But have you noticed how many people, prophets, and scriptures describe the Spirit as a “still small voice”?⁣

Elijah noted the Lord wasn’t in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in “a still small voice”. (1 Kings 19:12)⁣

I’ve found that be true in my life, too. ⁣

He often speaks to me in a still, small voice. ⁣

Giving guidance, correction, love, comfort, peace, strength. ⁣

But I’ve also noticed something about how I hear Him. ⁣

I’ve also got to be STILL and SMALL.

I need to be humble. My ego needs to be small. My pride needs to be gone. ⁣

And I’ve got to be still, even if it’s for just a moment smack dab in the middle of a crazy day. ⁣

I need to be still and small to hear the still, small voice. ⁣

It’s that little invitation. ⁣

That little sign that I’m ready to listen. ⁣

That unfairly small effort that allows the Spirit to enter my heart and give me what I need. ⁣

I’ve got a million excuses for not taking still, small moments. ⁣

But whenever I get out of “busy victim” mentality and get to work to have a moment of quiet, I’m always surprised at how easily the direction comes. ⁣

Still, small moments for a still, small voice. ⁣

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Still and small first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

But I don’t want us to tune this question out…

Because the question is actually so EMPOWERING!⁣

It’s not: “How to you get God to answer your prayers?”⁣

It’s not: “How do you get God to speak to you every day?”⁣

It’s not: “Are you worthy enough to have God speak to you?”⁣

No. ⁣

Instead, this powerful question has one big underlying assumption:⁣

God speaks to us. ⁣

All of us. ⁣

Right?!⁣

If we are trying to figure out how to hear the word of the Lord in our lives, then we have to trust that He is actually speaking to us. ⁣

Young Samuel’s story is so relatable. ⁣

The Lord called out his name in the middle of the night, ready to deliver a message. ⁣

… and Samuel assumed it was Eli. ⁣

Eli was the one who taught Samuel how to #HearHim, in a quite literal sense! ⁣

“Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.” (1 Samuel 3:10) ⁣

Thy servant heareth. ⁣

It’s on me, really. ⁣

Am I ready to hear?⁣

Or am I too prideful? Too busy? Too forgetful? Too loud? Too selfish?⁣

Yup, all of those at different times. ⁣

And so I have to work to actually listen. ⁣

To say that urgent prayer in the middle of a kid’s meltdown and listen and EXPECT the Spirit to prompt me on what to do. ⁣

To ask for comfort and direction before I go and do something I’m dreading and then make space for an answer to come. ⁣

To feel overwhelmed and then proactively play some uplifting music, knowing that the notes and lyrics will connect me with Him. ⁣

God does not want to leave me comfortless, directionless, helpless. ⁣

I have faith that this is true. ⁣

He speaks. ⁣

So will I hear Him?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post An empowering question first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I had finished up my freshman year, and had to make the pretty dramatic decision, at least to a 15-year-old, about which school to attend.⁣

I knew my two options. ⁣

And I had faith in the power of prayer, so I prayed all summer long. ⁣

But… no answer. ⁣

But I knew the answer would come at some point, right? So I kept just praying. ⁣

Still… no answer. ⁣

My parents started to counsel me that I needed to get some more information about the two schools. ⁣

I needed to learn information, and that as I did, I would probably feel inspired for which school to attend. ⁣

I ended up getting course lists for both of the schools and mapping out my grad plan.⁣

And all of a sudden, one of the schools seemed like a way better fit. ⁣

I was drawn to their huge offering of elective classes that matched my interests, and it just seemed like the right way to go. It seemed obvious! ⁣

And that’s when I realized… that was my answer. ⁣

When Joseph and other leaders were trying to make a decision together, the Lord taught them to make their decision: “inasmuch as it shall be made known to him by the voice of the Spirit, and according to the counsel of the order, and by the voice of the order.” D&C 104:36⁣

Did you catch that? The Lord wanted them to come to their answer by listening to BOTH the voice of the spirit and the counsel of the people in the room. ⁣

President Nelson has even recently said: “I know that good inspiration is based upon good information”. ⁣

I’ve seen this time and time again since my teenage years. ⁣

Praying for inspiration AND learning from people who may know more than I do is the way that my mind is usually enlightened. ⁣

So, if you’ve been waiting for inspiration to strike, it might be worth it to start gathering information, and see where that takes you! ⁣

Have you had an experience like this before? Where good information or counsel led to better inspiration from the Spirit?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Information and revelation  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Joseph is reading newspaper reports every day about South Carolina’s new drama. ⁣

The federal government had established new tariffs (taxes), and South Carolina nullified them (AKA refused to pay them).

United States Pres Andrew Jackson threatened South Carolina. They better pay the tariffs, or they would go to war.⁣

It was in this mindset that Joseph prayed and received the revelation known as D&C 87. ⁣

This was a uniquely specific prophecy that actually mentioned specific locations and events:⁣

It mentioned the rebellion of South Carolina, a war between the Southern and Northern states, the Southern states calling on Great Britain for help, and slaves rising up against their masters. ⁣

So… I’m sure you know what happened next, right?!⁣

… the federal government and South Carolina made a pretty quick and easy compromise where the government lowered the tariffs and the state agreed to pay them. ⁣

That was it. ⁣

All that political tension and turmoil, and then add on a very specific prophecy from a prophet about war. ⁣

And then, an anticlimactic resolution. ⁣

Was the prophet wrong?⁣

Well, if you are familiar with U.S. history, you know the power of hindsight. ⁣

30 years later, South Carolina did lead a rebellion that brought unprecedented war between the north and the south, the south called on Great Britain for help, and slaves rose against their masters. ⁣

Long after Joseph had died, and long after the saints had already moved west to Utah.⁣

God’s timing is so dramatically different than our timing. ⁣

The early saints believed Christ’s return was imminent… and here we are 200 years later. ⁣

And this war prophecy did not come true even when current events seemed to point toward it happening right away. ⁣

Feeling a sense of “urgency” has always been something that the Lord has tried to evoke. ⁣

Change now. Keep the commandments immediately. Follow the prophet. ⁣

But we don’t do these things because we know we’ve got a deadline approaching. ⁣

We do these things because He knows we will feel so much more peace in our lives as soon as we decide to turn to Him. ⁣

God’s timing is His own.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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

One pattern that seems to be obvious over and over in the Doctrine and Covenants this year is this:⁣

When we are studying and pondering on the scriptures, the Lord will reveal to us greater light and knowledge. ⁣

I saw this pattern when Joseph, at the age of 14, pondered on a scripture he read and said a single, humble prayer.⁣

In Section 138, the final section of the Doctrine and Covenants, we’ll learn about Joseph F. Smith pondering on the scriptures and then receiving a glorious vision. ⁣

And this week, at about the halfway point, we learn about Joseph and Sidney reading and translating the Bible together, coming to the book of John, and realizing that the traditional notions of heaven and hell didn’t seem to fit with the nature of God.

I would assume Joseph and Sidney had some sort of discussion, and maybe many discussions, about this topic. ⁣

And then, these two men received a vision. ⁣

A vision that completely revolutionized how everyone thought about heaven. ⁣

And I don’t believe that this pattern is only reserved for the prophets. ⁣

Because I’ve seen it in my life.

My stewardship isn’t over the entire church, so the Lord would not reveal anything to me that was my duty to tell everyone. ⁣

But I’ve received further light and knowledge by gaining clarity on certain topics that I had previously spent a long time wrestling with in my mind. ⁣

I’ve received further light and knowledge on what actions to take in my life, even when the words are not directly written in the scriptures. ⁣

I’ve received further light and knowledge by feeling directed and pulled to other people that are experts in their field and that I feel prompted to trust. ⁣

I’ve received further light and knowledge by feeling an extreme confidence in my testimony of certain topics and being drawn to scriptures that continue to teach these principles. ⁣

I want to be in the scriptures. ⁣

And not just in them, but immersed in them. ⁣

Thinking, writing, asking, praying, reading, and thinking some more. ⁣

When I’m studying and pondering on the scriptures, the Lord reveals to me greater light and knowledge.

“Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high.” – Richard G. Scott

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Packets of light first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

It makes it much easier to share thoughts when I have the Spirit.

But as much fun as it is to share spiritual messages with you here, I want to point out that I am not authorized to receive revelation for any of you!

(I mean, unless one of my children or someone in my Sunday School class is reading this…)

I am so grateful that Heavenly Father wants to answer your prayers and comfort you.

And I’m so grateful that He sometimes uses the words that I write to answer those prayers.

But I think it is super important to know who we have stewardship over…

And who we don’t.

I love that the Lord is so organized when it comes to how revelation happens in this Church.

The Lord reminded Joseph and Oliver that “. . . no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church excepting my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., for he receiveth them even as Moses.” (D&C 28:2)

So, the prophet is the only person who can receive revelation for the entire Church.

How I serve or keep the Sabbath holy, or how I prioritize my time, will not look exactly the same as everyone else around me.

And that’s because the prophet has not told us specific details on how to do so.

And so I know that as long as I’m in line with what the prophet is teaching, I can access my own personal revelation to work out all the rest of the details.

“Most of our guidance comes from the Holy Ghost…. Guidance for the Church, as a whole, comes to the President and prophet of the Church.” – Quentin L. Cook

I have found that when I’m really clear on why God gives each of us access to revelation for various ideas or people, then I can better lean into learning the messages from God that are meant for me.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Know your stewardship first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

While we don’t know exactly what this process was like for him…

We know his inspiration usually started with a question.

And it included lots of pondering.

So when Joseph started teaching the saints everything he had learned from the Lord, he felt confident about what he was saying because he had felt the original inspiration.

But those Saints?

They needed to have Joseph’s inspiration confirmed to them.

The Lord described a command “Which was given by inspiration, and is confirmed to others.” (D&C 20:10)

It’s a pattern I’ve seen my whole life.

Both in the Church and in families.

Someone who is qualified receives inspiration:

A new family habit that mom and dad think should be implemented.

A calling that needs to be extended by a Stake President.

An idea from a committee member about how the Relief Society activity could be more effective.

Others then work toward receiving confirmation of their inspiration.

Sometimes, that confirmation is immediate.

But other times, it takes a while.

That new counsel or calling takes a bit to settle.

Emotions may get in the way of an initial confirmation.

… And so we have to wait.

But when it comes, it is powerful.

Sometimes, we receive the inspiration.

And sometimes, we wait patiently for the confirmation.

“Brigham Young is reported to have said that the greatest fear he had was that members of the Church would take what he said as the mind and will of God without first praying and obtaining a witness of the same for themselves.” – L. Tom Perry

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Confirm it!  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

This was a question that I asked myself over and over again a few years ago. ⁣

Every General Conference where I knew I needed to have a question in mind, every sacrament meeting, every Fast Sunday…⁣

I just felt so confused by this elusive “atonement”.

And yet every time I asked the question, I didn’t feel like I was getting much of an answer. ⁣

I didn’t feel like God was giving me wisdom liberally in response to my asking. ⁣

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5)

And then one Sunday, I was asked by a teacher to share my thoughts on “the atonement” for a few minutes in a church lesson. ⁣

As I nervously spoke to my class, I suddenly realized what a large testimony I had gained of Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice!

I discovered how much clarity I had gained over the past few years, little by little. ⁣

Even though I felt like I hadn’t received any wisdom, I recognized that I had learned to always refer to the event in reference to the Savior (“the Savior’s atoning sacrifice”). ⁣

I knew when I had repented, His atoning sacrifice was what made that possible. ⁣

I knew it wasn’t necessary to know the details of what the Savior’s sacrifice looked like in the moment. ⁣

I had been given such wisdom about the Savior’s atoning sacrifice, and I didn’t even realize it because it didn’t all come at once. ⁣

I keep thinking about Joseph right after the First Vision. ⁣

While we look back at that event as the start of a very large stone that now fills the whole earth, Joseph likely saw it as a small step. ⁣

He had asked about the state of his soul, and which church to join. ⁣

He was told that he was forgiven and that he should not join any of them. ⁣

But he wasn’t given any further instruction in that moment. ⁣

He had no clue about the Book of Mormon. No clue that he would organize an entirely new church. No clue that he would help restore ancient ordinances and covenants.⁣

Because sometimes, receiving liberal amounts of wisdom from God looks like tiny baby steps in the moment.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Rays and pillars  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

A few kids would always raise their hands and ask clarifying questions so that they could get to work.

But I knew there were a few confused students who just wouldn’t raise their hands.

Maybe they were embarrassed not to know something.

Maybe it wasn’t cool to raise their hands.

Maybe they were nervous about asking me anything.

But they just wouldn’t ask questions.

The Lord reminds us gently:

“And inasmuch as they sought wisdom they might be instructed.” (D&C 1:26)

Do you want to know one reason why I love studying the Doctrine and Covenants?

Because virtually every single revelation in this book came as the result of a question.

The Doctrine and Covenants is NOT filled with random revelations that the Lord gave to Joseph while Joseph was hanging out with his friends.

The Lord gave Joseph revelation after revelation after revelation because Joseph (and others) kept asking questions.

“Asking questions isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a precursor of growth”. – Elder Uchtdorf

What questions do you have in your heart?

We can’t forget that we ask.

And the Doctrine and Covenants is proof that, within our stewardship, the Lord uses our questions as an opportunity to teach and reveal.

What a cool pattern!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Afraid to ask a question first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Would you think of Joseph and Emma Smith in a log cabin?

Would you picture the Kirtland temple being built?

Would you think of saints gathered in Nauvoo?

Those are great images of certain aspects of the gospel being restored.

But did you know you could also picture yourself right now?

You.

Doing your ministering, serving your family, sitting in church on Sunday, or listening to General Conference…

You are part of the Restoration, too.

Like, really.

The 9th Article of Faith reminds us: “We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.”

How have you seen the Restoration roll forward just in your own lifetime?

After you think about that, try asking someone older than you how much the Church and their understanding of the gospel has changed throughout their life.

The change is real.

The progression is real.

The Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ is ongoing!

The Restoration Proclamation reminds us: “We gladly declare that the promised Restoration goes forward through continuing revelation.”

It might not seem as dramatic as some of the events that Joseph Smith experienced…

But that doesn’t mean revelations aren’t coming step-by-step.

Are you ready and listening for the next steps closer to God?

“When our time in mortality is complete, what experiences will we be able to share about our own contribution to this significant period of our lives and to the furthering of the Lord’s work?” – Elder Uchtdorf

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post YOU are the restoration! first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.