Why do some suffer with cancer while others are cured?

Why do some struggle financially while others have abundance?

Why do some have difficult family relationships to navigate while others have such unity?

Why do some fail while others get accepted to every school they wanted?

Why were the faithful women of Ammonihah and their innocent children killed in the most brutal way, while a prophet of the Lord was told not to intervene?

Life can be infuriatingly unfair.

So, so, so unfair.

Elder Dale G. Renlund gave a talk in 2021 titled “Infuriating Unfairness” that shook me to the core, and I’ve quoted it often since.

I actually want to point you to this apostle’s words to answer this complicated and heartbreaking question.

Please go read or listen to that talk today.

But here are some of my favorite teachings he shared:

“I declare with all my aching heart that Jesus Christ both understands unfairness and has the power to provide a remedy. Nothing compares to the unfairness He endured.

“It was not fair that He experienced all the pains and afflictions of mankind. It was not fair that He suffered for my sins and mistakes and for yours. But He chose to do so because of His love for us and for Heavenly Father. He understands perfectly what we are experiencing.”

“In mortality, we can “come boldly” to the Savior and receive compassion, healing, and help. Even while we suffer inexplicably, God can bless us in simple, ordinary, and significant ways.”

“In the eternities, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will resolve all unfairness.”

(Go read his talk and share it with others you know are grappling with the same question.)

Life is inherently unfair, and while this unfairness is manifest in both insignificant and life-altering ways, God’s will always reigns supreme.

And Jesus PERFECTLY understands the unfairness you face.

I am sure that these righteous women and children in Ammonihah, surrounded by their beloved scriptures, praised God “even in the very act of perishing”.

Do we have the faith to praise God, despite the infuriating unfairness we have to face?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Why weren’t they saved?  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Such joy, relief!

Out of Babylon and back to the land of your ancestors to rebuild the great temple as a sign of devotion to God.

Good intentions to do good things.

But then

SO MUCH OPPOSITION.

The work stops.

So heartbreaking!

But the prophet says to keep going despite all the opposition.

Letters are written to the Persian king trying to “tattle” on the Jews, encouraging the king to use his power to stop their efforts.

So what does the great Persian king Darius do with all of his social status, influence, and power?

He says, “Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place.”

He even then tells all these complaining neighbors to give the Jews any material they may need for the temple so that, “they be not hindered”. (Ezra 6:7-8)

Darius didn’t know these Jews. He doesn’t really know much about Jerusalem.

But he stood up for the people who were getting picked on and encouraged others to assist, too.

Elder Renlund, in his talk “Infuriating Unfairness” in April 2021, said:

“Brothers and sisters, not throwing stones is the first step in treating others with compassion. The second step is to try to catch stones thrown by others.”

You may not feel that you have the power and influence that Darius used for these Jews.

But how could you be a powerful example of love the next time someone starts gossiping?

How could you be a powerful example of grace the next time someone starts criticizing?

How could you be a powerful example of inclusion the next time someone starts excluding?

Little by little, we can catch the stones meant for those around us, and share love and support instead!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Catching stones for the Jews first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.