C.R.U.D.E. Alert - Jessica Simpson

Well, I've decided to try and help Peter in his effort against inappropriate entertainment. I think a name would be good, and I'm going to suggest C.R.U.D.E. to Peter, which stands for Crusade to Remove Ungodly Demeaning Entertainment. My first C.R.U.D.E. entry is about the gradual whoreification of Jessica Simpson.

Jessica started out so great! When Sweet Kisses came out I thought it was so neat, and I especially liked "Heart of Innocence".

With Jessica, I thought that here was a girl who speaks out against premarital sex and maybe "popular" music doesn't have to be all about people like Britney Spears. Well, here is a before and after shot of Ms. Simpson and this is just one example of how the liberal media can transform a person if we aren't careful.

If any are offended by the photograph here, I apologize but I'm just trying to show how bad the problem has gotten. Please be careful out there, I wasn't and have had some bad experiences.

A View from my (Broken) Heart #3 - A Room With a View

As most of you have probably figured out, last week's "A View from my Heart" was an absolute, utter disaster. On the advice of a friendly commenter, I made chicken cordon bleu from the lion house cook book for dinner for Peter and his teenage sister, Martha. Martha is 15, and we have always been such good friends, I was so excited to spend time with her and Peter. Dinner went great, mom and dad ate in the family room and Stephen was out of town. We had some great conversations. Martha is really excited for this years Freedom Festival. Like many young Utah County girls, she has always been a huge fan of the Osmonds Second Generation. And this years festival is also featuring Mandy Moore, who I know has done some questionable things in the past, but I understand she recently did a film about teen Christians, and she's certainally a big improvement over that American "Idol" that they're having over at the University of Utah.

Well, after dinner and desert (Yoda Soda except with Sprite), Martha and I popped some popcorn and settled down with Peter to watch the Movie. Everything started out so great! Lucy Honeychurch and her dear Aunt Charlotte were having the time of their lives visiting all of the amazing art in Italy! Lucy was so lucky to have Aunt Charlotte with her, who was one of my favorite characters despite the fact that she went around with that author woman.

Anyway, while in Italy they meet some people in the hotel they're staying at, most of whom are very lovely people in their lovely Victorian way. A father and son are also there, who are initially a little strange and forward, but appear at first to be kind hearted. The film takes its first downturn on a picnic the new friends take in the Italian countryside. After a priest of some kind breaks up what can only be described as a "grope-fest" taking place between the driver of the carriage and a woman he claims is his sister, the men and women separate to have lunch. When Lucy goes off by herself to find another priest to talk to, she is surprised by the son of the strange family and is kissed by him without permission! Lucy is of course rushed away back home by the sensible Charlotte where she soon meets the love of her life, a man named Cecil Vyse.

Cecil is such a gentleman, his only concern being Lucy's welfare. In fact, when Lucy's own family tries to drag her down, Cecil sticks up for Lucy and always tries to do the proper thing. Unfortunately, without knowing who they are, Cecil invites the crazy man and son to move to Lucy's town! Where they immediately make friends with Lucy's brother and head over to Lucy's house with a priest to go swimming.

Well, they had no swimming suits. I kept wondering where they were going to change, and they NEVER DID! They just took off their clothes and jumped in the water! Stephen says that nobody had swimming suits in those times and everybody just swam with no clothes on, but do they have to put it in the movie!!!!

Peter quickly jumped up to turn off the movie, as Martha and I were still pretty much in shock. Peter said goodnight pretty quickly and said that he needed to get his sister home so that they could talk about what happened. Peter has called a few times, but I'm so embarrassed I don't know if I can talk to him. I mean, can you imagine. Martha is 15 years old!! I just can't believe that this happened...

A View from my Heart is going to be more limited from now on. I've had three bad experiences, and I'm going to just stick with Deseret Book from now on. Stephen has some old seminary movies that I'm going to watch for this week. One of them is called "The Phone Call" and I can't remember the others. Well, I'd better get going. We have FHE and then I need to make an appointment with the Bishop for this week...

Disaster, utter disaster...

Well, everyones comments just started making sense. What an absolute, utter disaster. I am horrified. I wouldn't blame Peter if he never speaks to me again...

What to cook...

Peter, his sister, and I are all going to spend some time at my house tonight! As you can all probably imagine, I am so excited! Even better, Stephen is off with his friends on another wilderness trip so we'll have the whole house to ourselves, with Mom and Dad of course.

The three of us are going to have dinner together and then watch A Room With a View. I got down Lion House Recipes and am still trying to decide what to make. It's too bad it's so hot, because I just LOVE Lion House Wassil. Well, I'd better go because I can smell that the bread is done baking. I can't wait for the next A View From My Heart!!

Next view from my heart

I've decided to move away from music for awhile after my bad who experience and this week I'll be reviewing the movie A Room with a View, Nan had it and I read the back of the box. It sounds great! All about Victorian England when morality was still so very important to everyone. Even better it wasn't rated! If they didn't even need to rate it, then it must be super-clean!

I'd like to cook dinner for Peter one night and watch it with him...

I'm looking forward to even the possibility!!!!

Joseph Smith Johnson

Well, I need to explain some things about Joseph Smith Johnson. For those of you who have seen Peter's Blog, you will know that we're working through some things now, and like Peter I don't want to put things on the internet without having first spoken with him, so I'll not be including a lot of detail here.

Some of you will have noticed my friend Emily posting occasionally on my blog. Emily and I worked together at the BYU Bookstore before I got my current job. Well, Emily is from California and she had a friend named Joseph Smith Johnson who is also from California. Immediately, I was intrigued. I'd never met anyone named Joseph Smith before, and I thought that this was a person that I'd like to meet.

One day, Emily asked Joseph Smith Johnson to come into the bookstore so they could "go to lunch". I think it was maybe an excuse so that I could meet him. Well, we all went to go eat in the Cougareat together, and while we were waiting in line Emily got a call on her cell phone and had to rush off to work on a group project that was going badly. That left Joseph Smith Johnson and I to eat lunch together.

Of course I wanted to know all about his name. I thought it was so clever and neat that he would be named Joseph Smith! He told me that after his parents joined the Church, they wanted to honor the Prophet by naming one of their children after him. Joseph Smith Johnson was born a few years later and the rest is history!

Well, Joseph and I had a great talk at lunch and he began coming around to see me and Emily a little more often. We all became really good friends and enjoyed spending time together. One of the funnest things we did was go on a hike with another friend of Emily's up to Diamond Fork Canyon where we went to some hot springs! It was really fun, and except for some strange people we passed on out hike out that were pretty wierd. It was kind of dark by then, but it didn't look like they were wearing modest clothing.

I consider Joseph Smith Johnson a great friend, but like I said before, now that Peter's home I don't have as much time for friends as I did before. I miss Emily and the other friends we used to hang out with. It was a really fun spring and I'll always remember it, but well... Peter's home now, and my spare time is mostly spent with him.

A View From my Heart #2 - The Who

I've been a little long in getting this out there, but those of you that read Peter's Blog will understand that it's been kind of a busy week for me.

I don't know quite where to begin with the Who's Who's Better, Who's Best...



Some of their music was, well the only word appropriate is inspiring. Some of the other songs felt like maybe they weren't really about what they were singing about, and that there were some sort of hidden meanings that you hear about sometimes.

As usual, I think I should begin with the positive. As the former accordion player in a strolling strings folk ensemble, I can't express enough appreciation for "Squeeze Box". The accordion and other related instruments have NEVER gotten the recognition they deserve, what with the liberal media and all. Anyway, the accordion in the song must have been one of these little guys

because the song says that "Mama's got a squeeze box she wears on her chest", my accordion is one of the bigger instruments and it pretty takes up most of my torso! While the accordion seems to be somewhat disruptive, what with the Dad being unable to sleep and the kids not eating, but at the same time I can't help but think that if squeeze boxes were played more often in more homes in America there would be less divorce and more family togetherness.

Another song I really enjoyed was "I'm a Boy", which is about some older family members playing dress up with their little relative. There were many times when I was a little girl that I wished for a little sibling to play with, to practice putting make up on and what not. The poor little tyke wants to "wanna play cricket on the green" and "Ride my bike across the stream", but his older sister and cousins won't let him because they're having a tea party! Oh well, they'll all grow up to be really close I'm sure because of all the time they spent together growing up. Someday I hope I'll be encouraging little playgroups like this with my own children...

Other highlights were "Magic Bus" (I've always supoprted public transportation), and the haunting "Teenage Wasteland", which is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard.

Some of the low points were Pinball Wizard, song about a young man wasting his life playing video games. The welfare roles are full of video game players, and I intend to not have any in my home when I get one of my own. Stephen of course plays his Playstation at all hours when he isn't listening to music, and I just can't help but think of all that valuable missionary preperation time he is missing out on.

I also didn't appreciate most of the other songs from "Tommy" which appear to be about a messiah figure. Several of the other songs were a little creepy and didn't sit well with me, so overall I think the who are a mixed bag and not something I'm going to listen to anymore. I threw Stephen's CD into the trash and Stephen, I left you the money in the top drawer of your desk. Please be more careful about what you bring into our home.

A busy few days

Well it's been a busy couple of days and I feel like I've been neglecting my blog! Now that I've started this blog, I feel responsible for it. It feels like it needs nurturing, kind of like a young women's value. I still haven't read Stephen's blog, but he's gone hiking in southern Utah so I don't feel a big hurry to get over to it yet.

Peter is doing great of course! We've decided to keep our relationship a little more offline, but there will be many more updates in the future. Peter doesn't seem to be as keen on blogging as I do, but he's pretty busy right now having gotten into family history work. That man! No sooner is he home from proclaiming the Gospel that he's out Redeeming the dead.

There have been a few questions about Joseph Smith Johnson, who is a friend of Emily and me. Well, that's about him I guess. We were pretty good friends but I haven't had as much time for friends since I've been spending so much time with Peter! I'm missing Emily of course but this is really the natural way of things.

I've been rummaging through Stephen's albums tonight and I think I've found the next subject of a view from my heart. The Who!!! I saw the CD and I thought and "I wonder who this CD is by?" and I looked closer and it was the Who!!! Seems like it was meant to be huh?? I'm really excited to listen to the Who and expand my horizons some. My review will be posted soon!

My Brother Stephen

As some of you might have gathered, I have an older brother named Stephen who has just moved back home. Stephen is what you might call "less-active" and we've all really been trying to fellowship him back into full activity. I actually found out about the whole blog thing from him, but I've never been able to figure out the web address, UNTIL NOW!!!!!

Emily taught me about the "history" option to see which internet sites have been visited recently. Not only can it help battle pornography, but it let me find Stephen's blog! I'm so excited to read it, and I think he could use some fellowshipping, it doesn't look like anybody has commented on his blog and I think it would be nice is some of you nice people out there read and comment on his blog.

We have been getting along pretty well lately, and I have appreciated his help with "A View From My Heart", even if the Grateful Dead ended up being evil maybe.

Well, please check in with Stephen!!

http://kingwilliamstreet.blogspot.com/

Some confusion over the picture

It seems as though there has been some confusion over the picture that I chose for my profile. You see, I was a little nervous about putting my own picture up, I don't know why exactly, if it seemed a little vain maybe or just scary putting your picture up there for everyone to see. I did a little bit of checking and it seemed like people put all kinds of things up there, even pictures of famous people.

So I decided to do the same thing. I chose a famous person that I thought pretty much everyone would know, one of my favorite LDS rcording artists Sister Margo Edgeworth. Looking back, I can see how someone unfamiliar with the Church might mistake Sister Edgeworth for me. Maybe I should take the picture down... and I just realized that I never did get permission to use the photo!!

Have I done something wrong here?? I think I need to talk to Peter about this.

A chance to finally reflect

Phew, what an eventful 24 hours it has been! I can't believe that took me this long to get a report of Peter and I's date up, but you know how it goes... We got home a little late (11:00 thank you very much) and then this morning my Dad had a big surprise, he's bought Last Miracle for LaVell!! So of course we watched it together with Mom after doing some yardwork together. Even Stephen watched for awhile, and I think that seeing all of those upstanding young men engaged in good works might be a good example for him.

But the biggest news of course is my date with Peter. What a night! I wasn't sure that ANYTHING could top 'The Roof', but this was way so much fun! As Peter said, he wanted to do something that would give us an opportunity to have a good conversation. Peter had warned me that I should "be ready for anything", and it was a good thing I was because the first thing we did was hike the Y! I hadn't done it since before Peter left on his mission, and it was so neat to go up with him again and overlook BYU and Utah Valley!

After getting back down, Peter took me to Legends Grill, a place I've been many times but never to eat! Peter isn't as into BYU sports as I am, but he is still a fan and we had a great talk about what was cooler to see in Legacy Hall, Ty Detmer's 1990 Heisman Trophy or Danny Ainge's 1981 Eastman Trophy and John Wooden Award. I had to go with Brother Detmer, but Peter is more of a basketball fan now (having played so often on his mission) and he was more interested in Brother Ainge's things.

Once we finished dinner (YUM!), we went for a walk around campus. When we got to the Botany Pond, I remarked to Peter how fun it would be to feed all of the ducks. Peter then walked over to some bushes and pulled a bag of stale bread out that he had stashed there previously! Lover's lane indeed!!

We then walked up to one of my favorite places on campus, the BYU Creamery of course!!! I just can't get enough Bishop's Bash, and Peter of course had his all time favorite -- Vanilla! While we were at the Creamery we even ran into an old friend of me and Emily, Joseph Smith Johnson. I hadn't seen Joseph Smith Johnson since Peter got home and I enjoyed saying hello to him and having him meet Peter. Joseph Smith Johnson kind of wanted to talk I think, but it was getting late and Peter and I still had to listen to American Beauty so we headed back to my place and luckily Stephen wasn't home so we used his nice stereo.

After much pondering and conversation, Peter and I decided not to listen to American Beauty any more. Particularly once Peter pointed out that one of the songs was called "Friend of the Devil". It's always better to avoid the appearance of evil anyway, and even though Peter's hair is getting a little shaggy it isn't like we're some kind of godless hippies or something. Better safe than damned, that's what Nan always says anyway.

In the end it was an AMAZING time! I can't wait to see Peter again!!!!

The (Second) Big Date!

Once again I'm so excited for tonight! Peter and I are going to go out again, and even better it's a suprise! I'm not sure what we're going to be doing, but I have so much confidence in Peter as a righteous priesthood holder that I know it will be both fun and edifying.

One thing that we're going to do is listen to American Beauty together and decide if it really is uplifting. Pater and some of me friends from the blog have shared some concerns about the Dead, and we really want to know whether or not the Grateful Dead are true. So we plan to listen and then pray about it. I'm so excited! I haven't prayed with Peter in a long time, though sometimes I would imagine that somewhere out there, we might just be praying at exactly the same time!

Anyway, I'll be sure and post about it as soon as I can. And by the way, I'm starting to suspect that Anon might be my brother Stephen. He's always using that kind of language...

A request, sort of a plea really

I'm afraid I just had to delete a post from a Mr. "Anonymous" because it had some inappropriate language in it. The original comment more or less read

"I'm calling 'horsepucky' om this entire blog. No one could be this naive. Not even a Mormon. Nice try "Molly Monson", but I'm not buying it.

This is not the first time we've had a little conflict Anon (is it ok if I call you Anon?), but I'm OK with you not believing in me. I mean, not everyone believes in Joseph Smith or Santa either, but that doesn't mean that they aren't real. I have a lot of faith, and I have faith in you Anon that you can express your disbelief in me without resorting to coarse language.

Thank you and I hope we can continue to have positive and productive conversations.

Your Friend,

Molly Monson

View From My Heart #1 - American Beauty by the Grateful Dead

Well, after I got home from my epiphany with Ray I realized that I had only listened to the album one time. Luckily, for once my older brother Stephen's mostly wayward music collection finally came in handy! Of course he had American Beauty he said, on CD even! So I borrowed his CD player and sat down to really digest American Beauty.

If I had to choose one theme from American Beauty that theme would be "love", which is something we're commanded to do! But let's not forget the many other wholesome and uplifting themes. That being said, my favorite song is probably "Sugar Magnolia", which surprisingly explains the role of righteous mother in Zion. For example,

"She's got everything delightful
She's got everything I need
Takes the wheel when I'm seeing double
Pays my ticket when I speed"

Isn't this the kind of support we've been encouraged to give our husbands? Can I get an "amen" from my Sister's in Zion? And for the husbands,

"Sugar Magnolia blossom's blooming
Head's all empty and I don't care"

I hope that one day, my future eternal companion will be able to look past my intellectual shortcomings (for those that don't know, I'm only a visiting summer student at BYU, and have nevver been accepted as a regular student) and appreciate me for my attempts to beutify myself and our home.

I couldn't help but personally relate to the song too when it said,

"She can dance a Cajun rhythm
Jump like a Willys in four wheel drive
She's a summer love in the spring, fall and winter
She can make happy any man alive"

As I've said before, I love to dance! And there's nobody I know that can beat me out back on the old tramp. I'd like to think that my simple talents really could make my future man very happy.

Another theme, that of the consequences of our actions, is found in the song "Ripple". There are consequences to all of our actions, and sometimes it is hard to live the gospel. There is, "a road", but it is "no simple highway". Yeah, because it's a straight and narrow one!

This song too reminds me of Peter, because "You who choose to lead must follow". I think we all know who that person to follow is. And even better to song was written by Jerry Garcia! You know, like the Ice Cream!

Anyway the Grateful Dead is about love. I really wish that I could have gone to a concert and felt some of that love, but I did some internet research and I understand Jerry died and they don't perform shows anymore. Well, thank goodness for records! Until next time, this is a View from my heart.

A New Feature - A View From my Heart

Peter called last night and we had a GREAT talk! He said that he would explain about the girl over on his blog, so I won't repeat it here. Needless to say I was very relieved! We're going to see each other again soon (I hope), and I really can't wait!!

Mom and I went down to visit Nan and Ray last night. For those of you that don't know, Nan is my mom's older sister. Since my grandmother died when I was kind of young, Nan has been kind of a surrogate grandmother to me, even though she's really my aunt! Nan's husband died several years ago, and Nan married Ray a few years later. Ray is a good man, but he doesn't really go to church very much or things like that (he's from Santaquin if that explains anything). When we come to visit, me and mom usually chat with Nan in the kitchen and they teach me to bake something new while we chat. Ray usually goes down into the basement or out to the backyard until whatever we're baking is done.

This visit, mom and Nan kind of started talking about my older cousin (the older sister of Brindy) and her "Newlywed problems". I was a little uncomfortable for some reason, and I don't really understand what cranberry juice has to do with anything, so I excused myself and went wandering around the house. I thought Ray was in the backyard so I went downstairs, and Ray was there! Listening to some music on a record player.

I went to go back upstairs, but I was strangely attracted to the music. I approached Ray and he showed me this album.



The Grateful Dead! It sounded a little dark for me, but then I thought to myself well, there are plenty of Grateful Dead in the Temple, so maybe it would be OK the check it out. I sat there and listened to that entire record with Ray and you know what? It was AMAZING!!! I always thought Ray was kind of a hippy or something with his ponytail, but this wasn't anything like the hippy music I'd been told about, full of anti-gun and anti-government messages.

I called Emily (my most worldly galpal) and she said that "The Dead" were OK to listen to so I've decided to make a new feature here at my blog. Well, it's more of a personal enrichment goal really, but I've decided to expand my horizons by seeking out books, film, and music that is virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy and reviewing them here on my blog! My first entry will be posted shortly, a review of The Grateful Dead album "American Beauty"!

I'm so excited!!!! Special Thanks to Ray!

A Big Relief

Well, Peter called me after I got home from work and we spoke briefly. I apologized for blogging about him without his knowledge. He was OK with it and even posted on my blog (see the previous post comments)! Peter even said that I inspired him to start a blog of his own, which I am going to read as soon as I post this. He said that he thought it was a good way to reach out to and inspire people to righteousness, as well as maintaining records for our future posterity.

Even though I didn't ask, Peter said that while he didn't have time to explain about the girl Brindy saw him with at the fireside, he would call me when he returned from missionary exchanges and tell me the whole story.

I can't wait!!!

Word from Peter

Well, I finally heard from Peter but it wasn't exactly good.

Molly,

I've been receiving emails from people that I don't know who say that obtained my address from your "internet blog." Furthermore, an "(Elder) Jerry Wheadon" and an "Audrey" have informed me that you are putting additional information about me and my family on the internet.

Can you explain what is going on here?

From,

Peter Parley

Should I send Peter the blog address? I'm not sure if he'll be really mad or if he'll think it's kind of sweet. I think I'm going to have to tell him...

Advice from a friend

I just got some great advice via email from a new friend!

Thanks Cady!

Peter Problems

Well, I think I might know why I haven't heard from Peter since our date. Yesterday, my cousin Brindy went to a fireside for young single adults and saw Peter there. He was sitting with another girl and they left together in the same car when the fireside was over.

Peter and I don't have any committment to each other, but we did write for his entire mission and I thought that we had something together. I wouldn't think much of it, except that I haven't heard from him in so long.

I usually don't call boys, but if I haven't heard from his soon I think I'll find out what's going on. I'm a little nervous, even though Nan says it isn't anything to get worked up about... yet anyway...

New Job

Yes it's true, I got a new job off-campus. I'll miss Emily and all of the friends I made in the WILK, but my uncle needed a receptionist and I guess I'm just the girl for the job. I start on Monday and am really looking forward to it. I've always been close to Uncle John and Aunt Jean, and this will give me an opportunity to make some more money and spend time with family. Well, I'm really excited about continuing to learn new things in the new job. I'm sure I'll be posting all about it in no time.

I haven't heard from Peter in a few days, but I'm sure he's still just getting settled in. I hope to hear from him this weekend!!!

The Big Date

I can't believe how wonderful the whole night was!! Peter and his parents picked me up in their van Friday afternoon and we all drove up to Salt Lake City. It was so great to see Brother and Sister Parley. I'd visited them of course while Peter was gone, but it was nice to be all back together again. Traffic was pretty, but we enjoyed talking and listening to some uplifting music (who doesn't love MoTab!).

Well, we got downtown and parked and headed up to The Roof! I couldn't believe Brother Parley was springing for The Roof!! Well, the buffet was great of course and the view was spectacular. I know it's a little cheesey, but I couldn't help but be really excited to be looking over Temple Square with Peter. Ahhhhhhh...

After dinner we headed down to stroll around Temple Square and Brother and Sister Parley said they were going to try and see the Tabernacle under construction. I was SO EXCITED! Peter and I were going to be alone for the first time. He took me on a carriage ride around Temple Square and it was really fun and nice.

On the way home I couldn't help but snuggle up to him a little in the backseat of the van. I hope it wasn't too forward of me, I mean he is just home from his mission and everything. All and all it was a GREAT date! I didn't even mind missing the big dance.

When they dropped me off, Brother and Sister Parley invited me over for Family Night Monday. It was so nice to know that they like and approve of me. FHE was great of course, I was a little torn because I used to be the Mom in my single's ward FHE but they convinced me that this was more important! I helped Peter's little sister lead the music and then Peter gave the lesson on some of his mission experiences with his mission president.

What a great weekend!!!!