She was so excited to grow this seed into a plant.

I talked to her about how she needed to remember to water it every day for the plant to grow. 

But the plant was eventually forgotten about.

When I showed my daughter the shriveled roots and sprouts, she was devastated.

“Can’t we save it?” she cried.

I had to teach her the harsh lesson that the plant wouldn’t grow anymore. 

It would be sad if that were the truth for us, too.

How devastating would it be for someone to die and for that to be the end of their existence? 

How sad would it be to have to share the news that because of death, someone is gone forever and ever?

I am so grateful to know that this life is not the end.

Job testified, “If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.” (Job 14:14)

This isn’t the end.

We will all live again because of Jesus!

It’s a simple truth that many of us have heard our whole lives.

But today I want to sit in that wonder for just a bit.

And I can find solace, just like Job did, that we will all live again.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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

My husband will often talk to me about people, maybe from work, maybe from our ward, and I have NO CLUE who he is talking about.

Like, it’s bad. ⁣

BUT I fully believe there is actually a sacred respect around our names. ⁣

They are important. ⁣

In fact, when I was a full-time teacher, I usually had around 90 new students each year.

And I made it a goal to memorize all 90-some kids’ names by the end of the third day of school.

It was hard work.

I would quiz myself with their picture rosters.

I would walk around the room during independent work and call them by name.

And honestly, I would pray for help. ⁣

For some reason, this was a really important goal for me. ⁣

And by the 4th day of school, I had them down! Even all the Kylies, Kayleys, and Kaylas.

But a few weeks into the school year, I would notice some other teachers would still be asking students in their own class what their names were, or calling some students by the wrong name repeatedly. ⁣

Names are important.⁣

There is something different, deep, and personal about calling someone by their name. ⁣

Jesus Christ, the Savior of all mankind, appeared to Mary first. ⁣

And all He said was her name. ⁣

“Jesus saith unto her, Mary.” (John 20:16)

Can you imagine the Savior saying your first name?

Really imagine it?⁣

What a tender experience. ⁣

And she responds with the respectful title, Rabboni. ⁣

Two names were said, but I imagine a flood of meaning and emotion from both ends. ⁣

I’m not sure what the “takeaway” is for this lesson, other than it has come up in my life a lot recently so I felt like I should post. ⁣

Maybe we can do better at putting effort into learning people’s names and using them often.

Especially those who we have stewardship over in callings.

Maybe we can do better at referring to our Savior and Heavenly Father by name or title more in our home.

Maybe we can take more solace in the fact that our Heavenly Father and Savior really do know us BY NAME.⁣

But names are powerful, personal, and meaningful.

What lessons have you learned about the importance of names?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The importance of a name  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Suddenly, the resurrected Savior approached them…

But their eyes were not able to recognize Him.

These disciples were sad.

They explained to the disguised Christ that their friend, Jesus, had been a mighty prophet.

But today had been the third day since His crucifixion, and He hadn’t returned yet. ⁣

After some more conversation, they arrived at their dwelling.

These disciples pleaded gently with the disguised Jesus:

“Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.” (Luke 24:29)

They didn’t exactly know who this man was who had walked with them.

But He had read the scriptures to them and invited the Spirit.

I can imagine them thinking that if this person did anything to bring them closer to the Spirit, they wanted Him to stick around.

What journey have you been walking on recently?

Maybe you are learning to love the scriptures more.

Maybe you want more spiritual experiences.

Maybe you are looking to grow your faith.

No matter your path, Jesus is there walking with you.

EVEN when you don’t realize it.

It’s tough to see and recognize Him when our lives are filled with all sorts of mortal distractions.

Sadness.

Frustration.

But Jesus is with us!

And Jesus will stay with us on our path in the future, too, as we invite the Spirit to abide with us just a little bit longer.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Abide with us! first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Why does it matter that we have living prophets and apostles on the earth today?⁣

Why does it matter that we receive continued revelation in our lives?⁣

Honestly— someone asked me these questions recently and it took me a bit to figure out why I felt all of these things were so important.

I want to share what I think, but I also invite you to ponder about your own responses.

I believe the answer is because the gospel is alive and relevant!

We have a LIVING Savior with LIVING prophets and REAL-TIME guidance from the Spirit.

Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ care about us right now, living our lives.

They care about our “modern” problems.

⁣The Savior can offer us grace right now!

Sometimes when we read about Christ living 2,000 years ago, it’s easy to keep Him 2,000 years ago in our mind.

Just like the prophets we read about in the scriptures, we keep Him in the time period where we read about His stories.

Sandals. Walking in Galilee. Robes.

Jesus isn’t with everyone else we’ve read about who has since passed on.

He is alive!

“And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:5)

He rose from the dead so He could be on our journey with us as much as He was on the streets in Jerusalem.

I’m grateful for a living Savior, with living prophets, with ever-present personal revelation that can help me in my immediate times of need.

So what help, guidance, love, or impressions do you need today?

It’s all available right now in this living gospel!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Three important questions  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I practiced for a few weeks leading up to the race.

I’d push a stroller with a kid in it and run around the neighborhood.

At first, I could only run an embarrassingly small amount without stopping.

When I’d look at my phone to see how much I still had to run, I would almost quit.

It was too hard. I couldn’t do it.

But slowly, I built up my stamina.

On the day of the race, the cold morning air was sharp in my lungs.

I started the race.

There were many times that I wanted to quit.

My lungs were on fire and my calves started to cramp.

But I kept going because I knew the end point was near!

I crossed the finish line, and immediately rested and drank tons of water before climbing in our heated car.

I pushed through my discomfort during the race because I knew it wasn’t going to last forever.

Isn’t this is the kind of perspective that can give us hope here on earth, too?

Some races are short and intense, some are long and grating.

But we know there is going to be a finish line with a greater reward than we could even imagine at the end.

Job was a powerful example of this.

He knew exactly what the reward was, and he had faith that it really would happen.

Job bore this sweet but powerful testimony:

“I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.” (Job 19:25-26)

Jesus Christ lives, and we will be resurrected!

That is the glorious finish line waiting for each of us.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The resurrection is the greatest finish line first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

What comfort this sweet sentence gives!

HE LIVES, HE LIVES, who once was dead.

HE LIVES, my ever-living Head.

HE LIVES to bless me with his love.

HE LIVES to plead for me above. 

HE LIVES my hungry soul to feed. 

HE LIVES to bless in time of need. 

HE LIVES to grant me rich supply.

HE LIVES to guide me with his eye.

HE LIVES to comfort me when faint.

HE LIVES to hear my soul’s complaint.

HE LIVES to silence all my fears.

HE LIVES to wipe away my tears.

HE LIVES to calm my troubled heart.

HE LIVES all blessings to impart.⁣

HE LIVES, my kind, wise heav’nly Friend.

HE LIVES and loves me to the end.

HE LIVES, and while he lives, I’ll sing.

HE LIVES, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

HE LIVES and grants me daily breath.

HE LIVES, and I shall conquer death.

HE LIVES my mansion to prepare.

HE LIVES to bring me safely there.⁣

HE LIVES! All glory to his name!

HE LIVES, my Savior, still the same.

Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:

“I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES!”

It’s a song that we hear often, but one that you might be missing out on singing with a congregation today.

And in its words, it holds the greatest collection of truths I have ever found in one place about our Savior.

HE LIVES. And he has innumerable roles as he helps me to become more like him.
⁣
I find that different lines of this song stick out to me at different times in my life. Right now, I really like: HE LIVES, my hungry soul to feed.⁣

Which phrase is the one that stands out to you today?

There is no end to the blessings that come to us because HE LIVES. ⁣

Happy Easter! 

“The Resurrected Christ” by Wilson J. Ong

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Easter Sunday: HE LIVES first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.