It’s an idea I’ve heard repeated many times, especially since the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet changed significantly a few years ago.

Jesus is the strength of youth!

Jesus is the strength of parents!

Jesus is our strength!

But something hit me differently after April’s conference.

Did I actually believe this for me personally?

I started, quite literally, thinking about Jesus anytime I needed strength.

Tired and my alarm is going off?

Think about Jesus.

Someone says something condescending to me?

Think about Jesus.

My child tells me something that frustrates me?

Think about Jesus.

Scrolling social media?

Think about Jesus.

I can’t even begin to explain what started to happen.

Other than I am positive that Jesus is my actual literal strength in everything.

From the big stuff to the small annoyances and everything in between, He is it.

As David approached Goliath, he had otherworldly strength, not because of his stature.

But because he knew Jesus was his literal strength.

“For the battle is the Lord’s”. (1 Samuel 17:47)

Christ gives us strength and power to slay the Goliaths in our lives.

“Thinking about the Savior gives us clarity of mind to make decisions, to act without fear, and to say no to what is contrary to God’s teachings.” – Andrea Munoz Spannaus

How will you call upon Jesus for literal strength today?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Literal strength first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

It’s so relatable— thinking our shortcomings disqualify us from the work. ⁣

And Enoch felt that his poor command of language disqualified him. ⁣

But did you catch what change had happened by the next chapter?⁣

It’s SO COOL. ⁣

Enoch is now leading righteous people as enemies come to battle against them. ⁣

Enoch is causing the earth to tremble with his great faith. ⁣

And the nations of the earth fear Enoch. ⁣

Why?⁣

“So powerful was the WORD of Enoch, and so great was the power of the LANGUAGE which God had given him.” (Moses 7:13) ⁣

Where’s Mr. “slow of speech” now?!⁣

He’s using such powerful language and words that he is able to control elements, display mighty faith, and gather righteous people together. ⁣

His weakness became his strength. ⁣

But we can’t skip over that last part of the verse, because Enoch’s weakness didn’t become his strength just because he wanted it to. ⁣

“… which God had given him.”⁣

The lesson of Enoch’s story isn’t that if we work hard enough, we can turn our weaknesses into strengths. ⁣

Instead, this is a lesson that God can do anything. ⁣

He needed Enoch to be mighty in speech and in language, and so he worked a mighty miracle to grow this faithful man’s talents. ⁣

But Moses also felt that he was slow in speech, and God directed him to Aaron instead of changing Moses’ abilities. ⁣

Even thinking of latter-day prophets, there have been some who have been powerful orators, and others who seem less comfortable at the pulpit. ⁣

It’s an interesting lesson to internalize— we don’t all get blessed with the same gifts just because we want them, even if they are for a righteous purpose. ⁣

Why? ⁣

It’s up to God. ⁣

Maybe we will have the chance to grow our weakness into a strength. ⁣

Maybe our weakness will stay our weakness. ⁣

Maybe we will use our strength to complement others’ weaknesses. ⁣

Maybe we will learn to rely on others more. ⁣

God can give us anything! ⁣

And sometimes that takes a lot of trust to believe that He knows what we need more than we know.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Mr. Slow of Speech first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I didn’t realize that much thought work, planning, and research went into effective teaching.

But pretty soon I was spending my homework time crafting the perfect inquiry-based math lessons and engaging anticipatory sets for literacy. ⁣

And, with the super analytical brain that I have, I started seeing these teaching patterns everywhere, from my own professors to church teachers! ⁣

I started noticing what my Sunday School teachers, Relief Society teachers, and bishopric members did well when it came to teaching gospel topics. ⁣

I do think that effective teaching strategies matter. ⁣

But at the end of the day, it’s not the most important thing, right?⁣

“That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers.” (D&C 1:23)

I’ve learned the gospel from someone who didn’t ask any probing questions. ⁣

I’ve felt the Spirit listening to someone reading a quote completely out of context.

I’ve been bored during a lesson, only to have the Spirit bring one particular sentence the teacher says to my mind. ⁣

The gospel can be proclaimed by the weak and the simple. ⁣

How cool is that?!⁣

And in the most important setting, our home, teaching the gospel in the best ways that we personally can will always be good enough. ⁣

We are good enough to teach our families. ⁣

We are weak. Uneducated in many things. Simple and plain. ⁣

And yet, we can teach the fullness of the gospel.

“Everything that is done in the Church—the leading, the teaching, the calling, the ordaining, the praying, the singing, the preparation of the sacrament, the counseling, and everything else—is done by ordinary members, the ‘weak things of the world.’” – Boyd K. Packer

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Weak teachers  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

STRENGTH

There are probably many times each day when I feel I could use extra strength or support.

For example, when my toddler needs me to open the same toy for the millionth time, when I’ve got a work deadline to hit, or when a friend tells me of a new heartbreaking trial.

Jesus can be my strength in these difficult moments.

When I remember to call out to Him for help!

SONG

But what about Jesus being my song?

Let me tell you that I always have a song stuck in my head.

Always.

Whether I’m doing the dishes, driving in the car, or trying to fall asleep at night, I’ve got a song repeating over and over in my head.

What if we could be like this with Jesus?

What if Jesus was always “stuck” in our minds?

He can be my strength and He can be the song in my heart.

I’ve learned that Jesus can be my strength and my song when I call on Him for help, and I do my best to always remember Him.

What does it mean to you that Jesus is your STRENGTH and your SONG?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Strength and song first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Like, I’m an eternal optimist, which is a huge strength of mine.

But it took me an awfully long time to realize that most people telling me about their struggles just really want to connect and share.

… And they aren’t looking for me to immediately point out all the good things about their situation if only they looked at it differently!

But even with this blessing/curse of eternal optimism, I have learned…⁣

Sometimes, things are just HARD.

Life can be difficult and painful.

Our own beloved Savior had to endure being nailed to a cross.

Multiple times.

After being physically tortured. ⁣

There was no “bright side” to that.

That is truly one of the most terrible things anyone has had to endure. ⁣

I don’t want to directly compare what we have to go through with the truly torturous experience our loving Savior had, but I do think we can learn from His example. ⁣

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)

Many of us are asked to “endure crosses” in this mortal life. ⁣

There is no upside.

You aren’t “just not being positive enough”.

There are some truly terrible, scary, unexplainable things that we have to endure. ⁣

How do we possibly make it through? How can we endure? ⁣

How did Christ endure the cross?⁣

He knew the joy that was set before Him.

He didn’t feel that joy in the moment. But He KNEW it would be there waiting for Him on the other side. ⁣

We are not meant to feel joy in every part of our lives. Sometimes, things are just terrible. ⁣

Or even on a smaller scale, sometimes we are just having a bad day. And that’s our “cross to endure” for the time being. ⁣

When we don’t feel that joy now, we can look to our Savior as the example that the JOY WILL RETURN.

We can’t see it now. We can’t even imagine feeling it again. ⁣

But we have faith. We know that if we can just endure, we will feel that joy again.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Endure the cross  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

He had felt the pain from that metaphorical thorn for a long time.

He prayed earnestly 3 times.

Each time, pleading for God to take this trial or affliction away. ⁣

But God didn’t take the pain away.

Instead, the Lord responded:

“My grace is sufficient for thee.”⁣

And Paul really, truly believed it.

Gods grace was sufficient for Paul’s thorn.

This makes me think about my own thorns.

The little small ones, and the really big and dramatic ones.

Do I actually believe what God says?

Do I believe that God’s grace is sufficient for ME?

Often, in this church, we talk about “getting through” a difficult time or talk about what we might learn after a trial. ⁣

But what about the trials that don’t end?⁣

Is there any hope?⁣

Look what Paul said in response to the Lord’s consolation that His grace is sufficient:

“My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

(2 Corinthians 12:9)

Paul said that he will GLADLY GLORY in his infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon him. ⁣

How do we find that joy when we know that our trials will not end in this life?

How can we possibly be okay with that?⁣

How do we endure health challenges, life circumstances, results of our choices or of others, that will be a thorn in our side for a really, really long time?

“My grace is sufficient for thee.”⁣

We learn more about Jesus and grace. ⁣

We learn that we have the strength, through Christ, to still be a good person and do what is right on top of dealing with those challenges. ⁣

We learn that our Lord gives us grace EVERY SINGLE time we need extra help.

Not just the first or second time. Every time. ⁣

Our trials, though excruciating and painful, teach us what it truly means to rely on our Savior.

Because we don’t have to do it alone.

We get to be filled with HIS strength.

The thorn in our side may remain, but the sting can be taken away by the one who perfectly knows how the thorn feels.

Happy Studying!

Cali Black

The post The thorn in my side  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Maybe you’ve asked yourself this question during a time of spiritual struggle.

When you’ve had to deal with a toddler.

When you feel like you don’t have any friends in your ward.

Besides partaking of the infinitely important sacrament, Luke gives some commentary on Paul’s travels:

“And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.” (Acts 18:23)

He went around strengthening all the disciples!

What a fantastic reason to go to church.

Instead of focusing on teaching a lesson, conducting music, or listening to a teacher, we can turn outward!

We can focus on finding ways to strengthen the people around us.

I personally have been strengthened by people who had conversations with me in the hallway.

By people who have shared meaningful comments in lessons.

Or even by those who’ve just smiled at me in a moment of loneliness.

“This religion is not concerned only with self; rather, we are all called to serve.” (Elder D. Todd Christofferson)

And we certainly don’t need to be perfect to strengthen others!

Your strengths are probably someone else’s weaknesses and vice versa.

We all get to be strengthened, and we all get to strengthen others as we share what’s worked for us and how we’ve gotten closer to Jesus.

And if we aren’t necessarily feeling strengthened by others, then we can go to turn outward and lend our strength to someone who needs it.

Every time I do that, I end up feeling strengthened, too.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Strengthen each other at church first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Guidance, blessings, comfort, opportunities, peace, love…

All good things!

All things that I know He is willing to give and that He loves for me to ask for.

But the gratitude, the worship, the joy aspect has been lacking in my prayers recently.

At the same time, I’ve started to realize that the Lord encourages gratitude toward Him EVERYWHERE.

In the scriptures, in the temple, in covenants…

He always wants to remind His people of everything that He has done for them first.

And then He asks for obedience or commitment from us.

But there is always a big emphasis on the mercy, the blessings, the creations, His love FIRST.

He knows how important it is for us to feel that overwhelming gratitude and devotion toward Him before we ask for or commit to anything else.

And so I’ve taken what I’ve learned in my studies and started to apply it to my prayers.

How can I pray with so much complete gratitude and worship and joy, that by the time I think to even ask Him for anything, I’m in a much holier and devoted mindset?

“The Lord is my strength and song”. (Exodus 15:2)

He is BOTH my strength and my song.

He answers questions, gives me blessings, and guides me.

AND He is the one I gladly worship through my internal songs of gratitude and devotion.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Strength AND joy first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

It’s so relatable— thinking our shortcomings disqualify us from the work.

And Enoch felt that his poor command of language disqualified him.

But did you catch what change had happened by the next chapter?

It’s SO COOL.

Enoch is now leading righteous people as enemies come to battle against them.

Enoch is causing the earth to tremble with his great faith.

And the nations of the earth fear Enoch.

Why?

“So powerful was the WORD of Enoch, and so great was the power of the LANGUAGE which God had given him.” (Moses 7:13)

Where’s Mr. “slow of speech” now?!

He’s using such powerful language and words that he is able to control elements, display mighty faith, and gather righteous people together.

His weakness became his strength.

But we can’t skip over that last part of the verse, because Enoch’s weakness didn’t become his strength just because he wanted it to.

“… which God had given him.”

The lesson of Enoch’s story isn’t that if we work hard enough, we can turn our weaknesses into strengths.

Instead, this is a lesson that God can do anything.

He needed Enoch to be mighty in speech and in language, and so he worked a mighty miracle to grow this faithful man’s talents.

But Moses also felt that he was slow in speech, and God directed him to Aaron instead of changing Moses’ abilities.

Even thinking of latter-day prophets, there have been some who have been powerful orators, and others who seem less comfortable at the pulpit.

It’s an interesting lesson to internalize— we don’t all get blessed with the same gifts just because we want them, even if they are for a righteous purpose.

Why?

It’s up to God.

Maybe we will have the chance to grow our weakness into a strength.

Maybe our weakness will stay our weakness.

Maybe we will use our strength to complement others’ weaknesses.

Maybe we will learn to rely on others more.

God can give us anything!

And sometimes that takes a lot of trust to believe that He knows what we need more than we know.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Weaknesses to strengths first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

This is a lesson I have inadvertently learned and internalized.

Anyone else feel this way sometimes?

This idea that if I can’t handle taking care of my two kids in our comfortable home filled with good food and lots of toys, then I’m clearly not mentally strong enough.

And yet… that’s not even close to the message that the Savior teaches me.

David Whitmer, one of the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, was chastened by the Lord in D&C 30:1:

“You have feared man and have not relied on me for strength as you ought.”

The Lord WANTS me to rely on Him for everything that I do each day.

He doesn’t want me to feel like I have to do everything alone.

Because He knows that my life will improve as I turn to Him.

When I’m sitting in my comfortable air-conditioned house and I’m having to clean up the third spill in the last hour while another kid has a meltdown over I’m not even sure what…

He wants me to rely on Him.

To send up pleading prayers, asking for guidance and comfort and peace.

Am I living up to my privilege?

I feel like my life is already dripping with privilege, and yet I think I’m missing out on obtaining the full power of the most essential privilege of all.

The Savior is not disappointed when I have to ask for help.

He doesn’t think that I’m not strong enough.

Or that I’ve failed.

He is disappointed when I DON’T ask for help.

When I try to rely on my own strength.

So how can I make my Savior pleased with me?

I can ask for help. I can rely on Him for strength.

I can realize that I cannot do it alone, but that when I invite His divine assistance into my life, we are unstoppable.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post All on my own first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.