The Lord noticed that when looking at these people, “every imagination of the thoughts of [their] heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5) 

They had evil intentions behind their wicked actions. 

The Lord knows everyone’s intentions. 

This is sometimes great to remember.

Like when I intend to do something good, but the messiness of life or just plain forgetfulness seems to block me from doing it. 

I get credit for having good intentions! 

This is just a comforting thought. 

The Lord can kindly remind me that I’m doing better than I think I am when I’m trying my best but falling short. 

But on the opposite end, God also knows when we do things with bad intentions. 

He knows if I said a rude comment ignorantly or purposefully. 

He knows if I didn’t go to church because it was too much for me to handle or because it wasn’t a real priority in my heart. 

He knows.

Our actions matter! 

But the thing that only God knows is the intentions behind our actions, for better or worse.

This can comfort me. 

And this can motivate me. 

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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

Wasn’t making me a more Christlike person at all.

I had a really poor attitude about this particular calling.

I mean, I actually performed my duties very well.

I was on the ball.

I probably looked like I was “fulfilling my calling” perfectly from the outside.

But on the inside?

I felt resentful, annoyed, and prideful.

Months went by.

At our next stake conference, someone gave a simple talk about serving with “real intent” in our hearts.

Mormon actually summed up this lesson when he said, “. . . except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing.” (Moroni 7:6)

As I listened to this random talk at a stake conference, I felt personally called out by the Spirit.

I knew that if I changed my attitude and tried to have real intent in my calling, I could be uplifted by it.

I worked really hard to have a change of heart.

My calling did not change—

In fact, I kept it for another year.

But it worked!

Slowly but surely, fulfilling my calling became a source of joy, connection, love, and overwhelming experiences with the Spirit.

It took hard work.

But switching from being resentful to trying to serve the Lord with “real intent” completely changed my outlook on service in the Church.

“When we recognize God’s hand in our calling and serve with all our hearts, additional power comes into our service, and we become true servants of Jesus Christ.” – Carl B. Cook

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post I was a grouch first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I’ve been trying to serve others more often, so the opportunity popped up and I quickly volunteered!

…And it ended up being super awkward with lots of miscommunication and clearly mismatched expectations.

I felt weird about it afterwards.

I had been so eager to serve, but the service had not turned out the way I had expected, and I didn’t feel it was appreciated.

I pondered on this for a while, because it really was disappointing for me.

And then the phrase came to my mind: “What matters most is what was in your heart.”

Had I wanted to serve? Did I show enthusiasm for service? Did I feel love for this individual?

Those were my desires.

And even though they got translated pretty weirdly, my desires were still good.

It’s a messy area to think about because people with good intentions make some pretty poor and sometimes even harmful choices all the time.

But I’ve been taught over and over that the Lord teaches me to love others, and to just do my best because He looks upon the heart.

The interesting part of this to me though, is that the flip side is also true.

I could perform the perfect act of service, but have a jealous, frustrated, angry heart.

All of a sudden, my desires would change to: “I just want to get this off my to-do list. She said she needs help, but I think she’s fine, so this is a waste of time. I’d rather be doing anything else right now.”

In a very dramatic example of this, the Lord taught in D&C 63:16 that if a man looketh upon a woman to lust after her and commits adultery IN THEIR HEART, then they lose the spirit’s presence.

No adulterous actions were taken, but the intent and desire was there. And the Lord looks on what’s in our heart.

What matters most is our desire.

Of course, doing good actions can often start to mold our desires to become even better, like begrudgingly showing up to do service and leaving with a softened heart.

My actions matter. 100%. I’m constantly trying to make sure that I am actually DOING good things.

But for the days where I’m trying, but feeling like I am just falling short over and over again, it’s good to have that reminder.

That at the end of the day, for better or for worse…

What matters most is what’s in our heart.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post What matters most first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

But I was still nervous.

It was my first time going into a real elementary school classroom as an assistant while I was earning my teaching degree.

Everyone kept saying that we should just jump in and help but… I still didn’t know what to do.

I spent way too long standing at the back of classrooms afraid that I would mess something up.

Years later, as I stood in front of 35 sixth graders and an assistant walked in to help me, it did not even cross my mind that my helper would “mess everything up”.

The Lord told Joseph, as Joseph was concerned about procuring the proper materials for the sacrament:

“It mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink when ye partake of the sacrament,

“if it so be that ye do it with an eye single to my glory—remembering unto the Father my body which was laid down for you, and my blood which was shed for the remission of your sins.” D&C 27:2

In other words, stop worrying about all those details.

Stop worrying about not understanding every aspect of that new calling you just received.

Stop worrying about that new position at work.

Stop worrying about getting all of the parenting techniques right.

And just get your heart in the right place.

That’s what the Lord wants when we take the sacrament, more than anything else.

Are we focused on Him?

Then the details will work themselves out.

Are we focused on serving our neighbors?

Are we focused on our technical strengths and learning quickly?

Are we focused on making sure our kids feel tons of love from us?

Then the details of that calling, that job promotion, and that tough parenting situation will work themselves out.

That doesn’t mean, of course, that we throw the details out of the window. We don’t use candy and soda for the sacrament every week for a good reason.

But when we let go of trying to get every single detail right, and instead focus on turning our hearts and desires to what matters the most…

That’s when our hearts start to change.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Letting go of the details first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.