I mean, they kept growing and multiplying, and who knew what would happen next?! ⁣

And so what did this king do? ⁣

“He said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them… Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens.” (Exodus 1:9-11)⁣

The pharaoh was literally so afraid about the hypothetical military power this group of people could have in the future, that he did everything he could do to keep them oppressed. ⁣

Do you know what I can’t help but think about here? ⁣

“Unity and diversity are not opposites. We can achieve greater unity as we foster an atmosphere of inclusion and respect for diversity.” – Quentin L. Cook

One of the biggest messages our modern church leaders have been teaching over and over again is: ⁣

UNITY⁣

We can have cultural and social differences and still find unity when we realize that we are all identified as children of God, first! ⁣

Can you even imagine if the new king said:⁣

“Hey Israelites! You keep growing and growing, and we love you guys. What can we do to help you feel more included? Do you have any new ideas for how to make our kingdom even better?” ⁣

And yet, this king chose division and labeling people as “others”. ⁣

Which then led to him inflicting pain and burdens. ⁣

So how can you create unity where you live right now? ⁣

Who are you tempted to think about in divisive ways, and how can you turn that into love and unity instead?⁣

Kicking other people out or purposefully increasing their burdens just to keep another group comfortable isn’t the way the Savior worked, and it’s not how He wants us to work, either. ⁣

Unity looks like hard work. It takes effort. It requires people to get uncomfortable. ⁣

And the end result is so much more love, peace, and Christlike charity. ⁣

Unity is worth the effort.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Fear and oppression  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

We need hands that are virtually always doing something. ⁣

We need flashy white teeth to help eat and enjoy yummy treats. ⁣

We need super smart brains that are always planning and learning. ⁣

We need legs that actually get us going to different places. ⁣

We need elbows to remind us that even when we feel pain, it’s okay to still laugh and be funny. ⁣

We need every body part. ⁣

Some body parts are strange shapes.

Some get all dolled up with makeup. ⁣

Some body parts have hundreds of different uses. Some do the same thing with consistency. ⁣

My nose would be of no use to me if it wanted to walk like my feet. I prefer my nose to be really awesome at being a nose. ⁣

“Also the body hath need of every member, that all may be edified together, that the system may be kept perfect.” (D&C 84:110⁣)

But right before that verse, a warning. ⁣

“Let every man stand in his own office, and labor in his own calling; ⁣

“and let not the head say unto the feet it hath no need of the feet; for without the feet how shall the body be able to stand?” (D&C 84:109⁣)

The warning is to each of us and it is serious. ⁣

Do we, whatever part we may play, think that we have no need of someone who is different than us?⁣

That we need to make friends with people who are super similar to us? ⁣

That if everyone were a little more like us, the church would be even better?⁣

That is not true. ⁣

We need everyone. We need everyone exactly how they are right now. ⁣

Every strength. Every weakness. Every quirk. Every struggle. Every personality. Every background. ⁣

Not just to make a nice church cuz diversity is cool. ⁣

But to make a PERFECT church. ⁣

Perfect is often synonymous with “whole”, “complete”, or “mature”.⁣

We aren’t broken if we differ from “the norm”. ⁣

We are needed exactly the way that we are in order to make a small part of a complete body. ⁣

We are needed to perform a function that only we can. ⁣

We are needed to edify each other in ways we don’t even realize. ⁣

We need everyone, and our biggest downfall will be if we start thinking we don’t.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Pinky toes first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Well, maybe not super easy. ⁣

But at least, I think could do it. ⁣

But…

Some of my highest highs AND my lowest lows in life have come from interacting with other people. ⁣

I’ve laughed til my belly aches and cried in moments of vulnerability with good friends. ⁣

And I’ve endured awkward moments and painful misunderstandings with good friends, too. ⁣

I’ve experienced more love than I ever thought possible with my family members. ⁣

And I’ve had to practice patience and forgiveness more than I ever thought possible with my family members. ⁣

I’ve been uplifted and edified by things that my fellow ward members have said. ⁣

And I’ve been shocked and frustrated by things that my fellow ward members have said. ⁣

I’ve had sweet, kind interactions with strangers at parks, stores, or schools. ⁣

And I’ve had terribly rude interactions with strangers at parks, stores, and schools. ⁣

Getting outside of ourselves is where life gets extra messy, but also extra beautiful. ⁣

And I think that’s why the Lord reminds the Saints as they prepared to move to Ohio that they HAD to look out for each other. ⁣

They couldn’t just each take the journey on their own with their own resources. ⁣

Well, maybe a few of them could have made it in their own that way, but they would have left a lot of people in the dust in New York. ⁣

And so the Lord cautioned in D&C 38:27, “If ye are not one ye are not mine”.⁣

We NEED each other. ⁣

The second great commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves. ⁣

And so if the adversary can get us to just think about ourselves all the time, he’s won half the battle. ⁣

We have to be one. ⁣

We have to experience the messes that come from meeting new people, awkward moments, and misunderstandings so that we can also practice living the gospel in action. ⁣

Unity and oneness can’t begin if we don’t even know each other. ⁣

And if we are not one, then we are not His.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Kind strangers, frustrating strangers  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I mean, they kept growing and multiplying, and who knew what would happen next?!

And so what did this king do?

“He said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them… Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens.” (Exodus 1:9-11)

The pharaoh was literally so afraid about the hypothetical military power this group of people could have in the future, that he did everything he could do to keep them oppressed.

Do you know what I can’t help but think about here?

“Unity requires effort. It develops when we cultivate the love of God in our hearts and we focus on our eternal destiny.” – Elder Dale G. Renlund

One of the biggest messages our modern church leaders have been teaching over and over again is:

UNITY

We can have cultural and social differences and still find unity when we realize that we are all identified as children of God, first!

Can you even imagine if the new king said:

“Hey Israelites! You keep growing and growing, and we love you guys. What can we do to help you feel more included? Do you have any new ideas for how to make our kingdom even better?”

And yet, this king chose division and labeling people as “others”.

Which then led to him inflicting pain and burdens.

So how can you create unity where you live right now?

Who are you tempted to think about in divisive ways, and how can you turn that into love and unity instead?

Kicking other people out or purposefully increasing their burdens just to keep another group comfortable isn’t the way the Savior worked, and it’s not how He wants us to work, either.

Unity looks like hard work. It takes effort. It requires people to get uncomfortable.

And the end result is so much more love, peace, and Christlike charity.

Unity is worth the effort.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Unity is worth the effort  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

We need hands that are virtually always doing something.

We need flashy white teeth to help eat and enjoy yummy treats.

We need super smart brains that are always planning and learning.

We need legs that actually get us going to different places.

We need elbows to remind us that even when we feel pain, it’s okay to still laugh and be funny.

We need every body part.

Some body parts are strange shapes. Some get all dolled up with makeup.

Some body parts have hundreds of different uses. Some do the same thing with consistency.

My nose would be of no use to me if it wanted to walk like my feet. I prefer my nose to be really awesome at being a nose.

“Also the body hath need of every member, that all may be edified together, that the system may be kept perfect.” D&C 84:110

But right before that verse, a warning.

“Let every man stand in his own office, and labor in his own calling;

“and let not the head say unto the feet it hath no need of the feet; for without the feet how shall the body be able to stand?” D&C 84:109

The warning is to each of us and it is serious.

Do we, whatever part we may play, think that we have no need of someone who is different than us?

That we need to make friends with people who are super similar to us?

That if everyone were a little more like us, the church would be even better?

That is not true.

We need everyone. We need everyone exactly how they are right now.

Every strength. Every weakness. Every quirk. Every struggle. Every personality. Every background.

Not just to make a nice church cuz diversity is cool.

But to make a PERFECT church.

Perfect is often synonymous with “whole”, “complete”, or “mature”.

We aren’t broken if we differ from “the norm”.

We are needed exactly the way that we are in order to make a small part of a complete body.

We are needed to perform a function that only we can.

We are needed to edify each other in ways we don’t even realize.

We need everyone, and our biggest downfall will be if we start thinking we don’t.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post We need all the body parts first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Well, maybe not super easy.

But at least, I could do it.

But some of my highest highs and my lowest lows in life have come from interacting with other people.

I’ve laughed til my belly aches and cried in moments of vulnerability with good friends.

And I’ve endured awkward moments and painful misunderstandings with God friends, too.

I’ve experienced more love than I ever thought possible with my family members.

And I’ve had to practice patience and forgiveness more than I ever thought possible with my family members.

I’ve been uplifted and edified by things that my fellow ward members have said.

And I’ve been shocked and frustrated by things that my fellow ward members have said.

I’ve had sweet, kind interactions with strangers at parks, stores, or schools.

And I’ve had terribly rude interactions with strangers at parks, stores, and schools.

Getting outside of ourselves is where life gets extra messy, but also extra beautiful.

And I think that’s why the Lord reminds the Saints as they prepared to move to Ohio that they HAD to look out for each other.

They couldn’t just each take the journey on their own with their own resources.

Well, maybe a few of them could have made it in their own that way, but they would have left a lot of people in the dust in New York.

And so the Lord cautioned in D&C 38:27, “If ye are not one ye are not mine”.

We NEED each other.

The second great commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves.

And so if the adversary can get us to just think about ourselves all the time, he’s won half the battle.

We have to be one.

We have to experience the messes that come from meeting new people, awkward moments, and misunderstandings so that we can also practice living the gospel in action.

Unity and oneness can’t begin if we don’t even know each other.

And if we are not one, then we are not His.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The highs and lows of unity first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

At dinner time, the boys with the longer reach were able to grab the most food.

But the family realized that this was bringing a lot of contention.

Greed from the older boys, and resentment from the older boys.

And so they counseled together and came up with a solution:

Each boy had to keep at least one foot on the floor when they reached for more food.

This led to a fun way to eliminate contention.

President Nelson (who shared a version of the above story) counseled:

“My concern is that contention is becoming accepted as a way of life. From what we see and hear in the media, the classroom, and the workplace, all are now infected to some degree with contention.”

He said that in 1989.

I think it’s powerful to notice two things:

First, contention is literally from the devil.

He will try anything to get us to avoid the first two great commandments – to love God, and to love others.

But the second lesson is much more hopeful:

Rooting out contention starts at home.

The parents of the boys at the table didn’t let the contention stay. They didn’t throw up their hands and say, “Boys will be boys!”

They modeled and encouraged their sons to find a way to solve the problem in unity, while getting rid of contention.

Kyle and I know as our kids grow that this will be one of our biggest responsibilities – to show them that differences can be solved by working together.

We can show them to avoid contention.

But in order to show, we have to know how to do that.

I believe fully and completely that we can stand up for the things we believe in, point out injustice, discuss various opinions, and be powerful forces for good, without needing any contention.

And how did our Savior teach the people to turn away from this evil attitude?

Of course, the answer is to turn to Jesus Christ.

He is the one who shows us the true worth of others, who wants us to feel nothing but love for the people we interact with every day.

But we have to try – we have to want it. We have to ask our Savior to remove all contention from our hearts. And then we can receive.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Literally of the devil first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

They have different jobs and roles to fulfill, but they are united in Their purpose. 

And that’s what makes this whole eternal salvation thing possible. 

We have One who is the loving Father of our spirits, we have One who atoned for our sins and showed the example, and we have One who carries messages to our heart and mind. 

Same purpose. Different jobs.

What a beautiful pattern for us to follow here on earth!

In our ward families, in our jobs, in many organizations, this is a great pattern – to focus on the unity of purpose while fulfilling different jobs.

But my favorite example of this is in marriage. 

It’s super easy to build up resentment in marriage. 

Resentment because it’s pretty impossible for two people to do exactly the same things all of the time and have a functioning household or life. 

Things are unfair all the time. 

I remember right after we got married, Kyle and I were both coming home from long days at work/school, and he asked me, “What do you have planned for dinner tonight?” My response was, “What do YOU have planned for dinner tonight?”

We hadn’t communicated yet about who would be in charge of dinners, and I certainly wasn’t going to bring on the resentment of trying to do a task I secretly despise. 

But then we talked about it. We figured it out. And it’s changed over the years as our lives have changed.

(For what it’s worth, he 100% plans all of our dinners right now and just tells me where to find the recipe. He’s the best. It’s also his birthday today, so wish him a Happy Birthday below!)

But that’s the beauty about unity. We can be united in our purpose and find different ways to get the messy jobs of life done. 

It’s not “fair”. It will never be “fair” if we are keeping score. 

“Different” doesn’t have to come with rankings. And “different” can change all of the time. Different is okay, and in fact, necessary. 

But with communication, love, and respect, we can find peace in the different job titles that we currently wear.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Fighting resentment in marriage first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Somewhere along the road, I got it into my head that needing other people’s help is a weakness.

So when things come up, I just handle them and deal with them on my own most of the time.

Especially as a stay-at-home and work-from-home mom with kids too young to go to school yet, my social bubble is pretty small compared to previous points in my life.

And yet, I know that some of my most meaningful and powerful memories are from when I have bonded together with others.

I KNOW that I feel better when I’m reaching out and interacting with friends (which has made these past few months particularly difficult!).

So how do we create unity in a world that places so much value on individualism?

Alma’s brave little church achieved this beautiful Christlike unity as they gathered at the Waters of Mormon.

And luckily, we are able to get a pretty detailed picture of how they achieved this unity.

Think about how you could feel greater unity within your family, class/quorum, or ward as you look through this step by step list from Mosiah 18:

• They were baptized and joined the church (v16)
• They taught each other from righteous sources (v19)
• They repented often (v20)
• They kept the Sabbath (v23)
• They filled their hearts with gratitude (v23)
• They gathered themselves together as often as they could (v25)
• They gave to those in need (v27)

Doing all of these things caused their hearts to be knit together in unity and love.

It’s a difficult time out there right now.

Maybe the unity in your family is starting to fall apart because you’ve had a little too much time together.

Maybe the unity of your ward is starting to fall apart because physical meetings have stopped.

But I think we can still make it a top priority to create unity in both situations.

In fact, I think we need it right now more than ever.

What is ONE thing you can do today to build greater unity in your family, and in your local branch of the church?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Hearts knit together first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.