SALT LAKE CITY, Utah—Millions of people every week tune in to watch or listen to “Music and the Spoken Word.” But on Sunday, it was the thousands of people in the Conference Center who witnessed more than the 5,000th broadcast of the cherished program.
They were treated to both a pre-show and post-show celebration, which featured history, recognitions and stories of how “Music and the Spoken Word” has touched the lives of so many people.
“And so, there is a treasure trove of history that is being unrolled as we remember where we’ve been, as we recognize where we are and as we now focus on where we hope to go,” said Derrick Porter, the executive producer, principal writer and presenter of “Music and the Spoken Word,” in a news conference.
Watch BYU-Idaho Radio's interview with Derrick Porter
The audience included Elder David A. Bednar and Elder Gerritt W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which sponsors “Music and the Spoken Word.” Other religious, community, business and political leaders were also in attendance.
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Mack Wilberg conducts the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra during the 5,000th broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word."
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A man holds a child as people find seats in the Conference Center to watch the 5,000th broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word."
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A woman talks to former Tabernacle Choir member Alex Boyé.
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The program for the 5,000th broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word."
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Derrick Porter, the executive producer, principal writer and presenter of "Music and the Spoken Word," introduces Elizabeth Ashton, who is a violinist for the Orchestra at Temple Square.
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Derrick Porter, the executive producer, principal writer and presenter of "Music and the Spoken Word," introduces Jane Hillier Clark, who plays the violin in the Tabernacle Orchestra at Temple Square. She used a violin Sunday made by her great-grandfather 112 years ago.
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The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square perform in the 5,000th broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word."
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The audience of more than 10,000 people watch the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra perform during the 5,000th broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word."
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The audience of more than 10,000 people watch the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra perform during the 5,000th broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word."
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The men's sections of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square sing during the 5,000th broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word."
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The women's sections of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square sing during the 5,000th broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word."
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The orchestra at Temple Square performs during the 5,000th broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word."
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Richard Elliott performs on the organ during the 5,000th broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word."
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A camera operator watches his monitor during the 5,000th broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word."
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Ryan Murphy, the associate conductor of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, conducts the choir and orchestra during the 5,000th broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word."
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Derrick Porter, the executive producer, principal writer and presenter of "Music and the Spoken Word," delivers a message during the 5,000th broadcast of the program.
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Derrick Porter, the executive producer, principal writer and presenter of "Music and the Spoken Word," introduces the story of Caden Simpson during the 5,000th broadcast of the program.
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Craig Jessop, conductor of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square from 1999-2008, conducts the choir and orchestra during the 5,000th broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word."
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Audience members watching the 5,000th broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word."
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Members of the Orchestra at Temple Square perform during the 5,000th broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word."
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Members of the Orchestra at Temple Square perform during the 5,000th broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word."
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Mack Wilberg, the music conductor of the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra on Temple Square, conducts "High on the Mountain Top" with the baton used in the first broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word" on July 15, 1929.
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The 5,000th broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word."
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The audience gives a standing ovation at the end of the 5,000th broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word."
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A member of the tech crew monitors the broadcast of the 5,000th episode of "Music and the Spoken Word."
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A close-up of a monitor during the 5,000th broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word."
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Perry Sook, the joint board chair of the National Association of Broadcasters and CEO of Nexstar Media, presents Mack Wilberg, music director for the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square, and Michael O. Leavitt, president of the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square, with a crystal in commemoration of the 5,000th episode of "Music and the Spoken Word."
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Former members of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square join the current choir during a post-show celebration of the 5,000th broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word."
"Music and the Spoken Word" touches lives
In the weeks leading up to the broadcast, more than 1,200 people sent in inspirational stories and memories of how the program has touched their lives.
“If there was one consistent theme throughout those messages, it was this, ‘Music & the Spoken Word stirred something deep within me — a feeling that gave me the strength to continue forward,” Porter said during the broadcast.
One of those stories was about 6-year-old Caden Simpson who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Porter said Caden spent more than nine months away from his family undergoing intensive chemotherapy and a liver transplant.
One Sunday morning, Caden’s father left the hospital in Salt Lake City and walked to the Conference Center, where he found himself attending a live broadcast of “Music and the Spoken Word.”
It was hard for him to pay attention to what he was hearing until he heard the choir sing “Consider the Lilies.” Particularly the words “Consider the sweet, tender children. Who must suffer on this earth.”
Porter said that months later, gathered as a family, they watched “Music and the Spoken Word” and heard the same song. When they read the lyrics together, Caden said, “Dad, that’s me!”
“He’s an amazing kid. I was just grateful to be here and see him recognized,” Caden’s uncle told BYU-Idaho Radio.
5,000th broadcast includes choir history
The choir sang “Consider the Lilies” during the special broadcast. Former music director Craig Jessop led the choir in the song.
At the end of the broadcast, current music director Mack Wilberg used the original baton used by Anthony Lund, the original music director, in the first broadcast of “Music in the Spoken Word” on July 15, 1929, to conduct “High on the Mountain Top.”
Wilberg said he was hesitant to use the baton because it’s quite a bit longer than modern batons.
Watch BYU-Idaho Radio's interview with Mack Wilberg
“I said, ‘Well, I better try it out to see if I can make it work,’” Wilberg said in a news conference. “So, they brought it over to the office, I tried it out and in fact I am going to use that baton for the final piece of the broadcast Sunday.”
Post-show celebration
During the post-show celebration, the choir was honored for its accomplishment. Perry Sook, chairman of the board of directors of the National Association of Broadcasters and CEO of Nexstar Media, presented the choir with a commemorative proclamation and crystal.
“And today’s 5,000th broadcast recording represents more than longevity; it represents unwavering excellence, a commitment to public service, the enduring power of faith and music and the ability of faith and music to unite us,” he said.
Watch BYU-Idaho Radio's interview with Choir President Michael Leavitt
The celebration also included former members of the choir. Hundreds of them were in the audience and were invited to join the current choir in two songs: “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “God Be with You Till We Meet Again.”
“I thought it was amazing,” said choir member Jeremy Hawkes. “I’ve been in for 13 years, so that was a lot of alumni to see again. I didn’t think I would remember how many there were, and I could hear all of them in the last piece and it was amazing.”
