It was early, it was outside, and I had a million other things to do. ⁣

When I arrived, I was disappointed to learn that none of my friends from my ward had even showed up, even though they said they would.⁣

Sooooo I spent the rest of the activity performing service with a terrible attitude. ⁣

Annoyed that I had come, tired, cold, and a little bit sore from all the hard physical work. ⁣

Clearly, I was missing the entire point of the service activity, and my heart certainly was not happy. ⁣

The Lord taught the Israelites to serve the poor and needy in their community. ⁣

“Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him”. (Deuteronomy 15:10) ⁣

We are asked to give freely to those who are need, which is so important. ⁣

But we also need to make sure our hearts are not grieved, annoyed, or resentful when we give service. ⁣

So would it have been better to just sleep in that Saturday morning and not go to the service project? (Like all my friends decided to do?!)⁣

I don’t think so. ⁣

Service was still performed. Someone else got to feel gratitude for a lightened load. The leaders who had organized it didn’t have to sacrifice as much time away from their families because so many youth bailed.⁣

And it has now become an anchor learning opportunity for me about how NOT to perform service. ⁣

(But just to be clear, that was not an immediate lesson I learned. Reflection and growth take time and maturity!)⁣

I still try to show up to things, even when I don’t totally feel like it because I know at least other people’s loads get lightened. ⁣

But it’s so much better when I prepare my heart and mind with love beforehand! ⁣

Giving with a happy and willing heart makes all the difference.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Bailing on the service project  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I was of absolutely no use that day, since I had recently found out I was pregnant with our first, and I was beyond sick. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

But my husband was doing great! ⁣⁣⁣⁣

My heart sank as I looked at our completely empty apartment, though. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

Because even though our stuff was all gone, there was so much CLEANING that still had to happen before we handed the keys back to management the next day. ⁣⁣⁣

And my husband’s grad school schedule meant the cleaning would all fall to me. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

Even though I was so sick and so tired. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

I remember my husband suggesting we just give the apartment back as it was, willingly forfeiting our deposit. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

But it was a huge deposit, and I wanted to get that money back. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

I prayed that night that I would feel well enough to clean. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

That next morning, I woke up to a text from a lady in our ward that we were leaving:⁣⁣⁣⁣

“Hey Cali! I heard you are feeling really sick! My family wants to come clean your apartment today so that you don’t have to. We’ll bring all our own cleaning supplies and make sure it’s super clean. You just rest and relax today!”⁣⁣⁣

I never set foot in that apartment again, and a month later, we got our full deposit back. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

I’ve thought a lot about this lady’s ridiculously kind offer, her teenage kids that probably weren’t super happy to learn about their family activity that evening, and her charitable heart that acted immediately after hearing a need. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

I also have thought about how the Lord COULD have given me strength to clean my apartment. He could have caused my sickness to subside. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

But instead he gave this family a chance to serve and to act. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

“We will surely be blessed with opportunities to be instruments in His hands”. -Elder Ulisses Soares ⁣⁣⁣⁣

It’s a blessing to be able to do what the Lord would do. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

He could make it all happen on His own, without any of us helping.⁣⁣⁣⁣

But He generously gives us the blessing of being able to act in His behalf. ⁣⁣⁣

Moses got this blessing, too. ⁣⁣

There were many ways the Israelites could have been freed. ⁣Yet the Lord was kind enough to let Moses lead.

“Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.” —Exodus 3:10

How could the Lord be calling to you to invite you to be part of His work as a massive blessing to you right now?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The apartment cleaning deposit first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I had a friend say this recently when I did some service for them during a rough time. ⁣

But it wasn’t hard work for me, honestly. ⁣

I love this friend, I wanted to make their burden lighter, and I even felt like I hadn’t done enough. ⁣

But… I can also think of other times when I’ve served out of obligation or assignment, and it sure has felt like a burden to me. ⁣

My “service” becomes another thing added to my to-do list. ⁣

I think Jacob can teach us a lesson about what the difference is between these two scenarios. ⁣

He loved Rachel. ⁣

So when her father requested Jacob work 7 years for her hand:⁣

“Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.” (Genesis 29:20)⁣

Love. ⁣

I think love is the difference. ⁣

Have you noticed this? ⁣

When I focus on how much I love my kids, the service I do for them seems much lighter— not even like service! I’m just helping them out. ⁣

When I focus on how much I love my husband, I want to serve him and make his life much easier because I find joy in it. ⁣

When I’m filled with love for people in my community, I have a natural desire to serve them and make their burdens lighter.

Love makes service a joy!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Love and service  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

It was the expectation that my sisters and I would help set the table and get the food ready to be served. ⁣

The problem was… ⁣

They always asked me to come and help at the most inconvenient times.

I was always in the middle of some math problem, or writing an essay, or reading a book, or talking with a friend. ⁣

It was never a good time. ⁣

And so, more often than I care to admit, about five minutes later, the call would come up the stairs again, “Cali, we need your help! Come on down!”⁣

The thing about calls to service are that they rarely come at a convenient time. ⁣

Whether it’s your mom, your kid, your neighbor…⁣

I’m sure I’m always “in the middle of something”. ⁣

But what I’ve learned as I’ve matured, and thank goodness that teenage Cali matured, is that service isn’t about us. ⁣

My parents weren’t trying to inconvenience me and annoy me and make my life harder. ⁣

They just straight up needed help. ⁣

My mom or dad had already just made dinner for me (DEFINITELY did not appreciate that as much as I should have!), and they were asking for help getting everything ready to go on the table. ⁣

And my sisters who may had already gotten downstairs needed help with their tasks so it wasn’t all on them. ⁣

This was not about me and if I was in a convenient stopping point. At all. ⁣

It was about the people who needed help. ⁣

When the Lord called someone to serve in D&C 117:14, the reason given for him to come speedily to fulfill his assignment wasn’t just because the Lord wanted him to be rushed and inconvenienced. ⁣

It was “for the benefit of my people.”⁣

People around us need help. And when they ask for help or when we feel that prompting, it’s not about what works best for us. ⁣

(Although yes, I’m all for setting healthy boundaries when needed.)⁣

But ultimately, it’s all about the benefit of the person in need.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Inconvenient service first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

The thought came into my mind. ⁣

Again. ⁣

“Yes, yes, I definitely need to. Let me do that later.”⁣

Is what I said back to my mind. ⁣

Again. ⁣

A few weeks later, I was chatting with a friend. ⁣

She started to tell me about the coolest experience she had recently—⁣

She had reached out to a mutual acquaintance (the person for whom I kept ignoring the prompting), and had served her. ⁣

She told me how unexpectedly emotional it ended up being. ⁣

How the two of them had really bonded and raw feelings had been shared. ⁣

She mentioned that she really felt like she was literally being an answer to this sister’s prayers. ⁣

And the pit in my stomach grew and grew as she talked. ⁣

I had missed out. ⁣

I had delayed the prompting for so long that the Lord had found someone else to replace me in the service. ⁣

The Lord warned David Patten, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve:⁣

“Inasmuch as there are those among you who deny my name, others shall be planted in their stead”. (D&C 114:2⁣)

God has a great work to do. He has countless people to bless and serve and minister to…⁣

And we are often His hands to get the work done. ⁣

So if we aren’t going to be the answer, then He will find someone else with a willing heart. ⁣

But I have to finish my story from earlier. ⁣

Because after the pity party that I threw myself while my friend was telling me what she assumed was an uplifting story, I had another thought:⁣

“You can still serve her.”⁣

I realized she still needed help. She still needed friendship. ⁣

I may have missed a big opportunity, and I felt the good guilt from ignoring that prompting. ⁣

But I still had a chance to repent and serve. ⁣

Repentance is real. ⁣

If we aren’t doing what we should, God will find others to serve instead. ⁣

But our Savior’s atoning sacrifice makes it possible to try again the next time, and for that I am eternally grateful.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post My missed opportunity first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

They were well-meaning saints who gathered together weekly and had copies of the Book of Mormon, but Warren recognized that his congregation needed someone with some greater priesthood authority and direction to assist them in Freedom, New York. ⁣

He wrote a letter to his brother Oliver’s good friend Joseph Smith asking for him to send someone with greater priesthood authority out to visit their branch.

I imagine Warren was excited to get someone to lead them. ⁣

Wouldn’t it be so nice to have someone step up and take charge?⁣

Someone who actually knew what they were doing?⁣

Warren had been familiar with the church since his brother had first met up with Joseph a few years earlier. ⁣

But Warren himself had only been converted and baptized for less than a year. ⁣

Finally, Joseph wrote a letter back to Warren! ⁣

“It is my will that my servant Warren A. Cowdery should be appointed and ordained a presiding high priest over my church, in the land of Freedom and the regions round about;” (D&C 106:1)

Wait, what?⁣

Doesn’t Warren’s story sound familiar? ⁣

Sometimes we see the need. ⁣

It is so glaringly obvious. ⁣

Someone needs to step up and do something about that. ⁣

And then…⁣

We are the ones called to fill that position. ⁣

Or, we realize on our own that WE could be the one to step up and be the solution. ⁣

It’s a lot easier to notice what’s wrong and wait for someone else to solve the problems we see. ⁣

“If only someone would fix that bulletin board!”⁣

“If only someone would help that lady!”⁣

“If only someone would start a fun hangout group!”⁣

“If only someone would start advocating for that cause more!”⁣

But what if… we were the person we were waiting for?⁣

We can see a need, and we can be the one to step up.

“Heavenly Father may have placed those who need us closest to us, knowing that we are best suited to meet their needs.” – Bonnie L. Oscarson

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Waiting for Someone to Help first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

How could you make the biggest impact for good on others that you possibly can? ⁣

It’s gotta be something big right?!⁣

A big event. ⁣

An elaborate service project⁣

A huge social media account. ⁣

Greatest good = tons of people, right?⁣

I want to flip the question a bit. ⁣

What things have made the biggest impact in YOUR life?⁣

Who has inspired you to live the gospel with integrity, and how did they inspire you?⁣

Who has taught you how to be kinder and more loving, and how did they teach it?⁣

For me, the answers to those questions are not big. ⁣

At least, they don’t look big. ⁣

They look like a text message sent at exactly the right moment. ⁣

They look like a leader who always lived the gospel with integrity.⁣

They look like someone teaching a lesson that they probably never got thanked for, but one phrase completely changed me. ⁣

Doing the greatest good seems to not look like large, grandiose gestures. ⁣

Doing the greatest good looks an awful lot like becoming a Christlike person who tries to do the little things that He would do. ⁣

So what’s the greatest good you could be doing right now?

It probably looks a lot like unthanked and overlooked service, love, and integrity that we will never fully see the impact of.

“And in doing these things thou wilt do the greatest good unto thy fellow beings.” (D&C 81:4)

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Greatest good  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I’ve been pondering on that this week. ⁣⁣

I think most of us can recite that “charity is the pure love of Christ”.⁣⁣

But then I hope I’m not alone in often picturing charity as an action.

Reaching out. Making a call. Pulling weeds. Making beds. Being a listening ear. ⁣

(Which are all amazing actions to take, of course!)⁣

But I think it’s important to remember that charity is actually just a feeling. ⁣

In fact, according to the Bible Dictionary, charity is “the highest, noblest, strongest kind of love”. ⁣

In the scriptures, the word “charity” is never even used to refer to good deeds. ⁣

Instead, it is an emotion we feel inside of ourselves. ⁣

It can totally be the motivating factor for us to then reach out and perform acts of service for other people! ⁣

But charity is love. ⁣

Feeling love NEVER fails US. ⁣

I clarify “US” because our acts of service can certainly fail other people. ⁣

I may think I’m being a fantastic ministering sister, while someone complains that I don’t fulfill my assignment very well. ⁣

I may think I’m being a helpful volunteer, while someone thinks that I’m wasting my time. ⁣

I may think I’m being thoughtful, while someone thinks I’m being overbearing. ⁣

I can’t control how the pure love that I feel in my heart is then perceived by other people.

(Of course, tact and sensitivity are always qualities I strive for, too! But at the end of the day, I can only do my best.)⁣

But the Godly love that I try to cultivate can change me.

It can save me. ⁣

What a timely message, right?!⁣

The more love we feel for other people, the more Christlike we become. Because He loves everyone, too. ⁣

Everything else will fail in the end. ⁣

But feeling a deep love, a love that is kind, patient, and humble… THAT will sustain us through everything.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Charity never fails… who? 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.

“Wow, I can’t believe they would give you that calling right now!”

I’ve got 3 young kids right now, my Come Follow Me Study work takes up a lot of time, I have a lot of additional extracurricular commitments…

And my husband is serving as bishop.

I’ll admit that a similar thought crossed my mind when I was being extended the calling, as well.

Isn’t this asking a little bit too much?

But the Spirit had been subtly preparing me, and I jumped into the calling.

And now that our stake’s Girls Camp ended over a month ago, I can now say:

“Wow, I can’t believe that I got to witness so many miracles, get to know other amazing women, and feel God’s love for the young women and leaders in our stake.”

It doesn’t feel “fair” that I got to experience this tremendous blessing.

Truly.

Now this doesn’t negate all the late nights and endless meetings and difficult problems and so on and so forth that I had to deal with along the way.

It was a ton of work, literally and emotionally.

But when I’ve willingly submitted my heart to a calling I’ve been extended, I’ve always felt more love ALONGSIDE the sacrifice that often accompanies it.

Ammon so beautifully said:

“This is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work.” (Alma 26:3)

That’s the BLESSING!

The blessing is being able to serve and love other people.

The blessing is being able to be God’s hands in both formal and informal ways.

It is a privilege to serve.

And it is a sacrifice. And it’s hard. And there’s nuances to different times of your life and various callings… I get it.

But maybe if we start looking at church callings as being given unique opportunities to experience more of God’s love, we might completely change how we talk and think about callings.

“Always hold a calling in the Church. Especially when life is busy, you need to feel the Lord’s love for those you serve and for you as you serve.” -David B. Haight

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Stake Camp Director first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.