I’ve been asked this question many times, and I know why it’s asked.

Because I think so many of us crave that kind of relationship with Jesus. ⁣

We all want more friends, right?!

And we all want to be friends with the one who knows us better than anyone else because He experienced it all. ⁣

But… how?⁣

My first answer is a question:⁣

Am I a good friend to the Lord?⁣

Do I only contact Him when I need something from Him?⁣

Do I want to learn everything about Him and what He’s done for me, or do I only want to talk about my life?⁣⁣

Do I think of Him often, in both casual and more serious times?⁣

When I’ve focused on becoming a better friend to Jesus, then I’ve discovered a powerful sense that He is my friend, too. ⁣

But my second answer is a bit more honest:⁣

I’m never going to be a “good enough” friend to my Savior. ⁣

At least not here on this earth.⁣

I’m going to forget about Him. I’m going to be selfish. I’m going to need to take a whole lot more than I give. ⁣

And yet… I still believe He is my friend. ⁣

“He lives, my kind, wise heav’nly Friend”. ⁣

“I will call you friends, for you are my friends”. (D&C 93:45⁣)

I can’t earn that friendship. ⁣

But I can still do what I can to discover my part in it. ⁣

He is already my friend. And your friend. And anyone’s friend. ⁣

It’s in those moments when I decide to reach out and build our relationship that I feel the friendship starting to grow. ⁣

When I treat my Savior as I would a friend, I gain the best, most forgiving, most reliable, kindest, most loving eternal friend that I could ever imagine.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post How to make Jesus your friend: first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

But I ended up just thinking a lot about Jesus. ⁣

Joseph and Sidney saw this vision, this glorious vision about… like, everything. Where did we come from. Why are we here. Where are we going. All the “big questions”.⁣

And yet, the very first thing they did while writing down the vision was to testify that they saw Jesus. ⁣

“And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!” (D&C 76:22)

They saw Him in vision. ⁣

They beheld His glory. ⁣

They saw the angels worshipping Him. ⁣

And then, Joseph and Sidney took time to officially bear their testimony of the Savior.

They bore a personal testimony that Jesus Christ, who was killed, lives today. ⁣

He is sitting right next to our Heavenly Father. ⁣

He created this world that we live on now, and He has created other worlds. ⁣

And after listing all these magnificent and powerful qualities of the Savior of the world?⁣

A sweet reminder that we are Children of God, too. ⁣

Joseph and Sidney then continued to record the rest of their vision that brought so much new understanding to the Plan of Happiness. ⁣

(Which also totally revolves around Jesus.)

But they felt compelled to accentuate their narration of the vision with their own personal feelings and knowledge about the Savior. ⁣

He is real. ⁣

He lives and has created so much. ⁣

And He also loves us personally. ⁣

And if it’s tough to really believe this still, then we can borrow from Joseph and Sidney’s powerful joint testimony. ⁣

I know that my Redeemer lives.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post It’s all about Jesus first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I don’t have a specific list of names (sorry), but in D&C 76:69, we get a beautiful description of who will be in the celestial kingdom:⁣

“These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus”.⁣

These are just men and women who have been made perfect through our Savior’s atoning sacrifice. ⁣

Did you catch those two elements there?⁣

People who are just, and people who rely on the Savior. ⁣

Elder Soares once taught that we need to:⁣

• have a testimony of Jesus,
• be baptized, ⁣
• and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. ⁣

For most people reading this, I’m going to bet that you can at least initially cross things off this list. ⁣

Here’s where the Savior steps in though.⁣

• Because we ALSO need to be washed clean of all our sins. ⁣

We need to be overcome by faith. ⁣

We need to be sealed by the holy spirit of promise. ⁣

These are much more lofty goals that will take a lifetime of striving, PLUS they are completely impossible without our Savior’s atoning sacrifice to even give us a fighting chance. ⁣

Once again, I’m learning that the Savior is at the center of it all. ⁣

So even though I originally thought these were TWO separate qualifications to enter the celestial kingdom:⁣

Those who are just AND those who are made perfect through Jesus. ⁣

It really is the same. ⁣

We need to be just, which ultimately means relying on our Savior in all things. ⁣

Our Savior is the way to the celestial kingdom.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Who makes it to the celestial kingdom? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Not because of how many people know me. ⁣

Not because of how many friends I have, or what calling I have, or how extroverted I am. ⁣

I am known because I am His. ⁣

I am understood. ⁣

Not because of how great a writer I am. ⁣

Not because I share my feelings often. ⁣

I am understood because I am His. ⁣

I am loved. ⁣

Not because I am righteous. ⁣

Not because I accomplish my to-do list, or I have a beautiful home, or my kids are well-behaved. ⁣

I am loved because I am His. ⁣

I am never lost. ⁣

Even when I feel all alone. ⁣

Even when I’m sure no one can understand the intricacies of what I feel. ⁣

Even when I distance myself from God due to my own choices. ⁣

Even when I walk in the room and I don’t know who to sit by. ⁣

I am never lost because I am His. ⁣

He knows me, and He knows exactly who I am. ⁣

He knows where I am physically. ⁣

But He also knows where I am mentally. Emotionally. Spiritually. ⁣

He knows when I’m drowning. When I’m overflowing. When I’m desperate. When I’m fulfilled. ⁣

He is in my midst. ⁣

He is in front of me, behind me, and all around. ⁣

Keeping me from dangers I’ll never know about, and softening the blows from the trials I face. ⁣

I’m never alone. ⁣

My Good Shepherd. My solid rock. ⁣

My redeemer. ⁣

My friend. ⁣

Jesus. ⁣

I am of infinite worth.⁣

Not because of anything I do, don’t do, think, or don’t think. ⁣

But because I am His. ⁣

“Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me” (D&C 50:41)

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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

My son yelled that at me last week as he jumped off a giant beanbag. ⁣

I was working on my computer but turned my head to watch the jump. ⁣

“Great job!” I said.

And then I turned back to my computer. ⁣

This happened about ten more times.

And then one time when he finished his jump, he said:

“Mommy, wait! Don’t look at your computer! Watch me the whole time!”⁣

And I felt a little sting. ⁣

He didn’t really care about my praise for his jump—

He just wanted my attention.

Which way do we face?

Where are we giving our best attention?

Jesus commands us to:

“Turn, all ye Gentiles, from your wicked ways.” (3 Nephi 30:2) 

He doesn’t want our entire bodies and souls facing toward someone or something else.

He doesn’t want us only turning our hearts to Him when it’s time for church, a prayer, or a lesson.

And then turning our head back to whatever we were doing before the “church stuff” interrupted.

Jesus wants us to fully turn away from the lesser things of the world and give Him our full attention.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post “Hey mom, watch this!” first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Here’s the thing:

Asking “What would Jesus do?” is a GREAT question to guide our lives as Christians.

Jesus even taught:

“Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.” (3 Nephi 27:27)

But… what do you do when you don’t know what Jesus would do in your exact situation?

The other day, my daughter did something that could potentially be dangerous.

I got on her level, calmly asked her to stop, and explained why she shouldn’t do that.

And then a minute later, she tried it again. ⁣

I told her to stop and she said, “No!”⁣

I picked her up and removed her from the dangerous situation.

When I placed her down, I said a little prayer in my heart, “What would Jesus do or say in this situation?”

Like, how exactly would Jesus react to a child who kept making a poor choice even if it looked fun to them? How would He react in the moment? How would He teach?

The quick answer that came to my mind wasn’t as clear as I wanted, but it still answered my question:

“You’ll learn. Just try your best right now.”

Life doesn’t always present scenarios where we choose to be either mean or nice.

Most of the time, there are shades of niceness and meanness and every other intent in between.

So how do we do what the Savior would do?

I think the key is to have the Spirit with us.

And then we just try to move forward the best we can with the information we have.

The Spirit can’t always tell us the exact answer in the moment.

(In fact, that would make things a bit too easy!)

But He can give us the next step to help us learn how to actually become more Christlike.

And what my daughter needs as a Christlike reaction might be very different than what another child needs.

I love that the Spirit is here to help us in the nitty gritty as we work through trial and error to figure out what Jesus would really do.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post What WOULD Jesus do?!  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Growing up, the attitude of many things from my vantage point in the Church was very black and white.

For example, R-rated movies = bad.

But I’ve loved this ongoing Restoration, this maturation of our understanding.

Less rules and checkboxes from the Church. ⁣

This is what my mind was immediately drawn to when reading about how Christ appeared to the Nephites. ⁣

He is telling the Nephites that the strict, prescriptive Law of Moses is gone. ⁣

“Therefore those things which were of old time, which were under the law, in me are all fulfilled. Old things are done away, and all things have become new.” (3 Nephi 12:46-47)

But here’s the important shift – ⁣

In place of these lower, specific commands and counsel, we are instead given a higher law to self-administer. ⁣

Instead of not killing, we shouldn’t even be angry. ⁣

Instead of not committing adultery, we shouldn’t even lust in our minds. ⁣

Instead of loving our neighbors, love our enemies too. ⁣

And that’s what we’ve seen as a religious people in recent years. ⁣

Instead of sitting and passively listening to a lesson for an extra hour at church, make your own plan and teach your family. ⁣

Instead of visiting your assigned sister every month, figure out what she actually needs and do it, whenever that may be.

Instead of avoiding R-rated movies, figure out how to avoid the evil influences of Satan in any way possible. ⁣

Jesus’s powerful invitations shared in His “Sermon on the Mount” and His sermon at the temple in Bountiful are beautiful reminders that restrictions being taken away isn’t a free pass – it’s a call to a higher way to live.

Because in reality, Jesus doesn’t want really good rule followers.

Jesus wants people who are ready to become better out of their own free will and choice.

He wants disciples that use their agency to seek after the kingdom of God above all else.

Jesus Himself knows the blessings, confidence, and access to priesthood power that come when we choose the higher and the holier way to live.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Higher and Holier  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

An event didn’t work out the way I was planning?

I think: How could I have improved the interaction and turn out?⁣

I didn’t get the job?

I think: How could I have presented myself and my experience better?⁣

My kid is developing a bad habit?

I think: How am I contributing to it and how can I help her stop?⁣

It’s honestly a really useful trait in my life that keeps me from playing the victim. ⁣

…But it gets a little tricky when it comes to trials and suffering. ⁣

(I heard once that all weaknesses are just the flip sides of our strengths, and I think it’s totally true!)

Sometimes I need to remember that life is messy, and hard things happen just because they happen. ⁣

Not everything needs to be or even can be solved. ⁣

“Not all the whirlwinds in life are of your own making. Some come because of the wrong choices of others, and some come just because this is mortality.” – Neil L. Anderson

King Limhi’s people were really good at recognizing when their problems were because of their iniquities. ⁣

“For if this people had not fallen into transgression the Lord would not have suffered that this great evil should come upon them.” (Mosiah 7:25)

I can relate! Sometimes I’m not feeling the Spirit and realize it’s because I’ve let some of the important little things slide. ⁣

Sometimes, we need to do better at acknowledging our suffering is because of our own poor choices. ⁣

But other times, we need to remember that all people, good and bad, throughout history have faced trials of all shapes and sizes, just because this is a fallen world filled with mortal people. ⁣

And the cool part is that no matter what causes our suffering – ourselves, people around us, or just circumstances…⁣

The answer is always the same!

Even when we can’t determine the cause— we aren’t sure if we caused it or if it just happened…

We can always turn to our Savior for relief and peace.

More Jesus is the answer, no matter the cause.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Did I cause this problem?  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Like, so powerful.

Here’s what he said:

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

“But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” (1 Peter 4:12-13)

Peter is very lovingly telling us to stop being so surprised when we have to deal with a big trial.

Stop thinking it is so strange that we have to endure tough stuff.

Stop being shocked that hard times keep coming our way.

What a cool perspective— because how often am I analyzing what “went wrong” to cause a trial in my life?

I have found so much peace when I’ve thought:

“This is exactly how it was supposed to go all along.”

It’s not strange— it is the plan.

And then Peter gives the sacred reminder of WHY we shouldn’t think it is strange when we have these trials:

When we suffer, we are experiencing just a small part of what Christ experienced.

It is Christlike to endure suffering.

But we don’t have to stay in the hard part, just like Jesus didn’t stay there either.

Christ was blessed with great glory for what He suffered.

Which means that we, too, will have a small part of that glory for the trials that we suffer.

This will result in exceeding joy!

Having a trial-free life isn’t the kind of life that disciples of Christ should seek.

We should expect tough times to find us.

To try us and refine us.

We don’t have to love the tough stuff.

But we will always be able to access His joy!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Your trials aren’t strange first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

“I really don’t want to go to church today.”⁣

“I should be kinder to my family members. I need to get my temper under control so there can be more peace at home.”⁣

All of these are little temptations we face each day. ⁣

And guess who faces temptation?⁣

ALL OF US. ⁣

I’ve noticed a pattern in other people that I also totally fall into:

We are pretty comfortable admitting mistakes we’ve already made.

Temptations we’ve faced in the past and how we’ve overcome.

But we have a hard time talking about our current temptations!

Our actual desires to do things wrong. ⁣

But we all are tempted.

In fact, often our “mistakes” or “weaknesses” come as a result of temptations we face.

Totally normal.

Satan doesn’t just stop tempting us because we’ve gotten “good enough”.

He’ll always put things in our path to try to make us lose focus, and sometimes, they work very well. ⁣

And I LOVE that Paul reminds us that we don’t have to defeat these temptations on our own. ⁣

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)

We don’t have to get the desire to read scriptures back BEFORE we call on Christ to get blessings. ⁣

Christ was tempted, too!⁣

He knows EXACTLY how it feels to have such strong desires to do things contrary to what we may know better. ⁣

And He can help us in those moments of temptation. ⁣

“Help! I’ve stopped even wanting to read my scriptures! Can you help me get that desire back?”⁣

That can be a little scary to admit sometimes.

Don’t we feel like we want to hide any unrighteous desires from God?⁣

But He knows them all.

He wants to help us. ⁣

And our Savior can do EXACTLY that.

He can help us in the moments that our desires are not what they should be.

He can help succor us in our temptations, if we let him and humble ourselves to ask for that help.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Tempted like Jesus first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.