Most of us grew up feeling comfortable attending the church we were born and raised in.

So our professor specifically wanted us to go somewhere we would be a bit uncomfortable.

I wanted to understand a specific group of people better, so I attended one of their meetings.

My professor was right!

I did feel a bit uncomfortable being in an atmosphere I wasn’t used to.

I didn’t “get” all the unspoken rules and routines that everyone else seemed familiar with.

I didn’t know a single person.

But I was also shocked at how much love and understanding I felt in my heart as I listened to the meeting.

Like, SO much love.

This taught me an important lesson that being willing to sacrifice our comfort can lead us straight to love.

When we humbly sacrifice for other people, whether it’s a group we don’t know, our child, or a ward member, we can’t help but grow in love for that person or group.

This means if we want to grow our loving relationship with the Lord, we need to be willing to sacrifice, too.

The Lord knows that it takes work to build that love:

“Wherefore, prepare ye for the coming of the Bridegroom; go ye, go ye out to meet him.” (D&C 133:19)

Jesus Christ loves us, and our willing sacrifice performed with good intentions will always produce greater love. 

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post An uncomfortable meeting  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

(I believe the BYU SSA club has since changed its name.)

It was for an assignment in my multicultural education class.

The assignment? Go somewhere that put you in the minority and made you uncomfortable.

Some of my friends attended a Catholic mass, but I felt pulled to go to this club meeting for students experiencing same sex attraction while at BYU.

And boy, was I uncomfortable when I first walked in that room. I felt like I was somewhere that I didn’t belong.

But I knew that was the purpose of the assignment. I was supposed to feel out of place.

And then the meeting started. And the Spirit of God filled that room.

And I do not say that lightly.

The people in the room emanated true Christlike love.

They shared openly, honestly, and courageously about the things they had been struggling with.

They talked about their wrestles with the Lord. They talked about their wins and successes. They talked about temptations and deep, serious trials. They cried. They laughed.

And I cried and laughed along with them.

My heart was filled with pure, powerful, Christlike love for every person in that room.

I felt guilty that I had ever felt uncomfortable, but it gave me just a minuscule glimpse at what these children of God had been experiencing every single day for years.

I didn’t know how much my heart needed to be in that meeting.

That was me, unknowingly at the time and under the guise of a school assignment, doing just a small portion of the real work it takes to be a true Christian.

I went in very uncomfortable.

And I left as a friend who continued to be an ally and an advocate.

It’s been a while though since I sat in that meeting, and I think I need to be uncomfortable more often. I need to grow in my love and service, which means getting out of my stagnant comfort zone.

And this is why Elder Holland’s talk stuck with me.

I need to stop putting the ultimate prize on being comfortable, and start focusing on being uncomfortable in order to become more Christlike.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Christianity is uncomfortable first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.