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

This broadcast of Music & the Spoken Word includes a new Spoken Word by Lloyd Newell with music repertoire from earlier performances. The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square will resume live broadcasts on January 9, 2022, practicing COVID protocols.  Broadcasts are still closed to the public for the time being. 

Music

Conductors: Mack Wilberg and Ryan Murphy
Organist: Richard Elliott
Narrator: Lloyd Newell

“I Think the World Is Glorious”¹
Music: Alexander Schreiner
Lyrics: Anna Johnson
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg

“For the Beauty of the Earth”²
Music: Conrad Kocher
Lyrics: Folliott S. Pierpoint
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg

“Look to the Day”³
Music and Lyrics:: John Rutter
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg

“Simple Gifts” organ solo
Music: Shaker song 
Arrangement: Richard Elliott

“New Year”
Music and Lyrics: John Rutter

“I’ll Begin Again” from Scrooge
Music and Lyrics: Leslie Bricusse
Arrangement: Richard Elliott

“Sing!” from Toccata
Music: Charles-Marie Widor
Lyrics: David Willcocks
Arrangement: David Willcocks 

1. On the CD Teach Me To Walk In The Light.
2. On the CD Love Is Spoken Here.
3. On the CD Glory! Music of Rejoicing.

The Spoken Word

The New Year—Traditions and Resolutions

New Year’s Day might very well be just another day—no different from the 364 that follow—if it wasn’t for our traditions. We gather with family and friends. We eat special foods together. We celebrate and reflect. We thank God for the blessings of the past year and the opportunities in the year ahead. No, there’s nothing inherently special about January 1. But in these and many other ways, we make New Year’s Day meaningful with our traditions of gathering, of love, of remembering, of gratitude to God—of looking back and looking forward. Let’s hear how some people around the world celebrate the New Year.

Stine:
In Denmark, one of our New Year’s traditions is to eat a 12-tiered cake to commemorate the twelve months that have gone by. We usually eat it during the queen’s speech where she also talks about the past year and all the good things that have come with it, and sometimes also the bad things. But it’s a really nice way to end the year.

Daniela:
Twelve seconds before the clocks strikes midnight, we have to eat twelve grapes. Each grape will represent each of the months of the 12 months of the year. And by eating each grape, we have to make a wish that will represent the goals we have for the next year.

Maliyah:
I love spending time with family on New Year’s because family is the best. We get to play board games and have so much fun. We also set out a plate for the people who’ve passed away because it’s a Filipino tradition and so they can celebrate with us.

Cole:
For New Year’s, me and my brothers when it hit 12:00 we would go outside and like yell happy new year and bang pots and pans and just run around all over the place.

St. Benedict, a patron saint of Europe, is said to have expressed this simple but encouraging thought: “Every day we begin again.” And if that’s true of a new day, it’s certainly true of a new year. We all yearn for the chance to start over and begin anew. It’s a sentiment that rings true in the heart as we ring in the new year.

This is probably why we make new year’s resolutions—things we want to accomplish, learn, or improve about ourselves. After all, God created us to improve and progress. But making a resolution is one thing; keeping it can be much harder. How can we keep from becoming discouraged when things don’t go as we planned or hoped? Here are some ideas:

Michael:
So one thing that helps me stay focused on goal setting is accountability. Anytime I set a goal whether personal or family I love to discuss it with those around me.

Hillary:
I try to not be too crazy about setting too many goals at a time because it can be overwhelming. I try to set maybe a few goals for the year that are bigger. I dissect it a little bit and figure out what I can do each month in order to reach that goal.

Blaine:
When I make a mistake or fail to achieve a goal in the way I had hoped, I try not to look back, but to instead look forward. I then make it a matter of prayer and ask for that guidance. And I have received that. And that means everything to me because I know that going forward, I’m doing things that not only I think are important, but my Heavenly Father thinks are important for me to do.

Whatever new beginnings you are looking forward to, we hope your new year is filled with happiness, peace, and God’s richest blessings.