut down.

We certainly apply the gospel principles as we interact with our family members, but the Church helps us take that to the next level.

Working and serving with imperfect people, trying to learn and teach from different perspectives…

It’s the perfect place to put all that we know in our head about the gospel into practice.

Now, the thought of corralling two young kids to sit still on a chapel pew for an hour is never one that I think will excite me.

But I’m laying that foundation for my kids.

I’m teaching them the doctrine the best that I can – but I’m showing them that the best applications can come from the way we choose to show up at Church.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Why the Church? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

These phrases that sound so good at first. They make beautiful graphics. Everyone nods in agreement and writes them down.

Phrases like, or variations of, “Don’t judge.” “Love everyone.” “You are important.”

But what do these phrases actually LOOK like in day-to-day living?

I guess that’s why I made this account and started this whole journey.

I’ve always wanted to move past some of the platitudes in the scriptures and conference talks, and instead talk about what they actually look like in real, messy situations.

And that’s what made me love President Nelson’s talk.

Because he talked about “God will prevail”, which sounds really nice and important.

But he also gave tons of examples of applications. Among them:

“When your greatest desire is to let God prevail, to be part of Israel, so many decisions become easier.

“So many issues become nonissues!

“You know how best to groom yourself.

“You know what to watch and read, where to spend your time, and with whom to associate.

“You know what you want to accomplish.

“You know the kind of person you really want to become.”

Boom.

These types of statements are what give life and meaning to those “platitudes”.

If I let God prevail in my life, what do I actually want to accomplish with the time I’ve been given?

If I let God prevail in my life, what kinds of attitudes and characteristics do I want to develop, and what things should I let fall away?

If I let God prevail in my life… (insert basically any life question here!).

And suddenly, it all makes a little more sense.

I don’t think anyone (at least anyone reading this) would disagree that letting God prevail sounds like a bad idea.

But I think it is essential to take that time to ponder and think – what does letting God prevail actually look like in my career choice? In how I comfort my child? In how I use my time?

Because that is true religion – letting lofty and godly ideals shape our actions here on earth.

So how are you applying this? How are YOU choosing to let God prevail right now? Share below! 

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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The post Let God prevail first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.