We talk a lot about “holy places” – our homes, temples, sacred locations, meetinghouses. ⁣

I want to take a look at Stephen.

They can’t even mention him in the scriptures without talking about how “full of the spirit” he was.

He wasn’t an apostle – just a good guy who followed through on promptings and assignments. ⁣

The local government was getting a little nervous.

So they set up some false witnesses against him, and tried him before the council. ⁣

Here, in this government building, surrounded by people who were literally out to get his life, he delivered a beautiful sermon about how people have always doubted the prophets. ⁣

He told stories. He referred to scripture.

Stephen was so full of the Holy Spirit that he looked up.

And he saw Jesus Christ standing on the right hand of God the Father. ⁣

Did it matter where Stephen was? ⁣

No. ⁣

All that mattered was that Stephen was so full of the Holy Ghost. ⁣

Although I don’t want to diminish the power that comes from being in the temple or in a Spirit-filled home, we do not have to be in those locations to have life-changing spiritual experiences. ⁣

All that matters is that we are keeping ourselves filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁣

It’s not likely to always result in a visitation from the Father and the Son, but we can get what we need in that moment. ⁣

Stephen probably needed this vision to get him through the events that followed. ⁣

And we can receive light, knowledge, revelation, comfort and peace no matter where we are. ⁣

Driving in our car. At work. Making lunch for a toddler. Hanging out with a friend. ⁣

All we need for that deep connection is to invite the Spirit to always be with us.

And our loving Father in Heaven will give us what we need from there.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Holy places can be everywhere first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

He was firm and steadfast in staying with his armies at the top of the mountain.

He knew the only way Amalakiah would win was for Lehonti to move.

And so he refused to move.

He kept the high road.

But then… Amalakiah realized Lehonti was going to need to meet him halfway.

(Figuratively and literally.)

Lehonti agreed to come halfway down the mountain to meet with Amalickiah, struck up a deal, and soon after, Lehonti had been poisoned by degrees, and Amalakiah was in charge of the entire army.

What’s urging you to come just halfway down the mountain right now?

What might be poisoning you in small degrees?

What’s taking you even one step away from the top of the mountain?

You know what mountains are often symbols for throughout scripture?

Temples.

And this is our answer.

The Lord taught saints living thousands of years later this same lesson:

“Stand ye in holy places, and BE NOT MOVED.” D&C 87:8

Don’t come down the mountain for anything.

Not any Facebook argument, not any TV show, not any friend, not any pleasure.

Stay in the holy places (and the cool thing is, we can CREATE places that are holy), and then don’t come down the mountain.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Stand ye in holy places first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Not being moved.

Elder Holland so eloquently taught:

“It is inevitable that after heavenly moments in our lives, we, of necessity, return to earth, so to speak, where sometimes less-than-ideal circumstances again face us.”

Holy moments are precious.

Sometimes they are big and notable.

But more and more often lately, they’ve been really small and mighty.

A quick prayer offered in a time of need met with immediate assistance.

Glancing at my kids’ faces during a particularly difficult moment and seeing their divine potential.

Pondering that leads to life-changing realizations.

Writing my gratitudes down and seeing how obvious the Hand of God is in my life.

I do all that I can to stand in holy places throughout the day. To create holy moments.

And then… a kid starts crying.

And I get a headache.

And someone asks me if I’ve finished that project yet.

And the dishes need to be done for the millionth time.

And I have an awkward moment with someone I meet.

And all of a sudden, I’m down, off the mount.

Back to real life and all the weird, lame, uncomfortable, frustrating moments.

To stay in a holy place all the time seems impossible.

But I at least have the desire to experience holy moments all of the time.

And… God actually tells us that He will bless us for our desires, as we strive to do so.

So even when the world is in chaos around me after I come down off the mount of my holy moment, my desire to keep holiness with me can be strong enough to carry that feeling in my heart.

Because even though I am moving from the holy place…

My desires are not moving.

My intentions are not moving.

My Savior is not moving.

That is what can stay constant. My desire to be good. Even if I’m on a roller coaster of what my actions look like, my desires of my heart keep me tethered to Christ.

I can stand in holy places as often as I can, and my thoughts and righteous desires can never be moved.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Standing and then moving first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.