My favorite leaders haven’t always been the most organized. ⁣

My favorite leaders haven’t necessarily made the best executive decisions. ⁣

My favorite leaders haven’t always been the smartest. ⁣

My favorite leaders HAVE strengthened me. ⁣

They’ve known me. ⁣

They’ve cared about me and reached out to me. ⁣

They’ve taught or presented or trained on things that I really need to learn in order to become a better person. ⁣

The focus isn’t on them. ⁣

The conversation is always on others. ⁣

I’ve had bishops, Relief Society presidents, and Young Women leaders who have strengthened me. ⁣

I’ve had bosses, principals, and team leads who have strengthened me. ⁣

“Therefore, strengthen your brethren in all your conversation, in all your prayers, in all your exhortations, and in all your doings.” – (D&C 108:7)

I don’t know that everyone agrees that this is what makes a good leader. ⁣

But to me, it makes sense. ⁣

The ultimate, real, true purpose of us being here on earth isn’t to learn how to become the most efficient person we can possibly be. ⁣

It’s not to become that leader with all the charisma and fame. ⁣

It’s not to lead the biggest empire. ⁣

It’s to love God and then to love others. ⁣

It’s to take the strength we get from knowing our standing with God and to turn that around and spread it to others. ⁣

It’s to teach and build and share. ⁣

It’s real servant-leadership. ⁣

It’s the type of leadership Jesus Christ showed while He walked the earth. ⁣

Real leaders strengthen others. ⁣

Who has been a leader who has strengthened you? 

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post My favorite leaders  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

When I read the history of the Jaredites, there seems to be one common theme that is the root of all of their problems:

Power.

“And he gave battle unto Shule the king, in which he did obtain the land of their first inheritance; and he became a king over that part of the land.” (Ether 7:16)

These men wanted power.

They wanted power over other people so that they could make them do whatever they wanted.

They wanted power to give themselves more privilege and leniency.

They were willing to do whatever it took, including destroying families and friends, to grab power and to keep it.

What a contrast to Jesus.

He was the perfect example of humble “servant-leadership”

— Someone who gains authority by SERVING others. ⁣

Now, not many of us are seeking high positions of power.

But all of us have had some kind of leadership positions…

Whether in church callings, in work, and even as parents.

So what’s our leadership style?

Do we assume that our title gives us power, and we look for ways to get even more?

Or do we take leadership roles as a chance to serve those “beneath” us so much that we build our own loving authority and influence?⁣

Good leaders see opportunities of greater responsibility as a chance to do even greater service!

“The world teaches that leaders must be mighty; the Lord teaches that they must be meek.” – Stephen W. Owen

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Powerful leaders  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

As we worked through “what came next” on a series of different patterns, I noticed how many of the kids worked very differently.

Some of the kids would try and figure out the color patterns on their own.

(Sometimes they were right; other times they were very wrong.)

And other kids wanted to wait and see what the answer was before they colored in their pattern.

(“Wait, what’s the answer? What color should I use?”)

These two approaches are pretty universal, right?

Sometimes we have questions and problems, and we do our best to find a solution.

Other times, we have questions and problems, and we wait for the answer to come to us before we move forward.

As an educator, I’m very familiar with where the most learning happens:

When we do our best to do the work and find an answer, whether it is right or wrong, we learn infinitely more than when we just wait to be told the right answer.

Abraham’s servant is such a perfect and sweet example of this.

Tasked with finding a wife for Isaac, the servant came up with a plan and presented it to the Lord.

“And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.” (Genesis 24:14)

The servant came up with a possible solution!

And the Lord agreed with the plan!

Now, he could have been totally “wrong”, which would have then made it pretty easy for the Lord to tell him how he would actually give the sign of the right wife.

But either way, this servant chose to at least come up with the plan, which is where the most learning and growth happens.

It’s so tempting to want to sit around, waiting to be inspired or told to do the right things.

Who should I serve? How should I simplify my life? What can I do to teach my family the gospel?

It takes a lot of faith, and setting aside “perfectionism”, to take fully formed ideas to the Lord and see what you’ll be taught.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Patterns and preschool first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.