I’ll start having a conversation with someone who I really want to know how she is doing…⁣

And then my kid runs out of sight and I have to run after them.

I’ll see a new family after church that I want to get to know better…

And every time I start walking their way, one of my kids desperately needs my urgent attention.

I catch up with another friend I haven’t seen in a while…⁣

And then I have to go help a kid who is feeling anxious.

I want to be friendly. I want to meet new people. To connect. To show love. ⁣

And yet I feel distracted and disconnected.

I recently prayed for a new perspective and some clarity, because I didn’t like how frustrated I was feeling.

Eventually, the Spirit brought two things to my mind:

First, I remembered the different uplifting interactions I had with people BECAUSE my kids are being kids.

New friendships being made. Other people serving ME. ⁣

And secondly, the Spirit brought to my mind this scripture:

“Out of small things proceedeth that which is great.” D&C 64:33⁣

I often feel like I’m missing out on some great things at church.

Because I am instead stuck doing a bunch of little, insignificant things. ⁣

Pulling out a Jesus book to distract, opening another pack of fruit snacks, pulling a hand away from a cord, picking up the kid trying to lick the A/C vent (again), picking up the goldfish, talking out of a meltdown, teaching about reverence in the chapel…

I do a lot of small things. ⁣

But I do them for three little kids that I love. Because right now, they need the fruit snacks. They need the carrying. They need the teaching. They need the constant attention.

And out of all of these small, little things…

Comes all the REALLY great stuff.

Seriously, these kids are going to be amazing grownups. I can tell already.

And because I will become greater as I step into my role as their mother.

Parenthood is doing a lot of the small stuff. The diaper changes, wiping up the spill, giving a hug, over and over.

Small stuff. All day, every day.

But it’s out of these small things.

The songs sung during the diaper change, the invitation to help mommy clean up the spill, the loving smile and little tickle when I give the hug.

Out of these small things proceedeth that which is great.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Small things first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

During the final approach in the dark night, the pilots noticed that a small green light had turned off. (This light indicated if the landing gear had extended successfully.)

The pilots called off the landing and circled around for a bit, completely focused on this little green light. ⁣

Gradually, the plane circled lower and lower. ⁣

But the pilots didn’t notice. ⁣

They were still focused on the green light. ⁣

When a crew member realized how close they were to the swamplands, it was too late, and over 100 people tragically died as they crashed to the ground. ⁣

After recovery crews found the airplane, they discovered that the landing gear was working perfectly. ⁣

The little green light was the only thing that had malfunctioned. ⁣

The accident happened because the pilots turned their attention to something that seemed to matter a lot in the moment. ⁣

But they lost sight of what actually mattered the most. ⁣

Lehonti and his people were firm and steadfast in staying at the top of their mountain. ⁣

Until Amalakiah became really annoying and really persistent. ⁣

Imagine if Lehonti had refused to move even after the 4th request, and stayed firm in his vision that the mountain would be his safety. ⁣

As Latter-day Saints, we have some pretty lofty and solid commitments to do what is right. ⁣

And then, everyone keeps talking about that TV show that you know wouldn’t be the best for you to watch…⁣

And everyone keeps posting those types of articles and comments on social media…⁣

And your friend keeps bringing that same subject up over and over… ⁣

They seem so important and so relevant. So persistent. Like a little green button, like an important army leader requesting a meeting. ⁣

And sometimes, they ARE important issues to address. ⁣

But when we put our whole focus there, we lose sight of what matters most:

Our relationship with our loving God and Savior. ⁣

So when we feel that urge to just take a step down the mountain, we can remember:⁣

I am doing a great work. And I cannot come down. ⁣

(Story adapted from Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s talk in April 2009)

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The broken green light first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I felt both embarrassed and frustrated.

I felt embarrassed for putting all the effort into running a campaign, making stickers, and giving an enthusiastic speech in front of the entire school.

And I felt frustrated that no one (or not enough people at least) could see the value that I would bring!

I thought that I truly was the best person for that position, but that I hadn’t been able to convey that to everyone.

Lehi shared a prophecy about Joseph Smith.

The Lord said, “And I will make him great in mine eyes.” (2 Nephi 3:8)

I can’t help but think–

Whose eyes do I want to be great in?

I learned early on that I can’t count on being seen as “great” in the eyes of my peers.

(For the record, I had an amazing group of friends in high school and I ended up taking another student government position that year.)

But I have to almost EXPECT to be underestimated.

We may not always be viewed as someone awesome at school, at work, in our community, in our wards, and even in our families.

We might have a kid who doesn’t win “student of the month”, gets cut from the team, or struggles in a class.

But whose opinion matters the most?

I’ve slowly learned that other people’s perceptions actually have nothing to do with who I really am.

I mean, it is always a good idea to be kind and try to make friends.

To serve and to love.

But when we decide that God’s opinion of us is all that matters, we can gain clarity on how to truly be a “great” person in God’s eyes!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post I lost the election first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Nephi asked the Spirit for an interpretation of his father’s dream.

And I can just imagine how he was expecting a clear verbal explanation for each element.

But instead…

Nephi was taught the most important lesson any of us can learn:

Jesus is always the answer!

The angel showed Nephi a vision of young Mary holding her child.

And immediately, Nephi knew that the tree of life represents the love of God!

The angel showed Jesus preaching. “Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Son of God going forth among the children of men; and I saw many fall down at his feet and worship him.” (1 Nephi 11:24)

And clearly, Nephi knew that the iron rod was the word of God!

The angel showed the 12 apostles going out to preach after Jesus’ crucifixion and being persecuted.

And immediately, Nephi knew that the great and spacious building was the pride of the world.

How cool is that?

Christ WAS the interpretation of the dream!

And Christ can be the interpretation of our lives, too.

When we stay close to the Savior and learn about His life and His teachings…

We can clearly see the phone call from our friend as the love of God.

We can see the three verses of scripture we tried to read during a busy day as the word of God.

We can see that witty Instagram page as a manifestation of the pride of the world.

Jesus is always the answer.

And focusing on Him helps us to see our journeys clearly!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Jesus is the interpretation  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Martha welcomed Jesus into her home and was “cumbered about much serving”.

She was doing fantastic acts of service. ⁣

And then there was her sister, Mary.

Mary was just sitting there at the Lord’s feet, listening to Him. ⁣

So Martha got a little frustrated that she was the only one doing any work.

She requested the Savior to dismiss her sister so that she could help with all the things that needed to get done.

“And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful.”⁣ (Luke 10:41-42)

Are we “careful and troubled” about the wrong things?⁣

There are so so SO many little things to worry about.

And as a problem-solver, I like to focus on the problems.

Think about the problem, talk about the problem, and try to solve it.

And honestly it’s not bad.

I like being the problem-solver.

But do you know what naturally takes up a lot of my brain when I focus on problems?

The problems, of course.

You know what I’ve tried to do more lately?

NOT trying to solve problems.

Turning off the parenting podcasts and unfollowing that news analysis account. Stopping talking about everything that’s going wrong.

And instead, focusing on Jesus and my blessings.

THAT’S what I want taking up most of my brain space.

THAT’S what I want my mind to ponder about in quiet moments.

Jesus. His goodness. His teachings. And what that means for me.

And trying to do this more has actually been the best problem-solving I’ve ever done.

Because suddenly all those little problems don’t really matter anymore.

And the big ones that are left don’t seem quite so daunting.

I’ve got Jesus to help me. So I’m going to try to stay by His side and trust with all my heart that He is the real answer to every problem.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post So focused on Jesus first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

It’s a piece of parenting advice I’ve been leaning into recently.

I’ve proved it time and time again.

One of my kids kept doing something they shouldn’t do over and over, and any correction I was giving was clearly going in one ear and out the other.

“What you focus on, grows.”

I wanted to keep correcting, but I decided to ignore the behavior and instead start asking him questions about a fun play date he had recently.

He got so excited and started talking all about it.

I was able to build positive interactions and compliment him.

The bad behavior stopped, and it ended up being a fun little connection moment with him.

“What you focus on, grows.”

I’ve found it to be so true in my life, too.

When I keep complaining, my problems seem bigger and worse.

When I keep showing gratitude, my blessings seem bigger and better.

When I try to find more opportunities to serve, I serve more.

When I judge someone, I start finding more and more things to judge about them.

“Let God be magnified.” (Psalm 70:4)

I want God to become more and more magnified in my life.

I want to continue to focus on Him day after day.

I want to think of Him, speak of Him and love Him.

I want to make more space for Him in my mind and in my schedule.

Because what I focus on, grows.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post What you focus on grows first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

During the final approach in the dark of the night, the pilots noticed that a small green light had stopped working. This light indicated if the landing gear had extended successfully.

The pilots called off the landing and circled around for a bit, completely focused on this little green light.

Gradually, the plane circled lower and lower.

But the pilots didn’t notice.

They were still focused on the green light.

When a crew member realized how close they were to the swamplands, it was too late, and over 100 people tragically died as they crashed to the ground.

After recovery crews found the airplane, they discovered that the landing gear was working perfectly.

The little green light was the only thing that had malfunctioned.

The accident happened because the pilots turned their attention to something that seemed to matter a lot in the moment.

But they lost sight of what actually mattered the most.

Lehonti and his people were firm and steadfast in staying at the top of their mountain.

Until Amalakiah became really annoying and really persistent.

Imagine if Lehonti had refused to move even after the 4th request, and stayed firm in his vision that the mountain would be his safety.

As Latter-day Saints, we have some pretty lofty and solid commitments to do what is right.

And then, everyone keeps talking about that TV show that you know wouldn’t be the best for you to watch…

And everyone keeps posting those types of articles and comments on social media…

And your friend keeps bringing that same subject up over and over…

They seem so important and so relevant. So persistent. Like a little green button, like an army leader requesting a meeting.

And often, they ARE important issues to address.

But when we put our whole focus there, we lose sight of what matters most: our relationship with our loving God and Savior.

So when we feel that urge to just take a step down the mountain, we can remember:

I am doing a great work. And I cannot come down.

(Story adapted from Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s talk in April 2009)

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Coming down the mountain first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.