But they had at least finally completed the temple.

This is what the Lord had been waiting for, right?!

He wanted them to build the temple, and sacrifice after sacrifice had resulted in this beautiful building they had now packed to the brim for the dedication.

This was going to be the turning point.

And when they thought about their poor sisters and brothers in Clay County, Missouri, who had lost so much of their property and possessions…

Their hearts were broken.

And so, in the dedicatory prayer, they cried:

“We plead before thee for a full and complete deliverance from under this yoke; Break it off, O Lord; break it off from the necks of thy servants, by thy power”. D&C 109:32-33

Break off that yoke.

Use thy power and completely deliver us.

Now is the time.

But… that wasn’t God’s will.

I’m sure His good and divine heart broke to hear what they wanted so desperately, but what He could not deliver to them because He had something better in store for the much bigger picture.

In less than 2 years all of the righteous saints would flee Kirtland and head to Far West, Missouri.

They would give up their beloved Kirtland temple.

The persecutions would get even stronger.

They would find temporary relief in the swampy town of Nauvoo and build up a beautiful city and temple.

The persecutions and lying and slander would get even worse.

Their prophet and his brother would be killed.

Plans to move west would be made.

Some had to spend a frigid and deadly winter in Winter Quarters, Nebraska.

Hundreds of miles walked.

And then, the Salt Lake Valley.

But so many of those original Kirtland saints didn’t make it that far. In their lifetime, the persecution never stopped.

But I believe that even though the lying and the slander may have never stopped, God was with them.

He may not have been able to grant that specific request, but I’m sure He answered countless other prayers and heartfelt cries.

Our will is not always God’s, but that doesn’t mean He’ll leave us alone.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Not God’s will first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I had recently moved into the ward.

My house was still being slowly organized.

I was pretty sick and tired from pregnancy.

There was just a lot going on.

So, no thank you. I couldn’t handle my own life at the moment, which meant visiting my assigned sisters was not going to happen.

And then my new companion cornered me, and I quickly found myself agreeing to dates and times to go minister.

I picked up some cookies on the day we had planned, and met her at a house. We were invited inside.

And the conversation and company that flowed for the next unexpected two hours was so refreshing.

I found connection, I felt sympathy, I laughed, I shed a few tears, I served.

I’ve realized I’m really good at giving this excuse in a lot of areas in my life.

“Oh no, I can’t handle the simple day-to-day stuff right now, so I can’t take on anything else.”

But time and time again, I’ve learned that when I try to give and serve in times that I lack, it is enough.

The amazing Kirtland saints didn’t wait until their back accounts felt a litttttle more comfortable and all their debts were paid off before they donated their money.

“Out of our poverty we have given of our substance”. D&C 109:5

They had nothing. And they still gave.

And with what they gave, they built the first holy temple to the Lord in this dispensation.

When I don’t think I have enough time to serve, but I do it anyways, I am always proven wrong.

Because… I’m always going to lack.

At least, it seems highly unlikely that at some point in my life I’ll be like, “Yeah, I’m totally comfortable now. I have nothing else to worry about and so NOW I’d like to serve others.”

We are asked to serve from our own lack.

Of course, paying attention to when the line has crossed into unhealthy service. It’s okay to say no.

But I’ve come to learn that for the most part, I’m never going to feel like I’m “ready enough” to serve more or sacrifice more.

And yet, even in my complete and utter lack, the Lord can take what little I’m offering and transform it into a mighty miracle.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Serving from lack first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

If your mind went to a group of Saints in the 1800s trying to practice the Law of Consecration, but failing, and then having the Law of Consecration removed until we will be able to practice it better in the future…

Know that this is basically what I thought for a long time, too, until someone corrected me.

And my mind was blown!

While it is totally true that various groups of early saints did try– and fail– to organize systems through which they could live the Law of Consecration…

The actual Law of Consecration has NEVER been removed since it was restored!

In fact, as stated on the church’s temple website, the Law of Consecration is one of the specific covenants made during the endowment ordinance.

In D&C Section 51, the Lord was giving Edward Partridge, the bishop, some of the first directions when it came to giving members of the church stewardship over certain items and then redistributing them.

And the Lord’s main focus was to help everyone remember one important truth:

“And I consecrate unto them this land for a little season, until I, the Lord, shall provide for them otherwise, and command them to go hence” D&C 51:16

The Lord wanted them to remember that everything. EVERYTHING. Was from Him.

THAT is the biggest purpose of the Law of Consecration.

Which means… we can do that now!

Sure, we haven’t been asked to deed everything we physically own to our bishop to then redistribute.

But we can still consecrate EVERYTHING.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson taught in 2010:

“The Lord’s law of consecration… has an economic role but, more than that, is an application of celestial law to life here and now.

“To consecrate is to set apart or dedicate something as sacred, devoted to holy purposes.

“True success in this life comes in consecrating our lives—that is, our time and choices—to God’s purposes.”

But I can consider all the blessings that I have been given:

My time, my body, my financial situation, my talents and gifts, my leadership abilities, my education– how can I consecrate these?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Do we still consecrate? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

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

But, based off of other patterns that Joseph spoke about, I have a feeling his mind kept getting drawn to certain topics, he would have questions come to mind about those topics, he would ask the questions in sincere prayer, and then he would receive some form of direction or inspiration.

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

But those saints?

These people who had gotten glimpses of the spirit from the Book of Mormon or from hearing a sermon and wanted to learn more?

These people who all had unique backgrounds and stories, but still felt led to learn more?

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

It’s a pattern that 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 this Relief Society activity could be more effective.

And then others work toward receiving confirmation of their inspiration.

Sometimes, that confirmation is immediate.

It’s in the moment the idea or teaching is spoken.

I remember the first time President Nelson spoke as the prophet. I immediately felt confirmation from the Spirit that his call had come through divine inspiration.

But other times, that confirmation 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.

As the Lord taught in D&C 20:10, “Which was given by inspiration, and is confirmed to others”.

Sometimes we receive the inspiration, and sometimes we wait in patience for the confirmation.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Inspiration and Confirmation first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.