There are a few examples of the opposite that have always stood out to me.

(I’m not talking about bad examples, I promise! I mean a different kind of opposite…)

After Alma and Amulek watched one of the most tragic events imaginable, here’s what happened:

“The judge stood before them, and said: Why do ye not answer the words of this people? Know ye not that I have power to deliver you up unto the flames?

“And he commanded them to speak;

“but they answered nothing.” (Alma 14:19)

Silence.

They said nothing.

I think of Jesus and the times when He chose not to verbally respond to people.

Speaking up is important.

Defending our beliefs is important.

I can think of countless times in the scriptures and in modern-days when people have been moved to speak up.

In fact, we are often explicitly asked to speak up.

But sometimes the Spirit can move us to just be silent. ⁣

Maybe it’s because the Spirit warns us that saying anything wouldn’t help.

Maybe it’s because the Spirit knows we can be a better example through our actions than our words.

Maybe it’s because we need to be quiet and listen to someone else’s perspective.

“Jesus Christ, the only perfect person to ever walk the earth, taught us through quiet example to say nothing or to be silent in stressful times in our lives rather than to spend time and energy bashing for whatever purpose.” – Marvin J. Ashton

Talking and sharing are so important.

But sometimes the best way to share our testimony is through silence.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The opposite of teaching  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Looking back at every podcast episode, every Instagram post, every email on my email list…

I’ve shared hundreds and hundreds of personal stories just over the past 2.5 years.

But for this post, I’m not going to.

Because I want you to know that for every story I share, there are stories that I purposefully do not share.

In D&C 84:73, the Lord reminds the church, and specifically the apostles, that:

“They shall not boast themselves of these things, neither speak them before the world; for these things are given unto you for your profit and for salvation.”

God gives us sweet, spiritual experiences that are for our own personal benefit.

Sometimes, we share those experiences with others to help lift and inspire and connect.

But there are other experiences that are just for us.

They are purely to help strengthen our own testimony and to help us gain salvation.

For me? I just know.

There are some experiences that I know will make cute, or funny, or poignant spiritual messages to share with others.

And there are other experiences that I just know I want to keep to myself.

They are either difficult to describe, too nuanced to write down, too personal on nature, or even, on occasion, too miraculous to speak.

It can be a little strange when everyone starts sharing stories, and you know that your story would fit right in, but you just know that’s it a little too sacred to share.

It’s okay.

Not everything needs to be shared.

It’s okay to keep some things in your heart.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post No personal story first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Do you know about this guy and his wife, Polly?

His quick-believing heart gave emotional and financial support to Joseph Smith.

His friends and family in Colesville, New York were all converted because of his example of faith, as well as his wife’s.

Joseph Knight, Sr., is the focus of the revelation in Section 12 of the Doctrine and Covenants.

Pretty soon after this revelation was given, all of the Colesville saints were asked to move to Ohio, and then shortly after they got settled, Missouri.

While other believers made these same journeys, there was special unity with the Colesville saints.

They all stayed together and faithfully followed the prophet Joseph’s directions on where to go.

They stayed together, followed the prophet, and helped each other.

The Colesville Saints from Colesville, New York, led at the helm by Joseph and Polly Knight, changed the course of church history in a not-very-loud way.

Keeping this humble and faithful future in mind, I love reading Section 12, knowing what waited in store for Joseph Knight, Sr., and his posterity.

So, what specific directions was Joseph Knight, Sr., asked to do by the Lord?

I pulled out some of these simple invitations from this revelation:

Give heed to God’s word

Reap the harvest

Ask and ye shall receive

Keep the commandments

In other words…

Joseph Knight, Sr., was advised to read God’s word in the scriptures, share the gospel and reap the harvest, ask God in prayer, and keep the commandments.

Nothing groundbreaking or new.

Sunday School answers through and through.

But this simple revelation, given to Joseph Knight, Sr., led him on a path of quiet and powerful goodness.

Powerful discipleship doesn’t have to be flashy and dramatic.

The whole world doesn’t need to know your name in order to make a difference.

But quietly following the will of the Lord, teaching your family, and following the prophet can make a world of difference in the quietest way possible.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Joseph Knight, Sr. first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Alma and Amulek didn’t say a thing after watching the believing saints being burned.

They were questioned and mocked and imprisoned.

But they didn’t say anything.

I think of Jesus Christ, and the times that he chose to not respond verbally to people.

Sometimes, he chose to be silent.

Speaking up is important. Defending our beliefs is important. I can think of countless times in the scriptures and in modern-days when people have been moved to speak up. In fact, we are often explicitly asked to speak up.

But sometimes, the Spirit can move us to just be silent.

I have felt this a few times in my life.

Sometimes, it’s been because saying anything wouldn’t change their mind. Although I enjoy teaching and sharing new perspectives, sometimes I feel that little prompting that tells me not to continue with the conversation.

Other times, it’s because I can be a better example through my actions than my words. When someone starts speaking rudely about another person with me, sometimes I feel like the best way to stop the gossip is to just not respond or react to what the person is telling me.

And other times, I need to be silent for my personal improvement. When talking with other people, I often start formulating a response or opinion in my head. But sometimes I get the quiet thought that tells me to just stop and listen.

Talking, sharing, speaking. Those are all important.

But sometimes, saying nothing is the best way to make the biggest impact.

Sometimes, we can share our testimony through silence.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Saying nothing first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.