We had a stake conference a few years ago that blew my mind. ⁣

The evening adult session was all about missionary work— but with a completely new perspective that has stuck with me for a while. ⁣

One speaker kept coming back to this point:⁣

We aren’t the ones converting people to the gospel. ⁣

There are so many prophesies and so many scriptures that are similar to what we find in D&C 135:7:⁣

“The religion of Jesus Christ… will touch the hearts of honest men among all nations”. ⁣

There are SO MANY people out there who have willing and honest hearts, who the Spirit is working with to mold and prepare. ⁣

They are ready to hear and receive. ⁣

They are ready to completely change their lives and make eternal covenants with God. ⁣

We have such a small but important role in this entire process (because it’s really mostly between that individual and God).⁣

We need to be examples, make friends, show love, and then extend simple but powerful invitations, as prompted by the Spirit. ⁣

That’s it. ⁣

We just need to introduce as many people as we can to what truth and godly power really mean, and the Spirit will take care of the rest— quickly carrying it unto the hearts of those who have already been prepared. ⁣

Missionary work isn’t about tons of pressure to be the perfect example, inviting to the exact right event, and then teaching every aspect of the gospel. ⁣

Isn’t that refreshing?⁣

That’s how I’ve felt ever since I heard that message. ⁣

I don’t have to do it all. No one has to do it all. ⁣

We don’t even have to do that much. ⁣

The Gathering of Israel is going to happen, and the hearts of God’s children are being prepared throughout the world. ⁣

And all we’ve been asked to do is to love and invite, so that the Spirit can do what He does best: ⁣

Convert.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post No need to convert  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

We read in Esther 8:16 “The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.” (Esther 8:16)

What great qualities, right?!

Light. Gladness. Joy. Honor.

Do you feel any of those in your life right now?

The Jews certainly did. They were a happy and blessed people, and they showed that outwardly.

But guess what happened because of all this light and joy they were showing?

In that next verse, we learn, “And many of the people of the land became Jews”. (Esther 8:17)

Isn’t that cool?

Other people saw the light and joy that the Jews had, and it made them want to join in their faith.

This makes me wonder about my worshiping.

I really do feel a level of joy and peace in my heart, no matter what is happening around me.

But do I show the light, gladness, and joy that I feel from living gospel principles with others?

Do I let my light shine, or am I accidentally hiding it, wanting to fit in with the sadness, fear, and weight in the rest of the world?

Do I take the easier way out of just agreeing with the assumptions that I must be exhausted, frustrated, or scared?

Or am I brave enough to show that I feel peace and happiness right now, in this stage of life, and in this state of the world?

When we show the joy that we really feel, others can’t help but want to join in, too.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Brave enough to feel happy first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

We had a stake conference probably two years ago that blew my mind.

The evening adult session was all about missionary work— but with a completely new perspective that has stuck with me for a while.

One speaker kept coming back to this point:

We aren’t the ones converting people to the gospel.

There are so many prophesies and so many scriptures that are similar to what we find in D&C 135:7:

“The religion of Jesus Christ… will touch the hearts of honest men among all nations”.

There are SO MANY people out there who have willing and honest hearts, who the Spirit is working with to mold and prepare.

They are ready to hear and receive.

They are ready to completely change their lives and make eternal covenants with God.

We have such a small but important role in this entire process (because it’s really mostly between that individual and God).

We need to be examples, make friends, show love, and then extend simple but powerful invitations, as prompted by the Spirit.

That’s it.

We just need to introduce as many people as we can to what truth and godly power really mean, and the Spirit will take care of the rest— quickly carrying it unto the hearts of those who have already been prepared.

Missionary work isn’t about tons of pressure to be the perfect example, inviting to the exact right event, and then teaching every aspect of the gospel.

Isn’t that refreshing?

That’s how I’ve felt ever since I heard that message.

I don’t have to do it all. No one has to do it all.

We don’t even have to do that much.

The Gathering of Israel is going to happen, and the hearts of God’s children are being prepared throughout the world.

And all we’ve been asked to do is to love and invite, so that the Spirit can do what He does best:

Convert.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The best missionary is the Spirit first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I mean, I’m a teacher by profession, but something about sitting in a small room with a small group of youth for almost an hour seemed intimidating to me.

I looked online and found the best resources. I printed things out. I found good discussion questions.

I used all my knowledge of how to engage and educate.

And the lesson went well! I don’t remember the topic I taught about, but I totally remember that it was great! I was spiritually uplifted, the youth seemed engaged, and everything went smoothly.

The next week that I had to teach, I saw that my topic was “scripture study”, and I got so excited!

THIS was a topic I was passionate about.

I had prayed and studied for a long time about how to improve my scripture study.

I felt like I had so much life experience to share, and real, practical advice.

I wanted to search online for resources again, but I decided this time to just create something from what I knew.

I wrote down a basic outline, and my mind kept running.

When I taught that lesson, it was mostly just me talking. I shared stories and experiences and I asked questions to the youth.

And it was POWERFUL.

Not just a “good lesson” – it was transformative. I had sincere gratitude shown by many of the class members at the end of the lesson. And I still remember it to this day.

Do you wanna know one of the reasons I started Come Follow Me Study over 2 years ago?

Because when I searched for “Come, Follow Me” resources, I only found ways to teach your kids about the lessons, or how to teach a church lesson on the topic.

And I have gained such a strong testimony that we have to learn for ourselves first.

In fact, I think that’s the best way to teach – to share what we have learned from the heart. From real life experiences. From real struggles and testimonies and tests.

Authenticity.

This is not a knock at lesson-helps – I actually have tried and currently use many that I love. They totally have their place, and I am so grateful for those who use their talents in that area.

But… are we TOO concerned about how to teach a topic? How to give a good talk? How to keep our class engaged?

Or is our focus on how WE can gain a better understanding of a concept?

And I think that’s the point the Lord wanted to share with Hyrum Smith in Section 11.

The Lord knew Hyrum wanted to get out there and preach the word as a missionary.

But Hyrum needed to obtain it first. He needed to learn of the doctrine and keep the commandments all by himself before he could go out converting others.

Obtaining first is better than declaring first.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Obtaining the word first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Do you have a desire to bring others closer to Christ?

Then congratulations on your mission call! 

When I was almost 21, I made the very serious decision to not serve a mission for the church.

I had just met a cute guy named Kyle, things were going well, but I still felt like I wanted to serve a mission.

I asked Heavenly Father over and over in prayer to point me in the right direction, and I finally heard a weighty answer: “You can decide. Whatever you want to do.”

I realized that I was going to have to make this decision and own it.

After a lot of deliberation, I solemnly but excitedly decided to forgo the mission.

I made Kyle promise me that we would serve a mission someday as a couple, because I didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity to serve.

Now, I still totally want to serve a full-time mission when I’m older, but I’m also realizing that I kind of missed the point.

If we have desires to serve God, then we are called to the work! (D&C 4:3)

Desires = mission call.

Instead of packing up my entire life and moving across the world though, I get the crazy, scary, exciting, agency-packed honor of picking my mission call.

Each of us with a desire to serve gets to create exactly how and when we serve!

Maybe you have created your own custom mission call to lift up those who are having hard times around you.

Maybe you have created your own custom mission call to spread light to your coworkers every day.

Maybe your call is to teach the rising generation of the church how to eat their vegetables and share toys and use the toilet.

Maybe your call is to organize service activities with precision and enthusiasm.

Maybe your call is to work on strengthening your own testimony for a bit before you have the opportunity to share it with other people.

The possibilities are endless, and constantly evolving, and extremely personal.

So what does your mission call look like today?

How can you help build the kingdom?

How can you help gather scattered Israel?

What’s your custom mission call?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post You are assigned to labor first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I think everyone has wondered on this question at some point. ⁣

There are SO many people on the earth that still don’t know who Jesus Christ is.

And there are even fewer who see him as the Savior.

And there are even fewer who have actually been exposed to the full blessings of the gospel, with its saving ordinances.

But Christ answered this question, too. ⁣

In between his crucifixion and his resurrection, Christ was teaching the people who had already passed away in the spirit world. ⁣

He was with our glorious Mother Eve, Father Adam, and the faithful daughters and sons from throughout the generations.

And he was showing them how to preach the gospel to those who had not received it on earth. To those who had heard it and rejected it. To everyone.

What a merciful plan! ⁣

EVERYONE will get a chance to hear and accept the true gospel. ⁣

“The dead who repent will be redeemed.”

It’s a continuation of the perfect messages from Easter Week:

We are NEVER too far away for his redeeming love.

AND those who know the truth that our Savior is our redeemer, share that knowledge.

*I recommend reading D&C 138 sometime today to read President Joseph F. Smith’s miraculous revelation.*

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The Spirit World – SATURDAY first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.