Enter a search term below. If searching by episode number be sure to include the comma, for example 4,707
Life is a journey that leads back home. We may go to distant shores and follow fortunes in faraway places, but most often, “acres of diamonds” are found in our own backyard, in the company of loved ones, family, and friends. We search the world over only to find that what we’re looking for is […]
Who among us has not felt lonely at times? A loved one dies, friends and family move away, visits come to an end, and silence is all we hear. The quiet of loneliness can be deafening. At other times we may feel alone even when surrounded by people. Perhaps our loneliness stems from the nagging […]
Life is filled with opportunities for learning. Education neither begins nor ends in the classroom. Even if our formal schooling is a thing of the past, we’re never too old and it’s never too late to learn. Throughout life we can study, read, observe, inquire—learn—so that life in all its wonder and possibility opens to […]
When the diagnosis is terminal and the end is near, most people turn their hearts to God. When those who face death look to that coming day beyond this earthly vale of tears, feelings of denial and anger often give way to a serene acceptance, a peaceful assurance that a loving God is in His […]
Richard L. Evans was the voice and writer of the Spoken Word for 41 years. Today’s timeless message was given by him back in 1971. Is this the little girl I carried, Is this the little boy at play? I don’t remember growing older— When did they? . . . Memories move […]
The Industrial Revolution swept across England in the 1700s, bringing with it a new grid of machines, child labor, factories, soot, smoke, and ashes. Many believed that the effects of the Industrial Revolution were destroying their culture born of the soil and their work ethic reliant upon God. In the early 1800s, frustrated by the […]
Little children enjoy the freedom of dreaming without the limits imposed by society or the so-called sensibilities of adulthood. They wish upon a star or make a wish as they blow out the candles on a cake. Those who are young or young at heart revel in the possibilities of life and the hopeful visions […]
The time we have with our children passes so quickly. Our babies are soon riding bikes—and then driving cars—and before we know it, leaving home. And all the while we influence them; we set an example; we communicate values; we establish patterns for them to follow. As one expert observed: “Virtues are not taught by […]
The pioneer story of Susanna Stone, a brave woman who crossed the Atlantic by ship and the country on foot, teaches us about faith. In 1856, over the course of several months, she walked more than a thousand miles with the Willie handcart company. At first the terrain was mostly sagebrush and sunflowers, but then […]
The great choral conductor Robert Shaw placed music at the core of the national spirit when he said, “In these days of political, personal, and economic disintegration, music is not a luxury, it’s a necessity; not simply because it is therapeutic, . . . but because it is the persistent focus of our intelligence, aspiration, […]
The Psalmist described dedication to God in these words: “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander.”1 His plea has been voiced through the ages. In the late 1700s, a stagecoach rumbled along a rutted British road. Inside, a young woman noticed the old man seated next to her. He […]
Beginning in 1793, England and France were intent on crushing each other. For over 20 years they fought a war over territories staked out by both sides during the previous 200 years. The Americans, having won their independence only recently, entered the war in 1812 after many of their merchant ships had been confiscated or […]
All around us there are those who live in need. Some people’s needs are obvious. Others carry burdens that may not be so evident but are equally hard to bear. As we pay close attention to the people around us, we will become aware of their suffering and how we can help lighten the load […]
Today, as in times past, the world needs good fathers. We need fathers who are examples of integrity and morality, of strength and resilience. And we need fathers who are models of humility, tenderness, and love. A story from the son of well-known religious leader Dwight Moody illustrates the positive influence of a father’s life. […]
More than a hundred years ago, Eliza Hewitt, a young schoolteacher, took an afternoon stroll in a Philadelphia park, her eyes bright with the glow of the moment. It was spring, and she was feeling the warmth of the sun for the first time in months. Eliza had been bed-ridden all winter because a hostile […]
A home filled with the beautiful sound of music is a welcome reprieve from a noisy world. It doesn’t take a musician to know that good music can bring families together as few things can. It’s difficult to be angry, sarcastic, or contentious for long when sacred strains fill the home. Families who sing or […]
We stand at the nation’s memorial to those who fought for freedom during the dark days of World War II. Nearly 60 years after the final surrender of the war—this magnificent memorial was built as a reminder of the price of freedom. The memorial includes 56 pillars representing America’s states and territories, which gave hundreds […]
During this year we commemorate 75 years of continuous broadcasting. Today’s message was given by Richard L. Evans in 1968. “We are most of us very lonely in this world; you who have any who love you, cling to them and thank God.”1 These words from an unknown source suggest something of the searching of […]
Few things in this world bear the power of a mother’s heartfelt prayer. John Newton’s earliest memories with his devoted but frail mother recall afternoons spent praying and memorizing hymns and Bible passages. His mother died when he was seven years old, but her tearful prayers for him would leave a lifelong impression. John Newton […]
With the recent passing of Marjorie Pay Hinckley, a beloved mother and grandmother, many gathered at her funeral to pay tribute and express love. More than one speaker remembered her gentle way, her sense of humor, her cheerfulness, and most of all, her love. No one remarked on the kind of car she drove or […]
How busy we are changes over the stages of life. A teenager thinks that life simply cannot get any busier than it is right now. But ask a couple with a young family about busyness, or parents of those teenagers, and they’ll have something to say about how hectic life can be. Some of us […]
During this year we commemorate 75 years of continuous broadcasting. Today’s message was delivered by Richard L. Evans in 1955. When our children are young and very dependent upon us, sometimes perhaps we think what we would do if we were more free from responsibility. And then the time comes when we are free from […]
After finishing his great literary work on the French Revolution, Thomas Carlyle gave his manuscript to John Stuart Mill to read. By mistake, Mill’s maid used the manuscript to start a fire. When Carlyle learned of this, he felt utterly hopeless. Years of hard work up in smoke! He thought he could never rewrite it. […]
In Matthew we read that “where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”1 In 1739 in London, England, one such small gathering occurred. Charles Wesley met with his fledgling flock in an old, deserted iron foundry to preach and sing praises to God. This first […]
The week before Jesus rose triumphant from the tomb, He left the comforts of Bethany and went to Jerusalem. Along the way, Jesus sent two of His disciples to get a colt that had not been ridden before—not a stately steed but a donkey, ready and willing to serve his master. Upon this humble animal […]
During this year we commemorate 75 years of continuous broadcasting. Today’s message was delivered by Richard L. Evans in 1970. The swift passing of the seasons brings all of us at times to think upon the length of life, as friends and loved ones come and leave, and as we ourselves face always such uncertainties. […]
Dreams often begin when we lack something. We want something better, something that seems out of reach. Some dreams become more vivid at Christmastime or when our birthday is near. But for many children, dreams are more urgent. They dream of a proper education, sufficient food, or shoes when it rains. These dreams left unfulfilled […]
Appearing on every masterpiece is the artist’s signature, and yet art historians will tell you that paintings testify of the artist’s style and execution and can be identified even without the signature. Rembrandt is known for his rich colors and almost imperceptible brush strokes, while Michelangelo uses light to define the majesty of the human […]
“I’ll cast on [God] my ev’ry care and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!”1 We live in a time when drawing upon the powers of heaven through prayer is needed more than ever. So much about our lives can fill our days with worry and keep us awake at night with anxiety: we have […]
During this year we commemorate 75 years of continuous broadcasting. Today’s message was delivered by Richard L. Evans in 1952. It has sometimes been suggested that to make us fully thankful, everything we have should be taken from us, and then one at a time, each cherished and essential thing should be given back to […]