What is the Power of Prayer? What should we pray for?What does it mean to "counsel with the Lord in all our doings?" Should we wait for Him to "direct our paths" before taking action?And what about prayers that remove agency?  "Bless Teddy to decide to serve a mission." And what about when my kids ask to "bless this food (that Dad made) that it will taste good."There are probably more questions than answers, but I'd love to hear your feedback. [email protected]

Am I the only one who finds it difficult to not be judgmental?I understand the concept, but when it comes down to it, I see people making choices that are different than what (I think they) should, and it's easy for me to be critical.Join Fan Favorites Allison and Annette as we discuss how to not be too judgy towards others.Please like, share, subscribe, and review the podcast!

In this episode, Fan Favorites (or Family Favorites?) Annette and Allison join in the discussion about Personal Revelation.If I have received personal revelation, what should I do with that information or knowledge?What is my obligation to share, encourage, or force you to follow my path?How do I know it's an answer from God...or if it's just my own feelings, hopes, desires, or anxieties?Join our conversation.Like, share, subscribe, and share feedback with us, [email protected]

Mosiah 3:19 says the Natural man is an enemy to God. What does that mean? What is a "natural man?"I have no idea, but I have been thinking about this a lot lately. Maybe my ramblings will resonate with you. Maybe not. Give it a listen and let me know.

Annette is back! In this week's conversation, we start by considering how helpful it is to push others (and what about ourselves?) to just go through the motions.I remember hearing, "If we can just get him on a mission, he'll be fine," or "if we can get her to graduate Seminary, she'll gain a testimony."Does encouraging (or forcing, in some cases) the "right" behavior create the end result we want?

Shawn Rapier is the host of the amazing Latter-day Lives podcast (http://latterdaylives.com) and is our co-host this week!What if someone you love has lost interest in the Church? What does that mean for you and for your "Eternal Family?"Shawn has eight(!) children, who all have varying levels of interest and activity in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He shares some comforting perspectives on how to navigate the often-difficult life journey when someone we love decides they're not as committed to the Church as we might think they should be.

Seventeen episodes in, and I've learned a few things. And I've re-learned some things. And a few things have been reinforced.In this week's episode, I share a few random thoughts about how the conversations we've shared over the past couple of months have shaped my own perspective about Gospel Living.

How do we reconcile the  need to establish our own personal boundaries (and respect the boundaries of others) with the idea of revelation and inspiration in extending and accepting callings, assignments, and the like?New co-host and favorite sister-in-law Cindy joins old co-host and favorite daughter Allison in discussing how we can overlay boundaries with our duties as members of the Church.

What should we do when someone's choices have some impact--from negligible to immense?How you dress might affect other people's thoughts.  What is your obligation when it comes to "modesty?"How you interpret counsel from prophets or scripture might make me uncomfortable. So I should tell you when you're wrong...shouldn't I?This week we talk with Annette, the most-referenced person on the podcast, and the oldest of Ken's sisters. She has some opinions that might make you smile, or cringe, or maybe even think.

Thanks, Ryan for the rating and review!  Sometimes I think, "What if I'm wrong about what I think?"I might be. There are people who disagree with me on nearly every subject.But what I mean is what if I'm wrong about how to go about getting answers to prayers? Or about how to pray? How to recognize revelation...or even my life's purpose?This week, I share some ideas where I wonder if I'm thinking about things backwards.And,  we'd love your feedback!  Go to Apple Podcasts, give us 5 stars, and write a short review! Every review helps us reach more people.Here's how:1. Launch the Apple Podcast app on your iPhone or iPad.2. Tap the Search icon (on the bottom right) and search for Chocolate Cake Bytes3. Tap the album art.4. On the podcast page, scroll down to Ratings & Reviews.5. Tap Write a Review at the bottom of this page.Thank you!