They love rolling out the different colored play-dohs, pressing them into molds, and folding them into “tacos”. ⁣

Things tend to get pretty messy.

Despite their best efforts to clean up, a few hours after they play with play-doh, I inevitably find little “tacos” that fell underneath the table.

The pieces are a little crusty around the edges, but I usually try to squish them back into a container. ⁣

But after repeating this too many times, the play-doh becomes hardened to the point that I have to throw it away. ⁣

It doesn’t usually happen all at once. It’s a gradual process, becoming just a little more difficult to mold each time. ⁣

Whereas the play-doh that’s been put away nicely each time is still perfectly moldable. ⁣

It might be a silly analogy, but to me it’s the perfect representation of how our hearts and desires can change over time. ⁣

We are all little balls of clay that are being exposed to the harsh air of mortality –

We’re naturally going to start to harden around the edges if we aren’t put away in a secure container. ⁣

We are given two choices: ⁣

Repent.

Or become hardened. ⁣

“Therefore, whosoever repenteth, and hardeneth not his heart, he shall have claim on mercy through mine Only Begotten Son, unto a remission of his sins; and these shall enter into my rest.” (Alma 12:34)

When we keep repenting and changing, we allow those little rough bits to be picked out. ⁣

We show that we are willing to continue being molded into something better than the “taco” we might harden into.

(I know, tacos are fantastic. But we can become even better than tacos, imagine that!)

So what are we doing to prevent our hearts from naturally hardening? ⁣

Exposing our minds to harsh worldly entertainment, constant debates on social media, or rude attitudes will eventually keep us from being molded as easily. ⁣

And the key to preventing this?⁣

Constant repentance. CONSTANT repentance. ⁣

Constantly changing and constantly being molded into something new at the hands of our Savior.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Play-doh tacos first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Purple play-doh plates, yellow balls of play-doh food, and giant globs of play-doh apple juice that my son insisted everyone sip.

They love play-doh.

Probably because it can become any kind of toy that they want it to be.

Play-doh does whatever my kids want it to do.

“We are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” (Isaiah 64:8)

Did anyone else catch the big theme of having WILLING hearts this past weekend in general conference?!

One of the scariest moments of my life was when I felt a strong prompting, confirmed in the temple, and confirmed over and over in other small ways, to quit my job.

I told Heavenly Father how much I loved my job.

But I also started to feel this willingness to do as He invited.

Slowly, I stopped telling Him how much I loved my job and instead told Him I would do what He would ask me to do to become the person only He knew I could be.

It was still scary to quit my job.

But I was willing to do it.

It was one of the biggest times I’ve felt that molding happen all at once in a dramatic way, but I actually know that my life has been filled with tiny, quieter little pinches, pulls, and folds along the way.

God isn’t looking for perfectly shaped masterpieces.

He just wants us to be clay instead of stone, and He’ll take care of the rest.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Clay in the potter’s hand first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.