I love this!

I’m very aware of all my weaknesses and struggles.

And I love working to improve them!

But again… I’m VERY aware of all my weaknesses and struggles.

And I think this is why I love Enoch so much.

The Lord called him to preach repentance to those around him.

Enoch’s first response?

“He bowed himself to the earth, before the Lord, and spake before the Lord, saying:

“Why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant?” (Moses 6:31)

Isn’t Enoch all of us?

We get asked to serve.

Maybe it’s an official calling that’s extended to us.

But maybe it’s a general calling from the Lord that we feel when someone gives a talk about missionary service, or ministering, or temple service, or family history.

Or maybe it’s a unique calling you feel the Spirit has told just you.

It’s easy to immediately go to all of our shortcomings.

“I’m too young!”

“I’m not that popular.”

“That’s not something I’m good at.”

Do you think God doesn’t already know all this? The loving Creator and Father of our souls?

He’s not looking for servants who think of every reason they can’t serve.

He’s looking for His children who will get to work.

Despite their age. Despite their lack of talent. Despite their fears. Despite their limitations and busy schedules. Despite their pride.

He’s looking for people who aren’t concerned with the HOW.

He’s just looking for people who are ready to serve in their own imperfect way, with God as their guide.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Enoch’s imperfections first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

A few years ago, EVERYONE knew who our family history consultants were.

They were amazing.

They came in and taught Sunday School lessons, hosted youth activities, made goals, and did home visits.

I did family history work, and took my own names to the temple.

It was awesome.

Our consultants especially impressed me because that calling is a pretty vague one. Not every ward even has them, and I don’t think I could have told you who held that calling previously. Not that that’s a bad thing.

But I was just so impressed by how they chose to magnify a calling that could be perceived by others as small, insignificant, or unnecessary.

They made it large by using their unique talents and strengths.

What callings do you have right now?

Sure, what calling do you have at church.

But also, what other callings do you have?

A mom, a teacher, a parent, a ministering sister, an actual sister, an honorary grandma, a leader, a spouse, a child, an organizer…

I was shocked (okay but kinda really) when I took my first baby girl home from the hospital that there was no handbook on how to be a mom.

I get to just… figure it out.

But I feel this motivation to not just “figure out” how to be a mom, but to instead MAGNIFY that calling.

How to think for myself and create the best “mom” that I can with my personal talents and strengths.

I think about my Savior.

I don’t think there was an exact blueprint that His life here on earth had to follow.

Instead… He just went about doing good in quiet but powerful ways.

He created how He would fill the calling of the Savior by using His kind and eternal talents and strengths.

Creation isn’t just for artists, writers, and musicians.

We all get to create.

We get to create exactly how we are going to fill the roles that we have. The callings we’ve been given. The assignments we receive.

We get to magnify what we’ve been given to create even more.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Magnify with your talents 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 order any food that I wanted and eat it. 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 clean something. I could listen to some good music.

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 Elder 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.

And when I fall into the ever-popular, “That’s just who I am!” – I am denying gifts from God.

I am deciding that I am not good enough for a gift. Or I don’t need it.

Which, unfortunately, is a choice I totally can make with my agency.

But I don’t want to.

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 How do you deny a spiritual gift? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.