But I wasn’t really feeling like it was the right time, or that I had enough resources to get it started.

But that desire was underneath everything else that I did.

And then suddenly, the opportunity presented itself, I had the courage to put myself out there BECAUSE of my desire.

Everything fell into place, and I became the co-host of the One Minute Scripture Study podcast in the beginning of 2021 (!!!) with the amazing @kristenwalkersmith.

And boy, did everything feel right. ⁣

I had held onto such a strong desire to start a podcast, and now the opportunity was presenting itself, and I felt the Spirit confirm that this was the answer I had been waiting for. ⁣

My desire to share my testimony in new ways was the prompting I needed to guide my decisions. ⁣

I’ve been really struck by David, Oliver, and Martin’s passionate pleadings this week. ⁣

I had always pictured Joseph asking God who the Three Witnesses to the gold plates should be, and then God giving these three men’s names. ⁣

But really, David, Oliver, and Martin were all moved with a desire to become one of the witnesses that they knew had been prophesied of. ⁣

And they ASKED Joseph to be witnesses to the gold plates. ⁣

Section 17 is the result of Joseph asking the Lord if these three men were acceptable for this sacred responsibility, and the Lord approving. ⁣

But these weren’t random names that the Lord happened to approve—⁣

Because they each had a burning, righteous desire to be a witness in the first place. ⁣

Our righteous desires can be promptings from the Lord on how we can use our talents to build up the kingdom of God. ⁣

The righteous, selfless, or useful things that we really want to do? ⁣

Those desires can be the first whisperings of the Spirit on what opportunities we should be on the lookout for. ⁣

And then we can ask. ⁣

We can ask to be included, we can ask to be in consideration. ⁣

We can let our righteous desires drive us to righteous action.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post I wanted to start a podcast  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I’ve been thinking a lot about that word recently.

It evokes this feeling of such great, godlike, perfect love and understanding.

Did you know that I’ve prayed for a lot of assistance recently with Barrett since he will just not let me set him down anywhere?!

It’s been testing my patience and making it really difficult to get even basic tasks done.

And then sometimes I think to myself, “Really? There are a million ways your life could be worse right now. It’s just a phase. You are a big girl and you can handle this.”

One moment, when I offered up my little sincere prayer of frustration, I just felt this overwhelming feeling of compassion.

God wasn’t judging me for being annoyed that I can’t seem to get anything done right now.

He just had…

Compassion.

And then I have slowly felt Him kindly and sincerely offer up thoughts to calm my mind, give me perspective, or inspire new strategies to keep Barrett occupied.

There were many reasons that God allowed three formal witnesses to the gold plates.

It followed His pattern of two or three witnesses, it literally fulfilled scripture, these three men had a desire to see them…

But I was really struck by D&C 17:4–

The Lord tells the three men to bear witness of what they see.

“And this you shall do that my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., may not be destroyed”.

Part of the reason the Lord allowed witnesses was out of pure love for Joseph.

He knew Joseph’s reputation would be attacked and picked apart for hundreds of years.

And so He lovingly allowed others to view these plates, requesting that they publicly declare what they saw, in order to keep Joseph from utter destruction.

Compassion.

In the big world-changing events, and in the small should-I-really-care-about-this moments, God shows loving compassion on His sons and daughters.

Where have you seen His compassion in your life recently?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Compassionate witnesses first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I love Instagram and I don’t plan on leaving it, but I know that so many people prefer to listen rather than to read.

Plus, I love to talk about as much as I love to write!

But as much as I wanted to start a podcast, I knew the timing wasn’t right.

Until Kristen Smith invited me to speak as a guest on her podcast.

And after we finished recording our episode together, I felt the desire to work with her more.

The desire was just natural. (And as I told Kristen about the desire to work with her more, I told her I hoped she didn’t think I was sounding weird or obsessed! Luckily, she didn’t!)

Eventually, after many conversations, Kristen invited me to permanently co-host the One Minute Scripture Study podcast with her.

And boy, did that feel right.

I had held onto such a strong desire to start a podcast, and now the opportunity was presenting itself, and I felt the Spirit confirm that this was the answer I had been waiting for.

My desire to share my testimony in new ways was the prompting I needed to guide my decisions.

I’ve been really struck by David, Oliver, and Martin’s passionate pleadings this week.

I had always pictured Joseph asking God who the Three Witnesses to the gold plates should be, and receiving these three men’s names.

But really, David, Oliver, and Martin were all moved with a desire to become one of the witnesses that they knew had been prophesied of.

And they ASKED Joseph to be witnesses to the gold plates.

Section 17 is the result of Joseph asking the Lord if these three men were acceptable for this sacred responsibility, and the Lord approving.

But these weren’t random names that the Lord happened to approve—

Because they each had a burning, righteous desire to be a witness in the first place.

Our righteous desires can be promptings from the Lord on how we can use our talents to build up the kingdom of God.

The things that we really want to do? The things that are righteous, selfless, or useful?

Those desires can be the first whisperings of the Spirit on what direction we should head, or what opportunities we should be on the lookout for.

And then we can ask.

We can ask to be included, we can ask to be in consideration.

We can let our righteous desires drive us to righteous action.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Righteous desires first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.