But I ended up just thinking a lot about Jesus. ⁣

Joseph and Sidney saw this vision, this glorious vision about… like, everything. Where did we come from. Why are we here. Where are we going. All the “big questions”.⁣

And yet, the very first thing they did while writing down the vision was to testify that they saw Jesus. ⁣

“And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!” (D&C 76:22)

They saw Him in vision. ⁣

They beheld His glory. ⁣

They saw the angels worshipping Him. ⁣

And then, Joseph and Sidney took time to officially bear their testimony of the Savior.

They bore a personal testimony that Jesus Christ, who was killed, lives today. ⁣

He is sitting right next to our Heavenly Father. ⁣

He created this world that we live on now, and He has created other worlds. ⁣

And after listing all these magnificent and powerful qualities of the Savior of the world?⁣

A sweet reminder that we are Children of God, too. ⁣

Joseph and Sidney then continued to record the rest of their vision that brought so much new understanding to the Plan of Happiness. ⁣

(Which also totally revolves around Jesus.)

But they felt compelled to accentuate their narration of the vision with their own personal feelings and knowledge about the Savior. ⁣

He is real. ⁣

He lives and has created so much. ⁣

And He also loves us personally. ⁣

And if it’s tough to really believe this still, then we can borrow from Joseph and Sidney’s powerful joint testimony. ⁣

I know that my Redeemer lives.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post It’s all about Jesus first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

It’s something I preach in almost every post on this account, video I record, and resource that I create.

And I totally stand behind what I say.

Our lives are busy, and I think it’s so important to figure out how to make everything fit.

But also…

This gospel is everything.

It can’t be entirely summed up into little tips and tricks.

It is big.

And heavy.

And important. So, so important.

The Lord taught the Saints in D&C Section 43 the message that they were to solemnly deliver to the whole world. And then in verses 34-35:

“Treasure these things up in your hearts, and let the solemnities of eternity rest upon your minds.

“Be sober. Keep all my commandments.”

We are asked to ponder about the eternities.

To treasure up these eternal truths in our hearts.

To be sober and serious in keeping all of the commandments.

This is real. This is serious.

This “Plan of Salvation” that we draw cute pictures and diagrams of is actually intense and powerful and everything.

And yet… it’s so difficult to find time to just ponder on that.

To sit still and let my mind wander on things of the eternities.

But it is so essential.

It centers me.

I’m reminded WHY I’m doing all this.

Why I’m coming up with the little tips and tricks, the cute sayings, the quick references, the applicable stories.

It’s all so real.

So… maybe let your mind go there right now.

Use this time reading my post as your moment to reflect.

What is this all about? Why are you doing the things that you are doing?

What does God have in store for you?

What will meeting your Savior be like?

How do you want to live your life? Where do you plan on being after you pass on? Who do you hope is there with you?

What will your future, your ETERNAL future, be?

Ponder. Treasure. Let these rest upon your mind.

Perspective. Purpose.

And then move forward with faith.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The solemnities of eternity first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

It’s suuuuuuper easy to complain about just about anything at this point.

My hips are in pain. My feet are swollen. I can’t eat anything good cuz it gives me acid reflex. I’m tired.

Okay I’ll stop.

When I’m focused on myself, I can pretty quickly convince my brain that I probably have it worse than anyone else in the world right now.

But then I broaden my perspective.

I hang out with my little 2-year-old all day. She’s seriously hilarious and a genius and a little ball of crazy energy. My husband comes home from work and we laugh and relax. I guess life isn’t so bad.

Then I broaden my perspective.

I start planning my Sunday School lesson for Sunday. I think about kind friends and family who are throwing me baby showers this week. I make plans to hang out with a friend. Life is good.

Then I broaden my perspective even more to include time.

I reflect on where my life was a decade ago, five years ago, a year ago. Life keeps getting more complicated, but SO much better.

And then I broaden my perspective to the largest view I can go.

What a blessing it will be when our little baby boy arrives so soon! I wonder who he really is and what type of person he will become. I feel excited that he is being sent specifically to our family, and all that we will be able to learn from each other. Life is an absolute blessing.

One huge purpose of the Book of Mormon is to remind us of the Plan of Salvation.

When we broaden our perspective that wide and include that length of time, it is SO EASY for our problems, both trivial and serious, to melt away.

We see death for what it really is. We see our major trials for what they truly are. We see the most important things more clearly in focus.

What a beautiful and powerful gift!

It’s ALWAYS easy to fall into, “Wo is me!” No matter our stage of life!

But when we make daily, concentrated efforts to broaden our perspective just a bit, we feel that isolated burden being lifted.

That bigger perspective allows the spirit to guide us to the truth.

We are not alone. This is not the end. We’ve come this far. We can always readjust our priorities and keep moving forward.

Broaden that perspective.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Complaining About Being Pregnant! first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.