Press Room Building Zion Together

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Press Release:

Building Zion Together, LLC

Building Zion together with you!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Richard Matthews

(801) 221-9347 ext. 109

Dying Son Prompts Game About Life

26 September 2003 – MONTPELIER, ID – By Richard Matthews The Leonard and Kathryn Matthews family has recently published an elaborate board game in honor of their son, Jonathan, and credits him for its inspiration. The Atonement: Miracle of Christ’s Love is the result of over ten years of research and development and is based on the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In 1989, Jonathan underwent a grueling kidney transplant at the age of ten. His mother, Kathryn, not only donated a kidney to him, but acted as his caretaker for the next ten years as his health continued to deteriorate. Kathryn, who had lost a son previously, found herself homebound and depressed because of her son’s failing health. "That’s when I started to have deep questions about this life and about the after-life," she reveals. "I started an intense study of the scriptures to find comfort for both myself and for Jon." After years of meticulous research, Kathryn searched for a way to present this recently acquired knowledge to other people in a way that would be simple and fun. She settled on a board game format and enjoyed developing and playing it with family and friends.

The idea of publishing the board game came when their son, Richard, served an LDS mission in Russia. "Once I started teaching the Russian people about the Plan of Salvation," he says, "I realized they had the same questions and concerns that my mom had while Jon was dying." Richard asked his family to send him a copy of the homemade game which he translated into the Russian language. The effect was unexpected. "I could not believe the difference it made in the lives of the members. Some even talked about it in testimony meeting! Everybody wanted a copy. It’s an activity that really changes your perspective on life. It makes you want to do better."

In the game, players experience an entire existence starting in pre-earth life. Soon players are born and face difficult choices, collect good works and sins, get temple ordinances and do temple work for other players. Once players "die," they continue to play and interact with others in the spirit world and are eventually judged. As suggested in the title, the focus of the game is the role that Jesus Christ plays throughout this whole process.

The impact on the Russian members was so great that Richard came home from his mission committed to getting the board game published. Instead of publishing it through an LDS bookstore, the Matthews decided to start their own company and publish it themselves. "Building Zion Together" was created in the summer of 2002 and has just recently made the board games available online at www.buildingziontogher.com.

All of the profits from the sale of The Atonement: Miracle of Christ’s Love are donated to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The money is specifically given to the Perpetual Education Fund and other funds that help people in impoverished nations. Leonard, Jonathan’s father, says, "That’s the way Jon would have wanted it. He loved the Church and he loved to help people when he could. This is just a chance for us to follow his example and help build Zion as the Lord would want us to. We hope people will see that this is an opportunity to not only buy an exciting family game, but to help raise needed money for people in struggling countries."

It has been four years since their son, Jonathan, died but his parents still talk about him often. "He lived his life in a way that made you want to be better," recalls his mother, Kathryn. "He is still a big part of our lives."

Building Zion Together ● P.O. Box 158 ● Montpelier, ID 83254