For a Jesus who encourages, accepts, and loves. ⁣

For a Jesus who doesn’t shame, but who invites. ⁣

For a Jesus who is fair and understanding. ⁣

Jesus Christ visited Joseph and Oliver in the Kirtland temple just days after its dedication. ⁣

And the words He spoke to them are so telling of His character and nature. ⁣

“Let the hearts of your brethren rejoice, and let the hearts of all my people rejoice, who have, with their might, built this house to my name.⁣

“For behold, I have accepted this house, and my name shall be here; and I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house.” (D&C 110:6-7⁣)

Love. Acceptance. Mercy. Power. Patience. ⁣

There are only limited words that I can read that I know my Savior spoke. ⁣

And these few messages and words that He spoke in the Kirtland temple that April day let me know that He is one and the same. ⁣

He is kindness and love and mercy. ⁣

I am so grateful for any opportunity I get to learn more about Jesus Christ. ⁣

To study His words and know that Jesus is my kind, wise heavenly friend.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post My Savior’s words  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I’ve been asked this question many times, and I know why it’s asked.

Because I think so many of us crave that kind of relationship with Jesus. ⁣

We all want more friends, right?!

And we all want to be friends with the one who knows us better than anyone else because He experienced it all. ⁣

But… how?⁣

My first answer is a question:⁣

Am I a good friend to the Lord?⁣

Do I only contact Him when I need something from Him?⁣

Do I want to learn everything about Him and what He’s done for me, or do I only want to talk about my life?⁣⁣

Do I think of Him often, in both casual and more serious times?⁣

When I’ve focused on becoming a better friend to Jesus, then I’ve discovered a powerful sense that He is my friend, too. ⁣

But my second answer is a bit more honest:⁣

I’m never going to be a “good enough” friend to my Savior. ⁣

At least not here on this earth.⁣

I’m going to forget about Him. I’m going to be selfish. I’m going to need to take a whole lot more than I give. ⁣

And yet… I still believe He is my friend. ⁣

“He lives, my kind, wise heav’nly Friend”. ⁣

“I will call you friends, for you are my friends”. (D&C 93:45⁣)

I can’t earn that friendship. ⁣

But I can still do what I can to discover my part in it. ⁣

He is already my friend. And your friend. And anyone’s friend. ⁣

It’s in those moments when I decide to reach out and build our relationship that I feel the friendship starting to grow. ⁣

When I treat my Savior as I would a friend, I gain the best, most forgiving, most reliable, kindest, most loving eternal friend that I could ever imagine.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post How to make Jesus your friend: first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I have a friend that I only send memes or funny stuff to. ⁣

You gotta have a friend like that, right?⁣

We met up, and all of a sudden I realized that even though we technically “communicated” often, we didn’t know much about what was really going on in each other’s lives. ⁣

We didn’t know about the more serious stuff. The struggles. The big decisions. The heartfelt emotions. ⁣

We had a lot of catching up to do. (And it was still fun!)⁣

I had a chance to meet up with an old coworker, too. ⁣

We’ve done really well keeping in touch with the serious stuff in life. ⁣

I know about her health struggles, she knows about my struggles with figuring out work. ⁣

We are really good at having serious conversations. ⁣

And so when we met up, I realized she didn’t know about the funny moments in my life! The times where my kid is covered in who-knows-what from digging in the trash, or the exciting new achievement one of them made.

I love both of these friends so dearly and I value their friendships for the different ways that they happen. ⁣

Because I need both kinds of friends. ⁣

But I also realized… I want my Heavenly Father and my Savior to be both kinds of friends to me, and I to Them. ⁣

I want the formal, big, serious stuff. ⁣

The down-on-my-knees, eyes-filled-with-tears, baring my soul kind of prayer. ⁣

And I also want to share the easier, lighter, day-to-day stuff. ⁣

The prayer for patience as my daughter insists on telling me a story before she will buckle her car seat. The prayer of gratitude when my son gives a huge laugh. ⁣

I want both with Them. ⁣

The Lord taught: ⁣

“In prayer always, vocally and in thy heart, in public and in private”. (D&C 81:3⁣)

Formal prayers are essential. ⁣

Informal prayers are essential. ⁣⁣

We need both.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Two different friendships  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Not because of how many people know me. ⁣

Not because of how many friends I have, or what calling I have, or how extroverted I am. ⁣

I am known because I am His. ⁣

I am understood. ⁣

Not because of how great a writer I am. ⁣

Not because I share my feelings often. ⁣

I am understood because I am His. ⁣

I am loved. ⁣

Not because I am righteous. ⁣

Not because I accomplish my to-do list, or I have a beautiful home, or my kids are well-behaved. ⁣

I am loved because I am His. ⁣

I am never lost. ⁣

Even when I feel all alone. ⁣

Even when I’m sure no one can understand the intricacies of what I feel. ⁣

Even when I distance myself from God due to my own choices. ⁣

Even when I walk in the room and I don’t know who to sit by. ⁣

I am never lost because I am His. ⁣

He knows me, and He knows exactly who I am. ⁣

He knows where I am physically. ⁣

But He also knows where I am mentally. Emotionally. Spiritually. ⁣

He knows when I’m drowning. When I’m overflowing. When I’m desperate. When I’m fulfilled. ⁣

He is in my midst. ⁣

He is in front of me, behind me, and all around. ⁣

Keeping me from dangers I’ll never know about, and softening the blows from the trials I face. ⁣

I’m never alone. ⁣

My Good Shepherd. My solid rock. ⁣

My redeemer. ⁣

My friend. ⁣

Jesus. ⁣

I am of infinite worth.⁣

Not because of anything I do, don’t do, think, or don’t think. ⁣

But because I am His. ⁣

“Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me” (D&C 50:41)

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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

Yeah, he was a lazy and wicked man.

But Abinadi had just spoken with clear power from God. ⁣

“King Noah was about to release him, for he feared his word; for he feared that the judgments of God would come upon him.” (Mosiah 17:11)

But his priests, the friends he had chosen to surround himself with, added pressure.

They found accusations against Abinadi.

They got angry. ⁣

And this brought Noah back into his prideful anger, leading Noah ordering Abinadi to be tortured and then burned to death. ⁣

We are all responsible for our own actions. ⁣

But the people we surround ourselves with can make a huge difference. ⁣

This is easy to see when a wayward child is influenced by a group of their peers. ⁣

But it’s a little harder to see in myself.

Who am I surrounded by?

Family members, friends, neighbors, coworkers…

But what about the other influences on my mind too?

Social media accounts, TV shows, podcasts, books…

How are they affecting me?

Am I being subtly nudged toward complaining, making fun, judging harshly, or doubting?

Is my support system supporting my most important goals in life? ⁣

I’m not just saying to only surround myself with “members of the Church”, but doing my best to ensure that the people I willingly interact with the most are kind and have good intentions, no matter their religious affiliation.

And I think the flip side is just as equally worth considering—

Am I being a righteous support system to others – encouraging and loving and accepting and uplifting the best that I can?⁣

“Find good friends. Be good friends. Support one another wherever you are. Stand with holy people.” – Gary E. Stevenson 

We know we are in control of our own actions. ⁣

But Noah’s choices of friends tipped the scale in a dire direction.

And a kind, supportive, loving friend can make all the difference.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Choose your friends wisely  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

That’s one of the questions that I get asked the most in my DMs.

Anytime I mention how the Savior is my friend, people start asking.

Because I think so many of us crave that kind of relationship with Jesus.

We all want more friends, right?!

And we all want to be friends with the one who knows us better than anyone else because He experienced it all.

But… how?

My first answer is a question:

Am I a good friend to the Lord?

Do I only contact Him when I need something from Him?

Do I want to learn everything about Him and what He’s done for me, or do I only want to talk about my life?

Do I think of Him often, in both casual and more serious times?

When I’ve focused on becoming a better friend to Jesus, then I’ve discovered a powerful sense that He is my friend, too.

But my second answer is a bit more honest:

I’m never going to be a “good enough” friend to my Savior.

At least not here on this earth.

I’m going to forget about Him. I’m going to be selfish. I’m going to need to take a whole lot more than I give.

And yet… I still believe He is my friend.

“He lives, my kind, wise heav’nly Friend”.

“I will call you friends, for you are my friends”. D&C 93:45

I can’t earn that friendship.

But I can still do what I can to discover my part in it.

He is already my friend. And your friend. And anyone’s friend.

It’s in those moments when I decide to reach out and build our relationship that I feel the friendship starting to grow.

When I treat my Savior as I would a friend, I gain the best, most forgiving, most reliable, kindest, most loving eternal friend that I could ever imagine.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post He is my friend first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.