Life has so much more to offer than usefulness. ⁣

I believe we are meant to truly enjoy it. ⁣

To find beauty in the sunsets (and in Arizona, oh boy do we have the best).⁣

To savor the delicious chocolate cake. ⁣

To dance to the background music.

To literally stop and smell the roses. ⁣

This is hard for me. ⁣

Because I’m a practical person. ⁣

I like things to have a purpose, a meaning. ⁣

But I think I’m getting better at enjoying the beauty of life. Just because. ⁣

To get from point A to point B on a swirly twirly pathway, instead of sprinting. ⁣

Because one way of traveling leaves me refreshed and renewed. And the other way leaves me exhausted. ⁣

In D&C 59:18, the Lord so gently reminds us that things on this earth were made:⁣

“Both to PLEASE the eye and to GLADDEN the heart”.⁣

And in the next verse:⁣

“To strengthen the body and to ENLIVEN the soul.”⁣

The earth was created. ⁣

We aren’t living in a brown and gray abyss that will “work just fine” for living arrangements. ⁣

Instead, our Savior spent time creating beauty and intricacies. ⁣

Why?⁣

He probably enjoyed creating it. He probably enjoyed the challenge and the beauty of the process. ⁣

But of course, He also wanted us to feel this joy. ⁣

To have our souls enlivened and gladdened and pleased. ⁣

Life is tough. There are lessons to be learned and trials to be endured. ⁣

But life is also beautiful and miraculous and delicious and harmonious and transcendent. ⁣

We need practical bread for our body. ⁣

But we also need beautiful light for our soul.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Please, gladden, and enliven first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

The smell of fresh trees is literally one of my favorite smells ever. ⁣

The red-ish brown bark of the trees, the bright green leaves, the sharp gray rocks. ⁣

It was just beautiful and peaceful. ⁣

The breeze and the blue sky.

I couldn’t help but just stare at the trees and think, “This has to be a gift from God.”⁣

There is too much beauty.

Too much design. Too much life. ⁣

It’s the most obvious sign I can think of that a loving Heavenly Father and Savior exist. ⁣

All things denote there is a God. ⁣

So if you’ve been feeling a little disconnected from God lately…

If you’ve been wanting to ask God for a sign that He is there—

Not in the prideful way Korihor did, but in the faith-filled, “I really need a reminder that you are there and you love me” way…

Give nature a try. ⁣

Nature is His sign. ⁣

And maybe that’s why I love the smell of the trees so much. ⁣

Because it reminds me of other times when I’ve been in the forest, away from distractions and obligations, completely surrounded by pure, untouched creations. ⁣

And I’ve felt His Spirit and His love. ⁣

Need a sign? Need some proof?⁣

Head outside.

“All things denote there is a God; yea, even the bearth, and call things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its dmotion, yea, and also all the eplanets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.” (Alma 30:44)

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Escaping the heat  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

The smell of fresh trees is literally one of my favorite smells ever.

The red-ish brown bark of the trees, the bright green leaves, the sharp gray rocks.

It was just beautiful and peaceful.

Quin kept saying, “The blue sky is so beautiful!”

I couldn’t help but just stare at the trees and think, “This has to be a gift from God.”

There is too much beauty. Too much design. Too much life.

It’s the most obvious sign I can think of that a loving Heavenly Father and Savior exist.

All things denote there is a God.

So if you’ve been feeling a little disconnected from God lately –

If you’ve been wanting to ask God for a sign that He is there – not in the prideful way Korihor did, but in the faith-filled, “I really need a reminder that you are there and you love me” way –

Give nature a try.

Nature is His sign.

And maybe that’s why I love the smell of the trees so much.

Because it reminds me of other times when I’ve been in the forest, away from distractions and obligations, completely surrounded by pure, untouched creations.

And I’ve felt His Spirit and His love.

Need a sign? Need some proof?

 Head outside. 

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post God gives us signs first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.