In 1918, Joseph F. Smith read this verse and started to ponder:

“By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison”. (1 Peter 3:19)

As President Joseph F. Smith pondered, he received a glorious vision that is now recorded in D&C Section 138. ⁣

I know this is a busy week for everyone, but if you have 15 minutes, I HIGHLY suggest listening to Elder Ballard’s 2018 talk, “The Vision of the Redemption of the Dead”.

Elder Ballard spoke extensively about Pres Smith’s life and circumstances surrounding this vision. It is heartbreaking and inspiring. ⁣

But how can we learn from Pres Joseph F. Smith’s example? ⁣

What was he doing as he read 1 Peter, just as we are this week?⁣

He pondered. ⁣

What does that mean to you?⁣

To me, I’ve realized that pondering requires 3 things:

TIME, PRIORITY, and CONNECTION ⁣

TIME:⁣

Pondering means I have time to let my mind wander as I read the scriptures!⁣

I know, so many of us try to avoid letting our mind wander as we read.

But I find some of my best pondering comes as I actually encourage my mind to wander after reading different verses. ⁣

PRIORITY:

This means the scriptures are important in my mind. ⁣

Even when I’m not reading them, I have thoughts throughout the day that continue to bring me back to what I was reading that morning. ⁣

I try to think about my scripture study often. ⁣

CONNECTION⁣:

I try to make as many personal connections as I can to what I’m reading. ⁣

I think about stories that have happened to me, stories I’ve heard from others, or conference talks that relate to the subject.

Making connections leads me to ponder and receive revelation with new insights I would get from just the text alone. ⁣

Joseph F. Smith pondered on 1 Peter and was blessed with beautiful revelation for the people he had stewardship over, which happened to be the entire church membership. ⁣

When I ponder the scriptures, I can receive direct and personal revelation to the people I have stewardship over, including myself, my family members, and people connected to my church calling. ⁣

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post D&C 138 and 1 Peter first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

A group of saints gathered at Mary’s house to pray. ⁣

There was a knock on the door, and young Rhoda went to see who it was.

She heard Peter’s voice!

Rhoda was SO GLAD that she ran back inside without opening the door for him. ⁣

She told everyone: Peter is right outside the gate!⁣

And these saints,

who are all gathered around, praying intently that Peter would be saved and set free,

tell Rhoda that she is crazy. ⁣

Anyone else see the irony there?

Do we sometimes pray and plead for answers and miracles in our lives…

and then ignore the small signs that the answer is right there?!

And then dear, excited, sweet Rhoda stands her ground.

She doesn’t second guess what she just experienced.

She doesn’t defer to the older people in the room.

But she also doesn’t argue or make a scene. ⁣

“But she constantly affirmed that it was even so.” (Acts 12:15)

Instead, she CONSTANTLY AFFIRMED that it was Peter. ⁣

Personal spiritual experiences and personal revelation are so interesting because they are just that – personal.

Nobody else is experiencing exactly what you are experiencing. ⁣

Sometimes well-meaning church members, family members, or close friends shed some doubt on our spiritual experiences. ⁣

“Well that’s an interesting decision for you!”

But Rhoda did not crumble or doubt.

She didn’t make a fuss or a scene.

She just CONSTANTLY AFFIRMED what she had heard. ⁣

THIS is what softened their hearts enough to go check the door themselves and eventually experience that same witness for themselves.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Constantly affirming with Rhoda and Peter first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

It’s not wording that we currently use, and I honestly didn’t understand what it meant!

But at some point, it clicked!

This phrase means God doesn’t favor certain groups of people over others – be that social status, race, nationality, etc. ⁣

And I LOVE the context in which Peter says this! ⁣

He’s just had a confusing vision, been summoned by two random men, and brought before Cornelius, a Gentile. ⁣

And all of a sudden, Peter realizes:

“Wait, I think that I can preach to this man, even though he isn’t Jewish. This is a righteous man, and that’s all that matters.”⁣

This was a HUGE paradigm shift for Peter with regard to the current religious culture.

For us, that realization shouldn’t be as jarring.

In fact, I’m sure most of us feel very comfortable with the idea of the gospel being for everyone!⁣

But for a moment, consider your current ward family. ⁣

Every socioeconomic class, every race, every gender.

God loves us literally each the same. ⁣

He loves the inactive lady as much as he loves a man with an important calling. ⁣

It’s a hard question to REALLY ask ourselves, because a lot of us would automatically deflect with a resounding “Of COURSE not!”…⁣

…But have we written people off from really being a part of the gospel? A member of our ward? Our friend?⁣

Do we realize God loves them AS MUCH as He loves you? ⁣

He wants them to return home AS MUCH as He wants you to?⁣

He wants other people to love and bless them AS MUCH as he wants people to love and bless you?⁣

“One of the precious things I love about the temple is that among those who attend, there are no distinctions of wealth, rank, or position of any kind.” —Quentin L. Cook

Maybe we can try asking our Heavenly Father how to be just a little more inclusive.

How we can help the marginalized feel loved.

How we can listen and just let them be on their own journeys instead of constantly adding our judgment.

Our Savior gave us the example of hanging out with the marginalized, outcasts, and those who needed the most help.

He was no respecter of persons, and with His grace, we can learn to be just as lovingly inclusive as He is!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post What does it mean that God is no respecter or persons? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Most people fall into one of two categories when it comes to how they plan and learn:

• I want to see the forest before I can see the trees!

(in other words, I need to see the big picture before you can start giving me little details)

or ⁣

• I want to see all the trees before I see the forest!

(I need to know how all the details are going to work before I can get the big picture) ⁣

Me, personally? I’m 100% the first one.

If I can see the end game, the final purpose, or the desired result for something, then I don’t really get caught up in the details.

In a gospel setting, my style of planning works GREAT sometimes!

Focusing on major doctrines instead gives me peace.

But I’ve learned that my style does NOT work with the way many of us receive personal revelation – “line upon line”.

Line upon line?!

Show me the whole book first and then I’ll figure out the lines!

But I love Peter’s example in Acts 10-11. ⁣

Peter has a big, kind of confusing vision.

While he is pondering about the meaning, he gets the inspiration:

3 men are here to meet him. He should go with them and not doubt anything. ⁣

“Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing”. (Acts 10:20)

Those are VERY SMALL TREE details, with no big vision of the FOREST.

But Peter’s FAITH is unshakable.

No questions or doubts. ⁣

And when he is brought to Cornelius, he slowly gains more details.

And then he has to listen to the Spirit even more before starting to piece together the meaning of the vision.

Eventually, he figures it out and teaches and converts the first group of non-Jews. ⁣

What an example to me! ⁣

Even though I PREFER to see the big picture first, my life has been (and continues to be!) a huge lesson that I can actually fully TRUST my Father in Heaven, more than any earthly leader.

He will not lead me astray.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post How can I be patient with the Lord like Peter? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

He had all of Samaria looking towards him as a “great one” through his use of sorcery and persuasion. ⁣

But then the great missionary Philip came to town. ⁣

And Simon believed and was baptized!

He experienced true conversion and changed his ways. ⁣

Then Peter and John came to town, hearing of Philip’s success!

They started to give the gift of the Holy Ghost to all the people that Philip had already baptized. ⁣

And what did Simon do when he saw these apostles of the Lord bestowing the gift of the Holy Ghost on others?!

It makes me laugh a bit, honestly.

“He offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power” (Acts 8:18-19).

Simon deferred to his old ways of looking at money as a bargaining tool for power.

It’s a fairly common question posed in the church to consider if we value the gospel/Book of Mormon/our testimony more than money. ⁣

But I actually really love Simon’s gut response here!

(Don’t worry, he gets chastised by Peter and has a further change of heart.)⁣

Simon sees this gift of the Holy Ghost and he KNOWS how important that power is.

I imagine he can see the change in the people who have it.

Are we living our lives in such a way that we are depending on the Holy Ghost for constant nourishment, guidance, and peace? ⁣

Could someone intimately look at your life and jump forward, offering money, to have that same gift in theirs?⁣

I think it’s a beautiful question to consider.

“Covenant keeping leads us to seek after whatever invites the influence of the Spirit.” —Milton Camargo

If you’re like me, you aren’t perfect at that total dependence yet.

But how can I INCREASE that dependence on the spirit? Every day?⁣

Not waiting in indecision, waiting for the Spirit to “command in all things”.

But instead having a constant and living connection with the Godhead, being prepared to be be guided if we need to be, and always seeking comfort and peace. ⁣

THAT’S the power that Simon, somewhat naively, but definitely sincerely, offered money for the chance to have.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post How can we be dependent on the Holy Spirit?  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

She is described as a disciple.

Full of good work and almsdeeds. ⁣

She was sick. I like to think she was still full of good works and kind acts even in her sickness. ⁣

She made coats and other clothing items. She probably gave them away as service. Maybe this was her passion that she enjoyed fulfilling, too. ⁣

And then, she died. ⁣

Peter came.

Her friends were all there, crying. They showed Peter all the clothes that she made. ⁣

I don’t know if Peter knew Tabitha prior to her death, but it’s hard to not feel compassion for someone when you see what their life story was. ⁣

Peter sent everyone out, and then prayed.

It’s difficult to imagine what sincere and humble words he might have prayed in that moment.

Should he use his priesthood power to bring her back?

How could he comfort these grieving friends and disciples?⁣

What was the Lord’s will for Tabitha?⁣

Peter got his answer.

And he told Tabitha to arise. ⁣

“But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise.” (Acts 9:40)

Peter didn’t keep God small. He didn’t walk into that tragic situation and think, “How can I comfort these grieving friends by myself?”

Instead he allowed God to do the big miracle.

He probably asked for or left space for the biggest miracle of all to occur.

And he got a yes. ⁣

What miracle do you need right now?

What seems almost impossible to you but would fill you with great joy?⁣

Have you asked in sincere and humble prayer if that miracle could be yours?⁣

I have found that when I remember that I can ask the Lord for BIG blessings, He actually blesses me with them quite often.

These brave moments with the Lord have created some truly humbling and miraculous experiences that are too personal to share. ⁣

Sometimes it’s hard to remember to just ask. ⁣

I’m glad that Peter allowed God to do the big, impossible miracle.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Peter, Tabitha, and asking God for the big miracle first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Okay that was kind of a trick question.

In conversations I’ve had with other people, I’ve learned that there are some

BIG misconceptions about the Law of Consecration.

The Law of Consecration is in full effect today for those who have made sacred covenants inside of the temple.

Just as much as it was in the 1830s, and just as much as it was after Christ’s resurrection.

Have the applications looked different at various points in time?

Yes.

In Acts 2:44, we learn of one application:

“And all that believed were together, and had all things common”.

The people Peter taught and baptized were moved with love to share many things in common with each other.

Everyone was given what they needed out of love and compassion. ⁣

So how are you doing with living the Law of Consecration right now?

I think this is a place where we all have room for improvement. ⁣

We may not fulfill it in the same way Peter did.

But are we intentionally sharing and consecrating the things we ARE able to share?

Do we volunteer our time through callings or assignments, even when they get tough or boring?

Do we show up to church or other activities in order to share our light and help others feel love?

Do we give of our abundance in money or food to those who have less? ⁣

These are great questions to ponder!

But I think the root of all these questions comes down to our motivation. ⁣

Is it out of LOVE?⁣

Are we bitter about that money in our tithing check, or do we rejoice with gratitude and love?⁣

The Law of Consecration is one of those things that doesn’t work too well if our motivation is “fear” or “obligation”.

We’ve gotta be willing.

It’s honestly difficult to sacrifice in this materialistic and selfish world.

And I’ve found that the only lasting personal change of heart will come from LOVE. ⁣

I want to practice building so much compassion and love for others, that the Law of Consecration becomes a natural joy!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post What is the Law of Consecration? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

“There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.” (Acts 5:16)

If I hadn’t posted that this scripture was in the book of Acts, who would you have thought this was referring to?⁣

This man that people traveled from near and far to visit, with hopes of being healed?

And he healed them ALL?⁣

It sounds a lot like Jesus Christ. ⁣

But, surprise… it’s Peter! ⁣

Peter did EXACTLY what the Savior would have done if He was on the earth in that situation. ⁣

Food for thought:

Wouldn’t it be cool if someone described your actions, and others could identify it as being EXACTLY what the Savior would have done in that situation?

I think that’s a new goal of mine.

I’m not going to always get it right, of course.

Some descriptions of my actions will still totally be “me.”

But I think that as I study the Savior’s life more and more, I can have more moments where I’m right in sync with Jesus.

Just like Peter was.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Peter is described just like Jesus first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

To me, this means a sensation that feels intensely painful for a very brief amount of time.

Maybe the feeling lingers for a bit…

But then it fades with intensity rather quickly. ⁣

Ever had a “pricking” feeling from the Spirit? ⁣

Someone says something at church or you read a phrase in the scriptures or you are just sitting on the couch thinking about life. ⁣

And you get that powerful thought that comes into your head with force. ⁣

“I should start saying my prayers again.”⁣

“I should text her to see how she’s doing.”⁣

“I should talk to my husband about that.”⁣

After the intense thought though, don’t we usually question it?!

That natural man is relentless.

“Eh, I’ll start tomorrow.”⁣

“Well I don’t want to seem pushy. I don’t even know her that well.”⁣

“He should actually take responsibility for that so I’m not going to initiate the conversation.”⁣

That original prick to do something good fades and we replace it with justifications. ⁣

To be honest, I’ve just accepted that this is part of my cycle of revelation:

I am pricked with a good thought. ⁣

I rationalize myself out of it. ⁣

But then I say, “I was prompted to do something good. I know where the prompting came from. What’s the worst that could happen if I follow this prompting?” ⁣

That usually gets me back in tune with the Spirit. ⁣

These people listening to Peter were pricked in their hearts.

And they IMMEDIATELY asked what they needed to DO next.

“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart and said . . . what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37)

This lead to them making baptismal covenants and receiving the Holy Ghost. ⁣

We can be pricked in our hearts by the Spirit all the time…

But it doesn’t really matter unless we DO something about it.⁣

If my heart is pricked, then it is time to ACT.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Pricked by the Spirit for a prompting first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I can’t think of many worse situations on this earth.

These were “enemies” by every definition of the word. ⁣

In fact, Peter raised his sword in defense and cut off the ear of one of the offenders.

A noble act of loyalty against such injustice!⁣

And yet what did Christ do?⁣

“And he touched his ear, and healed him.” (Luke 22:51)

He healed the man’s ear. ⁣

“He reached out and blessed His potential captor using the same heavenly power that could have prevented Him from being captured and crucified.” —David A. Bednar

Did that man really deserve to be healed?⁣

Christ didn’t ask that question. ⁣

He just loved everyone and did good to those who used Him. ⁣

He didn’t just teach about “loving your enemies” — He lived it. ⁣

Are we stuck a little too much on making sure people get what they deserve?⁣

Or could we do better at ignoring about making things “fair”

While also honestly hoping that we never get exactly what we deserve?

Jesus showed overwhelming kindness, love, and generosity toward His enemy.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Getting what we deserve first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.