We studied a lot about her at the beginning of the year, and we sang her praises for her faith and humility. ⁣

I imagine Mary was the most amazing and righteous mother to raise up a young Jesus in the truth. ⁣

I imagine her pangs of sadness when He left home. ⁣

I imagine the pride and joy that filled her heart every time rumors of what Jesus was doing got back to her. ⁣

I’m sure Christ came and visited and ministered to her many times. ⁣

Most people agree that her husband Joseph had passed away.

I imagine her unbearable sadness at losing such a righteous man that stayed with her, even when social custom forbid it.

I imagine Jesus comforting her during those times. ⁣

And then, after all she had been through, there He was.

Her perfect, righteous son of divine origin.

Hanging on a cross. ⁣

I can’t even begin to think of the emotions she felt, ranging from faith-filled hope to pure devastation. ⁣

And then I imagine Christ’s emotions while being exhausted and in pain, and seeing His mother. ⁣

Oh man. ⁣

With all the power that He holds, I’m sure it was difficult to hold back and finish His mission in that moment. ⁣

But instead of reaching out and performing a miracle on His own…

He asked His beloved disciple John to take her in. ⁣

“Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother!” (John 19:27)

We are told that often, Heavenly Father answers prayers and meets our needs through the people around us. ⁣

This is a beautiful example of Christ wanting to bless and save His mother, but, knowing that He couldn’t physically do that, delegating her well-being and care to a trusted friend. ⁣

Have we been given people to look out for?

Have we been told, “Behold, thy new friend”?⁣

When we serve and care for each other, we are doing literally what the Savior would do if He could intervene in all of our lives and serve us personally. ⁣

It was a sacred calling for John to be asked to look after Mary. ⁣

And we are given sacred callings all of the time (formally or informally) to look after people around us too. ⁣

So let’s take care of Jesus’s loved ones with as much sincere concern and charity as we can.

For Him.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Behold, thy friend! first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Questions were flying everywhere!

“Well, does it count if I text them one month, as long as I see them in person the next month?”

“What if my person only wants to talk on the phone?”

“Ugh, I’m so confused on what ‘counts’ as a visit now!”

Isn’t life sometimes easier when someone tells you exactly what to do?

Although the strict rules that the Pharisees followed may seem like a burden…

These rules were likely comforting to them.

They just memorized the rules, checked all the boxes, and that was it!

They were officially good people because they checked all the boxes.

But Jesus was trying to teach them a higher and more sincere way of living the gospel.

He shared the same message that my sweet Relief Society president was trying to teach the women in our class that Sunday morning.

The Savior, speaking about the Sabbath day as an example, said:

“Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.” (Matthew 12:12)

My exasperated Relief Society president echoed the same message that morning: “Just do good things! Everything counts! Stop thinking so much about it!”

Just do good things!

Stop stressing about all the rules!

Whether it’s worrying about if an activity is appropriate for the Sabbath day,

Or if something “counts” as service,

Or if that was okay for scripture study for the day,

Turning to the Savior’s simple advice can help us stay focused on what matters most.

Just do good things!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Just do good things!  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

No one likes feeling like a project.

We all want to matter to other people in real ways, which makes fake friendships or an obvious “project-status” especially harmful.

Before your mind starts to fill with anger or resentment toward others as you remember past grievances, I encourage you to use the “Lord, is it I?” mindset.

Do we sometimes treat others just like an assignment?

Do we avoid the vulnerability of “real” for the comfort of “safe”?

Jesus Christ, of course, taught the perfect example of this.

First, he instructed the Nephites that if someone isn’t worthy, they should not be partaking of the sacrament anymore.

(A command that always seemed harsh to me until I realized that “being damned” is less about a curse from an ruthless God and instead a natural consequence of stopping our own progression.)

But then, Jesus tells his disciples to never cast out those who have become unworthy.

Instead?

“Ye shall minister unto him and shall pray for him”. (3 Nephi 18:30)

So how do we accomplish this without making someone feel like a project?

This is something I’ve been working on for a while – developing and showing true, authentic love.

And something that I’ve only been able to do by seeing beautiful examples from other women that I look up to. What they’ve taught me?

Listen much more than we talk.

Most people just want someone to connect with, and connection comes through conversation and shared experiences.

And when I listen to a sister who has lived a very different path than I have, and I listen and pray and listen some more…

I am filled with the true love of God towards them.

Some people aren’t ready to open up and talk yet, which means finding small ways to show them I care and remember them.

But at the end of the day, we all crave true connection.

So I challenge you to reflect today: How can I become more authentic in my relationships with others?

How can I show love, no matter what they choose to do?

Happy Studying!

– Cali Black

The post More than a project first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.