I’m probably not alone in saying that the past few years have really made me be intentional about WHY I go to church.

If we can just have church at home…

If I can just read my scriptures and follow along at home…

If I can just share my testimony on social media…

If I don’t have to hear comments from people that aren’t super Christlike…

And then add in having to take care of little kids and babies who make it difficult to even be present in the rooms I should be in…

Why am I going to church?

I can’t overstate enough that the actual main reason is because of my devotion and love to God to keep His commandments and my desire to take the sacrament and be washed clean and renew my covenants.

But after all that…

My congregations throughout the years have brought me the sweetest examples of service and cheering others on.

When I’ve been in a rough place and a good friend pulls me aside and asks me how I’m doing.

When I’ve been emotional and someone just looks at me and smiles.

When I’ve laughed til I’ve cried at funny things kids have said.

When I’ve walked out of sacrament meeting (yet again) with a screaming baby, just to be met by 3 different people who all walked out to give me a break.

When someone has said hi when I’ve felt forgotten.

It’s all service.

It’s all love.

It’s all compassion.

It’s all Christlike.

“They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.” (Isaiah 41:6)

We all need some help.

We all need someone to remind us to be of good courage.

We all need some help to point us back to Christ.

And I think we all have buried within us an innate desire to give that help.

To be that good neighbor.

To give that little smile.

To point someone else toward Jesus.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Service and Christlike love first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

The world would be a much better place if everyone looked out for their neighbor.

When I first read D&C 82:19:

“Every man seeking the interest of his neighbor”

My mind wanted to get a little selfish.

“Yeah! That hard trial or that big struggle would have been a whole lot easier if other people had helped out a little bit more.”

And then my mind wanted to get a little critical.

“Yes! Imagine all the terrible things that wouldn’t have happened if neighbors had been trying to help each other out and care even more.”

Soooo instead I’m going to turn the pointed finger from “my neighbors” and “the world” to right where it should be.

Myself.

How are my neighbors doing?

What kind of a neighbor am I?

How well do I know my neighbors?

And of course, “neighbors” can mean anyone.

I think the most tempting thing in the entire world is to think that other people are “fine”.

Oh they are fine!

But when is anyone totally “fine”? When are YOU totally fine?!

We’ve all got something going on. Some things are bigger than others, some are more obvious, some affect certain people more than others.

But there’s not a single person who doesn’t need some kind of support in some way.

Even if it’s just a loving friend.

Cuz you can never have too many of those, right?!

Can you IMAGINE the type of world we would live in if everyone thought, “How could I do something to help my neighbor today? What would be in their best interest?”

If you agree that this would be a revolutionary way to transform the world, then join me in turning the pointed finger toward ourselves.

We’ve gotta start. We’ve gotta be the example.

How I can help my neighbor today?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post How’s your neighbor? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.