It’s so relatable— thinking our shortcomings disqualify us from the work. ⁣

And Enoch felt that his poor command of language disqualified him. ⁣

But did you catch what change had happened by the next chapter?⁣

It’s SO COOL. ⁣

Enoch is now leading righteous people as enemies come to battle against them. ⁣

Enoch is causing the earth to tremble with his great faith. ⁣

And the nations of the earth fear Enoch. ⁣

Why?⁣

“So powerful was the WORD of Enoch, and so great was the power of the LANGUAGE which God had given him.” (Moses 7:13) ⁣

Where’s Mr. “slow of speech” now?!⁣

He’s using such powerful language and words that he is able to control elements, display mighty faith, and gather righteous people together. ⁣

His weakness became his strength. ⁣

But we can’t skip over that last part of the verse, because Enoch’s weakness didn’t become his strength just because he wanted it to. ⁣

“… which God had given him.”⁣

The lesson of Enoch’s story isn’t that if we work hard enough, we can turn our weaknesses into strengths. ⁣

Instead, this is a lesson that God can do anything. ⁣

He needed Enoch to be mighty in speech and in language, and so he worked a mighty miracle to grow this faithful man’s talents. ⁣

But Moses also felt that he was slow in speech, and God directed him to Aaron instead of changing Moses’ abilities. ⁣

Even thinking of latter-day prophets, there have been some who have been powerful orators, and others who seem less comfortable at the pulpit. ⁣

It’s an interesting lesson to internalize— we don’t all get blessed with the same gifts just because we want them, even if they are for a righteous purpose. ⁣

Why? ⁣

It’s up to God. ⁣

Maybe we will have the chance to grow our weakness into a strength. ⁣

Maybe our weakness will stay our weakness. ⁣

Maybe we will use our strength to complement others’ weaknesses. ⁣

Maybe we will learn to rely on others more. ⁣

God can give us anything! ⁣

And sometimes that takes a lot of trust to believe that He knows what we need more than we know.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Mr. Slow of Speech first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Which means our levels of “forgiveness” and “patience” are probably a little lower than usual. ⁣

So looking at this list about “successful marriages and families” just stressed me out at first.

“Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.” – The Family: A Proclamation to the World ⁣

But families are the best place to see each other’s weaknesses and strengths, right?⁣

We see our kids’ best qualities and their absolute worst moments. ⁣

We see our spouse at their absolute best and their weakest. ⁣

And we show our most awesome versions of ourselves, and we make our biggest mistakes. ⁣

Which means that together as a family unit, we are gonna have times when we are totally on it, and other times when we have completely fallen off the wagon. ⁣

Like, way off the wagon. ⁣

Here’s what I’m doing this week, and I encourage you to join me. ⁣

When looking at that statement from the Proclamation, what is the ONE thing that stands out the most to you as an area your family is doing pretty well?⁣

Give yourself credit for the good things I know you are doing. ⁣

And what is the ONE thing that stands out to you as the area your family can work on improving right now?⁣

You could even ask your kids what they think, too.

Maybe you want to get back into the habit of praying with your spouse. ⁣

Maybe you want to get your family involved in working together more. ⁣

Maybe you need to stop all the to-do lists and just have more fun together. ⁣

Maybe you need to repent from a bad habit all your family members know about, and so you decide to talk to your family about how you are trying to change and want their support. ⁣

Getting overwhelmed with everything your family is “failing” at is about as helpful as getting overwhelmed with all of your weaknesses at the same time. ⁣

One step at a time is the best way to walk.

“Every effort to change we make—no matter how tiny it seems to us—just might make the biggest difference in our lives.” – Michael A. Dunn

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Too much to fix  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I saw a meme recently that said being an adult is basically saying that phrase over and over each week. ⁣

I had to laugh, because I know for sure that I’ve said that sentence countless times. ⁣

And do things ever “die down”?!⁣

Not really. I mean, maybe a bit. But there’s always “something new” coming up. ⁣

It’s life. ⁣

And I’ve actually found a lot more joy and acceptance when I lean into that chaos a bit! ⁣

Instead of always waiting for things to “calm down”, I find that life is actually pretty good when I accept that there’s always going to be “something”. ⁣⁣

There will always be a big event or deadline or life change or serious decision looming. ⁣

And it’s all good!⁣

The 13th Article of Faith is so good, but one of my favorite lines is tucked away in the middle of it:⁣

“We have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things.”⁣

Isn’t that awesome?!⁣

NOT: “We have endured many things and hope that things will calm down and we will actually get blessings pretty soon here”.⁣

But instead, embracing the fact that the future is going to be filled with more things to endure!⁣

We aren’t looking for rest and calm in this life. That isn’t our doctrine. ⁣

Our doctrine is that we are ready to endure. ⁣

We’ve done it in the past, we are ready to do it some more in the future, and we have hope that we can handle it through relying on Christ.

So is this week looking crazy for you?⁣

Ready for things to die down a bit?⁣

After December, honestly, maybe they will for a while! ⁣

But we are Latter-day Saints who have endured many things, and sure hope to be able to endure all things that will come our way in the future. ⁣

We’ve got this.

“To completely avoid the problems, challenges, and difficulties of this world would be to sidestep the process that is truly necessary for mortality to work.” – Brook P. Hales

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post After this week, things won’t be so crazy!  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

That’s what I used to think this scripture was referring to:⁣

“Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.” (D&C 130:18⁣)

Learn as much as you possibly can from school and classes so that you can still be super smart in the next life, too. ⁣

As if you aren’t going to be able to learn anything new in the next life. ⁣

But that doesn’t make sense, because I sure hope I learn tons more after I leave this life!⁣

So what could this mean?⁣

What about emotional intelligence?⁣

Social intelligence?⁣

Spiritual intelligence? ⁣

There are so many different kinds of intelligences. ⁣

I think the Lord is telling us to become well-rounded people. ⁣

To grow in any area we can. ⁣

To figure out how to handle our emotions and not get so angry and reactive. ⁣

To figure out how to make friends and reach out to others in ways that connect. ⁣

To recognize when the Spirit is prompting us and when prayers have been answered.

To learn about new subjects that are interesting to us and keep us engaged. ⁣

To master the right tone while you sing, to get the perfect bake on the cake, to improve your mile time, to finish that difficult project…⁣

Gaining intelligence in any area is encouraged! ⁣

And won’t that make the next life so much more amazing?!⁣

An expanse of people who used their time on earth to grow in so many different ways!⁣

And then can you imagine meeting people from other dispensations and exchanging knowledge? ⁣

I have absolutely no clue what things will be like, but I imagine something beautiful like this. ⁣

Knowing things is always better than not knowing things. ⁣

But we also don’t have to know it all. (Because I have no clue how to get a perfect bake on a cake.)⁣

But I believe that any effort we make to improve any area of intelligence will be worth it because it helps us become more like Him.

“Some of your most important learning will be outside of the classroom.” – Mary N. Cook

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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

I loved watching her try to follow what her dance teacher did each class.

Even during their dance recital at the end of the year, her teacher was off to the side of the stage doing all the moves so that the kids could copy her.

Over the next few years, watching things “click” for her was so fun.

She was so excited to attend class each week.

She learned trickier and trickier dance moves.

She started to memorize entire dances with ease.

I wasn’t necessarily shocked and amazed at what she was doing from week to week…

But when I stepped back and looked at how she improved over the course of a few years, the growth was dramatic!

The Lord taught:

“He that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.” (D&C 50:24)

At the beginning of our spiritual journey, we have light – but only a little.

We mostly just follow the examples we see around us.

As we excitedly “show up” week after week in our gospel study and practice, we gather and receive more and more light.

It can be hard to see improvement when we look at our limited perspective.

But when we take a step back, we can see the light of Jesus Christ growing brighter and brighter in our lives every day.

And today, all it takes is doing something small to receive more spiritual light.

How will you add more light to your life today?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Just add light first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I quickly change into stretchy, cozy yoga pants.

I love being comfortable.

I heard someone say once that the biggest struggle of our day will be people getting too accustomed to being “comfortable.”

And I agree, cuz that’s my problem.

Compared to previous generations, we are able to make our lives so comfortable and easy.

And every day it seems like new inventions and services make life even easier and more comfortable.

I know that my Heavenly Father is a God of comfort.

I’ve gone to Him in desperate prayer when I have felt overwhelmed, sad, or unimportant, and He has always comforted me.

But… Heavenly Father is also a God of improvement.

He wants me to change and become better than I was yesterday.

And I know I won’t become more like my Savior by staying comfortable.

When speaking to Joseph, the Lord first comforted him, as He does so well:

“Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that at this time your sins are forgiven you.”

And then the Lord encouraged Joseph to grow:

“. . . but remember to sin no more, lest perils shall come upon you.” (D&C 29:3)

I’ve learned that the Lord will give us comfort exactly when we need it.

And He will also push us to grow exactly when we need, too.

Whether it’s with how we are partaking the sacrament, how we are saying our prayers, or how we are worshiping in the temple…

The Lord is the perfect comforter AND teacher.

“To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain.” – Richard G. Scott

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Stretchy yoga pants  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Most modern inventions and advancements make life easier and more comfortable for everyone.

Handwashing all my laundry and riding horses everywhere sure seems like a lot of work.

I mean even just camping in cabins last week, I was reminded how easy my life is on a daily basis.

So what does this mean about my sins?

I’ve noticed that most of the sins and bad habits in my life are the ones that keep me feeling comfortable.

Even though this means they stop my growth.

So if I’m asked to repent and change, that can be a little scary.

Because that means I’m being asked to give up comfort.

I often have to step aside from a lifestyle that’s a little more comfortable and instead choose to do more work.

We might have to stay away from the tempting “comforts” of not needing to help others, keeping 100% of our income, or doing whatever we want on the Sabbath.

And yet, we are invited to, “. . .fear not, and lay aside every sin, which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction, yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments.” (Alma 7:15)

We are invited to not have fear.

Jesus asks us to grow instead of being so focused on comfort.

It can be scary to give up a “comfortable” life, but it doesn’t have to be.

Because on the other side of that mortal “comfort” is pure love, joy, and true rest with our Savior.

“To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain.” —Richard G. Scott

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post My comfortable life first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

“They forsook all, and followed him.” (Luke 5:11)

I believe Peter walked away from comfort.

From a predictable life.

From being focused on himself.

From being worried about what others thought.

“I am learning that Heavenly Father is more interested in my growth as a disciple of Jesus Christ than He is with my comfort.” — Michelle D. Craig

Sometimes I get stuck thinking “My goal is to be able to get all this stuff done so that I can relax!”

And I keep getting taught the lesson that this isn’t how life works.

I mean, relaxing is great and totally 100% necessary along the way.

But God isn’t hoping that I’ll finally finish my to-do list so that I can have more free time to catch up on shows.

He wants me to become better!

He wants me more refined. He wants me serving. He wants me loving. He wants me mourning and comforting and overcoming.

And those emotions… feel like a lot of work sometimes.

But the Lord loves effort, right?

So what will we be willing to forsake?

Are we willing to be uncomfortable? To step outside our comfort zones? To truly love? To develop our gifts?

In a gradual process, we can start to “forsake” having the ultimate goal of COMFORT.

And instead, we can allow Jesus to lead us to His ideal goal: GROWTH.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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

You are surrounded by little people all day, and yet you can feel pretty lonely.

I have felt this, a lot.

I’ve also had other solitary moments in my life where I may have looked fine, or been surrounded by friends, but I still felt all alone.

Have you felt like this before? Or maybe, do you feel it right now?

Attending school, being given certain callings… these things can lead us to feel like we are in a solitary, draining place.

And honestly, it’s hard to feel like I can give service when I’m feeling drained and alone.

I don’t feel like getting out there and being proactive and doing things.

But the Savior is real.

He can take my solitary place and give it the nutrition that it needs.

To give it the light that it needs to still grow, even if it’s all alone.

To recognize that even when I feel completely drained, the Savior makes it possible for me to still give.

And not just give, but to be overflowing with ABUNDANCE.

“Therefore, will I not make solitary places to bud and to blossom, and to bring forth in abundance? saith the Lord.” D&C 117:7

He sees you in your lonely place.

But he doesn’t want you to stay there.

He wants to see you blossom and bring forth abundance, even when it seems impossible.

Because honestly, impossible is what Jesus does.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Abundance from Nothing first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

… I like being comfortable.

I like making others feel comfortable, both physically and emotionally.

Comfort isn’t bad!

In fact, I’ve learned that my Heavenly Father is a God of comfort.

I’ve gone to Him when I’ve struggled or felt completely “less than”.

And He has just comforted me.

Comfort is beautiful and necessary.

But… God is also a God of improvement.

He wants me to change.

To be better than I was yesterday. To overcome that temptation even faster. To love my neighbors more.

To get outside my comfort zone.

Because I’m sure not going to become more like my Savior by staying comfortable.

This is what I see God capture so perfectly time and time again.

When speaking to Joseph, the Lord taught:

“Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that at this time your sins are forgiven you, therefore ye receive these things;

“but remember to sin no more, lest perils shall come upon you.” D&C 29:3

Comfort. And then the encouragement to grow.

I feel many of these feelings when I partake of the sacrament each week.

A perfect mixture of comfort for what I’ve done right, and a push to improve and leave my sins behind.

Sometimes, I think I want comfort as I kneel down to pray. But instead I feel promptings for how I can step up my spiritual connection.

And other times I feel desperate for guidance, and instead I feel overwhelming love and comfort.

Both are important.

We can look for both from our perfectly loving Heavenly Father.

Comfort. And growth.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Comfort and growth first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.