I had just explained how I read my scriptures, prayed, attended church, and was kind to my siblings.

My bishop told me how great I was doing!

(Yes, 100% perfect in the church stuff, I thought.)

But then my bishop asked, “So, what are you working on to improve how you live the gospel?”

My mind froze.

I mean, I had just told him I was doing everything right.

I finally muttered…

“Uh. . . I don’t know. Nothing right now.”

My bishop smiled kindly at me and said:

“Well, maybe the next time we meet, you can think about an answer for that.”

Looking back, I chuckle in slight embarrassment but also so much love for teenager Cali who thought “checking all the boxes” was good enough.

The scriptures warn, though, “. . . wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!” (2 Nephi 28:24)

I have learned since that day that there is SO much more to being a disciple of Jesus Christ.

And I am also now very aware of the long list of qualities I still need to work on to improve.

Very, very, very aware.

Now, I think it’s important to find a balance, because we don’t want the pendulum to swing too far from over-confident-teenager to never-good-enough-adult.

For example, we can go to a temple recommend interview and respond confidently AND fully recognize that we still need to improve.

We can confidently teach a class at church while relying on the Spirit AND fully recognize that we have so much more to learn.

We can belong and feel happy in Zion without feeling complacent.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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

It was over a year ago now, but I remember it like it was yesterday.

“I know everyone says that bishops aren’t perfect, but I didn’t realize they would call someone so normal like us!”

“Oh no, we are going to be judged a lot.”

“This isn’t a convenient time in our life.”

“Will I ever see my husband again?”

“Hey this actually might be a lot of fun!”

… and a lot more weird, conflicting thoughts.

But it’s like our stake president could read my mind as we sat there in his office, processing the call.

He very wisely said:

“The Lord didn’t call you guys because you are perfect. Or even near-perfect. The Lord has called you because you are willing to serve.”

Prophets, apostles, bishops, RS presidents, counselors, leaders of any kind throughout time have never claimed to be perfect.

I’ve loved reading in the Old Testament this year about flawed, VERY FLAWED, humans that God used to spread His message and accomplish miracles.

But He was able to use them because they were WILLING to serve.

Isaiah, the man that we often revere as some kind of special guy who could spout off powerful prophecy that is complicated and deeply spiritual, felt unworthy for his call, too!

He felt so inadequate.

But then the Lord cleansed Isaiah from his sins, and he had a change of heart:

“I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” (Isaiah 6:8)

Now Isaiah was ready to accept the call.

Not because he no longer had any weaknesses or desire to sin.

Not because he would always make good decisions in the future.

But because he was now willing to accept the call.

That’s all God really wants from us.

Willing moms and dads, not perfect moms and dads.

Willing ministering brothers and sisters.

Willing missionaries.

Willing musicians.

Willing scriptorians.

Willing hearts.

He wants you, not in some future, perfected state.

But exactly as you are right now, if you are willing to give your heart to Him.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Bishops and willing hearts first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I was doing great: reading the scriptures each day, praying, serving in callings, not fighting with my siblings…

It was great to sit in an interview and feel really great about what I was doing.

And then, my bishop wisely asked me what I was working on to try and improve in my life right now.

I naively responded, “Nothing right now!”

Oh, to have that confidence that I had then.

Living “the gospel” was simple in my mind, and I was checking all the boxes I had in front of me.

This makes me think of the wise saying in Proverbs 1:22.

“How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?”

Now I totally have compassion on younger Cali, and subsequent life lessons were given to me that very much highlighted the unending plethora of things in my life that needed to be improved.

The gospel really is simple.

But that doesn’t mean that the gospel is lived simply.

Loving God and loving others is a whole lot of work.

A lot of discomfort.

A lot of trial and error.

A lot of repentance and change, over and over.

I am ALL FOR simplification…

In most areas.

How long will we long for a gospel that is more simple to actually accomplish?

Or is it time to embrace the all-in, complicated, sometimes messy, but oh-so-fulfilling gospel of Jesus Christ?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Don’t simplify! first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Right before the meeting, the Spirit quietly confirmed to me what it was going to be about and I broke down in tears.

This was too much.

I called out to my Heavenly Father, “If we are going to do this, I’m going to need a lot more of Your support.”

And His response was the exact mixture of love and correction that I needed in that desperate moment.

“Cali, I am always right here. And you know exactly how to invite me into your life even more.”

I didn’t need Heavenly Father to be here more for me.

Because He has always been by my side.

But I knew I needed to start calling for His help even more.

It was a powerful lesson that He taught me right before my husband got called as Bishop of our ward.

If I need His presence more, then I need to put in some work.

The Saints in Ohio were also wanting more of God’s presence. They were ready to receive “The Law”.

They knew that further light and knowledge awaited them after making the faith-filled move to Ohio, and they were ready to receive it.

The Saints desired it.

So the Lord could have just given Joseph the revelation for the Law.

But instead, in D&C Section 41, the Lord asked them to gather themselves together and pray in great faith for the law to be given to them.

They had to put in the work first.

In the Bible Dictionary entry for “Prayer”, we learn that:

“Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them.

“Prayer is a form of work and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings.”

God wants us to put in the work.

He wants us to ask, to plead, to prepare ourselves, and to set aside special time to receive answers.

We can never do enough. We can never earn our blessings perfectly.

But… we can show Him that we are willing to take upon the very small burden of work that is required.

If you’ve been waiting for an answer or some clarity, this can be a great question to ponder on:

Am I putting in the work necessary to obtain the blessing I am asking for?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Prayer is hard work first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.