I couldn’t wait!

Until the process started and I realized that we’d have to basically live upstairs with small children for the week.

The upstairs hallway was lined with snacks, drinks, toys, my laptop, puzzles, games, garbage bags… anything I could think of. ⁣

(Because of course it was also super rainy and cold for those days, so park visits were suddenly out of the question.)⁣

EVERYTHING WAS A MESS. ⁣

Upstairs, downstairs, the garage that had basically become a temporary storage unit for everything… all of it. ⁣

I don’t know about you, but I’ve heard plenty of times that it’s easier to feel the Spirit in clean and orderly places than messy ones. ⁣

This was the thought running through my mind one evening as I sat, exhausted, and looked at the chaos. ⁣

I just wanted a clean home where I could feel peace! ⁣

“Heavenly Father,” I pleaded. “There’s no way I can get this house clean right now.” ⁣

Almost immediately, I was filled with this calming peace. ⁣

I felt a strong spiritual presence, and I felt like everything was okay. ⁣

Here’s what I know: ⁣

God doesn’t wait until our house or our room is clean until He speaks to us. ⁣

When we see Jacob wandering in a wilderness and making a pillow out of stones, this is where the Lord visits him and blesses him with great power. ⁣

And Jacob’s response? “Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not.” (Genesis 28:16). ⁣

The Lord is wherever His righteous people are, whether they are sleeping on stones, or whether their house is covered in dust, crumbs, and toys. ⁣

The Lord can be anywhere, as long as we take a moment to look for Him.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Can you feel the Spirit in a messy home? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

“That they may always have His spirit to be with them.”⁣

Like, this is my goal in life. ⁣

You know those people that you looked up to in your ward growing up, who just exuded kindness and love no matter what?⁣

Those people you meet now who seem so genuine and sincere in all they do?⁣

I think I’ve discovered the secret to what makes these people so awesome. ⁣

Really, there is a big connection that I’ve made: ⁣

They all attend the temple on a regular basis. ⁣

And I say “regular basis” because I have lived both near and far from temples, and these individuals all worship there “regularly”, whatever that means to them. ⁣

Try it out— talk to that person that just magnifies the Spirit in all they do, and bring up their thoughts on the temple. ⁣

Because I think they real key to always having the Spirit with us is to always be keeping our covenants. ⁣

And to keep them, we have to know them and ponder on them regularly. ⁣

King Abimelech noticed this quality about Abraham, someone who was very familiar with covenants:⁣

“God is with thee in all that thou doest”. (Genesis 21:22) ⁣

The Spirit is with those who draw priesthood power into their lives by keeping powerful and eternal covenants with God. ⁣

What have you covenanted to do?⁣

Those actions will keep the Spirit pouring into your life, in all that you do.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Always remember Him  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

As a pianist, I have felt the Spirit so many times while playing completely secular pieces of music. ⁣

I’ve felt the Spirit while watching a dance recital. ⁣

I’ve felt the Spirit while watching a TV show that isn’t about anything religious. ⁣

I’ve felt the Spirit while looking at flowers, while reading a book, while driving by new homes that are almost finished. ⁣

In my life, feeling the Holy Spirit has not been contained to just when I’m at church or reading my scriptures. ⁣

There is so much good in the world that isn’t obviously tied to religious purposes. ⁣

But I see the good in accomplishment. ⁣

In learning a new skill. ⁣

In watching someone try their best. ⁣

In feeling the potential of what is to come. ⁣

In happiness and joy, devoid of vulgarness. ⁣

In viewing carefully crafted creations. ⁣⁣

“If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.” – Article of Faith 13

We can pursue talents, and gifts, and skills, and knowledge!⁣

Good things aren’t contained to my church. ⁣

(Although there are so so so many good things within my church.)⁣

But my loving God has given the world so much that goodness is overflowing everywhere. ⁣

What is something (not necessarily church-related) virtuous, lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy that you’ve been seeking out lately?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Feeling the Spirit at a dance recital first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I think almost every baptismal/confirmation talk I’ve ever heard has touched on this idea that we need to receive the Holy Ghost, since those are the words used in the ordinance. ⁣

But I actually really love this idea that we don’t just decide to receive the Spirit at age 8, and then we are good to go. ⁣

I think we can choose every day, every moment, whether or not we are going to receive the Spirit. ⁣

The Spirit is there, but isn’t going to impose on our agency. ⁣

This past week of my life, I’ve really tried to actively invite the Spirit into my life. ⁣

I’ve prayed to ask for the Spirit each day. ⁣

I’ve even visually pictured receiving the Holy Ghost each day. ⁣

When I’ve been feeling down, I’ve done better at actually inviting His comfort to help me, instead of wallowing in self-pity (which I’m super good at).⁣

When I’ve been confused, I’ve practiced inviting inspiration instead of expecting it. ⁣

It’s actually been really cool. ⁣

I feel like I have a better relationship with the Spirit. ⁣

I’ve thought about having the Spirit’s presence with me much more than I have for a long time. ⁣

And… I’ve been happier. I’ve been more productive. I’ve been a little kinder. I’ve had more patience. I’ve felt more confident in making some decisions. ⁣

And I feel like there’s so much more I’m still missing!⁣

What can I invite the Spirit to do in my life that will bring me even closer to my Savior?⁣

To help me live even more as He lives?⁣

“He shall receive of my Spirit, even the Comforter, which shall manifest unto him the truth of all things, and shall give him, in the very hour, what he shall say.” (D&C 124:97⁣)

I think it takes a whole lotta faith and a quite a bit of action!⁣

So how do you receive the Holy Ghost each day?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Receive the Holy Ghost  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I really liked the post, and agreed with a lot of the things this person was saying. ⁣⁣

And then I read one line with a thought I had never heard before. ⁣⁣

I said a quick little prayer: “Hmmm I’ve never thought of this that way. Is that true?”⁣⁣

And almost immediately, I heard a voice. ⁣⁣

“That is not truth.”⁣⁣

It was calm and quiet. ⁣⁣

But it was firm and sure. ⁣⁣

I closed the post and moved on. ⁣⁣

The Holy Ghost knows what truth is. ⁣⁣

“The Spirit manifesteth truth”. D&C 91:4⁣⁣

And in a day when everyone has unprecedented access to publish and spread their opinions far and wide, I think the need to discern truth is greater than ever. ⁣⁣

And I think it’s also important to realize how much work it takes to keep the Spirit with us. ⁣⁣

Because we are also humans with brains who have opinions and varying backgrounds. ⁣⁣

And when we read something that goes along with our opinions, our brains like it. ⁣⁣

God doesn’t want us all to think exactly the same way, so I don’t believe the Spirit is given to us to change every opinion and thought that we have. ⁣⁣

But I’ve found that it feels different when the Spirit is confirming something or warning me. ⁣⁣

Instead of, “Yeah, I agree!”⁣⁣

I feel a calm but firm feeling. ⁣⁣

“This is truth.”⁣

⁣I’ve also found success when I ask. ⁣⁣

When I say a deliberate prayer to ask if this is truth or not, I virtually always get a response. ⁣⁣

Or a prompting on what I need to do in order to get the Spirit’s constant presence back with me before I can be ready to receive an answer. ⁣⁣

Just as it was important for saints of all generations, we need to make sure that we know what is truth for the things that matter most. ⁣⁣

We will all still have different opinions and viewpoints and personal revelation for how to apply something specifically to our life.⁣⁣

But we can still feel the Spirit testify of the things that are eternal truths. ⁣⁣

Or warn us of things that are not.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post That is not truth  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

As I listened to the lyrics though, I pretty quickly realized it was not-so-awesome. ⁣

Kyle and I were going to the temple that evening with some friends as soon as I got home from work. ⁣

I had the thought to turn the radio off. ⁣

But… I didn’t. ⁣

Later, in the temple, guess what song kept popping into my head?⁣

I sat there and sang a bunch of primary songs and hymns in my head, trying to get rid of these terrible lyrics that kept coming to my mind. ⁣

Nothing was working. ⁣

I eventually just prayed my heart out. ⁣

“Heavenly Father, please remove this song from my mind. It’s distracting me from the spirit in the temple.”⁣

And immediately. ⁣

Immediately. ⁣

A piercing thought came into my mind. ⁣⁣

It was still and small, but powerful. ⁣

It was very clearly Divine. ⁣

And that voice said:⁣

“Cali, you can’t pray away the consequences of your decisions.”⁣

I was being reprimanded by the spirit in a very direct way. ⁣

I realized in a dramatic fashion that I couldn’t choose to ignore the spirit when it told me to change the radio station and then expect it to help remove the natural consequences of my actions later on. ⁣

Joseph Smith shared a powerful example of his experience with this in D&C 85:6:⁣

“The still small voice, which whispereth through and pierceth all things, and often times it maketh my bones to quake while it maketh manifest”⁣.

In the car, the spirit spoke to me in a very still and small voice. ⁣

And in the temple, it pierced my mind and made me very aware of the power behind it. ⁣

I needed to learn that lesson that day, and it has dramatically shaped my music choices ever since. ⁣

I needed that piercing voice for a major course correction. ⁣

And I am so grateful for a companion like the spirit who can give those messages in a way that I can’t write off. ⁣

I heard it, and I knew God knew that I heard it.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The Spirit’s reprimand  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

You can start with an anticipatory set to pique interest, you can read from a common piece of literature and analyze different components, or you could go inquiry-based. ⁣

And… I love them all!⁣

To me, crafting a lesson plan is exactly that— a beautiful craft of mixing creativity and logic. ⁣

After my formal teaching training and degree, I finally had the first opportunity to teach a full lesson in church to a youth class. ⁣⁣

I jumped into “lesson planning” mode and crafted prompts and stories that were going to perfectly take these kids through the concept of “tender mercies”. ⁣

Sunday arrived, and I was so excited to teach the lesson. ⁣

I walked into the classroom, and within five minutes, I knew what I had prepared was NOT going to work. ⁣

These kids needed something different. ⁣

A common teaching mantra popped into my head:⁣

“Teach the kids, not the lesson.”⁣

I said a silent prayer and felt prompted to share a lengthy personal story with the kids— one that I usually wouldn’t think to share. ⁣

I have no clue why I was prompted to share that story. No kid ever said anything to me afterwards, other than a customary “thanks for the lesson” as they walked out the door. ⁣

Or maybe I was the only one who needed to learn the lesson that day. ⁣

“It shall be given thee in the very moment what thou shalt speak and write”. (D&C 24:6)

That was the first time that I can remember having my formal plans being completely overthrown by a spiritual prompting. ⁣

But it’s happened time and time again since then. ⁣

I plan out a post, and as I start writing, I completely change direction. ⁣

I think of a testimony to bear, and while speaking, I share completely new thoughts. ⁣

But letting the Spirit guide me doesn’t mean throwing caution to the wind and relying on Him to do all the work. ⁣

I still lesson plan and craft and create. ⁣

But it’s the calm feeling that I know I might follow my plans to a T, or I might throw them out the window. ⁣

And either way, it’s all good. ⁣

Amazing preparation + being filled with the Spirit = the best teaching possible

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Writing lesson plans  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I get people messaging me a form of this question pretty often. ⁣

And I always laugh. ⁣

Because if you want tips on how to organize your time, I’m probably not the person to admire. ⁣

And not because I’m not a great planner…

It has more to do with the three kids that I am primarily responsible for each day. ⁣

Little kids have a lot of needs!

Unexpected, constant needs.

I don’t handle everything at all. ⁣

If I’m making dinner, I’ve probably put a show on for the kids. If I’m writing posts for Instagram, I’m ignoring the pile of laundry in my laundry room. If I’m playing with my kids, I’m not responding to urgent messages on my website.⁣

But there is one not-so-little secret that makes many of my days run more smoothly. ⁣

And those are the days when I remember to pray and ask: ⁣

“What should I be doing right now to best make use of my time?”⁣

Now that doesn’t mean that I’ve got God as my scheduler. ⁣

I want to make that clear – I’m not putting all my decision-making on God. ⁣

I still make decisions all the time as to how I can spend my day wisely. (Or sometimes, not-so-wisely…)

But when I feel clarity with my schedule, or I feel urged to switch something up, that’s how I know I’m doing what I should be doing at the moment. ⁣

In D&C 15:4, the Lord told John Whitmer: ⁣

“For many times you have desired of me to know that which would be of the most worth unto you.”⁣

I think this is such a beautiful question to ask. ⁣

What is of most worth for you in this time in your life?⁣

What is of most worth for you this week?⁣

Today? In the next ten minutes?⁣

Try it out this week, and see where the Spirit takes you.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post My perfect life  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

The Lord speaks to us in so many ways, and the one He teaches in Section 8 is one of my favorites. ⁣

My husband and I recently had to make a decision that we were going back and forth on. ⁣

We prayed about it a lot, but our hearts weren’t telling us anything yet. ⁣

We finally logically came to the conclusion that we should go in one particular way. ⁣

After we had made that decision, our hearts started to feel at peace.

We felt super confident moving forward with our choice, and we knew we had our answer.

In one of the most famous scriptures in the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord tells Oliver Cowdery:⁣

“Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.”⁣ (D&C 8:2)

In other words – the Lord likes to send us his Spirit through both our mind and our heart. ⁣

Both!⁣

That feeling in your heart is the Spirit, but that thought in your head that seems so logical is the Spirit, too. ⁣

However, I’ve learned they don’t always speak at the same time. ⁣

With this financial decision, the logical journey came first.

I wanted to feel it in my heart. Desperately. ⁣

But I needed to make up my mind before the confirmation came. ⁣

I needed to trust my agency and use it wisely. ⁣

And then other times, I feel it in my heart before I can work through the logic. ⁣

I want it to make sense, but it doesn’t really make sense yet.

So I have to move forward in pure faith that my heart is right, and wait for the logic to catch up. ⁣

I want the heart and the mind at the same time, but I think the Lord likes to give me opportunities to practice with just one or the other. ⁣

Practice my agency with my mind, and practice my faith in God with my heart. ⁣

And eventually, sometimes much much later, I feel it in both.

The post Heart and mind first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I think a lot about Ether being prompted to leave his cave and go preach repentance to the king one last time.

Doesn’t it seem a little futile?⁣

Not many people react well to someone walking into their house and calling them to repentance. ⁣

And Coriantumr sure didn’t respond well, sending his guard to kill Ether. ⁣

Ether was able to escape back to his cave.

But… maybe he spent some time thinking:

“That was pointless.”⁣

But fast-forward a few years and a few brutal wars,and we find Coriantumr on the battle field.

He was forced to watch his friends and loved ones being slaughtered by Shiz’s army. ⁣

And all of a sudden:

“When Coriantumr had recovered of his wounds, he began to remember the words which Ether had spoken unto him.” (Ether 15:1)

⁣Coriantumr’s heart wasn’t ready to hear the message when Ether was ready to preach.

But now, on the battlefield, Coriantumr’s heart was ready to listen.

Isn’t it amazing that the Spirit takes care of all the timing?

He can bring to remembrance words and topics that were taught when the listener wasn’t quite ready to learn.

“Faith also includes trust in God’s timing”. – Neal A. Maxwell

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The perfect timing first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.