But my biggest hang up has been “how”?⁣

How do I know what to keep and what to eliminate?⁣

I’ve heard the fantastic advice about “good, better, and best”.⁣

But even that can feel a little vague at times. ⁣

How do I actually know what things are “good” and which are “better”? 

One word really stood out to me as I read the account of the Creation that has never popped out before:⁣

YIELD⁣

The Lord is constantly talking about what various fruits or vegetation will yield. ⁣

And everything is intended to yield something similar to what it is— trees yielding fruit that will produce new fruit trees; grains yielding seeds that will produce the same plants. ⁣

What a simple way to see what is good and what is not!⁣

What does this action or activity YIELD in my life?⁣

Does it yield a closer relationship to God or not?⁣

Does it yield a better relationship with my husband and kids or not?⁣

Does it yield personal development that uplifts me?⁣

Those are the things I want to keep. ⁣

And, admittedly, sometimes I have to look at the long-term yield. ⁣

Family scripture study with three little kids doesn’t always produce an awesome short-term yield. ⁣

But I know I’m sewing seeds for a much delayed harvest on that one, so I’ll keep it (although we’ll probably play around with what it looks like to make sure it’s working alright).⁣

So I think I’ll focus on weeding out some of the stuff that isn’t yielding what I’d like. ⁣

Or maybe it’s only yielding temporary fruits that are clearly taking way too much of my time and energy to cultivate for such little payoff. ⁣

God only created living creatures and plants that could multiply and yield after the manner that they are. ⁣

I’ve only got a limited amount of time in this life, and I want to make sure my good intentions and my divine potential are yielding results that are just as good and divine as I am. ⁣

What am I yielding?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post What are you yielding? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Not that I’m counting or anything…

I’ve been feeling so overwhelmed recently with the sheer amount of things I need to coordinate, problems I need to solve, and people I need to communicate with.

And I mean I’ve got a lot of other things going on in my life too.

So recently I’ve just been getting super overwhelmed…

And then not doing anything because I already have other things on my plate I can focus on.

But something last week reminded me that Heavenly Father wants me to ask Him for help.

He desperately wants to help me know where to focus with the energy He knows I have.

“It is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength.”⁣ (Mosiah 4:27)

And so for the past few days, I have specifically prayed each morning for the Lord to help me know one single thing I can do that day to move things forward.

And… I’ve been shocked at how clear and simple the direction has been each day!

I’ve known who to talk to or what to plan.

And it’s been super attainable.

God is so so so good.

He doesn’t want us, His devoted servants and saints, running around, constantly overwhelmed and unable to move forward.

He’ll show us the path, or at least the very next step.

Or sometimes the path is still dark, but He will give us the strength to match the task.

But we need to ask.

“[We] wear many hats, but it is impossible, and unnecessary, to wear them all at once.

“The Spirit helps us determine which work to focus on today.” (Joy D. Jones)

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Which hat to wear  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I felt both embarrassed and frustrated.

I felt embarrassed for putting all the effort into running a campaign, making stickers, and giving an enthusiastic speech in front of the entire school.

And I felt frustrated that no one (or not enough people at least) could see the value that I would bring!

I thought that I truly was the best person for that position, but that I hadn’t been able to convey that to everyone.

Lehi shared a prophecy about Joseph Smith.

The Lord said, “And I will make him great in mine eyes.” (2 Nephi 3:8)

I can’t help but think–

Whose eyes do I want to be great in?

I learned early on that I can’t count on being seen as “great” in the eyes of my peers.

(For the record, I had an amazing group of friends in high school and I ended up taking another student government position that year.)

But I have to almost EXPECT to be underestimated.

We may not always be viewed as someone awesome at school, at work, in our community, in our wards, and even in our families.

We might have a kid who doesn’t win “student of the month”, gets cut from the team, or struggles in a class.

But whose opinion matters the most?

I’ve slowly learned that other people’s perceptions actually have nothing to do with who I really am.

I mean, it is always a good idea to be kind and try to make friends.

To serve and to love.

But when we decide that God’s opinion of us is all that matters, we can gain clarity on how to truly be a “great” person in God’s eyes!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post I lost the election first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Is this a temporal problem or an eternal problem?

I take a moment to zoom out real big.

Like “beyond the end of this life” big.

The temporal problems always seem to shrink when I do this.

The work issue isn’t such a big deal, the messy house doesn’t matter, the frustrating process seems silly.

But I’ve also noticed the eternal issues grow larger when I take a step back.

Family prayer isn’t happening? That’s actually something that is important to me, so I want to problem solve and make it happen in a meaningful way.

My kids won’t stop fighting? I know I want to teach my kids kindness, and so I seek for revelation on what they need to feel more love.

“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)

Temporal vs. Eternal ⁣⁣

It’s so much easier to “look at the things which are seen”.

Obviously!

We see the physical problems around us.

We see what we lack, what we need to solve, and sometimes these physical problems become our sole focus. ⁣

It takes more effort to look at the “things which are not seen”.

But in reality, these are the things that matter most.

These are the only things that will actually go with us to the next life. ⁣

Our family relationships.

Our testimonies.

Our service.

Our love.

Our habits.

Our desires.

Our knowledge.

Our spiritual gifts. ⁣

These are eternal. ⁣

Physical problems still exist and still require our attention.

But when I take a moment to step back, my order of priorities always shift.

The things that aren’t seen matter the most.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Seen and unseen problems first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

It’s a big question.

I’m gonna bet that if you are reading this post from a scripture study account, you want to be like Jesus.

But is there anything you want more than that?

Maybe you just want to have friends and fit in.

Maybe you want your kids to be better behaved.

Maybe you want a better job.

Maybe you want your rough trial to end.

These are honestly all fine to want.

But when we want them MORE than we want to be like Jesus, we’ve started focusing on trying to save our own lives rather than turning to Christ to be saved.

Jesus even warned:

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it:

“and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 16:25)

Of course, we all want to improve our lives.

Finding ways to make our own situations and relationships better is a great goal.

But anything that causes us to focus on “saving” our own lives MORE than turning to Christ is something that should be removed.

And anything that causes us to focus on the Savior is something that we should keep!

One interesting thing I’ve noticed though:

Losing our selfish views of our lives by focusing on the Savior more, can actually sometimes give us what we originally wanted for ourselves as a by-product!

We might become more well-liked BECAUSE we are developing Christlike attributes.

We might earn more money BECAUSE of our righteous desires to bless other people.

We might feel more peace during our trials BECAUSE we are willing to give them to Jesus.

But no matter the result, when we really turn to the Savior, we will always find our true purpose in life.

And gain a Glory that is more amazing than anything the world could even pretend to offer!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post More than Jesus?  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Clothes, toiletries, chargers…

They are important to me so I pack them in first!

On the top of my suitcase is where I pack the book that I probably won’t have time to read, the journal I won’t write in, and random trinkets that I find at the last minute that I think might be nice to have.

(Am I the only one who always seems to pack a book, yet never reads it?!)

The order that we do things tends to show their priority in our life.

What we do when we wake up.

What we make sure happens before we go to bed.

What we do when we get some free time.

What we do when we get in the car.

Order can tell us a lot about our purposes and priorities!

So… why did the Lord create the world in the order that He did?

“The sequential order in which the earth was created gives us a glimpse not only of what is most important to God but also why and for whom He created the earth.” -Vaiangina Sikahema

The light. The atmosphere. The oceans. Plants. The Sun. Animals.

And then Sons and Daughters of God.

Everything in the proper order. The only order for it all to work.

Culminating the creation with WHO this is actually for.

Light for us to see. Atmosphere for us to survive. Land and seas for variety and function. Plants for beauty and for nourishment. Stars and the moon for us to be able to tell time and location. Animals to multiply and fill the earth.

All for us.

The order teaches us.

Order doesn’t have to mean that what comes first is the most important— some people suggest that if you don’t read your scriptures first thing when you wake up, you are choosing the wrong priority, but my mind does not work that way.

Man and woman were the last creations.

Because that’s the way it needed to be.

So I think it’s worth taking some time to ponder on the order of things in our life each day.

What are my priorities? What am I making time for, no matter what? What do I always seem to run out of time for?

The order can teach me what is most important in my heart.

Happy Studying!

-Cail Black

The post Order and priorities first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

But my biggest hang up has been “how”?

How do I know what to keep and what to eliminate?

I’ve heard the fantastic advice about “good, better, and best”.

But even that can feel a little vague at times.

How do I actually know what things are “good” and which are “better”?

One word really stood out to me as I read the account of the Creation that has never popped out before:

YIELD

The Lord is constantly talking about what various fruits or vegetation will yield.

And everything is intended to yield something similar to what it is— trees yielding fruit that will produce new fruit trees; grains yielding seeds that will produce the same plants.

What a simple way to see what is good and what is not!

What does this action or activity YIELD in my life?

Does it yield a closer relationship to God or not?

Does it yield a better relationship with my husband and kids or not?

Does it yield personal development that uplifts me?

Those are the things I want to keep.

And, admittedly, sometimes I have to look at the long-term yield.

Family scripture study with a 4 and 2 year old doesn’t always produce an awesome short-term yield.

But I know I’m sowing seeds for a much delayed harvest on that one, so I’ll keep it (although we’ll probably play around with what it looks like to make sure it’s working alright).

So I think I’ll focus on weeding out some of the stuff that isn’t yielding what I’d like.

Or maybe it’s only yielding temporary fruits that are clearly taking way too much of my time and energy to cultivate for such little payoff.

God only created living creatures and plants that could multiply and yield after the manner that they are.

I’ve only got a limited amount of time in this life, and I want to make sure my good intentions and my divine potential are yielding results that are just as good and divine as I am.

What am I yielding?

Happy Studying!

–Cali Black

The post Yielding and priorities first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Let me tell ya, there is nothing like a funeral to get you reflecting long and hard about what you are doing with your life right now.

Because not a single person who spoke at this man’s funeral said anything about his home.

Nothing about his car.

Virtually nothing about his work achievements.

Nothing about his possessions (except his golf clubs!).

It was all about who he was and how he made other people feel.

It was about the moments he comforted, and joked around, and led.

He was so so so loved, and it was all because of how he made other people feel.

The Lord told the two men who kept waiting around in Ohio to wrap up their business endeavors:

“Let them repent of all their sins, and of all their covetous desires, before me, saith the Lord; for what is property unto me? saith the Lord.” D&C 117:4

What is property unto me?

What will we be keeping with us when we leave this world behind?

What will our loved ones on this side actually care about and remember the most when we depart this life?

And so that brings me to this question that’s been on my mind these past few weeks that I’d love to extend to you:

How will I use my choices today to reflect my real priorities?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post My thoughts from a funeral first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I looked at my floors, literally covered in crumbs from breakfast and lunch and headed toward the pantry to grab my broom.

This was my time to get stuff done before the little ball of energy woke up and needed me to be with him constantly.

That freedom, today, meant cleaning things up.

“Can you read this book to me?”

This was the time when I usually put a show on for my daughter so that I could be uninterrupted, but she was holding a book in her hand.

I could just tell by the way she asked me, that she needed my attention.

The spirit whispered to me that this was where I needed to spend my time today.

And so I spent my moments of “freedom” cuddled up with daughter on the couch, reading her books.

We ended up laughing a lot. She started pointing out letters that she saw.

It was a really fun moment.

When my son woke up, the floors were still covered in crumbs, and they didn’t get cleaned up until much later.

I also didn’t finish a work project that I had on my schedule until after the kids went to sleep.

I can’t “have it all”.

I can’t have an orderly home and well-adjusted kids and run a business and spend time with my husband and fulfill my calling and study my scriptures all at the same time.

I can’t bear all that.

It’s too much.

And then add in some trials…

I can’t bear all things that have been given to me.

But.

I’m okay with that.

I can still be of good cheer.

Because I don’t have to do all those things and be all those things at the same time.

Just like the little voice that gave me the confidence to walk away from the broom and pick up the book in that moment, the secret solution is the Savior.

He leads me along.

He gives me that quiet assurance that my kids will be fine if they watch another show while I finish up my task. Or whatever I need to know.

Life can be confusing and overwhelming.

And the Lord so lovingly gives us the blueprint of peace to follow:

“Ye cannot bear all things now;

“Nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along.” D&C 78:18

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post I will lead you along first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

It’s a kids’ board book about Jesus visiting the Nephites, and it has a giant picture of Jesus on the front cover.

She calls it her “scriptures” or her “Jesus book”.

She was SO excited to find it.

And then we all piled into the car to get some groceries from the store.

As I pulled her out of her carseat, she grabbed her book, which she had, of course, brought in the car.

We started walking toward the main doors for the store, and a man was out there greeting and handing out carts.

Quin raised the book up high and said to the man:

“Look! I found my Jesus book!”

The man gave an awkward smile.

I quickly walked her inside the store and felt pretty embarrassed.

And then… I felt really sad about how embarrassed I was.

Why did I care what that man thought of my daughter and me?

I want her to learn to be comfortable talking about Jesus in front of other people and sharing her little testimony.

And yet, in the rush of the moment, I lost sight of that and only focused on caring about what someone else thought.

When the Lord talks about James Covel in D&C 40:2, the Lord teaches us that one reason James decided not to join the church was due to “fear… of the cares of the world”.

Are we afraid of being “that person” who talks about Jesus all the time?

Of course, I personally want to share my testimony of Jesus with tact and respect. Intentionally making others feel awkward is never something I aspire to do.

But I also want to never be held down by the “cares of the world” when it comes to sharing my testimony.

If you know me, Cali Black, you know that I talk about Jesus, and that’s just how it is.

I think there’s a reason we’ve been asked to leave the cares of the world behind, and to only focus on our Savior.

I think it’s because at the end of the day, when we pass on from this life, the cares of the world will no longer hold any meaning.

But our relationship with our Savior will have all the meaning in the world.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The cares of the world first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.