Polygamous Dating

I wouldn't recommend it, unless you live in Colorado City, Utah. It is very awkward (and this comes from the King of awkward dating).

Just so you don't think I am one of the followers of Warren Jeffs, I didn't intentionally go on a polygamous date. Last Saturday was Guitars Unplugged, a concert performed every semester by students to showcase their talent. I really wanted to go because it is one of the best events on campus. So I decided to ask my friend, Rachel I knew from my freshman year who just got back from her mission. She said yes.

The night before Rachel gives me a call to tell me one of her mission friends came into town. Rachel wanted to know if we could go as a double if she found her friend a date. I said that was fine. But when I went to pick up Rachel, she pulled me aside and said the person she asked to go with her friend just canceled and she wasn't able to find a replacement. Rachel then asked me what we should do. After an awkward pause, I said let her come with us.

So I went to the concert with two girls, and paid for both of their tickets. I could tell Rachel felt uncomfortable with the situation. It would be difficult to try to entertain a date and entertain a friend all at the same time.

Afterward my roommates made plans to meet up with our dates and have a group date. I showed up last with my two dates. Everyone looked so confused. When the date was over, one of my roommates said, "So how was polygadate?"

Later when I relayed this story to my mom, she said,"I would count that as two dates so the next time your priesthood leaders ask about you dating, you can tell them you go on lots."

Maybe that is a more efficient way of dating. What do you think?

Called to Repentance

Like I mentioned in my earlier post, I really do love Brigham Young University-Idaho. But sometimes I HATE the culture that comes from living in a community that is largely LDS and attending a school that is 99% LDS.

Here at BYU-Idaho everywhere you turn, you are bombarded the dreaded M word...marriage. Students give presentations comparing dating to a free market economy. Professors announce engagements of their students in class. Ecclesiastical leaders give talks on dating and marriage and asking you about dating in EVERY interview.

When I first arrived this Fall, I had an interview with my Stake President who asked about my dating life. I told him I went on a lot of dates when I came home from my mission last winter, but didn't go on many this summer. He then said, "I expect by the next time I meet with you, you will be dating someone."

A few weeks later I went to the Temple and while I was waiting for my turn, and old-man temple worker struck up a conversation with me. When he found out I had been home from my mission for nine months, he said, "Oh, so you are practically married." When I said I wasn't, he then for the next five minutes felt the need to tell me why I should be married.

To combat the constant bombardment of the M word, I usually result to sarcasm and jokes about the matter. I did so to my roommate who is also my Elders Quorum president. Yesterday our priesthood lesson was on the New and Everlasting covenant of marriage. At the end, my roommate/Elders Quorum president then said, "There are some of you in here who make light of marriage and are procrastinating. You feel like you can wait and it will happen later. I call on you to repent of those thoughts now!"

I can't remember what else he said. But I felt pretty singled out. The next time someone harasses me about the M word, I will respond, "My mom told me to wait three years...do you want me to break the ten commandments and not honor my father and mother?"

Do you think that will shut them up?

P.S. I really do like my roommate. We actually have a lot in common (except I wouldn't call him to repentance on something like that).

D%!$@ Snow!

I HATE SNOW. I really do. Sometimes I wonder why I came to Rexburg in the first place. On the days that it is 20 below, I consider calling up my cousin Kim and asking to move in with her, and go to school in Nevada (during the winter, her cell phone number is number one on my speed dial). If I didn't like Brigham Young University-Idaho so much, I would probably do so.

But last Sunday night, my roommate looked out the window and informed the rest of us that it was snowing. I expressed my disgust to which he replied, "Don't worry Jordan. The snow will melt by July." His comment was not well received, mostly because I realized his comment is pretty much the truth. Rexburg's Winter lasts much longer then it does in La Grande, and it is much more cold.

Last Winter semester, my roommate wanted to open the window every night because he claimed to have a thyroid problem which would increase his body temperature. So every night I would bundle up in my pajama pants, thick socks, a sweat shirt, gloves, and three heavy blankets. I would still freeze every night. Of course I never said anything and just dealt with it.

So when I see a sight such as this one below, like I did last Sunday, I usually mutter a few colorful words and put on a coat.

Okay, Sunday wasn't quite this bad, but it will be soon!

The Great Outdoors

The good thing about being home for the summer for the first time in three years was the great outdoors. I was able to do few things I hadn't been able to do for a while. When the time was right, I went with family and friends to pick Oregon's huckleberry, or in other words, Oregon's gold:



This resource is so precious when you find a good picking spot, you don't share it with others. You safely guard the spot with you life, and carefully preserve the berries.


When the berries (gold) were washed, we would place a layer on a cookie sheet to freeze. When the berries were frozen individually, then we would measure an undisclosed amount into freezer bags. This process would help the berries from freezing together into one glob.



The berries would then be rationed out seven at a time, to preserve the joy all year until the next season.

Also, this summer was the first time for me to go backpacking. It was a short trip only staying one night, but it was still fun.



I thought this was a good view. The sun was about to go down. We started the trip a in the evening because of work schedules, so by the time we actually got to camp it was pretty dark.


Here is our arrival into the valley we were looking for:


How many Mormons does it take to start a camp fire? The entire camp, but Grace and I will take the credit.


One last thing. What would a camping trip be without some kind of joke. At one point we were separated because we weren't sure which path to take. I went one way and the rest of the group went the other. Luckily the path converged back together, but I arrived first. So I hid in the trees waiting for their arrival. This is what happened next:

All in all it was a good summer. I was able to visit all my siblings at one point and relax.