Chocolate Cake Bytes

As I record this Christmas morning, I hope you can feel the peace and joy that Christmas can bring. Merriest of Christmases to you, and Happy New Year Until next week... Please share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. You can email me at ken@chocolatecakebytes.com and follow me at  https://www.facebook.com/ChocolateCakeBytes https://www.instagram.com/chocolatecakebytes/ Check out my n...

We've moved solidly into the Holiday season, and for many, this time of year is difficult--especially if we have had family losses. I presented some thoughts at the Our Turtle House online fireside a couple of weeks ago, and Today I decided to share the audio. You can find the entire video fireside here: https://youtu.be/LrYa9w4sz_0 Feedback or comments? Share with me at ken@chocolatecakebyte...

Jen has been a member of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square for about 10 years. She is not a spokesperson for the Choir. She does not represent them or their viewpoints. However, she has had some amazing experiences. This week we share some of her experiences over the past decade. Is it really THAT amazing to be in "The Choir?" Thanks for listening! Please share this episode with some...

Favorite Co-host Annette is back, with her favorite partner and husband, Bary. What does it mean to engage in daily repentance? We hear this from our Church leaders, but I'm not sure that we spend time considering what that means or how it looks in our daily routine. This week, Bary, Annette, and I talk about repentance in a way that maybe we haven't considered before. We'd love to...

After a quick summary of my life, we address suffering in advance. How many times do we diminish our present experience because of an anticipated future experience? For myself, I do this all the time. And I don't think it serves me well. What if we just live in the present and let the future take care of itself? Share ideas and feedback with me at ken@chocolatecakebytes.com Please share this...

Sometimes we worry about making the wrong decision What if the only wrong decision is no decision at all? I'm on vacation and not in my normal studio so the sound quality is different. I make no apologizes. I DECIDED to record some of my thoughts. Not to decide is to decide. And my favorite quote I heard today is "Contemplate the price paid for inaction." Make it a good week! More t...

This week, we examine some of the rules that we have been following--maybe for our entire lives.  Why? Where did our rules come from? Are they serving us? If so, GREAT!  Keep following them. If not, GREAT!  Change them. We'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions. Email ken@chocolatecakebytes.com Please share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. You can email me at ken@chocolat...

Long-time family friend, Elder (Kyler) Lopez, who recently began a service mission in the Indianapolis, Indiana area, joins us to dig deep into what it means to serve. D&C 4 is, we think, the only place in Scripture that encourages us to serve with our "heart, might, mind, and strength." As the "missionary scripture," we often consider that type of service in a missionary c...

I'm one of the Elders Quorum instructors in my ward, and this Sunday, we're talking about Elder Uchtdorf's talk, "Jesus Christ is the Strength of Youth." https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2022/10/12uchtdorf?lang=eng I've come up with a few questions that I'm asking myself about how I can deepen my connection with the Savior.  Share your...

In talking about this episode, Brendan (who refers to himself as the "Prodigal Son") claims to know how many times I have misspoken in the past 70 episodes (or at least the first 20 that he has listened to) Brendan and I also talk about differences of faith and our responsibility to support ourselves and each other in our respective faith experiences. And  according to Brendan, I've...

When the Church changes policies or practices, sometimes we feel like the doctrine we thought we knew has changed. But has the doctrine changed? Doctrine can be tricky, because there is "Church Doctrine" (I think of this as "Church policy") and True Doctrine (Never-changing Truth) This week Annette and I explore Policy versus Doctrine Please share this episode with someone who...

What is a relationship? And what is a relationship with God? This has been on my mind lately. Listen in as I talk through some ideas. Please share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. You can email me at ken@chocolatecakebytes.com and follow me at  https://www.facebook.com/ChocolateCakeBytes https://www.instagram.com/chocolatecakebytes/ Check out my new podcast: The Unstuck Career podca...

We normally hear something like this when we're dealing with something negative. But is it true? Is there a reason we're experiencing something difficult? Co-host Annette and I explore the many tentacles of this attempt at sharing peace, and we're not sure that EVERYTHING happens for a reason. What do you think? Share your ideas with me at ken@chocolatecakebytes.com Please share thi...

Adam Miller has been making the podcast circuit lately, talking about his new book, "Original Grace." I am a few chapters in, and already, I've been thinking that maybe I could be thinking about some things with more grace. This week, I share a few of my thoughts about what it means to receive the grace of Christ. I'm learning that I don't know nearly as much as I had assu...

We're on a roll talking about Missions, so we spend this episode talking to Carissa, who had the unique opportunity to serve on Temple Square. The mission boundary is Temple Square. One city block. But the reach of the Temple Square missionaries is literally without boundaries and borders. Listen in as Carissa shares some of her mission experiences. Please share this episode with someone who...

My nephew Brig was a COVID mission casualty. He was informed after just six months as a missionary, that his service was ending early, and he would not have the opportunity to continue. How does a young missionary deal with that?  Brig shares his perspective and some lessons with us Please share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. You can email me at ken@chocolatecakebytes.com and foll...

We may not admit it, but the unspoken hierarchy of missionary service is: Best: Foreign mission/foreign Language Then: Foreign mission/native language Next: Domestic mission, foreign language Then: Domestic mission, same language, and Finally: Service/alternative/non-traditional missions Why do we think this? This week we talk to Katelyn (Young Performing Missionary at Nauvoo) and her mom, fan fav...

I don't know about you, but my life is hard sometimes. I have to cover other people's responsibilities at work. I have callings that stretch me in uncomfortable ways. I have conversations or relationships that can be difficult. And guess what? Normally, in my experience, anyway, things end up being not as hard as I imagined they would be. So when your only option is to go through (becaus...

I love this question! There are so many things that I think I know, and I think it can be valuable to at least ponder this question. "How does what I know get in the way of what I don't know?" Liz Wiseman is an author and teacher about leadership. Magnifying versus Diminishing leaders. You should check her out. But in the meantime, think about her quote from a BYU Forum address. You...

What happens when a couple of guys start having a conversation with no agenda? We end up talking about how we're not very good at journaling. Yeah, I didn't see that one coming either. Meet Greg, new (and somewhat reluctant) co-host, as we start talking about stuff and end up deciding that we should challenge ourselves to better document significant things in our lives. Feedback on how w...

This week, we listen to a fireside I did a couple of months ago for Our Turtle House. I believe it's more important to Be something than to Do things. As we BECOME who God wants us to be, we naturally DO things that we should do. And sometimes, I believe, God uses those things to bless the lives of others. Please share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. You can email me at ken@ch...

Co-host Harrison taught Elders Quorum last Sunday and started by asking "What is love?" I loved the question and invited him to continue the discussion. So, what is Love? Share your thoughts with us at ken@chocolatecakebytes.com Please share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. You can email me at ken@chocolatecakebytes.com and follow me at  https://www.facebook.com/ChocolateC...

We're supposed to be completely honest in all of our dealings, right? But what about when telling the truth will be unnecessary? or harmful? Or illegal? Mark and I explore options that might exist when being completely truthful might not be a great idea. Please share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. You can email me at ken@chocolatecakebytes.com and follow me at  https://www.fa...

God required that Gideon reduce the size of his army to a mere 300 people. This was so that God could show His power. Where is he doing this in our lives? Where might we feel like the bulk of our support has vanished, and how can we recognize the hand of the Lord in these instances? Please share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. You can email me at ken@chocolatecakebytes.com and foll...

Imagine your feelings as a number line. Zero is neutral. I think that if you're capable of feeling "bad: (which is really "uncomfortable")) at a -3, you can only feel "good" at a +3. If you're afraid to feel uncomfortable, aren't you also afraid to feel too positive? This week, it's just me sharing some of my thoughts I've been having over the past...