Whether it’s an EFY group, a Sunday School class, a youth group, or Primary kids…

I’ve had moments when I am filled with this powerful love and perspective.

They are so important.

Each of them.

Many times when I’ve had this experience, I’ve tried to tell the people in the room about it right then.

But words can’t really convey how I can tell the Lord feels about them.

My explanation feels clunky, but the love I can feel for them is real.

They are each so valued to our Heavenly Father.

But then…

I think about when I’ve had a leader stand up and say something similar—

That they feel great love for each of us in the room.

And for some reason, it’s a little harder to feel that same divine love coming from the other direction.

The Lord teaches us to “Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.” (D&C 18:10)

It can often be easier to understand that God loves the people around us than to truly feel His love for us individually.

Did you know that YOUR soul is great?

Did you know that many people likely have looked at you and felt that glimpse of God’s love for you?

Great people surround you.

But don’t ever forget that YOU, you yourself, are great, too.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post You are great!  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Even though this lengthy allegory’s interpretation covers the entire earth and thousands of years, and could take hours of dissection and analysis…

I want to focus on what we can learn about God.

What does He do in this allegory of an olive tree?

“And it came to pass that the master of the vineyard went forth, and he saw that his olive-tree began to decay; and he said: I will prune it, and dig about it, and nourish it, that perhaps it may shoot forth young and tender branches, and it perish not.” (Jacob 5:4)

God wants to save.

He wants to save me!

He wants to give me as many chances as He possibly can.

He will not give up on me.

He will graft, prune, and dig.

Which is very arduous work.

But He is willing to do on my behalf.

He will help me get nourishment.

He’ll weep when I do not produce good fruit.

He’ll rejoice when I do!

As Elder Kearon so eloquently put, “God is in relentless pursuit of you.”

The allegory of the olive tree can be so overwhelming and complicated to dissect all at once.

But this allegory becomes so special and personal when we look at what we can learn about the nature of God.

It shows the great lengths that He will go, out of love, to save each person.

You are worth saving!

You are worth Heavenly Father’s time, effort, and attention, even more so than the olive tree.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post My olive tree lesson first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Am I doing enough?

Where is my standing with God?

I think about these questions a lot.

Actually, I think about them a little bit less now than I used to. But they are still there.

When I look around at a messy home and a kid climbs on top of me even when I’ve asked them not to and my to-do list is longer than ever, I wonder if I’m doing well enough.

But something else I’ve noticed about these moments?

I’m in self-pity.

And I’m NOT listening to the Spirit.

I’m thinking of all the ways that I’m falling short.

And I’m not trying to connect with the Divine, show gratitude, love, and grow.

On the flip side, those moments when I’m really in tune with the Spirit…

When I’m feeling love and prompting and clarity and guidance…

I KNOW that I’m enough.

I know that where my heart is matters most, and that it is in a good place.

I know that I will keep needing my Savior.

So sometimes I need to hear:

“Let your soul be at rest concerning your spiritual standing, and resist no more my voice.” D&C 108:2

When I am resisting the Spirit, when I think I know more about my value and worth than He does, then I feel tied down and heavy.

And when I allow myself to be comforted by that still small voice, then I feel confidence and peace.

Let your soul be at rest.

Stop resisting the comforting voice of the Spirit.

You are doing just great.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Am I good enough? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

And feel an immense godly love for them.

I’ve seen insecure teenagers in an EFY group, kids in a Sunday School class, girls in a Young Women group…

And I am filled with this powerful love and perspective.

They are so important. Each of them.

Many times when I’ve had this experience, I’ve tried to tell the people about it right then.

I try to tell them that I feel godly love for them.

But words can’t really convey how I can tell the Lord feels about them.

And then I think about the times where I’ve had a leader stand up and say something similar! When leaders have said that they feel great love for each of us in the room.

And for some reason, it’s a little harder to see that coming from the other direction.

We hear of leaders “sending their love” and we brush it off as an overused expression.

In one of the most famous scriptures ever, the Lord teaches us in Doctrine and Covenants Section 18 verse 10 to:

“Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God”.

Isn’t that so cool to think that we are surrounded by great souls?!

That our neighbors, kids, coworkers, and extended family are worth more than we can imagine?!

But I think it is often just as essential to think about how that knowledge can change us.

Did you know that YOUR soul is great?

Did you know that there are likely many people who have looked at you and felt that glimpse of godly love for you?

Did you know that when God looks at you, He is filled with even more love than you feel when looking at your kids?

You are surrounded by great people.

But don’t ever forget that YOU, you yourself, are great, too.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post You are GREAT! first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.