I was doing great: reading the scriptures each day, praying, serving in callings, not really fighting with my siblings… ⁣

It was great to sit in an interview and feel really great about what I was doing. ⁣

And then, my bishop wisely asked me what I was working on to try and improve in my life right now. ⁣

I naively responded, “Nothing right now!” ⁣

Oh, to have that confidence that I had then.

Living “the gospel” was simple in my mind, and I was checking all the boxes I had in front of me. ⁣

This makes me think of the wise saying in Proverbs 1:22. ⁣

“How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?” ⁣(Proverbs 1:22)

Now I totally have compassion on younger Cali, and subsequent life lessons were given to me that very much highlighted the unending plethora of things in my life that needed to be improved. ⁣

The gospel really is simple. ⁣

But that doesn’t mean that the gospel is lived simply. ⁣

Loving God and loving others is a whole lot of work. ⁣

A lot of discomfort. ⁣

A lot of trial and error. ⁣

A lot of repentance and change, over and over. ⁣

I am ALL FOR simplification…⁣

In most areas. ⁣

How long will we long for a gospel that is more simple to actually accomplish?⁣

Or is it time to embrace the all-in, complicated, sometimes messy, but oh-so-fulfilling gospel of Jesus Christ?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Not too simple first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

“Now, after the people had all offered up thanks after this manner, they returned to their homes, never speaking of their God again until they had assembled themselves together again to the holy stand, to offer up thanks after their manner.” (Alma 31:23)

They may have thought:

A religion that takes over your whole life?!

Let’s just worry about it one day a week and forget about it for the rest. ⁣

Prayer that requires thought, mental devotion, and faith?!

Let’s just write a script so it’s easier.

⁣Worship that means becoming introspective, emotionally mature, and honest with ourselves?!

Let’s make that look a little cooler with a fun tower so everyone can see when we are being righteous!

But even today, where pretty much everything is more convenient than it was 2,000 years ago, we know that religion, at its core, is not meant to be convenient.

⁣Loving people is hard work. ⁣

Serving people is hard work. ⁣

Forgiving people is hard work. ⁣

There are no shortcuts. ⁣

And that’s the point.⁣

We are supposed to serve when it’s inconvenient, love when it’s difficult, and forgive when it stretches our souls.

That what our Savior has modeled for us, and that’s where change happens.

And as much as I like being comfortable, I want to be able to change over and over again.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post That looks like hard work  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.