To me, they were the most important people in the highest leadership positions in the Church.

But over many years of studying their lives, learning the doctrine, and having my own experiences with service, I have had a change in perspective.

All the logistical stuff that comes with their calling is just a small part of their role.

I now view them as fifteen men called to serve and bear testimony of Jesus Christ with the entire world as their responsibility.

And they willingly agreed to do so.

As we learn in the parable of the wheat and tares, “. . . the field was the world, and the apostles were the sowers of the seed.” (D&C 86:2)

The apostles sow the seeds.

With every new place they travel to and every new talk they research and deliver, they are planting seeds of goodness to the best of their abilities.

The apostles don’t point us to how awesome they are.

Instead, they point us straight to Jesus Christ.

I want to know, what have you heard from an apostle recently that “sowed a good seed” in your life?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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

How could you make the biggest impact for good on others that you possibly can? ⁣

It’s gotta be something big right?!⁣

A big event. ⁣

An elaborate service project⁣

A huge social media account. ⁣

Greatest good = tons of people, right?⁣

I want to flip the question a bit. ⁣

What things have made the biggest impact in YOUR life?⁣

Who has inspired you to live the gospel with integrity, and how did they inspire you?⁣

Who has taught you how to be kinder and more loving, and how did they teach it?⁣

For me, the answers to those questions are not big. ⁣

At least, they don’t look big. ⁣

They look like a text message sent at exactly the right moment. ⁣

They look like a leader who always lived the gospel with integrity.⁣

They look like someone teaching a lesson that they probably never got thanked for, but one phrase completely changed me. ⁣

Doing the greatest good seems to not look like large, grandiose gestures. ⁣

Doing the greatest good looks an awful lot like becoming a Christlike person who tries to do the little things that He would do. ⁣

So what’s the greatest good you could be doing right now?

It probably looks a lot like unthanked and overlooked service, love, and integrity that we will never fully see the impact of.

“And in doing these things thou wilt do the greatest good unto thy fellow beings.” (D&C 81:4)

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Greatest good  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Growing up, we are taught about the right thing to do and the wrong thing to do. ⁣

That’s what I’m teaching my little kids right now. ⁣

But somewhere along the way, I realized life is a whole lot messier than that. ⁣

There really is a spectrum of how we choose to respond to different situations.

Whether or not we serve others, worship in the temple, or choose to be a good spouse are complicated concepts that depend on lots of little choices.

Like… there are a lot of options for every single little thing. ⁣

In D&C 29:35, the Lord teaches: ⁣

“Behold, I gave unto him that he should be an agent unto himself” (meaning Adam).⁣

Agency is the power that we have to become whoever we want to be. ⁣

In the million degrees of every aspect of life, we get to choose and work toward where we want to be. ⁣

How service-oriented, how kind, how educated, how devoted to a calling, how temple-loving, how patient…⁣

We get to choose. ⁣

Not so much in a “big picture” kind of way (because I would totally choose to be awesome at every single one of those and more!)⁣

But in the day-to-day interactions. ⁣

How much am I going to push, to get outside my comfort zone, to decide to become a little bit better person instead of staying as who I am?⁣

That’s the real test of agency. ⁣

I can only imagine our Heavenly Parents watching us and seeing opportunity after opportunity pass by, and then cheering when we decide to move a step forward that day. ⁣

We aren’t going to reach the “best” in every area⁣.

But we can decide to use our agency to move that needle forward just a tick every single day. ⁣

Agency is so important to our Heavenly Father that He allows so many people to use it terribly each and every day. ⁣

It is so so so important that we all choose exactly who we want to be. ⁣

So who am I choosing to be today? Where are my priorities and my heart? ⁣

Do I like the person I’m choosing to be?⁣

Because agency gives me the power to become whoever I’d like to become. ⁣

And… I think I’d like to become just like my Savior.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Are you good or bad? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

My husband and I recently celebrated 10 years of marriage.

It’s so fun to look back at how we first met.

There were so many things that “just happened” to work out.

There were conversations I “randomly” had with people that gave me advice I needed.

Looking back, it all worked out perfectly and for our good!

But I also remember navigating those unknown dating waters, and wishing that I could just magically know that it would all come together in the right way.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

So what if we could enjoy the joy and peace of “hindsight” right now?

What if, when trials and hard times come, we trust that we will be looking back one day fully understanding why we needed to travel that path?

I’ve tried this now many times in my life as I’ve navigated other huge decisions.

Jobs, kids, friends, moving…

I do my best.

I rely on the Spirit as much as I can.

And then I just trust that things will all work together for my good!

In fact, I am optimistically certain that this is the case— and it’s a fun way to live!

My goal is to live with this perspective, without having to wait until things really work together for my good in order to believe it.

God’s in control.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post All things work together for our good first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Questions were flying everywhere!

“Well, does it count if I text them one month, as long as I see them in person the next month?”

“What if my person only wants to talk on the phone?”

“Ugh, I’m so confused on what ‘counts’ as a visit now!”

Isn’t life sometimes easier when someone tells you exactly what to do?

Although the strict rules that the Pharisees followed may seem like a burden…

These rules were likely comforting to them.

They just memorized the rules, checked all the boxes, and that was it!

They were officially good people because they checked all the boxes.

But Jesus was trying to teach them a higher and more sincere way of living the gospel.

He shared the same message that my sweet Relief Society president was trying to teach the women in our class that Sunday morning.

The Savior, speaking about the Sabbath day as an example, said:

“Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.” (Matthew 12:12)

My exasperated Relief Society president echoed the same message that morning: “Just do good things! Everything counts! Stop thinking so much about it!”

Just do good things!

Stop stressing about all the rules!

Whether it’s worrying about if an activity is appropriate for the Sabbath day,

Or if something “counts” as service,

Or if that was okay for scripture study for the day,

Turning to the Savior’s simple advice can help us stay focused on what matters most.

Just do good things!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Just do good things!  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

It’s been a lot.

It’s hard every time to get the news that someone has passed on.

No matter how expected or unexpected, no matter how young or how old, no matter what they still had ahead of them or what they had already accomplished.

It’s hard to see someone pass on from this life.

And we’ve also had this unique experience to be able to see patterns throughout all of the services we’ve attended.

Each service has brought moments where I’ve cried. Where I’ve mourned things lost.

And each service has brought moments where I’ve felt the Spirit, filled with peace and hope for the future.

I’ve found peace and comfort in recognizing both parts.

And in recognizing how the Savior makes it all possible.

He rose from the grave so that the dark nights can turn into mornings.

“From sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day”. (Esther 9:22)

Life doesn’t end here.

Good days are coming.

Reunions and eternal life are ahead.

All thanks to Jesus Christ.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Good days are coming first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

But I’ve also got even more things to be grateful and joyful about!

I see this dichotomy going on inside myself:

So grateful for this chance to bring a third baby into the world when so many who long for this never get the opportunity.

Excited to have a little girl join our family who I know will add more dimension and joy.

Happy that my body has been able to stay fairly healthy thus far and that I’m still able to handle the bare necessities of my other responsibilities.

And then contrast all those feelings with…

Utter exhaustion. Having a shorter amount of patience with my two kids. Frustration that I’m not able to do everything I want to do. Pain. So much physical pain right now. Panic that I have so much to do before she comes. Fear that I’m not going to be able to handle three kids once she does come.

Just the other day, I sat down, exhausted, with my kids climbing all over me. One was asking for snacks, the other was crying for some reason I couldn’t figure out, they both ended up fighting over a toy, and then someone stubbed their toe and became inconsolable.

“Why?!” I pleaded in my mind, not specifically aimed at God, but I guess aimed at God.

“Why can’t you just give me a break? I need it so desperately! You know that!”

I had a cool answer come to my mind that made me laugh and not take the situation so seriously— it was EXACTLY what I needed to reframe my situation.

But I don’t think I’m alone in these two general feelings.

Sometimes, I’m like Joseph of Egypt, who could clearly see his trials for what they were:

“God meant it unto good”. (Genesis 50:20)

And other days, I’m more like Joseph’s brothers who blamed God for every poor circumstance they found themselves in:

“What is this that God hath done unto us?” (Genesis 42:28)

I think I’m going to give myself grace for the days that I feel like Joseph’s brothers.

I’m gonna pray a lot more, because boy, does God like to answer prayers in exactly the way I need them answered.

And I hope I can get better at sticking with Joseph of Egypt’s humble mindset.

It’s all for my good!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post All for my good first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

As a pianist, I have felt the Spirit so many times while playing completely secular pieces of music.

I’ve felt the Spirit while watching a dance recital.

I’ve felt the Spirit while watching a TV show that isn’t about anything religious.

I’ve felt the Spirit while looking at flowers, while reading a book, while driving by new homes that are almost finished.

In my life, feeling the Holy Spirit has not been contained to just when I’m at church or reading my scriptures.

There is so much good in the world that isn’t obviously tied to religious purposes.

But I see the good in accomplishment.

In learning a new skill.

In watching someone try their best.

In feeling the potential of what is to come.

In happiness and joy, devoid of vulgarness.

In viewing carefully crafted creations.

Virtuous, lovely, of good report, praiseworthy.

We can seek after these things!

We can pursue talents, and gifts, and skills, and knowledge!

Good things aren’t contained to my church.

(Although there are so so so many good things within my church.)

But my loving God has given the world so much that goodness is overflowing everywhere.

What is something (not necessarily church-related) virtuous, lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy that you’ve been seeking out lately?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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

That takes a whole lot of faith to believe.

Not everything that I have to deal with is good.

Some things are lame, some are frustrating, and some are just heartbreaking.

There is sad and tired and confused and bored.

Not all of it is good.

But, do I believe that it actually all works together for my good?

Honestly… why not believe that?!

What a fun idea, really.

All the lame and disappointing and frustrating is actually for my good.

For my development.

For my glorious future. 

Fear not, the Lord is on my side.

Life’s hills, no matter how steep, seem a little more manageable because I know how this all ends.

Spoiler alert!

This all is going to be okay.

Not even just okay, but it will make me good.

It doesn’t take away the sad and the tedious and the frustrating.

But it doesn’t add to it either.

It’s a little lighter of a burden to bear.

I continue doing my part the best I can.

I search the scriptures and other fountains of doctrine diligently.

I pray as often as I can.

And I believe in Jesus Christ and believe what He has promised me.

And I won’t just randomly have things go my way.

No, the orchestrater of the universe has promised me that all things will actually work for my good.

So I’ll keep my faith.

“This is rough, but this is working for my good. I’m going to be okay in the end.”

Happy Studying!

–Cali Black

The post It’s all for my good first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

It looked really cute, and I sat there for a while watching along with her.

I pretty quickly realized I didn’t like the attitude and rudeness in the show.

There weren’t bad words or taboo topics, but it wasn’t the general vibe that I’d like to see my daughter watch or emulate.

I’ve realized throughout my years of teaching and interacting with teens, and now as a parent, a truth that can be kind of scary to embrace at first.

I can’t block every bad influence out of my daughter’s life.

I can’t weed out all the tares.

Whew.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that I don’t try to create a safe haven environment in my home.

We turned off the TV show, and in the future I know we’ll have discussions about internet and phone usage…

But at the end of the day, I can’t control every single thing my daughter will ever be exposed to.

I’m going to get rid of as many tares as I can, but I can’t root them all out.

“Pluck not up the tares while the blade is yet tender (for verily your faith is weak), lest you destroy the wheat also.” D&C 86:6

But as scary as this realization can be, Elder L. Tom Perry taught a sweet but powerful reminder:

“A steward managing the field must, with all his or her power, nourish that which is good and make it so strong and beautiful the tares will have no appeal either to the eye or the ear.”

How do I deal with the fact that I can’t get rid of all the tares right now?

I can nourish the good.

I can grow the wheat so strong and beautiful that the tares lose their appeal.

I can teach about the tares to take away shame or fear.

And I can prove through the way I live my life that sticking with the strong wheat is the way to go.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Wheat and tares first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.