That’s how I feel after every General Conference. ⁣

I was never really into sports, but I imagine this is what it feels like after getting a big pep talk and running out onto the field. ⁣

I’m ready to go. I feel clarity on the changes I need to make. ⁣

I’m ready to refocus on my goal of God and Jesus and eternal life, and do whatever it takes to get there. ⁣

And then I run out, and the opposition starts. ⁣

The distractions are everywhere. ⁣

My poor habit routines fall back into place despite my good intentions. ⁣

There are people to deal with and work with and contention everywhere. ⁣

But that’s where the real work happens. ⁣

It is hard sometimes. ⁣

It brings joy, but it still takes work. ⁣

So I don’t give up. ⁣

I have a rough few minutes and then I get back up, brush myself off, and try again. ⁣

Keeping the focus on the Savior. ⁣

Looking toward the real endgame. The ultimate goal. ⁣

Do I have faith that if I keep my focus on Jesus, then I will ultimately win, no matter what?⁣

That takes a lot of faith, and trust. ⁣

And then it just takes a lot of action. ⁣

The Lord taught: “Therefore, gird up thy loins for the work.” (D&C 112:7⁣)

Get ready, this is going to be a lot of work. ⁣

But it’s going to be so joyful. So rewarding. ⁣

So peaceful.

And the work is worth it all to get closer to my God.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Post-conference pep talk  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

So when I connect that love of singing to the gospel, I can’t help but connect with what Alma asks about our hearts. ⁣

“If ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?” (Alma 5:26)

Are our hearts taking advantage of the opportunity we have every single day to sing the song of redeeming love?⁣

Or are we giving it up for some lesser options? ⁣

Sometimes, I catch myself just humming. ⁣

Here I am, surrounded by miraculous stories, Spirit-filled experiences, God’s word, and a prophet of God. ⁣

And I’m just kind of humming along.

Remembering to read my scriptures here and there, trying to feel the Spirit sometimes… still in tune, but not fully participating. ⁣

And other times, I realize I’ve started mouthing the words. ⁣

Going through the motions.

Keeping up appearances.

But not having much substance behind what I’m doing, and taking no joy from it. ⁣

And yet other times, I realize that I don’t know what notes I’m supposed to sing. ⁣

The responsibility is mine to create opportunities to feel the Spirit, and I’ve dropped the ball.

I haven’t prepared my heart in the way that I know I should. ⁣

And then, other times, I get to SING. ⁣

I get to sing out.

I sing the right notes. I create harmony with those around me who are also doing their best. I keep my eyes on the Director, who knows the big picture. ⁣

That is pure joy.⁣

Singing with a full heart and a full voice. ⁣

So when was the last time we fully sang out? ⁣

Has it been a while since we felt that joy of being “all in” with our mightily changed hearts?⁣

And if it’s been a while, what changes can we make to feel that JOY of singing the song of redeeming love again?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Singing, humming, or mouthing? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

And then some good news comes:

The people from Zarahemla have arrived to save you!

Can you imagine the joy?

Your “saviors” had come!

The miracle you had been praying for had arrived!

This is exactly what King Limhi’s people experienced.

But King Limhi wanted to correct his people.

He taught them that the people from Zarahelma, while helpful, were not their literal saviors.

He reminded them where their actual trust should be:

“Therefore, lift up your heads, and rejoice, and put your trust in God.” (Mosiah 7:19)

When we trust in earthly results, we will miss out on the true joy that comes from focusing on the Savior.

If we are just waiting to feel joy until a rescue party comes from Zarahemla

Or waiting for a difficult trial to end

Our waiting for our health to change

Or waiting for that event

Or waiting for our kid to master potty training…

Then we are putting our trust in the result a little bit higher than our trust in God.

The people from Zarahemla were not the ones who saved Limhi’s people—

God saved them.

We don’t have to wait for the solution before we display our ultimate trust in God, and realize that a higher happiness and peace can be experienced right now.

Our joy and happiness can be found now when we put our trust in God!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Jesus is the true Savior first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

With a 6, 4, and 1 year old, this also means that I’ve had to deal with infants and toddlers and all the chaos that comes from trying to get little kids to sit still for an hour, all by myself.

I’m really really really good at feeling sorry for myself.

In fact, despite AMAZING ward members, friends, and teens coming to sit by me to help with the kids, for a long time I would always shed at least a tear or two thinking about just how dang hard this is.

Other people would talk about the amazing Spirit they felt in sacrament meeting, or how they are improving their worship during the sacrament.

And I’d always laugh.

“We are just in survival mode. I’m not going to enjoy sacrament meetings right now.”

You know how sometimes you just need some tough love?

I finally got the tough love I needed from the Lord about a year ago as I sat, feeling very sorry for myself.

“Stop thinking you have it worse than everyone else. ⁣And start focusing on why you are here.

“You can still find joy.”

Woah.

Exactly what I needed.

Joy. ⁣

It is not the absence of hard things.

It is focusing on the Savior, even when enduring hard things. ⁣

I’ve learned since then that I can handle kids during sacrament meeting and be miserable OR I can handle kids and still feel pure joy. ⁣

“My dear brothers and sisters, the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.” – Russell M. Nelson

Come to my ward any Sunday, and you’ll still see me with some kids who really struggle in a quiet church environment (along with so many others who are willing to help).

But you’ll also see me feeling joy and praise and worship in the moments where I am able to.

It’s so tempting to want to wait for a future time to feel JOY.

But I have learned over and over that God doesn’t want us to delay joy.

And He’s so willing to help us figure out how to endure AND feel joy if we are willing to ask.

“Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.” (2 Nephi 2:25)

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Sitting all alone first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Please, do not sign me up for that.

But that is what the women in Lehi and Ishmael’s families had to endure as they trekked away from Jerusalem.

I want to compare two different verses about this same difficulty.

Here is what Nephi (and I would assume the God-focused wives of the group) said:

“And so great were the blessings of the Lord upon us, that while we did live upon raw meat in the wilderness, our women did give plenty of suck for their children, and were strong, yea, even like unto the men; and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings.” (1 Nephi 17:2)

And here is what Nephi’s brothers (and I would assume their wives) said:

“We have wandered in the wilderness for these many years; and our women have toiled, being big with child; and they have borne children in the wilderness and suffered all things, save it were death; and it would have been better that they had died before they came out of Jerusalem than to have suffered these afflictions.” (1 Nephi 17:20)

Everyone is asked to endure hard things.

But the afflictions are much easier to bear when we look for the blessings we receive within the trial.

The Lord was still pouring blessings upon them in their difficult time, but only some stopped to look for the Lord’s hand.

What’s your “Laman and Lemuel” version of the difficult things you’ve had to endure in your life?

What are the complaints that honestly can seem pretty reasonable?

But I think this is the big difference between non-believers and believers:

We, as disciples of our Savior, know that when we humble our hearts, we can start to see the hand of God guiding, protecting, and preserving us along the way.

The “stuff” to endure is still there.

But our effort to look for the blessings from the Lord makes all the difference for our inner peace during the trials.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Two different perspectives 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.

One of the sisters asked me, “What really brings you joy?” ⁣

It took me off-guard more than I expected. ⁣

I couldn’t quite narrow it down to just one answer.

Plus, I wasn’t feeling much joy at the moment.

Paul taught:

“Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.” (2 Corinthians 7:4)

But I wasn’t finding a lot of joy in my tribulation.

I stumbled out an answer to our missionaries and then one of them shared something that totally changed my perspective.

She basically said:

“I find joy in being creative!

“Yes, I love to paint and draw.

“But I also love creating happiness!

“God is so creative, and I find joy when I create with Him!”

We ended up having a beautiful conversation about the connection between joy and creation.

Something totally clicked in my mind.

I have joy when I create a life for myself where I can feel the Spirit and become more Christlike. ⁣

I have joy in my life when I create a marriage and home where we keep the commandments, show love, and have fun!

I have joy when I create breathtaking music that transcends any emotions words can capture. ⁣

I have joy when I create beautiful, strong friendships. ⁣

And ultimately, I have joy when I am going through difficult trials, and yet I still create moments of happiness and peace with my Savior. ⁣

“We can feel joy regardless of what is happening- or not happening- in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him.” -Russell M. Nelson

When we create, I believe we find joy because we partner with Heavenly Father to bring goodness into existence.

So, what brings you joy?

What are you able to create?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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

Stephen knows a thing or two about sacrifice.

He is known as the first martyr following Jesus’s resurrection. ⁣

He sacrificed his life because he would not move from what he believed. ⁣

So what have you had to sacrifice?

Friends?

A certain lifestyle?

Family?

Money?

Time?

Energy? ⁣

It’s a sacrifice to be “all in” with this gospel.

Sometimes we get a nice groove going, where we are focused on the fun and joy.

And other times we are painfully aware of what we are sacrificing. ⁣

But here’s where I think Stephen teaches us a valuable lesson. ⁣

His last words were:

“Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.”⁣ (Acts 7:60)

Stephen sacrificed with a spirit of forgiving and love. ⁣

We are all sacrificing…

But HOW are we sacrificing?⁣

Is it with resentment?

It is longing for things we are missing?

Is it self-pitying or self-righteous?⁣

Or do we GLADLY sacrifice? ⁣

Out of love for the Lord and for those around us.

Not holding resentment for anyone.

Maybe even forgiving others for forcing us down paths that require a lot of sacrifice. ⁣

“The more I cheerfully respond to difficult circumstances with faith in the Lord, the more I grow in my discipleship.” —Elder Isaac K. Morrison

I want to follow noble Stephen’s lead in taking whatever comes my way, joyfully sacrificing whatever needs to be sacrificed out of love for God, and freely forgiving those who force the sacrifice upon me.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post How do you sacrifice with joy like Stephen?  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Every few months, I have a crazy work week where I need to use every single spare minute working.

And that includes sacrificing a lot of sleep.

Last week was one of those weeks.

I usually dread them.

But last week, I tried something different.

I tried intentionally inviting Jesus’ “rest” into my life at the same exact time that I was getting very little physical rest.

And it was…

Life-changing.

I got all my work done, as I usually do during that crazy week.

But I felt calm. I found more creative ways than usual to get work done. My kids napped more often. My husband was able to support me even more than usual.

I felt… peace.

The work wasn’t gone.

But I felt this joy and relief that came WHILE I was still working and staying up late.

I knew we would be studying this scripture this week, so I kept focusing on it, each time learning something new:

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Do you labor?

Are you heavy laden with burdens?

Then learn of Jesus.

Read His teachings. Immerse yourself in the scriptures. Remember Him as constantly as your mortal mind can handle.

Now, a crazy work week is more of a trivial example.

I’ve had many more times in my life where the burdens have felt like too much, and I had no guarantee that they’d be over in a week.

Some are still going on right now.

But my little case study last week has given me greater resolve:

Jesus won’t always take away our burdens.

But He will give us relief. He will give us peace and joy in unexpected ways.

He can give us rest.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Finding rest, even with no sleep first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

“Blessed are the peacemakers”. (Matthew 5:9)

Be kind!

Share!

Be a peacemaker!

Buuuuut… “Lord, is it I?”

There is probably a more “spiritually mature” way that I could work on becoming a peacemaker, too.

In my home, yes, but also every sphere that I interact with!

Here are some ideas I’ve thought of:

– Fulfilling your church calling without adding any drama⁣

– Serving your spouse in a way they would appreciate ⁣

– Not posting things on social media with the sole purpose of riling people up⁣

– Reaching out to serve someone in a way that will add peace to their life

– Not passing gossip or dramatic stories on when they aren’t your stories to share

– Choosing not to complain to or guilt trip someone

– Making time a priority for your own quiet “peaceful” time to reset yourself or study the gospel ⁣

– Learning new parenting strategies and applying them to help you in interactions with kids⁣

– Following guidelines at work or at school that help others to also be peaceful and successful

– Allowing others to make decisions you disagree with⁣

I did hear once that “being a peacemaker is different than just agreeing with everyone”.

And I like that.

We can still have our opinions, needs, boundaries, and standards while also being a source of peace.

Or rather… while pointing people to the real source of peace.

The Prince of Peace.

The more Jesus that I experience in my life, the greater peace I feel.

And the greater peace that I feel on the inside, the more likely I am to be able to spread that with the people around me.

Everyone’s looking for peace.

Peace on earth.

And if we can’t make everyone see that there is peace in Christ, we can at least find our own peace.

And then become a peacemaker to share a bit of that calm joy with others.

Blessed are the peacemakers.

How are you a peacemaker?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Blessed are the peacemakers  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.