Bio for Temple Experience

One of the guys in the choir with me is putting together a bio newsletter for all of the choir members and asked us all to share our bio and experience of singing in the temple. I thought this would be a great addition to our family journal. So if you forgot where I come from and what I'm all about- here ya go!


My name is Jordan Keith. I’m 27 years old and am currently serving in the Safford 6th Ward in Safford, AZ. I was born in Safford, AZ in 1982 and lived the first 19 years of my life in Daley Estates (a suburb of Thatcher.) For most of my life I lived in the Daley Estates ward, and it was changed to the Thatcher 5th Ward when I was in middle school. I did all of my schooling in Thatcher and went on to pursue an Associates Degree in Music Education at Eastern Arizona College following my graduation. While I was a freshman at EAC I had the wonderful opportunity to be in Dr. Lunt’s Acapella Choir, Choraleers, and Boys Quartet. It was there that I learned I wanted to make music my career choice. I was called to serve in the NY, NY South mission. The areas that were covered were: all of Long Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the island of Bermuda. I had the amazing opportunity of serving in Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, and Bermuda. I met many who were searching for the truth, and found that I LOVED to do missionary work and teach people the true principles of the gospel. Following my mission I finished my schooling at EA and went on to BYU where I was a Media Music major in the School of Music. I had the awesome job of being an EFY counselor at BYU the summer before starting school, and it was an excellent way to once again share my testimony with many individuals. I attended BYU in 2004 and 2005, graduating in August of 2006. It was there I met my sweetheart and eternal companion, Ariana Amy Leinbach. She was attending the School of Music as well; an elementary music education major. Though we were at opposite ends of the music spectrum, we found that our lives together created the most beautiful harmony ever! We were wed in Aug of 2005. Shortly after we were married I auditioned for the group, Vocal Point (a performing group consisting of 9 males at BYU.) I got in! Vocal Point was an acapella/contemporary rock group. I had many traveling opportunities culminating the experience in New York City where we won the International Collegiate Acapella Association award for the best College Acapella group of 2006. This was the first time BYU was able to compete because prior to that year the competition had always been held on a Sunday, so the Lord truly blessed our group for being faithful to his commandments. In the fall of 2006 Ariana and I were blessed with our first boy, Jaxon Robert. Shortly after graduating we moved back to Arizona where I chose to pursue my teaching credentials and got a job in Higley, AZ teaching Jr. High choir. We stayed there for a year and found out about an opening in Safford High School. I’d always wanted to teach High School Choir so I jumped at the chance, and now we find ourselves as true blue Safford Arizona citizens. It was here that we had our second son, Kodee Alexander. We love the community of Safford and the strength of the church in this area.



When I first received the call from Nina Carpenter about being a part of the choir, I was ecstatic. I’m a very high tenor, and she originally asked me to sing bass in the choir. I agreed without even thinking, just because I wanted to be in the choir so bad. When we went to the first rehearsal, it was obvious that there were others who could sing much lower then me so I was gratefully switched into the tenor section. I looked forward to the rehearsals so much. It was an honor to get together with other members of the church in the community and share our testimony and love for the gospel through music. I learned so much from other participants and was grateful for their teaching. I will never hear the word “Hosanna” again with thinking of the connections with “save us now!” I knew we had to prepare ourselves for the amazing spiritual experience we were sure to have the day of the dedication, but nothing prepared me for the burning, and feeling of complete peace and love that entered my heart as we sang those sweet hymns in the presence of our Prophet in the Celestial room of the Gila Valley Temple. As we sang, “Sweet is the Work” I was especially overcome with the spirit. The words, “but oh what triumph shall I raise, to they dear name through endless praise, for in the realms of joy I’ll see, thy face in full felicity.” This was the moment that really spoke to me and I will never forget the wonderful feeling I received as we sang this verse. Of course when we sang the Hosanna Anthem, it felt like the roof was going to lift off and that we were accompanied by many other voices. These moments will be treasures I hold on to, and tell my children and grandchildren about for the rest of my life. Music is powerful and I’m so grateful that it has the ability to enhance my testimony in the gospel of Jesus Christ.