I can think of a few who taught me in Young Women’s, in Seminary, at BYU, and in Sunday School that I will truly never forget. ⁣

They are some of my favorite teachers because they always pointed me to my Savior!

Sure, there might have been other teachers who were more popular or cool at the time…

But they aren’t the ones who still stick out in my mind years and years later. ⁣

These favorite teachers weren’t just always talking about themselves and why they were the best teachers–

They showed it by teaching me more about the Savior with every class. ⁣

I’m sure that Abraham was an amazing teacher as well. ⁣

Right as he was starting his ministry, I love that the Lord gave Abraham this same little lesson: ⁣

“Through THY ministry MY name shall be known in the earth forever”. (Abraham 1:19)⁣

The purpose of Abraham’s ministry was not to spread Abraham’s name far and wide. ⁣

It was to spread the Lord’s name far and wide! ⁣

And that should be our real purpose every time we teach the gospel, too.⁣

To be transparently honest, I struggle with what people might perceive of me on social media when it comes to this. ⁣

If you know me in real life, you know that I’m not pursuing fame here, and I truly have very little “pride” built up by what I do. ⁣

At the end of the day, am I pointing the people who have chosen to follow my account to Cali Black, or to Jesus Christ?⁣

I hope it’s Jesus. I hope it’s always Jesus. ⁣

My ministry is for HIS name.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post My ministry for His name first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Everyone talked about how the teacher ran her class just like a college class, and that she would write feedback all over your essays. ⁣

But I was excited. ⁣

Because for years before this class, my English teachers had always passed back essays with: “Great writing, Cali!” written across the top, with a few “good!”s and “nice!”s sprinkled in the margins. ⁣

I mean, I knew I was pretty good at writing. ⁣

But I also knew I had room to improve, and I was ready for a teacher who could show me how instead of patting me on the back. ⁣

So when my new teacher passed back our first essays of the year, I was ecstatic to find her pen markings all over. ⁣

“What a fascinating thesis! Do you ALWAYS think this is true though? What about…”⁣

“This isn’t as strong of a reason as your others. Make sure you’ve got evidence to back it up.”⁣

“This concluding paragraph is FILLED with platitudes. Give more substance.”⁣

THIS was what I had been waiting for. ⁣

Someone who knew how to push me. ⁣

And I loved how each correction also gave me a way to get better next time. ⁣

In a much more serious and all-encompassing way, I am also grateful for a Savior who doesn’t let me coast. ⁣

One who calls me out with guilt or with promptings when I’m not at my best spiritually. ⁣

One who tells me how to get rid of things that don’t belong anymore. ⁣

But my favorite part?⁣

“Whom I love I also chasten that their sins may be forgiven, for with the chastisement I prepare a way for their deliverance”. (D&C 95:1⁣)

He always prepares a way for us to change. ⁣

Not just: “Hey, you’re doing this wrong, hope you can figure out how to fix it!”⁣

But He has PREPARED and PLANNED a way for us to improve. ⁣

He has already sweat and bled for the consequences, and now He invites us to get back on the right track. ⁣

I’m grateful for a writing teacher who helped completely prepare me for writing at the college level by teaching me how to be better.

And I’m even more grateful for a Savior who takes the time to chastise me, and prepares a way for me to become even more like Him.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post  AP English  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

This is the moment I learned that some of my colleagues and I had very different classroom management strategies. ⁣

There was one 6th grader in particular who was a challenge that year. ⁣⁣

Although I was not perfect at handling him, I had decided to take a different approach:

I talked to him a lot individually.

Year after year in the classroom, I found myself being able to connect with even the most difficult kids. ⁣

(Not that everything was amazing, but I felt like there was mutual respect and a glimpse of understanding, even despite some of their continued poor choices.)⁣

I came to learn that pulling kids aside and talking to them one-on-one was the best way to maintain that respect.

Calling kids out in front of their peers either caused shame, or it reinforced that they only got attention when they were exhibiting poor behavior. ⁣

And I didn’t want to cause either one of those outcomes.

So I found that creating unique opportunities to talk to that child one-on-one gave me the best chance to actually get my point across to them. ⁣

I think about Hiram Page. ⁣

He believed that he was receiving revelation for the entire church.

I don’t know how this all started, or if he knew at some point that this was not truly of God…

But Joseph, as directed by the Lord, gave him the benefit of the doubt. ⁣

In D&C 28:11, the Lord directed Oliver to pull Hiram aside for an individual conversation about his behavior. ⁣

“Thou shalt take thy brother, Hiram Page, between him and thee alone, and tell him that those things which he hath written from that stone are not of me and that Satan deceiveth him”.

No shaming, no name-calling, and no unnecessary attention. ⁣

Just using discretion, solving the problem with respect, and lots of love. ⁣

I’ve seen the same principle carry over as I teach youth in church, and have kids of my own. ⁣

I truly believe that most people don’t want to be bad. ⁣

If we give them the benefit of the doubt, speak to them privately with an open heart and ready to hear their side of the story, that’s when hearts are mended. ⁣

No ganging up, no mob mentality, no shame. ⁣

Just kind, loving, individual correction and connection.

I imagine, just as Jesus would.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The tough 6th grader  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.

There he is, watching the demise of his people, and rewriting the records from hundreds of years of Nephite history. ⁣

Mormon has the gift of wisdom, and while he does a great job at narrating the events from the plates, he can’t help but interject his own lessons throughout his abridgment. ⁣

And what’s that famous phrase that signals us that Mormon is about to teach a lesson?⁣

“And thus we see…”⁣

(Sometimes, “thus we can behold…”)⁣

He switches from story-telling to spiritual commentary. ⁣

He takes a time out from telling us about who was the chief judge and who was murdered and who was baptized…⁣

And instead focuses on the lesson to learn. ⁣

“And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him.” -Helaman 12:3⁣

Mormon is a great example at using BOTH storytelling and explicit teaching in order to get a point across. ⁣

I think it can be easy to think that by living a pretty righteous life, our kids will catch on. ⁣

Don’t get me wrong, setting the right example is probably the most important element in teaching the gospel to our kids.

But it’s not the only element. ⁣

We also need to explicitly teach gospel principles to our children. ⁣

In family nights, studying Come Follow Me, and other home-centered gospel learning, there are so many chances to do some straightforward teaching.

And not always in formal settings either!

Mormon beautifully weaved his “thus we see..” observations throughout his summaries. ⁣

So when my kid sees a church building out of the car window and yells, “church!”, I can take that moment to teach them about why I love church and how happy it makes me. ⁣

I can’t be afraid to teach. Or even hesitant to teach. ⁣

I HAVE to be explicit. I have to point out the spiritual lessons in real-time as much as I can. ⁣

Because we truly need both: the examples and stories, and the Godly principles being boldly proclaimed.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post And thus we see…  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

And I ended up going pretty far!

I honestly learned a lot in the process of just competing.

I learned the best structure for captivating speeches.

I knew to start with an interesting hook.

To switch my tone of voice often.

To balance lighter anecdotes with heavy, straightforward points. ⁣

And then I got a formal teaching degree.

And now I truly enjoy giving talks in church and teaching lessons.

I feel pretty confident in “how” to do it, at least in the way it is formally taught.

But that doesn’t make me more qualified to teach a Sunday School lesson than anyone else.

Paul said, “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” 1 Corinthians 2:4

⁣in other words, the best way to preach is not the way that professionals can teach us about how to teach.

The best way to teach is to teach WITH THE SPIRIT.

Isn’t it cool that everyone, from prophets to members of our congregation, doesn’t need any formal “speech” training to change lives through the Spirit?

We don’t pick our local bishop based on who gives the best sermons.

We don’t have a competition for who is good enough to speak at General Conference.

Because we don’t NEED someone who is entertaining or well-educated in order to learn about Jesus.

The professional training doesn’t qualify anyone for the work.

What matters is whether or not we teach and preach and testify WITH THE SPIRIT.

So the next time you are nervous to teach a lesson, bear your testimony, or share that spiritual thought, trust that God can make amazing things happen through humble people who are willing to access the Spirit of God in their lives.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Am I a good speaker? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Who would my teacher be?!

Would I like them?

Would it be a good school year?

We’d park and run up to the printed class lists that were taped on the side of the front office window at our elementary school, eagerly looking for our fate for the year.

Classroom teachers have such a big impact on their students and to what degree they are able to help each kid throughout the year.

And as a former classroom teacher, I know the weight and responsibility I would feel as I’d get MY class lists, knowing that kids and parents would be counting on me to do my job.

But what about real, adult life?

Wouldn’t it be nice to be assigned to an amazing teacher who would make sure you were learning everything you needed to know, helping you out when you struggled, and cheering you on all the time?

Well… I think we actually might all be in the same class.

And we’ve been assigned the greatest, wisest, gentlest, happiest, kindest teacher of all.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1)

Jesus is our shepherd.

He’s the one leading.

We won’t want any other teacher or feel jealous of that other class…

Because we’ve got the best.

And we’ve all got Him.

Young and old, whether you are in a classroom this year or far from it.

We actually all belong on the greatest class list of all time.

With Jesus as our shepherd, if we choose to follow Him, we’ll have the greatest year ever.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The greatest class list first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I can think of a few who taught me in Young Women’s, in Seminary, at BYU, and in Sunday School that I will truly never forget.

But one thing I’ve noticed about these great gospel teachers, is that they always pointed me to the Savior.

Sure, there might have been other teachers who were more “popular” at the time. Flashier.

But they aren’t the ones who still stick out in my mind years and years later.

These favorite teachers weren’t just always talking about themselves and why they were the best teachers– they showed it by teaching me more about the Savior with every class.

I’m sure that Abraham was an amazing teacher as well.

He was probably charismatic and a great missionary, too.

Right as he was starting his ministry though, I love that the Lord gave him this same little lesson:

“Through THY ministry MY name shall be known in the earth forever”. (Abraham 1:19)

The purpose of Abraham’s ministry was not to spread Abraham’s name far and wide.

It was to spread the Lord’s name far and wide!

And that should be our real purpose every time we teach the gospel, too.

To be transparently honest, I struggle with what people might perceive of me on social media when it comes to this.

If you know me in real life, you know that I’m not pursuing fame here, and I truly have very little “pride” built up by what I do.

But at the end of the day, am I pointing the people who have chosen to follow my account to Cali Black, or to Jesus Christ?

I hope it’s Jesus. I hope it’s always Jesus.

My ministry is for HIS name.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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

Everyone talked about how the teacher ran her class just like a college class, and that she would write all over your essays.

But I was excited.

Because for years before this class, my English teachers had always passed back essays with: “Great writing, Cali!” written across the top, with a few “good!”s and “nice!”s sprinkled in the margins.

I mean, I knew I was pretty good at writing.

But I also knew I had room to improve, and I was ready for a teacher who could show me how instead of patting me on the back.

So when my new teacher passed back our first essays of the year, I was ecstatic to find her pen markings all over.

“What a fascinating thesis! Do you ALWAYS think this is true though? What about…”

“This isn’t as strong of a reason as your others. Make sure you’ve got evidence to back it up.”

“This concluding paragraph is FILLED with platitudes. Give more substance.”

THIS was what I had been waiting for.

Someone who knew how to push me.

And I loved how each correction also gave me a way to get better next time.

In a much more serious and all-encompassing way, I am also grateful for a Savior who doesn’t let me coast.

One who calls me out with guilt or with promptings when I’m not at my best spiritually.

One who tells me how to get rid of things that don’t belong anymore.

But my favorite part?

“Whom I love I also chasten that their sins may be forgiven, for with the chastisement I prepare a way for their deliverance”. D&C 95:1

He always prepares a way for us to change.

Not just: “Hey, you’re doing this wrong, hope you can figure out how to fix it!”

But He has PREPARED and PLANNED a way for us to improve.

He has already sweat and bled for the consequences, and now He invites us to get back on the right track.

I’m grateful for a writing teacher who helped completely prepare me for writing at the college level by teaching me how to be better.

And I’m even more grateful for a Savior who takes the time to chastise me, and prepares a way for me to become even more like Him.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Ready to improve? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.