My new book Texting Through Time, A Trek with Brigham Young has just been released in the stores this week. The book can be yours. Follow this blog, leave a comment, and your name might be chosen.
When 12-year-old Micah "borrows" his father's experimental time-travel phone, his dreams of seeing the future are dashed as he and his sister, Alicia, end up trapped in the past at Brigham Young's boyhood home. Their only hope is to text through Brigham's life to find the answer that can get them back to their own time.
A fun way to discover Church history, Texting Through Time is one adventure you don't want to miss! Learn that no matter where--or when--you are, God is still aware of you.
Joseph Smith
Prophet, Seer and Revelator
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Building a Website
I’ve traveled a magnificent road from writing to publication and loved every minute of it. But I’d like to share my experience of building my website. I’ve had such a fun time with it.
First of all, I don’t have the skills to build the actual site myself, so I found someone who has done a wonderful job with that part. I just told him what I wanted, sent him the information and pictures, and he provided.
Since my first book is about Brigham Young, I decided to give my website a pioneer theme. Researching children’s pioneer games, crafts, cooking took me back to my childhood. We have a cabin in the Tetons where my father grew up, and I had done many of these things as a girl. I wanted pictures of kids on the website, so I orchestrated craft and cooking sessions this summer when we were together with the children in Idaho.
The girls loved making paper dolls. They colored them and kept them together in chains at first. Then they ripped them apart and spent the afternoon playing house with them. I didn’t think they’d have much fun making forest creatures, but they LOVED it. They spent a couple of hours finding twigs and leaves and pinecones they could tie together with string, etc. I purposefully didn’t use little eyes and other craft materials of today because I wanted to be true to the pioneer period. Gathering wild flowers also appealed to the crafty kids.
Cooking was also fun. Shaking the cream jar to music until the butter formed, energized them so they continued the dance fest with dress-up clothes long after the butter hardened. Fishing was the boys’ favorite. They sat by the stream for hours casting and recasting.
I was also surprised at the games. We started playing hide the thimble outside. I thought they’d only play long enough for me to snap some pictures, but they continued for almost an hour. Jack Straws was another activity they loved. Each of them made their own set of straws, and that was as fun as the game itself. I wanted an activity for the smaller children, and follow the leader was the one they enjoyed. (Maybe tromping around in my cousin’s grain field added to the delight—they stayed on the edge so as not to damage too much wheat.)
Visit the website and have as good a time with the pioneer theme as we did. www.christymonson.com
I’d love to hear from each of you about great experiences you’ve had with old-fashioned ideas. If you’re willing I’ll put them on my site.
Take Care! Share your ideas! Christy
First of all, I don’t have the skills to build the actual site myself, so I found someone who has done a wonderful job with that part. I just told him what I wanted, sent him the information and pictures, and he provided.
Since my first book is about Brigham Young, I decided to give my website a pioneer theme. Researching children’s pioneer games, crafts, cooking took me back to my childhood. We have a cabin in the Tetons where my father grew up, and I had done many of these things as a girl. I wanted pictures of kids on the website, so I orchestrated craft and cooking sessions this summer when we were together with the children in Idaho.
The girls loved making paper dolls. They colored them and kept them together in chains at first. Then they ripped them apart and spent the afternoon playing house with them. I didn’t think they’d have much fun making forest creatures, but they LOVED it. They spent a couple of hours finding twigs and leaves and pinecones they could tie together with string, etc. I purposefully didn’t use little eyes and other craft materials of today because I wanted to be true to the pioneer period. Gathering wild flowers also appealed to the crafty kids.
Cooking was also fun. Shaking the cream jar to music until the butter formed, energized them so they continued the dance fest with dress-up clothes long after the butter hardened. Fishing was the boys’ favorite. They sat by the stream for hours casting and recasting.
I was also surprised at the games. We started playing hide the thimble outside. I thought they’d only play long enough for me to snap some pictures, but they continued for almost an hour. Jack Straws was another activity they loved. Each of them made their own set of straws, and that was as fun as the game itself. I wanted an activity for the smaller children, and follow the leader was the one they enjoyed. (Maybe tromping around in my cousin’s grain field added to the delight—they stayed on the edge so as not to damage too much wheat.)
Visit the website and have as good a time with the pioneer theme as we did. www.christymonson.com
I’d love to hear from each of you about great experiences you’ve had with old-fashioned ideas. If you’re willing I’ll put them on my site.
Take Care! Share your ideas! Christy
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Brigham Young Quotes
We are . . . only what the Lord makes us.
Teachings of the Presidents of the Church, Brigham Young, 179.
Jesus is our captain and leader.
Teachings of the Presidents of the Church, Brigham Young, 1.
Teachings of the Presidents of the Church, Brigham Young, 179.
Jesus is our captain and leader.
Teachings of the Presidents of the Church, Brigham Young, 1.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
A Tribute to Brigham Young
"Life is for us, and it is for us to receive it today . . . strive to live the whole day to God and nobody else."
Brigham Young spent his life in service to the Lord. “Thus did Brigham Young go forth . . . within his breast there was the heart of a lion, a determination to do or to die.”
Brigham Young spent his life in service to the Lord. “Thus did Brigham Young go forth . . . within his breast there was the heart of a lion, a determination to do or to die.”
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Brigham Young's Death
Towards the end of August 1877, Brigham was ill and in pain. The doctors called his condition “cholera morbus,” but a medical historian has identified it as an infection from a ruptured appendix. Because of his pain, he was given opiates so he slept much of the time.2
Brigham was moved to a bed near an open window where he could get some fresh air, and his loved ones could gather around him. He seemed to revive a little. Brigham looked out the window and glanced toward heaven, calling, “Joseph, Joseph, Joseph,” as if he were speaking to the prophet Joseph Smith.
Shortly thereafter, the family knelt around his bed as Brigham’s brother, Joseph Young, offered a prayer. Brigham’s daughter Zina said, “I was impelled to open my eyes, and father’s face was radiant with inward glory. It seemed that a cloud of light surrounded him . . . The husband, the father, the leader, the chosen prophet of God, lay sleeping before our eyes never more on earth to give his words of counsel, of wisdom.”
The day was August 29, 1877. The Lion of the Lord was dead.
Brigham was moved to a bed near an open window where he could get some fresh air, and his loved ones could gather around him. He seemed to revive a little. Brigham looked out the window and glanced toward heaven, calling, “Joseph, Joseph, Joseph,” as if he were speaking to the prophet Joseph Smith.
Shortly thereafter, the family knelt around his bed as Brigham’s brother, Joseph Young, offered a prayer. Brigham’s daughter Zina said, “I was impelled to open my eyes, and father’s face was radiant with inward glory. It seemed that a cloud of light surrounded him . . . The husband, the father, the leader, the chosen prophet of God, lay sleeping before our eyes never more on earth to give his words of counsel, of wisdom.”
The day was August 29, 1877. The Lion of the Lord was dead.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Brigham's Testimony
Brigham had a testimony of the Bible and the Book of Mormon. “Believe what is recorded in the Holy Bible concerning God and his revelations to the children of men . . . then you will know that the Book of Mormon is true.”
Joseph Smith’s influence remained with Brigham all his life. “I feel like shouting Hallelujah, all the time, when I think that I ever knew Joseph Smith, the Prophet whom the Lord raised up and ordained, and to whom he gave keys and power to build up the Kingdom of God on earth.” “The honest-in-heart ran together and gathered around him [Joseph] and loved him as they did their own lives.”
“I know that [Joseph Smith] was called of God, and this I know by the revelations of Jesus Christ to me, and by the testimony of the Holy Ghost.”
Brigham Young devoted his life to the gospel. He believed prayer would lead to a testimony of all truth. He knew that salvation depended on the Lord Jesus Christ through the Atonement. He had a strong testimony that the Bible and Book of Mormon were true. He loved the Prophet Joseph Smith and tried to follow his example of dedication to Heavenly Father.
Joseph Smith’s influence remained with Brigham all his life. “I feel like shouting Hallelujah, all the time, when I think that I ever knew Joseph Smith, the Prophet whom the Lord raised up and ordained, and to whom he gave keys and power to build up the Kingdom of God on earth.” “The honest-in-heart ran together and gathered around him [Joseph] and loved him as they did their own lives.”
“I know that [Joseph Smith] was called of God, and this I know by the revelations of Jesus Christ to me, and by the testimony of the Holy Ghost.”
Brigham Young devoted his life to the gospel. He believed prayer would lead to a testimony of all truth. He knew that salvation depended on the Lord Jesus Christ through the Atonement. He had a strong testimony that the Bible and Book of Mormon were true. He loved the Prophet Joseph Smith and tried to follow his example of dedication to Heavenly Father.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Testimony
From the time of Brigham’s baptism, his whole life was devoted to sharing his testimony of the gospel. “Mormonism has made me all I am, and the grace, the power, and the wisdom of God will make me all that I ever will be, either in time or eternity.”
Our “first . . . duty [is] to seek the Lord until we open the path of communication from God to our own soul.” Prayer brings us a testimony of the gospel which includes “all truth in heaven and on earth.”
Brigham’s belief in Jesus Christ and the Atonement was foremost in his life. “The errand of Jesus to earth was to bring his brethren and sisters back into the presence of the Father.” Brigham said that we could be saved through the Atonement of Christ if we are faithful to God’ commandments. “He is now King of kings and Lord of lords, and the time will come when every knee will bow and every tongue confess, to the glory of God the Father, that Jesus is the Christ.”
Our “first . . . duty [is] to seek the Lord until we open the path of communication from God to our own soul.” Prayer brings us a testimony of the gospel which includes “all truth in heaven and on earth.”
Brigham’s belief in Jesus Christ and the Atonement was foremost in his life. “The errand of Jesus to earth was to bring his brethren and sisters back into the presence of the Father.” Brigham said that we could be saved through the Atonement of Christ if we are faithful to God’ commandments. “He is now King of kings and Lord of lords, and the time will come when every knee will bow and every tongue confess, to the glory of God the Father, that Jesus is the Christ.”
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