Half a thousand years later...

Hahaha. I totally forgot about my blog. Things have been hectic lately. But probably not an excuse.

For those of you who don't know, I am leaving on October 14th to the Provo MTC to prepare for a mission in Tulsa Oklahoma! I couldn't be more excited. A lot has happened.

First things first. Opening my call.

The Entire Marcum family was there, and I opened it at midnight. It was so cool, in fact the video is on Facebook if you want to see it. Turns out my aunt Heather guessed Oklahoma, so she gets a Jamba Juice.

The rest of the Family Reunion was incredible. I loved every bit of it. It was a cabin on the Snake River in Afton, ID. There was a huge hot tub, theater room, game room, four wheeling EVERYWHERE! I loved it, couldn't have had a better time. After, we went to Jackson Hole for a family vacation. That was really cool, especially going to Yellowstone. We had a lot of fun, but I was excited to get home.

I soon put in my two weeks at Guitar Center, and continued to conjure up trouble and the best of times with all my friends.

I started going to the Temple every Tuesday with the Missionaries, and going to their P-day activities which was a lot of fun. Then they asked if I could serve a mini mission for about a week. One of them had to go home a week early because of visa issues. So I started the Thursday before my talk on Sunday. What an amazing experience! I got anyone from Anti-Mormons, to Wicka's, and super awesome member, and non members. It was so cool to be a missionary for a time so I could experience what it was like, and likewise, prepare myself adequately. We taught this lady who was in her early twenties, had a little boy, and was going through a divorce. She had fallen away from the church for some time, and was wanting to go back because she recognized how unhappy she was without it. A love for this woman grew inside me like no other love. I wanted her to come back more than anything. She had a special spirit about her.

My farewell was September 27th, and it was the craziest thing ever. I shared the meeting with Bryson Berger, who is going to Tacoma Washington. I spoke on Christ's Earthly Ministry and the Great Apostasy. Bryson followed with the Restoration. I almost took up the whole time because my subject was so broad and lengthy I wasn't sure how to summarize it properly. But then we had everyone over at the park for a meal. It was so good. And what a sweet, sweet experience. Leaving on my mission finally struck me.

Now I'm off my mini mission, and I have 12 days left until I leave. I haven't even started packing! And I have been hanging out with my friends as much as I possibly can. Except Ashton devastated his $700 brick mailbox with his Jeep, and got grounded. But hopefully we will be out of captivity soon. I love his family. Being over there is like being home! But I gotta go! I only have 12 days! So much to do!

I love Jesus, and his restored gospel!

If you don't, you should. ;)

9 hours.

Just nine hours until that mail lady comes with the only piece of mail I've waited years for.

I can't believe it. Tomorrow, I find out where I spend the next two years.

It could be anywhere from Boise, ID to Hong Kong, China.

Wowowowowow.

I get to open it at my family reunion tomorrow night with most all the people I love on this earth.

That's all, I guess. I don't really have an urge to write a ton.

I'm just so, excited, nervous, extrodinarily happy, and a tad sad at the same time.

Nothing is every going to be the same.

I love this church.

I will post after my family reunion.


//Jordan

Come Thou Fount

Of every blessing. Tune my heart to sing thy grace. Streams of mercy never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.

I'm going to cut this one a tad short, because it's one thirty in the morning, and I have work at ten.

As I read back in my blogs, talking about getting my call in march and april..it brings back the small bits of frustration and hopelessness I've had the past few months not knowing what was going to happen, and when. A lot of time seemingly wasted. As I get closer to my heavenly father because of this empty and down time, I realize that every second counts. Every day that I am still here waiting, may change someone's life. It my change the course of someone's decisions. Or it may just teach me complete patience, and humility. I think the main lesson that was taught, my best friend Matt had to help me realize. Whatever It Takes. We must always do whatever it takes to do the Lord's work. If not, we are coming up short.

My papers have finally been submitted! As of Sunday, July 20th 2009. What a blessing!
Now comes the waiting. The longest two-three weeks of my life, I've been told. The nerves keep rising, and the relief of having them in is fleeing quickly. Replacing with anxiousness and a little bit of nervousness.
This is so awesome. Finally it is happening.

The church is true! And if you don't already know, please ask me about it. I would love to share it with you. Because it would be a waste if I sat here with my knowledge just to keep it to myself.

I love you all for reading.

AHHH!!!!! =))

A bit of bad news and World of good.

What started out to be, what I thought was, pink eye, turned into a corneal abrasion, and then into a very deep cut in my cornea and a small infection.

What an eventful few days it has been. What was a horrible situation turned into a wonderful experience I will never forget.

Although I am not out of the woods yet, I am absolutely sure of a perfect healing. The scare of losing my sight in one of my eyes left me no other choice but to completely turn to the Lord. As I came home for the eye doctor on Monday morning, I was absolutely terrified. The only thing to hold on to was the promise from the night before in a blessing "Your eye will heal. It may take some time, but it will heal."
Though I knew, somewhere within myself, these words were true, I couldn't keep the doubt out of the way. I didn't know what was going to happen. My only choice for comfort was to get on my knees, and pray my heart out.
Before I did that, I was listening to some EFY music, and getting the spirit to reside in me amongst the fear. A song came on that struck me harder than the rest. In Humility Our Savior. I felt the spirit overwhelm me.
I spent a lot of time on my knees after that. That night, I had a complete change of heart. My eye was going to heal, and I knew it. With every fiber in me.
We proceeded to hold a fast within my family, and close families that night, and into the next afternoon. As I spent more time on my knees in prayer, I could feel the love of my Savior, and the love and faith of everyone fasting for me. I don't think I've ever felt more love.
This afternoon, as I sat in the doctors office, the last of my doubt fled. The doctor couldn't have ever expected that kind of improvement. As he told us that, I almost teared up, but soon gained my composure again so I didn't look silly. He told us he wanted to see me once again tomorrow, and that if it kept improving like this, I would recover very quickly. He still thinks that there will be scar tissue, which will impair my vision. But he doesn't know how much.
I believe there will be no scar tissue. I handed this completely over to the Lord, and he has the power to heal the sick, give sight to the blind, and even bring life to the dead. If I put my trust in anyone, it should be him.

I cannot thank enough those that fasted and prayed for my well being. I have an incredible testimony of fast and prayer because of all this. But most of all, I have a new testimony for trust in the Lord, and the work he would have us all do. As long as we stay faithful, and trusting, he will do anything for us. If we ask, it will be given to us. I have a brand new testimony of this.

Again, thank you all so much for your love. I will always be here for you, as you have for me.
I love you all.

The church is true, and if you don't know that yet, find out! It is a wonderful journey.

Nineteeth Birthday Extravoganza!

It was three weeks ago, but I thought I might share the wonderful celebration.

My dad wasn't going to be home the night of my birthday, so Monday night I came home and they ordered my favorite pizza and had a cake. So we spent some time as a family, and my mom took quite a few pictures. Here are a few.



Pretty cool cake


Pretty cool...ON MY FACE!


EATING BABIE...Cakes. Eating some fresh cakes.


Singing to myself.


Making a wish....


And then, after all the singing and making a wish, a stupid monkey blows out my candles. Can you believe that?!


On Tuesday, I had the day off, and met with a ton of friends at applebees where we smashed 25 people on five tables. It was awesome. Alot of friends showed up, and it was a great blessing. I forgot a camera, but thanks to Micah and Jessica, I took a few photos.


From where I was sitting.




And the other end.


Awesome turn out. We went to my house afterwards and played alot of rock band.

Well that's about it.
The church is true! Keep that faith growin.

Love you all.

It's been a while.

What a wonderful Sunday it has been. The weather is incredible! It's finally NOT snowing! I mean...I love the snow, don't get me wrong. It makes for some of the best backflips, ariel 360's, hot chocolate, and broken bones. But as much as I love that all winter long, I'm ready for the sun, long-boarding, bon-fires, and last, but NOT least, camping, swimming and hiking. Which, for the best kind of trips, all three come hand-in-hand.

I quit my job. Obviously hired somewhere else, but no longer anywhere to do with cell phones. It's tough getting away from a job where I know the ins and outs of every little thing, but it's a relief more than anything else. I work at Guitar Center now, working with all sorts of musicians. I love it.

My missionary status has been pretty much a lull. Nothing new, besides the fact my bishop told me a month and three weeks ago he needed two months of me being at church every week. And that can be tough when there are farewells almost every week. But in one week, we will have the go to submit my papers. Hopefully. If nothing else goes wrong.

I'll try and post more often. Thanks to all of those who read.

I shiver at the thought..

I shiver at the thought of a physical Examination because it usually includes 3 things:
Peeing on demand, because I forget to "prepare".
The uncomfortable part, need I say more? (Why is it always so cold in that office?!)
and Needles.

I had my physical today for my papers, and I didn't enjoy any of it. Especially the needles. Blood draw, and a Tuberculosis test. AND I have to go back tomorrow to give my urine sample in the cup they sent home, and to get my results for the TB test. Very fun stuff.

On another note, my dental work is pretty much done. Another appointment or two, and it's over with! For two years, at least.

Just thought I might update you folks who glance at this blog every once in a while. I'm very excited for the next couple weeks. It should be pretty action-packed. I hope to have my call within a month. But we'll see.
Just thinking about it gets my heart racing.

Well please stick around and enjoy some of my favorite Sunday music, and some blogs of my family and friends.

--Jordan.

Our work is not finished, therefore they will burn us not.

As I woke up this morning, Justin told me the cable and internet was out, and starting going on about how Comcast keeps screwing things up, and how stupid it was. So I looked at him and said "Maybe it's a blessing that the cable is out on Sunday" And he looked at me like I was crazy. "It's a blessing that the cable and internet is out? Whatever." But as I got home from church, I had nothing to do so I was looking through Justin's movies, and came upon a John Bytheway video on the Heroes of the Book of Mormon. I was spiritually enlightened more than I could have been watching mindless TV or on the computer.

Alma's quote about his work not being finished was mentioned in Brother Bytheway's talk, and it has great meaning. Everything has a purpose. Much like the cable being out today, if we look at it as a blessing, we can see that it is. We can see the Lord blessing us with circumstances that can help us grow.

The quote also brings the thought, If I'm not dead, my work is not done. Which helps me realize that as long as I live, I must strive to do the will of the Lord.

We have been born of Nephi of Old, to goodly parents who love the Lord.
We have been taught and we understand that we must do as the Lord commands.
We are as the army of Heleman. We have been taught in our youth.
And we will be the Lord's missionaries to bring the world his truth.

My First Suit.

I picked up my very first suit ever yesterday from Mr. Mac. I went home and tried it on for Lauryn and Justin, and even put on the Elder Marcum tag that Chris had handed down to me when he got home. Lauryn almost cried I think. It was a cool feeling to be wearing what I will be tracting in, and in just a few months. I'm all that more excited! And it's tough to just sit here and wait. But I will have to deal with that.


I thought I would share with all of you some thoughts I gathered in church today.
In priesthood, we talked about apostasy among members of the church, and how not to apostasize. One quote that Brother Wright, a neighbor and faithful member, had stated was "Idle hands; devils workshop. Idle mind; devils playground." If you take a few moments and ponder what that statement really means, it is very ture. If we are not moving forward, we are sliding back. We have to keep ourselves constantly busy in the things of the Lord in order to keep a firm grip on the Iron Rod.
I have found this to be true constantly in my own life. If I decide to put my scriptures down for a few days, and just live my life like a "normal" person, I often get lost, and caught up in the things of the world. And it is no slow process. If we stay idle in our hearts and minds, that is satans biggest tool.
I love this gospel, and I have constantly found myself proving it in daily circumstances. I invite all of you to look at each and every miracle in your daily lives. And then remember who those miracles come from.

I love you all.

Ramble and Update.

I've been lacking in the posts lately. A lot of nothing going on, but yet I've been too busy for some alone time to even think. It's weird. I'm sure you have all been there at one point.

Currently I am listening to the Goo Goo Dolls Greatest Hits album. It's kind of weird that they have one of those already because it feels like yesterday I would listen to Matt and Cam play their songs, and hearing them on the radio. They have become the music I go to for comfort. To remind me of the times where everything was what it seemed, and I was so innocent. I am really still getting used to growing up, and dealing with things as they should be dealt with. I am struggling to keep my innocent thoughts. The state of mind where is everything is what it seems. Because I am tired of disappointment.
I've never ever had so many thoughts in my head. In fact, I'm not sure what I've been using my brain for, for the last 18 years of my life. I think about a million things at once, and it doesn't stop. It's gotten to the point where when I'm alone with my thoughts, I'm not alone at all. It sounds strange to some, but I'm sure some of you understand.

Now that I've rambled, I'll update on some things that have happened the past few days.
A week ago, my buddy from High School, Cameron Page, got his mission call to the Washington D.C. South Mission.
One of my best friends Matt Green received the office of an Elder, and he asked me to stand in the circle. It was an awesome experience, and I nearly teared up. I am so, so proud of that kid and the changes he has made to get where he his, and to go where he is going.
I've started my lengthy series of visitation to the dentist. And I haven't enjoyed it so far, and it's only been the cleaning.
I've realized many things that are beginning to change my perspective on life. Sometimes I'm afraid I am becoming a bitter, crazy person. But my friends and family have helped me to realize that I am not becoming a person I shouldn't be.
I stopped by Mr. Mac the other day, and checked out the suits I have to choose from for my first one. And am so stoked for Monday when I get it tailored.

I have decided that suits are the thing I want to wear for the rest of my life. Especially since I'll be working for the British MI-6 as a double-0.

In with the new.

It's really beginning to hit me hard that in the span of just a few months, I will be gone for 2 years. This, in no way, is a negative feeling. In fact, the excitement has the potential of keeping me up at night, and I'm sure that it will the closer I get.

I have been told for the last several years how I am an example to many people around me. It even mentions it very boldly in my patriarchal blessing. That I have a great influence on people when it comes to choosing the right, or going down a not so certain path. I am not bragging about this gift, because sometimes it can feel like a curse. In fact, a burden is sometimes put on my shoulders when I think of those I have lead astray in those times in my life when I wasn't choosing the right, and holding firmly to the iron rod. But I can't help but be ever thankful, and joyful for the positive impact I have on my friends and those who I come in contact with. The Lord has blessed me so much with gifts that I can use every day of my life, and not just on my mission. I can't wait to leave, but I also have to realize that I am a missionary right now, and I always will be.

Well..I think my remote control helicopter is done charging. Time to annoy my roommate, and maybe leave him some sort of minor wound with the propeller blade.

And to those who remember my helicopter I got for Christmas, and how it broke. Well I got it replaced with the big, $200 one because they didn't have anymore small ones. Score.
Here are some pictures of it.



Lego guys, of course. What fun would a remote control helicopter be without lego guys.


Take-Off.




Booyah!

Mission Papers.

On Sunday, my bishop gave me my account information to fill out my papers online. So that's what I've been doing over the course of three days, and most of it has been finished. Which gets me all the closer to being done with everything. We are investing in a suit this week, and looking for a photographer. After that, I just need my doctors and dentist appointments, and I'm done.

On Saturday, I exchanged gifts with a good friend of which most of you are familiar, Chirelle. It was a late Christmas, but I had told her before that if she had gotten me anything, I would want something for my mission. So she gave me a mission journal, and a little book with over 400 little tidbits of advice. Here are a few examples.
- Say good night to your companion every night.
- Start a rumor about transfers.
- Do something on P-Day that isn't Basketball.
- Instead of asking for Christmas gifts, have your family send gifts to investigators, and new members.
- Get a haircut the day before you enter the MTC because the MTC barbers only have clippers.
- Your mission call is between you and the Lord. Open and read it alone away from friends and family.
- Always carry consecrated oil. (This includes sister missionaries.)
- If you are called to South America, take flea powder.

I thought the last one was quite interesting seeing as that was the only continent it offered specific advice, and one of the places I want to go the most.

On Sunday, I had the first Missionary Prep class of the year. There were three times as many people there as there were last year. It was an awesome experience. Our Stake Presidency was there, and the whole time, we did introductions, and shared stories. One of my junior high and high school buddies was there, Cameron, and I hadn't seen him in a while. I am so proud of that kid. He is such an inspiration. He had just come from a meeting with the stake president where he turned in his papers. He is going to be such an incredible missionary, and I wish I could be his companion.

I am trying to spread my excitement about going on a mission with my friends. And it seems to be a lost cause, but I won't stop trying. I have such a love for the gospel, and our savior. I can't wait to go out and serve with my whole heart. I now have to spread that feeling effectively to those who I am close with. I have been told, by very valuable sources, that I am an example to many. So I am striving to be a positive example to everyone I meet.

Well, those of you who have read this far, I would greatly appreciate the number of anyone you know who is a professional photographer. I am looking to get my pictures taken on Salt Lake Temple grounds.

Thank you family and friends, for being the examples I have needed in my life. I love you all.

100% Prep time.

It's time. In fact, it's past time. I am beginning to fill out my papers this Sunday starting with a bishops meeting. My goal is to send them in on the twenty-eighth of this month. Very very soon. Now I'm finishing the Book of Mormon, studying vigorously in Preach My Gospel. It's all happening so fast.

This time last year, I was on vacation from high school, and the thought of leaving on my mission was not the first thing on my mind. I was very much caught up in the social high school life. Wanting to be with friends, and dating really hot girls. And now that I am filling out my papers to be put in later this month, all of that seems far off in the distance.

I was falling asleep last night, and I looked over at a bright light on my couch. Knowing my roommate, he was probably playing his Nintendo DS. So I told him to go to bed because it was four in the morning and I had to get up and go to work in a few hours. I turned over, and had an immediate soft heart. I sat up, and gently asked "What are you doing?" And he responded, "I'm reading my scriptures. It's my new years resolution." I quickly found out the reason for my immediate soft heart. My roommate was doing more to prepare for his mission than I was, and he was trying not to keep me awake in the process. So I got my scriptures out, and began to read the Testimonies of the three witnesses, eight witnesses, and our prophet Joseph Smith. I am pretty sure that after I was done, I said my prayers. I don't fully remember. After all, it was four in the morning.

I woke up before my alarm went off, I got up well-rested, read more of Joseph Smith's testimony and said my prayers. I got to work fifteen minutes early prepared for the day, and I've had a positive attitude all day. I truly believe that simply reading my scriptures, and saying my prayers greatly bless me with the little things in life.

I was then blessed with two elderly missionaries coming in to pay their phone bill. They brought with them such a strong spirit. I told them about my mission papers going in on the twenty eighth, and their eyes lit up like chirstmas trees. They were so happy to hear that I was serving a mission. The sister (I wish I had gotten their names) had told me that they had requested to go to St George, and to only serve part-time because she had been sick a lot. But they had been called to serve in Salt Lake City doing family history on a full time mission. Because it was what the Lord wanted them to do, they came and they are serving with all their hearts. What wonderful examples.

This is the start of a wonderful year. The year I leave for my mission. The year that I have been looking forward to ever since I was in primary singing songs about going on my mission. I am more excited than I have been in a very long time.

Thank you all for the wonderful examples you've been to me. The incredible spirits you have bring great joy to my life, and the life of many, many others.