Videos

April 14, 2019 - #4674 Music & the Spoken Word

The Music & the Spoken Word broadcast airs live via TV, radio, and internet stream on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. mountain standard time. For information on other airtimes, visit “Airing Schedules” at musicandthespokenword.org.

Music

April 14, 2019 - #4674
Music & the Spoken Word

Conductor: Mack Wilberg
Organist: Richard Elliott
Announcer: Lloyd Newell

“Redeemer of Israel”1
Music: Freeman Lewis
Lyrics: Joseph Swain; adapted by William W. Phelps
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg

“I Know That My Savior Loves Me”2
Music and lyrics: Tami Jeppson Creamer and Derena Bell
Arrangement: Ryan Murphy

“Praise and Thanksgiving” (Organ solo)
Music: Dale Wood

“Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’” from Oklahoma!
Music: Richard Rodgers
Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
Arrangement: Arthur Harris

“Tree of Life”3
Music: Mack Wilberg
Lyrics: David Warner

“The Morning Breaks”4
Music: George Careless
Lyrics: Parley P. Pratt
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg

  1. On the CD Called to Serve
  2. On the CD Teach Me to Walk in the Light
  3. On the CD Tree of Life
  4. On the CD Praise to the Man

The Spoken Word

The Greatest Form of Charity

Not long ago, a three-year-old girl was watching a movie with her family. With a puzzled look on her face, she pointed at the screen and said, “Mom, that chicken is weird!”

Her mother smiled. “Honey, that is a peacock.”1

Sometimes we think we know what we’re looking at, but our understanding is limited—whether it’s about chickens, peacocks, or people. We don’t know the full story on anyone’s life, and we know almost nothing about many of the people with whom we interact daily.

We all know how frustrating it is to be judged unfairly or wrongly perceived. The truth is that no one is qualified to pass final judgments on anyone else—our own shortcomings and lack of perfect understanding disqualify us from that. Besides, not one of us is ready for “final” judgment yet anyway. We are all works in progress, not finished products.

If we focus on the differences and perceived flaws in those around us, that’s what we’ll get: differences and flaws. But if we try to look at what we have in common, what we share, then we have a greater likelihood of connection and understanding. And there is much we have in common: we all share this earth as our home, we all seek happiness and peace, and we all thrive on love and connection. Compared to that, our differences are rather minor.

It’s been said that “the greatest form of charity may be to withhold judgment.”2 Everyone needs love instead of judgment, compassion instead of harshness, understanding and acceptance instead of condemnation. And although our perceptions and our judgments are less than perfect, there is One whose perception and judgment is perfect—God sees His children with love and compassion. He sees our glorious potential. Imagine what could happen if we sincerely tried to see others that way.

It may seem obvious, but peacocks are not chickens, and each person is wonderfully unique. As we withhold judgment long enough to see each other as we truly are, we will open doors of friendship and understanding, happiness and peace.

  1. See Jean B. Bingham, “I Will Bring the Light of the Gospel into My Home,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 6.
  2. Sandra Rogers, in Jean B. Bingham, “I Will Bring the Light of the Gospel,” 6.