We had a stake conference a few years ago that blew my mind. ⁣

The evening adult session was all about missionary work— but with a completely new perspective that has stuck with me for a while. ⁣

One speaker kept coming back to this point:⁣

We aren’t the ones converting people to the gospel. ⁣

There are so many prophesies and so many scriptures that are similar to what we find in D&C 135:7:⁣

“The religion of Jesus Christ… will touch the hearts of honest men among all nations”. ⁣

There are SO MANY people out there who have willing and honest hearts, who the Spirit is working with to mold and prepare. ⁣

They are ready to hear and receive. ⁣

They are ready to completely change their lives and make eternal covenants with God. ⁣

We have such a small but important role in this entire process (because it’s really mostly between that individual and God).⁣

We need to be examples, make friends, show love, and then extend simple but powerful invitations, as prompted by the Spirit. ⁣

That’s it. ⁣

We just need to introduce as many people as we can to what truth and godly power really mean, and the Spirit will take care of the rest— quickly carrying it unto the hearts of those who have already been prepared. ⁣

Missionary work isn’t about tons of pressure to be the perfect example, inviting to the exact right event, and then teaching every aspect of the gospel. ⁣

Isn’t that refreshing?⁣

That’s how I’ve felt ever since I heard that message. ⁣

I don’t have to do it all. No one has to do it all. ⁣

We don’t even have to do that much. ⁣

The Gathering of Israel is going to happen, and the hearts of God’s children are being prepared throughout the world. ⁣

And all we’ve been asked to do is to love and invite, so that the Spirit can do what He does best: ⁣

Convert.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post No need to convert  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I have definitely thought this before.

He could just go “live”, do some awesome miracle, and boom, everyone will be converted to Jesus.

Now truthfully, most miracles are sacred and personal.

Many aren’t meant to be displayed or even proclaimed publicly. ⁣

But I can think about stories in the scriptures when miracles HAVE been performed for large groups of people.

Like when Nephi told the people their chief judge had been murdered and then accurately told them how to catch the killer.

“And it came to pass that they went and did, even according as Nephi had said unto them. And behold, the words which he had said were true.” (Helaman 9:37)

After this crazy, public, dramatic miracle…

Some people were converted.

But… others explained it away.

What?

How could you see that and not believe?!

Here’s what I’ve learned:

Faith is a choice.

We choose whether or not a miracle will strengthen our faith or whether we will explain it away.

We choose whether or not we see life through a lens of constant miracles or through a lens of random unorganized events.

We choose whether or not we allow miracles to humble our hearts and turn to God or whether we will appeal to our prideful knowledge and doubt.

“It is not by marvelous manifestations unto us that we shall be established in the truth, but it is by humility and faithful obedience to the commandments and laws of God.” – Joseph F. Smith

Miracles, both big and small, are everywhere.

If we look for the small miracles each day and intentionally try to grow our faith, then the big stuff will only strengthen us even more!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post A public miracle  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.

Those who have heard sound bits of my religion and see me as a devout follower.

Those who only see the differences between them and me.

Those who left the faith and can’t imagine why anyone would stay.

And I’m pretty self-aware.

There are certainly things from the outside looking in about my faith, and the church that I believe houses God’s priesthood power, that look foolish.

Paul counseled:

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him.” (1 Corinthians 2:14)

But for everyone who thinks I am foolish for staying so dedicated to the undeniable revelation I have received…

There are also people I know who are some of the most well-educated and kindest and most giving humans I’ve ever met.

Brilliant minds who stay.

Independent and powerful individuals who join.

I mean, I think the gospel of Jesus Christ actually logically makes a lot of sense.

But just reasoning things out will never be enough to convince someone to fully convert.

The Spirit is the key.

The Spirit has to be involved when seeking gospel truths, hearing revelations, listening to prophets, and reading scriptures.

The Spirit has to whisper those confirming messages.

The Spirit has to give us that feeling of warmth.

The Spirit has to appeal to our logical mind and show how it actually all makes perfect sense. ⁣
⁣
Are we just believing the foolish traditions of our fathers?⁣

Not when the Spirit is involved! ⁣
⁣
Are we just exercising blind obedience and following whatever some authority figure tells us to do?⁣

Not when the Spirit is involved!⁣
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When we have the Spirit with us, we shake off the bands of “foolishness” and begin to see what truth is!

And at the end of the day, we can only get that heavenly perspective by keeping the Spirit with us.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Am I foolish for keeping the faith? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

To me, this means a sensation that feels intensely painful for a very brief amount of time.

Maybe the feeling lingers for a bit…

But then it fades with intensity rather quickly. ⁣

Ever had a “pricking” feeling from the Spirit? ⁣

Someone says something at church or you read a phrase in the scriptures or you are just sitting on the couch thinking about life. ⁣

And you get that powerful thought that comes into your head with force. ⁣

“I should start saying my prayers again.”⁣

“I should text her to see how she’s doing.”⁣

“I should talk to my husband about that.”⁣

After the intense thought though, don’t we usually question it?!

That natural man is relentless.

“Eh, I’ll start tomorrow.”⁣

“Well I don’t want to seem pushy. I don’t even know her that well.”⁣

“He should actually take responsibility for that so I’m not going to initiate the conversation.”⁣

That original prick to do something good fades and we replace it with justifications. ⁣

To be honest, I’ve just accepted that this is part of my cycle of revelation:

I am pricked with a good thought. ⁣

I rationalize myself out of it. ⁣

But then I say, “I was prompted to do something good. I know where the prompting came from. What’s the worst that could happen if I follow this prompting?” ⁣

That usually gets me back in tune with the Spirit. ⁣

These people listening to Peter were pricked in their hearts.

And they IMMEDIATELY asked what they needed to DO next.

“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart and said . . . what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37)

This lead to them making baptismal covenants and receiving the Holy Ghost. ⁣

We can be pricked in our hearts by the Spirit all the time…

But it doesn’t really matter unless we DO something about it.⁣

If my heart is pricked, then it is time to ACT.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Pricked by the Spirit for a prompting first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I’ve had to ask myself that question many times.

I’ve had other people ask me this question many times.

Because it’s been grounded in the wrong places before.

It’s been grounded in that fun leader who made me enjoy going to church.

It’s been grounded in having cool callings.

It’s been grounded in girls camp.

It’s been grounded in really nice people.

It’s been grounded in having a good social life and network.

And many more places that aren’t necessarily bad places to be at all.

But those things aren’t lasting.

So I’ve had to ask myself, “What do I really believe? What is this all about?“

It’s Jesus.

It’s His words and His teachings.

It’s His commandments and His covenants.

“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.” (Psalm 19:7)

My soul is deeply, deeply converted to Jesus’ perfect word.

His word was given in ancient Old Testament times.

His word was taught and lived as an example in New Testament times.

His word was practiced and experienced in Book of Mormon times.

His word was reiterated in modern times.

The law, the commandments, the teachings, the covenants.

They aren’t new. They are everlasting.

And they truly and completely convert my soul.

It’s all about Jesus.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Converting my soul  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

A normal occurrence, no matter what kind of group you are part of, is for someone to post details about their complicated or tricky situation and then ask for advice.

Can you imagine if Ruth posted her situation and asked for advice from a Facebook group?!

I’m sure she’d get comments like

“Your mother-in-law sounds so sweet! Give her a big hug and say goodbye!”

“Set your boundaries. Being homeless and starving isn’t something you should ever settle for.”

“You realize you will have NOTHING if you go with her, right? Why is this even a question?!”

It made absolutely no logical sense for a widowed woman to accompany another widowed woman, especially when the younger could return to her home and find care and sustenance.

But Ruth chose to stay with Naomi and travel back to Bethlehem.

Why?

It was basically a death sentence.

Or at least a wish to be poor and starving forever.

Ruth explained, “Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God”. (Ruth 1:16)

Here, Ruth reveals that she is completely converted to the God of Israel.

She’s all in.

I don’t think she ever would have actually asked for advice in a Facebook group anyways.

It wasn’t an option, no matter how reasonable it seemed, to stay behind. To return to her old life. Old traditions.

To just pretend that this whole thing had never happened.

Ruth couldn’t do that.

She was too converted, and she was willing to endure whatever hardships came her way as a result.

What conviction!

What commitment.

What love.

Where is our conversion to the Lord?

Will we follow Him anywhere He takes us?

Even when it doesn’t make sense. Even when everyone on Facebook would tell us it’s ridiculous.

Why did Ruth go with Naomi?

And why do you stay with the Lord?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Ruth’s conversion first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

It might have been fast and immediate, like turning on a lightbulb.

Or maybe it was more like a sunrise, where one day you realized you already had that full light inside of you.

Or maybe it’s been a series of light switches, sunrises, and strobe lights as you’ve reconnected with God over and over.

I’m not sure what Jacob’s testimony was like before his journey in the wilderness.

But it sure seems like his experience with seeing a vision of the ladder was his big conversion moment.

He reflected after this big vision:

“If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God”. (Genesis 28:20-21)

In other words, if God is doing all of these amazing things for me, then I will absolutely choose for the Lord to be my God.

Isn’t that the crux of most testimonies?

The moment we realize and internalize just how much God has actually done for us individually.

The blessings we have. The love we feel from the Savior. The sacrifices that we appreciate. The peace that He extends to us.

But I think a “testimony moment” is a lot more than just having this realization.

It’s a moment where this realization is coupled with this immediate desire to stay as close to the Lord as possible for the rest of our lives.

“… then shall the Lord be my God.”

Have you chosen to make the Lord your God yet?

And if you made that decision and felt that conversion a long time ago, have you felt it renewed in your heart recently?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Jacob’s testimony first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Most of us, I think, try to do everything in our power to avoid adding more obstacles to our lives.

And yet, still they come.

On Monday I shared one reason why I feel like we sometimes have to suffer through “pointless” trials.

And today I want to talk about the other reason.

My heart gets so heavy every time I read this scripture:

“I have heard their prayers, and will accept their offering; and it is expedient in me that they should be brought thus far for a trial of their faith.” D&C 105:19

This group of saints had just marched from Ohio to Missouri.

They had hoped to relieve their brothers and sisters from their suffering. They wished for a big battle with God on their side. They had suffered quite a bit on their own while making the journey.

And now… they were being sent back home without any final ending to their march with the insight that this had all been for a “trial of their faith”.

What trials has your faith had to endure?

It can be easy to sit in a nice church with people who are our friends and say that we believe in God and Jesus.

It can be a lot more difficult to do that when you don’t feel like you have any friends.

When you are suffering physically and emotionally.

When you feel like you aren’t doing anything important.

When someone you love is taken from you.

Does your faith stay?

Was it really rooted in nice people and pleasant experiences?

Or is it faith that seems to say, “Come what may!”

God knows how deep our faith really is.

So then why do we have to experience a trial of our faith sometimes?

I think WE need to know just how far our faith will carry us.

I think we are the ones who need to see what it’s really like to actively choose faith every day, even when it’s difficult.

The trial of our faith is for our benefit, to give us more knowledge about what we really believe, deep down.

What do you think? Have you experienced trials you felt were meant to just try your faith?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post A trial of your faith first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Most miracles are sacred and personal, and aren’t meant to be displayed or even proclaimed publicly.

But I can think about times when miracles HAVE been performed for large groups of people.

By Jesus Christ, by Moses, by Nephi, son of Helaman…

And the part that baffles my mind?

The public miracles don’t always convert everyone.

In fact, when Nephi told the people their chief judge had been murdered, and then accurately told them how to catch the killer, Mormon narrates that “some” were converted while others explained it away.

What?!

How could you see that and not believe?

But I think it comes back to a principle that has been taught time and time again:

Faith is a choice.

We choose whether or not a miracle will strengthen our faith, or whether we will explain it away.

Giant miracles don’t produce faith for everyone. At least not the conversion-level faith that is required to change hearts permanently.

But I also find the “faith is a choice” concept really comforting.

I’m not going to just lose my faith someday on accident.

If I’m doing the little things that I know will invite the Spirit with the intention to grow my faith, then I will grow my faith.

And the miracles that I see in my life, both small and mighty, will strengthen my faith because I want them to strengthen my faith.

Because the future of my faith is not by chance, but by choice.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Faith by choice first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.