There are quite a few theories out there…

But no scientist has ever figured out how to prove that the law of gravity is 100% true 100% of the time. ⁣

So how do we know gravity exists?!

Even though we can’t see gravity or find exact proof for why it happens, I think we can be very confident in expecting it to work because of all the evidence around us.

Every single day, gravity has existed and worked in my life.

So it seems extremely reasonable to continue to expect gravity to work the same way in the future.

You see where I’m going, right?

Alma was preaching to the poor and lowly amongst the Zoramites.

He gave a beautiful analogy comparing our faith to planting a seed and nourishing it. ⁣

But then he addressed the question that I think many of us have grappled with:⁣

How can we possibly KNOW the gospel is true while here on this earth?

“⁣And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.” (Alma 32:33)

We can know because we’ve planted the seed, given it a chance, and it’s brought forth good fruit. ⁣

And we’ve seen others plant the same seed, given it nourishment and time, and it’s brought forth good fruit, too. ⁣

And eventually, we notice that this has happened so many times–

People hearing about Christ, having a desire to believe, nourishing their faith, holding fast while the sun scorches, and then bringing forth beautiful lives filled with service and happiness.⁣

Over and over and over again.

It becomes like a law of nature to us. ⁣

We’ve run the experiment enough.

We can trust in the good fruit of the results.

And we can expect that following the gospel of Jesus Christ will continue to yield peace and joy.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Does gravity exist?  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Am I showing good results as a member of the Lord’s restored gospel?

I try to study my scriptures each day.

Say prayers.

Serve others.

Fulfill my calling.

Keep the sabbath holy.

It can start to become too much. I can start to become weighed down.

Yes, it’s good fruit.

But when it starts to outgrow my roots, that’s when there’s a problem.

When I study the olive tree allegory, the Lord of the vineyard seems the most concerned with two parts of His olive trees:

The roots

AND

the fruit.

“And this I do that, perhaps, the roots thereof may take strength because of their goodness; and because of the change of the branches, that the good may overcome the evil.” (Jacob 5:59) 

Sometimes, I’m so focused on producing “good fruit” that I forget it’s impossible to do so without strong roots.

And roots need constant nourishment.

Instead of just checking off my scripture study for the day, I try to really connect with God and feel the Spirit in order to nourish my soul.

I turn off the fun TV show and listen to a conference talk, really focusing on connecting with God.

I find meaning in my church service instead of just getting things done.

And it makes a world of a difference.

When I feel “exhausted”, I’m usually not taking care of my gospel roots. I’m usually only focusing on the “good fruit” that other people might see.

But when I start taking care of nourishing my “roots” a lot more, feeding them a steady stream of scripture, doctrine, and goodness, guess what starts to happen?

When my roots are strong, my “fruit” is naturally good, too.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Roots and branches  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

She sat her teenagers down and told them something new they would try:

She would be setting time limits on certain apps on their phones.

One child in particular expressed some unhappiness about this new limit.

So the mom said that she would set the same exact time limits on the same apps on HER phone that she was requiring for them.

They would all be in this new challenge together.

And she would take the lead. ⠀⁣⁣

She was then shocked the next day when her “time limit” alert came much sooner than she expected.

She didn’t realize how much she probably needed the time limits, too.⁣

What a beautiful example of a mother leading by example in her family.

She was then able to sympathize and work on her own habits, while setting an invaluable example for her teenagers. ⠀⁣⁣

Who partook of the fruit first in Lehi’s dream? ⁣

Lehi.⠀⁣⁣

This fruit “…was desirable above all other fruit.” (1 Nephi 8:12)

Lehi tasted of that happiness and joy first.

And THEN he desired that his family should partake of this same happiness.⁣

I think the order of this is so important.⁣

He tasted of this joyous fruit, STAYED by the tree, and beckoned his family members to come join him.

He didn’t tread through the mists of darkness, he didn’t search through the great and spacious building, he didn’t wade through the water.⁣

He didn’t look at the tree from afar, hoping everyone else could get there but not making his own journey his top priority.

He stayed by the tree as an example for his family members to follow.

And many of them did follow him!⁣

This is my passionate viewpoint for scripture study as well.⁣

Are WE studying and learning and growing from the scriptures, tasting of that fulfilling JOY that comes from the Book of Mormon, and then beckoning our family members to come join us?⁣

Or do we sometimes try to push our family members toward the scriptures and the tree while forgetting to stay by the sweet, pure, happy tree ourselves?⁣

“Let’s stay at the tree, partake of the love of God, and share it. By lifting the people around us, we ascend together.” – Sister Runia Oct 2023

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Phone Usage and Staying at the Tree  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

What does this account help me think about or do?

In other words…

What is the “fruit” of following this account?

I seriously think about this all the time!

There have been some accounts I’ve started following because they seem funny…

But then I notice they make me feel more judgmental or rude at the expense of others.

There have been some accounts that I’ve started following because they seem like they have positive messages…

But then I realize they have me focusing on things that don’t matter way too much, or spending more money than I need to.

It’s the fruit!

That’s how I judge “the tree”.

“He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:22)

Those thorns choke the goodness, and cause it to become unfruitful.

And on the flip side, I’ve followed so many amazing accounts that have helped me focus on becoming better, feeling connected, and laughing in uplifting ways!

“But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” (Matthew 13:23)

The goodness even compounds!

The fruit is good, and it helps other fruit to grow, too!

I’m not going to lie, it can be really tricky to always clearly discern what is worthy of our time and what is not.

Work. A fun TV show. Working out. Social media. Perfectionism. Hobbies. Hanging out.

An easy measuring stick for me has been:

Does it cause me to become fruitful or unfruitful in the gospel of Jesus Christ?

And then, the answer seems clear.

Ye shall know them by their fruits.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Fruits and thorns  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I’ve got my goals of what I want to do and the person I want to be, and even though I try, I’m just exhausted.

Other days, though, I’m on top of it! I’ve been the kind of person I want to be and accomplished my goals for the day.

In my recent efforts to have more of these “good days”, I realized that there were some small but significant differences between these types of days.

When I take every spare minute to nap or check social media, I feel exhausted!

But when I carve out specific times to study, read, rest, and relax, then I feel better AND I get more tasks finished.

The Lord of the Vineyard seemed to be most concerned with two parts of the olive trees: the roots and the fruit.

Sometimes, I’m so focused on producing “good fruit”, that I forget it’s impossible without strong roots.

Roots need constant nourishment.

When I’m exhausted, it’s because I’m trying so hard to make my outward appearance look like it should. I should be producing good fruit! Other people can see my fruit! Or, even if other people aren’t watching, I tend to judge myself by my own fruit.

And ironically, when I’m only worried about producing “good fruit”, I usually come up short!

But this has been a good reminder to me to stop worrying so much about the fruit…

…and focus on the nourishment of my roots.

This includes, of course, spiritual nourishment. Taking time to dive into the scriptures. Communing with my God in prayer. Listening to the words of the prophets.

But it also means whatever “nourishment” I personally need right now. Reading. Catching up with a friend. Eating some chocolate.

So, let’s try to focus on the roots. Let’s stop pushing and regulating ourselves into producing good fruit.

Instead, we can add constant nourishment to our roots. And when our roots are good, our fruit will naturally be good, too.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Roots and fruit first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.