“The atonement”

“The enabling power of the atonement”

“Applying the atonement”

“Being strengthened by the atonement”

They are all phrases that President Nelson has asked us to STOP using. ⁣

Why?⁣

Because they completely take Christ out of the picture!

President Nelson has encouraged us to use terms like “the Savior’s atoning sacrifice” that keep our focus on Jesus.

I used to attend church and learn about lots of different topics:

Service, church history, families, spiritual gifts, my Savior, peace.

But I remember it clicking in my mind one day that everything is actually tied back to Christ!

And I think we could all try to do a bit better at making sure our lessons, talks, and thoughts always connect to Jesus.

“And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:14)

Our faith needs to be in Jesus Christ, and our preaching needs to point others to Jesus Christ.

We go to church to partake of the sacrament as a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice.

We learn about service to become more charitable like Christ.

We study church history to see how others turned to Christ during their trials.

Everything is connected to and possible only because of Jesus!

Give it a try– the next church lesson, class, or talk that you sit through, make an effort to see how it is all possible only because of Jesus Christ.

And then share that testimony with others!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post How do we connect it all to Jesus?  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I recently heard a beautiful, heartfelt testimony of someone who talked about walking away from his life as an alcoholic to make covenants with God.

I’ve listened to a woman share about how physically difficult but mentally easy it was to give up smoking in order to join the church and be baptized.

But… what about the quieter, less obvious sins we each still struggle with?

“What does it mean to overcome the world? … It means being willing to “give away” even our favorite sins.” -President Russell M. Nelson

I’ve been fascinated by that phrase that President Nelson used:

Favorite sins.

Maybe it’s something you know you shouldn’t do, but do anyway.

Maybe it’s a sin you don’t really realize you are doing because it looks so acceptable, but when you reflect on what you need to change, it always comes to mind.

Maybe it’s something you should be doing to draw closer to the Lord and to keep your covenants, but you think it’s easier to not do it.

Maybe it’s taking serious things too casually.

Because Jesus teaches that becoming a member of the covenant kingdom of God is going to require us to give up certain things.

One parable:

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.” (Matthew 13:44)

And another parable:

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” (Matthew 13:45-46)

Selling all that we have.

Sacrificing to obtain covenant relationships with God.

But these people willingly do it. They wholeheartedly give up what was holding them back.

Those are the people who understand what’s at stake and what is available to us.

So what do you need to give up?

What can you sell in order to make room in your life for all that God’s kingdom holds?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Favorite sins first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

There are times when I definitely enjoy standing out.

On my graduation day, at a birthday party, my baby shower…

But there are other times that I absolutely do not want to stand out.

Usually when I’m in a large group setting or I don’t know anyone or I feel awkward.

But I’ve learned that when we stick to gospel principles, we naturally stand out.

In fact, our current prophet has encouraged this!

“Embrace being different!” -President Nelson

Do you think it was difficult for Daniel and his brethren to stand out?

I’m sure it was.

It’s easy to romanticize and distance ourselves from this well-known story.

But I bet it wasn’t simple.

When they refused to eat or drink what the other boys were eating and drinking, I bet they got made fun of.

I bet they were ostracized.

I bet people talked about them behind their backs.

It is not fun to stand out in this way.

But what was the end result?

“Among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah”. (Daniel 1:19)

There was no one else like them!

I’m sure that was difficult sometimes to stand out.

But in the end, they stood out in the best way possible.

And they certainly stood out to their Heavenly Father.

For better or for worse, we are going to stand out when we really love the Lord and stick to what He has taught us.

Sometimes the attention feels good, like when your coworker wants to know why you always seem so happy or when someone confides in you because you are always so kind.

But other times, standing out isn’t so naturally comfortable.

Embrace it. Love it. Find confidence in it.

Because even though we may stand out in awkward ways, we will never stand alone.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Stand out  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

While I don’t have any insider information for what it is like to be one, I think it’s tempting to think that once a prophet becomes a prophet, they instantly get some direct pipeline to receive messages from God.

But I think it still takes a lot of personal spiritual work to receive revelation, whether it’s for ourselves or whether it’s for a prophet.

And I’ve heard President Nelson speak about some of the times he has chosen to turn the TV off because it drove the spirit away, or how much he reads the scriptures and listens to promptings to make himself available to revelation.

His process probably looks a lot more familiar than we might realize.

One message that he taught about repeatedly last weekend was centered around this idea:

“Each person who makes covenants in baptismal fonts and in temples—and keeps them—has increased access to the power of Jesus Christ.” – President Nelson

Every topic that President Nelson talks about is tied back to Jesus.

Every time.

Our prophet keeps teaching us about Jesus, how to draw on Jesus’ power, His strength, rest, love, the divinity of the Son…

Another prophet a few thousand years ago talked about this same solemn responsibility that prophets share.

“I have set watchmen upon thy walls… ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence”. (Isaiah 62:6)

The watchmen are not supposed to keep silent about Jesus.

And from what I’ve observed, our current prophet is doing a magnificent job at keeping me focused on the Savior.

I know prophets must feel that weight of that responsibility.

Hoping that as many people that can hear their voice will know He lives, too.

So what has the prophet taught you about Jesus?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Not silent about Jesus first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Because every single time I do sit down to glance through it or I make time to read an article, I am always blown away by the content.

So when October’s magazine came in the mail, I found some time to flip through and I told myself I could pick one article to read.

Lo and behold, the first main article was one written by our beloved prophet, so of course I chose to read that one.

Now, throughout the Old Testament, but most especially in Isaiah, we see the strangely long word: LOVINGKINDNESS.

And this word is what President Nelson talked about for part of his powerful, super detail-oriented Liahona article.

Here are just a few snippets of what he said:

“All those who have made a covenant with God have access to a special kind of love and mercy.

“In the Hebrew language, that covenantal love is called hesed.

“Hesed has no adequate English equivalent.

“Translators of the King James Version of the Bible must have struggled with how to render hesed in English.

“They often chose ‘lovingkindness.’

“Hesed is a unique term describing a covenant relationship in which both parties are bound to be loyal and faithful to each other.

“Hesed is a special kind of love and mercy that God feels for and extends to those who have made a covenant with Him.

“And we reciprocate with hesed for Him.”

In Isaiah 63:7, we read: “I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.”

LOVINGKINDNESS is much more than kindness and love.

God wants to share this special kind of love and devotion with us, much like the unique love that we share with a spouse.

And to access that lovingkindness, we enter into special covenents with God.

So what are the covenants you have made with God?

And what’s something you can do today to live up to what you’ve promised just a little bit better today?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Lovingkindness first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Do you remember when he asked the youth in a devotional to do a 7-day social media fast? (June 2018)

Do you remember when he invited the whole church to #givethanks on social media each day for a week? (November 2020)

Do you remember when he encouraged us to end a personal conflict by Easter? (April 2022)

Well how about…

Do you remember when he pleaded with us to repent daily? (April 2019)

Do you remember when he called on us to implement extraordinary measures to strengthen our spiritual foundations? (October 2021)

Do you remember when he invited the women of the church to fully participate in Relief Society? (October 2018)

Do you remember when he encouraged us to increase our spiritual capacity to receive revelation? (April 2018)

Now, maybe you do remember these things, and maybe you don’t.

But if there’s ever been a recent prophet who has asked us to make dramatic or public sacrifices or commitments, it’s President Nelson!

Every talk he gives, I sit there with a pen in my hand ready to see what big challenge he’s going to give us next.

But is that excitement for the “big stuff” overpowering the less flashy pleas he’s also made?

Because looking at my list, repenting daily, increasing my capacity for personal revelation, and strengthening my spiritual foundation seem essential.

I’ve remembered some of these, but I’ve honestly forgotten about others.

“My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?” (2 Kings 5:13)

Are we willing to do the big things AND the small things that the prophet asks?

Would we have built the ark with Noah AND repented of our sins?

Would we have gotten in the barges with the brother of Jared AND worked to increase our faith?

Would we have crossed the plains in a covered wagon with only a few possessions AND read the scriptures daily?

Because it’s not really the prophet inviting us to do these things, right?

He’s the Lord’s mouthpiece.

Sometimes the Lord needs big, dramatic changes and miracles.

But more often, He needs the quiet, consistent, daily efforts from our heart.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post President Nelson’s invitations first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Do you think he ever drove his parents crazy and made big messes?

Oh, I’m sure.

Did you know his parents weren’t active in the Church? He wasn’t baptized until he was 16 years old.

I think it can be tempting to look at our beloved prophet, Russell M. Nelson, and think, “Wow, he is different. His gospel knowledge and spiritual strength are unparalleled.”

Now of course, President Nelson has received gifts of the spirit and powerful abilities from his mantle and priesthood keys.

But… he also had to grow and develop like anyone else!

He had to figure out his relationship with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

He had to decide if he thought it was true.

He had to study the scriptures and pray and learn how he best receives personal revelation.

He had to endure heartbreaking trials and devastating setbacks.

He had to practice serving others and communicating well.

He learned how to teach and speak with the priesthood authority.

We aren’t all aspiring to become the prophet, but we can still grow in the Lord!

David was the king of all Israel… who started out as a sheep herder.

“And David went on, and grew great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him.” (2 Samuel 5:10)

David had to learn to be great, too!

Knowing how to study the scriptures isn’t just for the old guy in your gospel doctrine class.

Loving and understanding the temple isn’t just for that sister who’s been serving for 20 years.

We can all grow great!

What are the next steps for you? How do you want to “grow great” next?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Growing great first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Not gonna lie, this question has crossed my mind a time or two recently. 

Why is there so much opposition?

Not even just good vs. evil, although there certainly is a lot of that.

But just the mortal struggles that each of us has to deal with at different times.

We’ve all heard the platitude that we need the hard times in order to grow.

But what does that really look like?

Because sometimes it just feels like the hard times make things hard, and that’s it.

“And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.” (Genesis 32:24)

“Jacob wrestled with a serious challenge.

“His agency was tested.

“Through this wrestle, Jacob proved what was most important to him.

“He demonstrated that he was willing to let God prevail in his life.” -President Russell M. Nelson

I’m not sure about all the intricacies of “why” we have to go through the hard things, especially the draining and the mundane and the painful.

But I have learned that each struggle is an opportunity for us to choose to let God prevail.

Will we still say our prayers when life is tough? When we are in pain? When we are tired? When we are overwhelmed?

Will we still find ways to show gratitude and to think of our Savior?

Will we be willing to let God’s will prevail, even when that means enduring even more?

I’m not perfect at this.

But luckily, I get lots of different chances to wrestle with different things.

And each time, I get to try to show God again that He will always prevail.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Wrestle and let God prevail first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

This short message from our prophet in the most recent General Conference stuck out to me the moment he said it.

That analogy of watching workers dig out debris from the Salt Lake temple during its enormous renovation.

And then a prophet of the Lord asking me to pray to discover what I can remove from my life.

My thoughts and prayers used to center around what I was doing wrong that I needed to change.

The music that I needed to clean up, the prayers that I was forgetting to say, the visiting teaching assignment I wasn’t doing.

And slowly, this phrase started being added to more and more of my prayers:

“Please let me know what I can let drop out of my life that will help me to feel the Spirit more.”

And that’s why I loved President Nelson’s short talk so much.

This idea that we all have the junky debris that is keeping us from our full potential.

It’s not straight up sin or filled with evil.

But it’s keeping the Spirit from being as present as possible in my life.

It’s keeping me zoned out and enjoying a dramatic storyline, instead of having that thought to text a friend.

It’s keeping me scrolling through a feed looking at pictures I don’t really care about, instead of spending a few more minutes in the scriptures being taught a lesson I need to hear.

It’s keeping me with frustratingly impossible standards for my family members, instead of learning how to love unconditionally.

The debris blocks out a lot if I let it pile up.

The Lord also gave this advice to Joseph Smith’s own family in D&C 93:48:

“Your family must needs repent and forsake some things”.

Repent = change

Forsake = forget

Your family needs to forget some things they are doing, and make some changes.

Don’t we all need to hear that message?!

I want to build so many great things in my life. I want to build places of beauty, of love, and of safety.

I want to build sacred places in my life.

But even with the best intentions and the perfect building plans…

The first thing I have to do is clear out the debris.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Clean out the debris first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

“a land of peace, a city of refuge, a place of safety for the saints of the Most High God”.

Doesn’t that sound great?!

But what does that mean for me right now?

In President Nelson’s signature talk, “Let God Prevail”, he said something that stood out to me when I relistened recently:

“Anytime we do anything that helps anyone—on either side of the veil—to make and keep their covenants with God, we are helping to gather Israel.”

I know that my mind usually goes toward missionary work and temple work when I hear that statement.

But, it recently clicked that this has SO MUCH to do with my family and home RIGHT NOW.

Anything that I do in order to help my family members make and keep sacred covenants, helps to gather Israel.

Which means that I’m picturing my home becoming a place exactly like the Lord described in verse 66.

A land of peace. A city of refuge. A place of safety.

As I work to create this type of environment in my home (peace, refuge, and safety), I am participating in the gathering of Israel in a truly essential way.

So that’s what I’m pondering on today.

How can I create more peace in my home?

Not just “keeping the peace”, but actually creating true, sublime peace.

How can I ensure my home is a refuge?

Keeping it different from the rest of the world, purposely.

How can I make my home feel like safety?

Filling it with so much love, that any outside harm doesn’t find a place to stay.

If you are a parent, teen, young adult, or grandparent creating peace, refuge, and safety in your own home, then you are helping to gather Israel and create Zion.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Peace, refuge, and safety first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.