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Life is lived one step at a time. If we’re patient, we can learn a lot from taking one step of faith—and then another and another. In 1833 John Henry Newman was traveling from Europe back to his home in England. He was already ill and homesick when he was seized by an attack of […]
The first broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word was on a hot summer afternoon in the Tabernacle on Temple Square, July 15, 1929. The announcer climbed a ladder to speak into the one and only microphone, suspended from the ceiling. He stayed perched on the ladder throughout the half-hour program. An audio engineer was […]
So many family traditions are wrapped up in Christmas: green and shimmering trees; homes decked with twinkling lights, tinsel, and holly; stockings hung in hopes of St. Nick; eager little hands helping frost cookies in the kitchen; plates of turkey and trimmings; and candles beckoning welcome to all. These are the glitter and glow of […]
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of […]
Few sounds gladden the heart like church bells ringing. In days gone by, villages full of people gathered to the sound of bells. On Christmas Day, church bells rang far and wide resonating with hope and goodwill. The story is told of a village where the church bells stopped ringing for many years. No one […]
“Joy to the world, the Lord is come; let earth receive her King!”1 Those words resound in the hearts of all who seek real peace, abiding love, and true joy. In a quiet village in the meridian of time, lowly animals welcomed the King of Kings to an obscure cave-stable. Joy came to the world […]
The Tabernacle on Temple Square has been the beloved home of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for 137 years. Millions have entered within these walls since it was completed in 1867, and millions more will return when it reopens following an 18-month renovation. Beginning next week, the Choir will broadcast its weekly program across the street […]
So often we fail to be grateful for the present moments of life. We consume the joys of the here and now with a longing for something else. When we’re on vacation, we may think of pressures mounting at home; and when we’re at home, we long to be away on vacation. Or, when the […]
A mother of four children was busy running errands one afternoon when she saw a sign in the window of a truck. It read, “The more you know, the less you need.” As she pulled into a parking lot, the phrase gave her pause, and she stopped to consider whether she really needed the items […]
The year was 1918. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in the Forest of Compiègne, World War I came to a close. It had been a harrowing time. For four punishing years, brave young soldiers on both sides of the conflict had taken up arms, and each mother carried […]
Life today is noisy and chaotic. Many of us navigate busy traffic, take phone calls, make appointments, run errands, and manage homes—all against the backdrop of a changing, rattling world. Sometimes it seems we are almost skidding down a hillside, grasping at twigs to slow us down. Many of us look for a safe mooring […]
Nearly all of us, young and old, have a desire to do our best. A powerful allure draws us to scale the heights of human potential. We may hear the call of lofty goals or simply desire to make the most of our everyday circumstances. Regardless of our target, it seems natural to aim high. […]
“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee.”1 Those words resonate in the hearts of all who worry, all who are burdened in some way, all who face challenges and disappointments—and that is each of us. Life is difficult. Sometimes we make it more difficult by comparing ourselves with others who seem […]
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 1954. In thumbing through some commonplace words we find the word fringe—and we find it in part defined as “an ornamental border . . . ” or “. . . […]
Living a life of integrity means that we live truthfully. What we believe is reflected in who we are: how we think, act, and interact. The Biblical account of Abraham, the father of the faithful, is a lesson in integrity. When Abraham and his nephew Lot left Egypt and returned to the land of Bethel, […]
As our calendars turn to autumn, nature’s grand finale of seasons dresses up around us. On many mountainsides and hills, the robes of summer’s green have given way to quilts of red, orange, yellow, and amber. Overhead, autumn shines down on everyone as the harvest moon fills the sky with its singular brilliance. Soon winter […]
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. […]