I had zero intention of hiking down into the canyon and was very content staying up on the rim and taking nice shuttle rides around the park. ⁣

But there are warnings EVERYWHERE for those who are intending to hike down into the canyon. ⁣

Every brochure, every sign, every trailhead. ⁣

They say, basically, “Do you have a realistic plan?⁣

“Lots of people hike down into the canyon and are unprepared for how difficult it is to hike back out.

“We have to do a lot of rescues, either by ranger or by helicopter. ⁣

“Make sure you really know what you are getting yourself into, and that you are extremely physically fit to do this hike.”⁣

I can only imagine the kinds of stories that have caused these warnings to be plastered everywhere. ⁣

People choose to hike down into the canyon (the easy part), and then get caught off guard doing the uphill climb while they are already exhausted. ⁣

And then realize they completely miscalculated their abilities. ⁣

And that they need a lot of help. ⁣

And the park service has to spend a lot of manpower and expenses to get them out. ⁣

Thanks goodness the Lord is with us to the end, right?! ⁣

Sometimes, life is like a walk down into the Grand Canyon. ⁣

But other times, it seems like we’ve been asked to hike out of a giant hole in the ground in scorching noonday Arizona heat. ⁣

(Or maybe we are just riding the shuttle around in the rim, with air conditioning.)⁣

But literally no matter what our pathway is, our Lord is with us to the end. ⁣

“I will be with them even unto the end.” D&C 75:13⁣

For those who ask for the Lord to travel with them, He will be there the entire time. ⁣

He isn’t rolling His eyes when He has to come rescue us again. He isn’t frustrated that He has to stop what He’s doing to give help in a situation you got yourself into in the first place. ⁣

He’s just there. Whenever we ask. ⁣

What a kind, wise Heavenly friend.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Grand Canyon warning first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

As my hand got close to the metal plates, I could feel extreme heat near my fingertips.

I had forgotten I had already turned it on a few minutes previously and it was already completely warmed up.

I was grateful at that moment for the warning that the heat from the straightener gave me.

And I was able to avoid burning my fingers.

I love that the Lord gives us so many positive words of encouragement.

But it is also so important to look at the direct warnings He extends to us.

The Lord gave some of the Saints in 1831 this warning:

“Now, I, the Lord, am not well pleased with the inhabitants of Zion, for there are idlers among them; and their children are also growing up in wickedness; they also seek not earnestly the riches of eternity, but their eyes are full of greediness.” (D&C 68:31) 

Did you notice those four specific warnings?

Don’t be idle, teach your children, be earnest in good things, and don’t be greedy.

Well, don’t those seem pretty appropriate for those of us who, today, are still trying to build up Zion?⁣

Don’t be idle—⁣

Our time on earth was meant to be for more than being entertained. ⁣

Teach your children—⁣

We can’t control their choices, but that doesn’t mean we can drop the ball on teaching them like their lives depend on it.

Be earnest in doing good things—⁣

We can’t wait to be commanded or be put in an organization that will force us to do good things. We’ve gotta be proactive, just like our Savior is. ⁣

Don’t be greedy—⁣

Thinking that we deserve more than others is a manifestation of pride that brings us away from God. ⁣

SUCH great warnings that the Lord gives. ⁣

Warnings don’t have to be rough, mean, or heavy. ⁣

In fact, I feel enlightened when I read about truths that I need to work on and fix.

Correcting loved ones and hearing correction from the Lord doesn’t have to be harsh or rude. ⁣

I am grateful that the Lord gives me warnings, and invites me to be better.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Heat warnings  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

The scriptures warn us not to “love the world”.

But why would this be a warning for us?

I think it’s because every second of time we spend loving the world is a second less to spend loving our family members and neighbors.

Every dollar we hoard because we love money is one less dollar we are willing to depart with as tithes and donations. ⁣

Every moment we focus on our own vanity is a moment taken away from worshiping the Lord and serving others.

John taught,

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15)

When we love the Lord first,

And we love our families and our neighbors,

Then volunteering to donate our precious time and resources seems a lot easier.

If you find that a love of the world might be preventing you from serving God fully…

You are not alone.

This can be tough to eliminate completely while living in such a mortal world.

But we can all try starting small.

What is one tiny way to give up something “worldly” to spend more meaningful time worshiping the Lord and loving your family?

I think that’s an especially interesting question at this time of the year.

It can be powerful and spiritually rejuvenating to sacrifice some of the flashy stuff.

To intentionally sacrifice.

In order to give more love.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Don’t love the world  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I love that there are so many positive words of encouragement that the Lord gives us, cuz boy do I need them.

But I think it’s also important to look at the direct warnings that He gives us.

Cuz boy, do I need those, too!

The Lord spoke about the saints in the church at the time, that I feel like could be pulled into 4 separate warnings:

“Now, I, the Lord, am not well pleased with the inhabitants of Zion, for there are idlers among them; and their children are also growing up in wickedness; they also seek not earnestly the riches of eternity, but their eyes are full of greediness.” D&C 68:31

Did you catch those 4 specific warnings?

1. Don’t be idle
2. Teach your children
3. Be earnest in good things
4. Don’t be greedy

Well, don’t those seem pretty appropriate for those of us who, today, are still trying to build up Zion?

Don’t be idle—

Our time on earth was meant to be for more than being entertained.

Teach your children—

We can’t control their choices, but that doesn’t mean we can drop the ball on teaching them like their lives depend on it.

Be earnest in doing good things—

We can’t wait to be commanded or be put in an organization that will force us to do good things. We’ve gotta be proactive, just like our Savior is.

Don’t be greedy—

Thinking that we deserve more than others is a manifestation of pride that brings us away from God.

SUCH great warnings that the Lord gives.

Warnings don’t have to be rough, mean, or heavy.

In fact, I feel enlightened when I read about truths that I need to work on and fix.

Correcting loved ones and hearing correction from the Lord doesn’t have to be harsh or rude.

I am grateful that the Lord gives me warnings, and invites me to be better.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post 4 warnings first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.