As I stood a little bit speechless on the doorstep with chaos behind me and a husband who still wouldn’t be home for a couple of hours, she said:⁣

“I felt a prompting that you needed dinner tonight, and I just had to act!”⁣

I graciously accepted the meal, thanked her profusely, and held my tears back until the door had shut. ⁣

I wanted to feel embarrassed that I hadn’t even started thinking about dinner yet, but I couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude and love. ⁣

The sister who brought the dinner had redirected all the credit I wanted to give her to the Lord, and that made a big impact on me. ⁣

She didn’t want any of my praise that I tried to give her. ⁣

She said she was just following through on what I know to be one of her spiritual gifts— acting immediately and confidently on promptings. ⁣

In Joseph’s time, everyone was starting to recognize him as the dream interpreter. ⁣

The butler and the baker learned about him in prison. ⁣

And now the pharaoh was learning about his skill, too. ⁣

But each time that someone tried to label Joseph as the one who could interpret dreams, he was always quick to point out:⁣

“It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” (Genesis 41:16) ⁣

God was the one giving Joseph the ability to do this. ⁣

I love two things about this:⁣

First, that Joseph recognized where his gift came from. ⁣

But secondly, that he seemed to point this out to other people, too!⁣

I think most of us know that we should be showing gratitude to God for our gifts and talents. ⁣

We try to redirect our minds to give God credit and to show how grateful we are. ⁣

But how often do we mention that to others?⁣

YOU may know that your gifts come from heaven, but do other people know that you know that?⁣

What a sweet and simple way to bear testimony. ⁣

The woman who brought me dinner wasn’t making me feel her love.⁣

She was helping me to feel God’s love.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The surprise dinner first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

“I don’t know if I have any of those?”⁣

Elder Bruce R. McConkie said this many years ago, and it’s an idea that I heard taught recently that really resonated with me. ⁣

“Spiritual gifts are endless in number and infinite in variety”. ⁣

In other words, the approximately 13 gifts listed in Section 46 do not begin to even scratch the surface of actual spiritual gifts.⁣

So… how are we supposed to know what our spiritual gifts are if we don’t even know what all of the options are?⁣

Here is something I’ve noticed. ⁣

When I am making a concerted effort to live according to the gospel principles, when I’m showing love, and patience, and kindness, when I’m keeping my covenants and pondering on Christ…⁣

Then I feel like there are certain things that I am really good at. ⁣

In other words: When I feel the Spirit in my life, I am more aware of my spiritual gifts. ⁣

Gifts that are given to me and enhanced by the Spirit. ⁣

So if you are still feeling lost about what spiritual gifts you could possibly possess, here are some questions. ⁣

When you are praying and immersing yourself in the scriptures, and you KNOW that you have the Spirit with you, what do you feel like you are really good at doing?⁣

Maybe you are really good at crying when you feel the Spirit. ⁣

Maybe you are really good at noticing what your family member needs and wanting to serve them. ⁣

Maybe you are really good at sending texts to people who need them. ⁣

Maybe you are really good at preparing and teaching a lesson to a primary class. ⁣

Maybe you are really good at feeling calm.⁣

Maybe you are really good at being a mediator in disputes or disagreements. ⁣

Maybe you are really good at understanding concepts that are really complicated but then explaining them in simple ways. ⁣

There are INFINITE possibilities. ⁣

When you are really feeling the Spirit, what are you really good at doing? Those are your spiritual gifts. ⁣

What is one of YOUR spiritual gifts? I’d love to hear!

“For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God.” (D&C 46:11)

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Infinite possibilities first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

And I lost.

Obviously, I was disappointed.

I spent some time avoiding the girl who had won.

It felt awkward.

Finally, I thought, “I really should just go congratulate her.”

I found her and told her I was happy for her.

I didn’t know how she would react, but I was so pleasantly surprised.

She hugged me and said she was sad we couldn’t both win.

This disarmed me from my awkwardness.

I told her that I knew she would be great in this position and that I was excited to support her.

I felt so good inside!

It felt great to transition from feeling jealous and inadequate to cheering her on in her strengths.

The Lord teaches: “To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby.” (D&C 46:12)

Sometimes, it’s easy to see that all of our different gifts are complementary and bless other people’s lives.

I’m going to easily compliment the person who bakes amazing cookies, because I don’t enjoy baking.

But do we also show gratitude, love, and support for the people who have very similar gifts to ours?

It was harder for me to acknowledge my senior class president because she had a very similar skill set to mine.

But I have learned that building people up is much more fun than competing with them.

Let’s use our gifts to help everyone around us.

And let’s cheer other people on when they use their gifts, too!

In this way, we all can be profited thereby.

“As we lift others, we rise a little higher ourselves.” – Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Competing gifts first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

She was not a member of our church, but she was very spiritual and religious. ⁣

She had just shared what she felt her “spiritual strength” was:

She said she could sense other people’s emotions, even when they wanted to hide them. ⁣

I told her that I felt that the Spirit told me truths all the time, both eternal truths, and also about things that I needed to know would happen in the future.

We had an interesting discussion together about how we both felt that these “powers” were meant to be kept privately. ⁣

She totally believed the few sacred experiences I shared with her were true, and she shared some of her beautiful experiences, too. ⁣

I’ll never forget that conversation.

It was reverent, it was sacred, and it was respectful. ⁣

Although she used different vocabulary than I usually would, we really were just speaking freely about the powers of the Spirit that can make a real difference in our lives⁣

The Spirit has told me the truth many times.⁣

I’ve had pure gospel truths confirmed to me, like the validity of the Book of Mormon. ⁣

I’ve had truths revealed to me about my relationships, like who to become friends with or who to distance myself from. ⁣

And I’ve had truths about future events revealed to me, like whether or not I was getting a job or whether something I was worried about would actually happen. ⁣

And each time, the Spirit tells me truth in the most peaceful and meek way. ⁣

I don’t feel any pride. I don’t feel the need to tell others. I don’t boast. ⁣

I just know the Truth. ⁣

And I know that God knows that I know. ⁣

I think that the truth is quiet. It is powerful and confident, but it is quiet. ⁣

And I also think that the Spirit can bring that same truth to anyone who seeks. ⁣

I know that I can’t know the answer to every question. I can think of many times when I’ve asked, and NOT received truth. I’ve just received nothing. ⁣

But those moments are even still a little comforting. Because I know that if I’m not having the truth revealed to me, it means I’m not meant to know yet. ⁣

And then I feel peace. ⁣

We can seek for truth. God wants us to know truths, and He gives us His Spirit to let us hear the truths we need.

“And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.”

(Moroni 10:5)

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post My mentor teacher  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I sometimes think about how I could literally do anything I wanted to right now. ⁣

I could take off running down the street and never come back.

I could lay in bed all day.

I could drive anywhere.

I could stop doing things that I’m doing right now. ⁣

I could also call someone right now and catch up with an old friend.

I could make a treat and drop it on someone’s doorstep.

I could immerse myself in General Conference talks.

I could make a goal and take a step to achieve it.

I could do something super fun.

Like… isn’t it overwhelming the amount of freedom that we have every single day?!⁣

Obviously, I don’t have freedom from any consequences.

But I can do literally anything that I want at anytime. ⁣

Which was what I thought of when I read Moroni’s warning exhortation to us in Moroni 10:8:⁣

“Deny not the gifts of God”.⁣

I know that there are some spiritual gifts that I’ve been given. ⁣

And I’m also very aware of my imperfections. ⁣

So… what if I asked God to give me gifts of the Spirit that will help turn my imperfections into glorious strengths?!⁣

I have the agency to ask that. ⁣

And Pres Dallin H. Oaks encouraged us to do just that:⁣

“We should seek after spiritual gifts. They can lead us to God. They can shield us from the power of the adversary. They can compensate for our inadequacies and repair our imperfections.”⁣

We can ask. ⁣

We can pray and ask for more personal revelation. We can pray and ask for a stronger testimony. We can pray and ask to understand the scriptures better. We can pray and ask to behold angels in our lives. We can pray and ask to be better teachers. ⁣

I want to ask.

Humbly, meekly, with the intent to serve others and grow closer to the Divine. ⁣

I want to ask for the spiritual gifts that will strengthen my imperfections and bring me closer to my Savior.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post I can do anything!  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

“Why can’t she just fulfill her calling? It’s not that hard!”

I’ve noticed that when I judge other people, I’m usually comparing my strengths to their weaknesses.

I’m an organized, efficient, and dependable person.

So a lot of the judgmental thoughts in my head are focused on how other people are not as organized, efficient, or dependable as I am.

And on the flip side…

When I’m sinking into self-pity, overwhelmed at everything I’m not doing, I’ve noticed something, too.

“We spend so much time and energy comparing ourselves to others—usually comparing our weaknesses to their strengths.” —Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I’m usually comparing my weaknesses to other people’s strengths.

“Why can’t I create a creative meal like that for my kids?”

“I’ll never be able to connect the way she does.”

It sounds a lot like the situation Paul describes:

“And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.” (1 Corinthians 12:21)

We are all (to some extent) saying that we don’t need people the way they are when we judge them.

And we are all thinking that our community doesn’t need us the way we are when we judge ourselves negatively.
⁣
We all have been given different spiritual gifts and talents.

There is no need to compare our gifts and talents with each other.

No matter how tempting it may be to do so!

We need everyone in the kingdom of God.

We need people at every skill level.

We need people with every kind of gift imaginable.

We need people who are willing to develop new talents.

We need people who are patient with other people’s weaknesses and don’t stress about fixing things they can’t fix.

We don’t need to feel prideful about the gifts we have, or bitter about the gifts we don’t.

We can just feel gratitude.

For ourselves, and for others.

Just like a body needs all the various parts with their unique functions, scars, shapes, beauty, injuries, and purposes…

We need everyone EXACTLY as they are right now, filled with different personalities and strengths and quirks and experiences, in order to create a functioning, beautiful body of saints who are willing to take the time to love and lift everyone toward Jesus.

You are needed exactly as you are!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The harsh truth about judging others first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I took 3 years of French in high school.

And that’s about the gist of what I remember.

The “gift of tongues” has always seemed like a cool gift to me.

What if you could learn a new language right away?!

But I’ve studied a lot about spiritual gifts recently.

And have you ever realized what gift is ALWAYS listed with the spiritual gift of tongues?

“. . . to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues.” (1 Corinthians 12:10)

Speaking with tongues and interpreting tongues always go together.

Why would this be?

Because often they need to work together!

And what I’ve learned is this:

The purpose of spiritual gifts is not just to easily speak a new language because it would be cool.

Spiritual gifts are all about working together and EDIFYING each other!

There is no point in a missionary miraculously knowing how to teach a lesson after just arriving in a new country just for fun…

There needs to be a spiritual reason why.

And this goes for all gifts!

We aren’t great listeners, huggers, teachers, leaders, readers, chatters, feelers, ministers, organizers just for fun.

We are given these gifts in order to edify someone!

What a beautiful, circular relationship Heavenly Father has allowed us to create through His gifts.

We help others when they are ready to receive.

And we can be ready to receive blessings at the hand of others’ gifts.

How can you edify someone with your spiritual gifts today?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post What are spiritual gifts used for? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

As a completely monolingual individual, the idea of being able to suddenly speak or understand a different language seemed… pretty cool, to be honest.

The idea of something suddenly happening that is super cool, super unique, or completely baffling is an appeal to many people.

But as I’ve matured a bit, I’ve realized that when it comes to spiritual gifts from God…

I need to be okay with the simple.

Many of the early Saints were promised spiritual gifts as they started to preach the gospel.

I’m going to guess gifts like knowing what to teach, bearing powerful testimony, receiving little promptings, discernment…

And yet they seemed to latch on to the weird. The unique. The flashy.

The Lord kindly reprimanded many of them by asking:

“Wherefore, I the Lord ask you this question—unto what were ye ordained? To preach my gospel by the Spirit, even the Comforter which was sent forth to teach the truth.” D&C 50:13-14

And then the reprimand:

“And then received ye spirits which ye could not understand, and received them to be of God; and in this are ye justified?” D&C 50:15

They were seeking after the strange and the unclear.

I think that our spiritual gifts are meant to make sense. To be the most simple solution in any given situation.

Elder Gong told a story of a Spanish language interpreter who told him that he knew what Elder Gong was going to say by the spirit so that he could communicate effectively with the people he was translating for.

THAT was a time where the gift of tongues was actually appropriate and simple. A simple but miraculous boost of his efforts.

But when we look for gifts or talents or explanations that are unnecessary, over-the-top, or selfish, we are looking beyond the mark.

The Spirit may speak to us in quiet, simple, and straightforward ways.

And that’s totally okay.

Being dramatic is not a requisite for a righteous, spiritual experience.

And so I’m going to be okay with the simple.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Flashy and dramatic first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

To me, it’s the answer to these two questions:

Why are we told to ask and knock, and we will receive, when not all of my questions or requests are actually answered?

And…

How am I supposed to make my prayers more about aligning with God’s will instead of just listing off my thanks and requests?

The Lord teaches pretty succinctly in D&C 46:30:

“He that asketh in the Spirit asketh according to the will of God; wherefore it is done even as he asketh.”

The Lord is teaching specifically about requesting more spiritual gifts, but I think this applies perfectly to any request we have of Him.

The answer is the presence of the Spirit.

When I have the Spirit with me as I pray, I know what to pray for.

I had a very powerful moment in my life where I went to pray for someone’s healing, but I suddenly knew NOT to pray for healing, and to pray for comfort of loved ones instead.

And I had a very powerful moment in my life where I went to pray to accept the outcome, no matter what it was, but I suddenly knew that I SHOULD pray and request healing.

It’s hard to explain.

It’s those quiet whisperings of the Spirit that lead me toward asking the right question, and confirming in my heart that I am knocking on the right door.

But when I’m saying prayers without requesting the presence of the Spirit, or not living worthily to invite His presence, then I end up asking questions that aren’t ready to be answered yet.

It all comes back to the Sacrament for me.

That is such a serious covenant that I renew each week.

I always want His Spirit to be with me.

And so I try to always remember Him and keep His commandments.

My prayers have night-and-day differences when I have the Spirit with me.

And one of the biggest blessings is that I know what to pray for.

My will starts to be swallowed up in the Father’s will.

And the spiritual gifts that I request and seek after are given to me as I work hard to obtain them.

I knock, and it’s opened. Because I have the Spirit with me to let me know I’m at the right door.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Asking in the Spirit first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

“I don’t know if I have any of those?”

Elder Bruce R. McConkie said this many years ago, and it’s an idea that I heard taught recently that really resonated with me.

“Spiritual gifts are endless in number and infinite in variety”.

In other words, the approximately 13 gifts listed in Section 46 do not begin to even scratch the surface of actual spiritual gifts.

So… how are we supposed to know what our spiritual gifts are if we don’t even know what all of the options are?

Here is something I’ve noticed.

When I am making a concerted effort to live according to the gospel principles, when I’m showing love, and patience, and kindness, when I’m keeping my covenants and pondering on Christ…

Then I feel like there are certain things that I am really good at.

In other words: When I feel the Spirit in my life, I am more aware of my spiritual gifts.

Gifts that are given to me and enhanced by the Spirit.

So if you are still feeling lost about what spiritual gifts you could possibly possess, here are some questions.

When you are praying and immersing yourself in the scriptures, and you KNOW that you have the Spirit with you, what do you feel like you are really good at doing?

Maybe you are really good at crying when you feel the Spirit.

Maybe you are really good at noticing what your family member needs and wanting to serve them.

Maybe you are really good at sending texts to people who need them.

Maybe you are really good at preparing and teaching a lesson to a primary class.

Maybe you are really good at feeling calm.

Maybe you are really good at being a mediator in disputes or disagreements.

Maybe you are really good at understanding concepts that are really complicated but then explaining them in simple ways.

There are INFINITE possibilities.

When you are really feeling the Spirit, what are you really good at doing? Those are your spiritual gifts.

If you thought of something, I’d love to hear it! What is one of YOUR spiritual gifts?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Infinite gifts! first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.