In some he recorded daily happenings as well as his thoughts about them. Other journals were notes and thoughts jotted down while listening to sacrament meetings, firesides, or while reading the scriptures. He even took notes of the talks given by the two youth speakers the day he gave his mission homecoming!

1. Today is a great day! I am happy because of the multiplicity of blessings! My work continues to bless me with sweet experiences and helps me remember that my mission is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. (This is the only one on this list from his mission. The rest are before or after.)

2. I know everything will work out as long as I keep the Savior as my foundation. Now I just need to go on a good date and my life will be complete. Oh wait, it already is complete, because I am a child of God and my Savior atoned for me and I am happy!

3. I have learned that helping others is a great way to take care of their problems—and also receive the Lord’s help for my own!

4. “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” Do I believe this? Am I living to be pure enough to see God at any moment—and be confident?

5. I am sure grateful for the prophet and his counselors. They care for us so much and deliver the Lord’s healing words to us.

6. Become like Christ and we will make it home!

7. I know my Heavenly Father loves me and is guiding my little ship through this life.

8. Today is a great day and I can do much good and enjoy every day of my life. Now, I just need a girlfriend. Oh wait, I’m trying to be content with whatever situation I’m in, so…girlfriend shmirlfriend.

9. I love the scripture in Luke 24:39 where the resurrected Savior appears to his disciples. He says He has flesh and bones—that He resurrected to a perfected body. What a joyful declaration! I find such comfort in that—we will physically, literally be resurrected. It’s real! The Lord lives!

10. I need to keep shining the light of the Savior so others can draw closer to Him. Find my joy in Him and I will never be let down. Build on the rock, because He is the only sure foundation.

11. Trials prove us and make us perfect. They give us wisdom and experience that we should give thanks for.

12. This week is Thanksgiving and I am thankful that the Father gave His Son to save the world, to save me.

13. Christmas is coming and I will make it a happy one for others. Life is so good to me, and I know that Jesus was born in a little manger so I could repent and be happy forever and ever.

14. I need to ask my Heavenly Father if I’m on the right track or how I can do my mission better. (He was home from his mission two years when he wrote this.) Start my days with scriptures and prayer and end them the same way. Forgive more freely and be a true saint.

15. Everyday I can choose to be grateful for one more day of life. It should be independent of circumstances, like my testimony of the Savior. Sing “Count Your Many Blessings” to see how merciful the Lord has been.

16. We need to be nourished in both body and spirit—every day. How can I survive without heartfelt prayer, feasting on the word of God, service to my brethren, etc.? Does my soul hunger? Do I feed it? Oh, how I want to be at the feast of the bridegroom!

17. I’m trying to “do my very best” as President Hinckley says, and I’m grateful for this time in my life.

18. My heart throbs as I read the Book of Mormon. This is the spirit of revelation. Do I make it easier for others to believe in Christ?

19. Our personal sins prevent us from obtaining the eternal help we need. I need to continually repent to remain free of sin and feel the Atonement in my life. And we can be sure that the Lord does forgive. Also, I will forgive as I’ve been forgiven. Lay my worries and burdens at His feet—as part of my sacrifice. Let Him heal my heart.

20. My aim is to establish Zion. How can I think I don’t have enough time if all my time is the Lord’s? This is not an ordinary cause in which I am involved. By loving the Lord, working with all my strength and consecrating my life to my God, then I can do it!

21. I am a future father. This is not an ordinary calling—just like being a missionary is not an ordinary thing. I must lead my family spiritually—the team can’t win if the captain is asleep. Do right by my family. Discipline with love. Raise up my children the Lord’s way.

22. Joseph Smith was prepared and refined through trials. He, a “rough stone”, became a smooth one, through getting knocked about by hardships. Should I expect anything different? Will I stand with Joseph?

23. Put on the armor of God now and never take it off. What will I give back? Whom will I serve? Whom will I inspire? Will I be prepared to offer something to the world? I am so grateful for how far I have come with regards to my attitude and outlook on life. I’m happy now! Before, I was always looking to the past or the future and wasting the present. The Lord has changed my heart and given me contentment in my current situation.

24. The book of Mormon shows us the healing mercy of our Savior. It helps us to constantly be converted. It testifies of Jesus Christ and of the “power of God”. It teaches us to see the will of our Heavenly Father like our Savior did. Do I pray for help to do the Father’s will? Do I try to be worthy of the guidance of the Spirit? Do I try to love my Redeemer like He loves me? I can be more optimistic, more spiritually minded, more humble, more, Savior, like Thee.

25. Sitting here with my jaw wired shut after surgery Wednesday, I am grateful to my Father for giving me life and showing me how to live it. With faith I can submit to all things He seeth fit to inflict upon me and became a saint, as I should. Jesus Christ came and suffered all, so that we could have a Helper who will return us to our heavenly home.

26. Never lose sight of the magnitude of my responsibilities at the MTC! I am responsible for the greatest asset in missionary work—the missionaries! If I remember my Savior, I’ll remember why I am doing this. He never gave up! Will I? NEVER! Not for a minute!! Take time to meditate and self-evaluate to make sure I’m helping the missionaries the best I can. Do I know Joseph Smith is a prophet? YES! Hallelujah!

27. Find joy in my journey and be patient.

28. Seek after all good things and look on the sunny side of life!

29. Be worthy of the temple. Have a testimony constantly on par with that holy place. Be clean in every way! Go to the temple every week. I will!

30. How’s my heart? Does the heart really hold our emotions and desires? Well, the scriptures say so—so, I guess the heart does feel. Do I have a soft heart? The Lord wants my heart. He doesn’t want me to be popular or powerful—He just wants me.

31. I hope that in my waning hours I can say that I made this world a happier place. I hope I can say—like Paul—I’ve fought the good fight. I don’t care if anyone remembers me by name or builds a monument in my honor. But, I hope one song I’ve sung, one testimony I’ve shared, one smile, might have helped someone come closer to God and blessed them. I hope.

32. I was just a stone’s throw from the prophet, but I knew just as well before that he is indeed the Lord’s servant on the earth today.

33. I just finished the Book of Mormon again. How I love those golden plates!!!

34. I love my family and I thank my Heavenly Father for putting me with the Fowers family. We’re not perfect, but we’re sticking together and, with God’s help, will overcome all things.

35. I love to sing my testimony.

36. “Nothing is going to startle us more when we pass through the veil to the other side than to realize how well we know our Father and how familiar His face is to us.” President Benson. A quote in Jordan’s journal.

37. Tonight we sang at the MTC. We (the BYU Men’s Chorus) sang “Who is He in Yonder Stall” and, once again, I couldn’t hold back the tears. This is the greatest work in the world—the Church, Men’s Chorus, the MTC. When I get to combine everything I love like that it’s very close to heaven for me.

38. If I can just survive finals I’ll be a happy man! Or maybe I’ll be happy regardless!

39. With the Lord’s servants pulling for me, and such a loving family behind me, who or what can stand against me? Heart surgery, here I come! (Thought written after a blessing from Elder Richard G. Scott, just prior to his surgery.)

40. I’ve had some time to read, so I read “The Other Side of Heaven” about Elder Groberg’s mission, and “Millie’s Story”, my great-Grandma Joyce’s biography written by my Grandma Mimi. What great books!! You learn so much from reading good books.

41. Today in church I was reminded of the great miracle that is the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And just now I read my patriarchal blessing and remembered how many talents my Heavenly Father has given me. I just need to remember!

42. I’m trying to date every week but still haven’t found a girl crazy enough to go out with me. But, I continue to be blessed by this incredible gospel of Jesus Christ. Every time I teach at the MTC or sing songs of Christ in Men’s Chorus or go to the temple, I feel the spirit testify that this is indeed the only true and living church of Jesus Christ.

43. Again, I was impressed by a sign of faith in Matthew. In chapter 15, verses 22 through 28, a woman comes to Jesus seeking help. She shows remarkable faith and quick thinking. That Jesus was not going to heal her daughter, but then did because of her persistence and faith is very interesting to me. I need to show that kind of faith, ingenuity, and persistence in my own life when faced with problems. The Lord wants me to figure things out and exercise faith to receive
His blessings. He could just respond the first time I ask for He knows our situation, but in His wisdom I am allowed to struggle for a time to overcome the problem or study out a solution in my mind. And in the struggle he gives me the capacity to find the answer.

44. Be kind to my roommates! Bear their burdens. Be slow to judge.

45. Be honest with others, with God, with myself. I don’t need to “get ahead.” I need to get in tune. Don’t worry about impressing other people—worry about pleasing my Heavenly Father. Prepare my heart for the days to come.