Jarom prophesied.

Jarom received revelations.

He may have even had an amazing conversion story, gave a powerful sermon, or had a unique life story.

And yet, when it was his turn to write on the plates, Jarom wrote:

“It must needs be that I write a little; but I shall not write the things of my prophesying, nor of my revelations. For what could I write more than my fathers have written?”(Jarom 1:2)

Now, really, I don’t want to pass judgment on Jarom. It’s possible that he was asked to only write a little. And clearly God made it work with whatever Jarom did or didn’t do.

But his question of “What could I write more than my fathers have written?” Is so intriguing to me!

Where am I selling myself short?

Do I think other people have more important things to say than I do?

And does believing that others are better than I am limit what I do?

I matter!

I know that Jesus loves me and cares about my experiences.

I don’t think He would want me NOT to talk about something cool I learned in the scriptures just because someone else had said something like it before.

I don’t think He would want me to stay silent when I feel I should bear my testimony just because I have nothing unique to say.

I don’t think He would want me to not teach my children the gospel because I don’t feel I know it well enough.

“Our clumsy efforts can lead to miracles.” – Elder Vern P. Stanfill

I wonder what Jarom could have shared if we got to learn more about his life, his prophecies, his difficult moments, his conversion, his joy…

Jarom didn’t think he could add anything that Nephi and Jacob hadn’t already said.

But I believe we’ve all got something.

We might not realize it, but our unique little experiences and perspectives matter.

And when we share them with others, it might be exactly the thing that connects with their soul, too!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post We’ve all got something to share  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Have you ever felt like it wasn’t enough?

That your contribution isn’t important or interesting enough?

That someone else is doing a better job at it than you are?

Jarom was asked to record the sacred revelations from his lifetime. He wrote: 

“I shall not write the things of my prophesying, nor of my revelations.

“For what could I write more than my fathers have written?”

Jarom had prophecies and revelations. I’m sure he gave great sermons. I’m sure he had a beautiful conversion story or a powerful prayer or some other unique experience. 

But he felt that his predecessors had already written better things. Their experiences were more worthwhile.

I don’t want to pass judgment on Jarom.

But it does make me wonder. What did we miss out on?

What story could I be diving into and marking up as much as the verses from Nephi or Enos? 

And it makes me reflect – where am I selling myself short? 

Other people are doing a better job at being a mom.

Other people are better writers than I am.

Other people are better at serving selflessly.

Other people are more creative than I am. 

But… I matter.

My experiences make me unique. My part on this earth matters.

So I will keep being a mom in the best way that I know how. I will keep writing to the best of my abilities. I will keep trying to serve more. I will create in my own way.

Because I matter. And what I do matters. And I will not sell my experiences short.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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