I remember one day in middle school when I was hanging out with my friends at someone’s house.

It was the first time someone had asked me this question, and I was excited to answer!

I felt like I had been preparing for this my entire life.

I decided to launch into an explanation about the Plan of Salvation, and I even remember drawing out the whole diagram with arrows, earth life, and ending with the three kingdoms of glory. ⁣

That moment was so powerful in my mind because I was totally on my own, having to explain my beliefs. I was proud of what I did.⁣

But I also realized that what I was explaining wasn’t having the impact that I wanted. ⁣

I could tell I had lost their attention and their interest. (I’ve always been a very self-evaluative person.)⁣

Should I have started with Joseph Smith instead? Or maybe the Book of Mormon? ⁣

This dilemma stuck in my mind for a long time. I wanted to find the right thing to start these conversations with, so that other people would really “get” our religion without me launching into obscure concepts right off the bat.

And then, years later, I saw the opening lesson in the Preach My Gospel manual. ⁣

It is a lesson on the First Vision, yes, but the first concept that is taught is: ⁣

“God is our loving Heavenly Father.”⁣

That felt so right to me. That’s where I should begin.⁣

And then I made the connection…⁣

What’s that first Article of Faith I had learned all those years ago?⁣

“We believe in God, the Eternal Father…” ⁣

We believe in God, and we know that God loves us.⁣

That statement was much more simple than the answer I thought I had been looking for. ⁣

But that statement is also so much more powerful. ⁣

Do you believe in God?⁣

And do you believe that God is a loving, eternal, Heavenly Father?⁣

What a blessing that is to believe!⁣

And I’ve found that when I share that joy with others, I am able to give them the quickest glimpse into what truly matters to me.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post  What do Mormons believe? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I don’t know if that’s 100% true, but I do know that when I study, truly STUDY, my scriptures every single day consistently, I know more about the gospel.

I’m able to teach better.

I receive inspiration more easily.

I feel like I’m showing my Heavenly Father and my Savior that I’m willing to put the work in to learn. ⁣

I feel comfort and peace in response to my complicated questions.

The people in Berea were ready to actually receive the gospel from Paul and Silas because they SEARCHED the scriptures DAILY. ⁣

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and asearched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

So how can we search and study the scriptures even better?

I like to take a little inventory of my current scripture study-related STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES.

Whether it is consistency, time spent studying, allowing time to reflect, finding life lessons, seeking inspiration, memorizing stories and references, teaching others about the scriptures…⁣

The gospel is all about STRIVING to be better!⁣

How can we be just a little better with our scripture study today?

Not tomorrow.

Not when I have the time.

Not once I meet this deadline. ⁣

What can I do today to make my scripture study bless my life even more, and be ready to receive God’s word?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post How can I improve my scripture study? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

“None of us should be defined only by the worst thing we have ever done.” – Kevin R. Duncan

Other than not fully understanding Christ’s atoning power in our lives, this becomes a problem because we view ourselves as an imposter of some kind. ⁣

“If only they knew…”⁣

“I’m different than everyone else…”

Which leads us to separate ourselves even more from our family, friends, and ward members!

And to separate ourselves from Jesus Christ.

And then why do we sometimes do this to others?⁣

We happen to know of a big sin they committed, and we silently judge them as we see their social media pictures, because they were “that one kid in high school who…”⁣

We know of a difficult life circumstance they had to endure, and we thoughtlessly label them as “that girl who had to return early from her mission…” or “the divorced guy…”

I like to think of Paul. ⁣

Did anyone else just get EXHAUSTED reading about all his traveling and preaching?!

This missionary was on fire!⁣

And then, he gives a beautiful farewell speech to his brethren in Acts 20:18-35.

(I highly recommend you reread that speech again.)⁣

He talks about serving the Lord boldly. ⁣

He talks about never coveting what other men have. ⁣

He talks about being led by the Holy Ghost to preach of Christ. ⁣

And then his brethren weep, fall on him, and kiss him because they do not want him to go away. ⁣

And Paul emotionally closes:

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24)

Does this sound like Paul is thinking about his not-so-shiny days as the Pharisee, stoning Christians to death?

Does this sound like his friends still remember the terrible things Paul did to them and possibly loved ones?⁣

Nope. ⁣

Christ’s atoning power is real.

We don’t need to keep thinking we aren’t as good as anyone else.

We don’t need to keep thinking we have other people “figured out”.

Because of Jesus, everyone gets to change if they want to.

Our eternal potential is unlimited!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Paul didn’t let his past define him first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I honestly didn’t even knowing what that calling meant when my husband and I were first extended the call.

Honestly, it seemed like a small calling. We had just barely moved into the ward so no one knew who we were, and I figured they just put everyone new as a ward missionary.

Pretty soon, the ward mission leader contacted us and asked us to come to a bi-weekly meeting with the missionaries, and then we’d all split up and go on visits to people in our ward.

I was pretty good at attending the meeting sand going on visits for the first little bit, and then there started to be a lot of excuses from me.

I was teaching full time, and crazy busy, and so there was always something else to do.

I remember thinking, “Ah, I know I’m not fulfilling my calling the best that I can right now, but if I got a different bigger calling, I would do better.”

(Ugh, I don’t always love telling personal stories from when I was more spiritually immature. But still, that’s what I thought.)

I did eventually come to the realization that I was never going to magically “do better” if I had more to do!

Heavenly Father wanted me to serve the best that I could, no matter the calling.

Pretty much as soon as I recommitted to my calling, I received a new one.

Do we sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that we will be better in the eternities?

That once we have received a large reward, THEN we will follow through on all our responsibilities?

But really the Lord is asking us to show that we can be faithful with just a few things first.

Read: not perfect, but FAITHFUL.

Are we filled with faith and trying to do our best to lead our families? (Even though we make a million mistakes)

Do we keep trying to renew our personal faith through daily habits that draw us closer to the Lord?

Do we try to contribute to our neighborhoods, our wards, our communities in positive and uplifting ways?

That’s where our focus should be right now.

Prove our faithfulness in small and simple ways each day.

“Wake up and do something more than dream of your mansions above!”

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Just a ward missionary first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.