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September 11, 2022 - #4852 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 time. For information on other airtimes, visit “Airing Schedules” at musicandthespokenword.org.

NOTE: A short time after Queen Elizabeth’s death and the original live airing of this program, the recorded broadcast was revised for an international audience with a new Spoken Word entitled “Grace and Goodness: A Tribute to Queen Elizabeth II.” The new Spoken Word text can be found below.

Music

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

“O God, Our Help in Ages Past”
Music: William Croft
Lyrics: Isaac Watts
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg

“The Lord My Pasture Will Prepare”1
Music: Dimitri Bortniansky
Lyrics: Joseph Addison
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg

“Nearer, My God, to Thee” (organ solo)
Music: Lowell Mason
Arrangement: Richard Elliott

“Alleluia”2
Music: attr. to Giulio Caccini
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg

“Peace Like a River”3
Music and Lyrics: African-American spiritual
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg

“It Is Well with My Soul”4
Music: Philip P. Bliss
Lyrics: Horatio G. Spafford
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg 

  1. From the album This Is The Christ.
  2. From the album O Come, Little Children.
  3. From the album Peace Like a River.
  4. From the album Tree of Life.


The Spoken Word

(This new Spoken Word replaced the original Spoken Word below in tribute to this exemplary leader. To view just the Spoken Word video portion of the broadcast, click here.)

Grace and Goodness: A Tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

Recently, the longest-reigning monarch in Britain’s history, Queen Elizabeth II, peacefully passed into eternity. For more than 70 years, she was the only sovereign many Britons had ever known. And while the world changed dramatically over the decades, the Queen remained steadfast and strong, an emblem of “grace and goodness”1 to her people—and to the world.

Like a river that moves with purpose and direction, the queen was driven more by principle than popularity. Devotion to duty, service to God and country, gave her life meaning and purpose.

Before her coronation, the Queen expressed the humility and dedication that made her such a great leader for so many years. “I want to ask you all,” she said, “whatever your religion may be, to pray for me … that God may give me wisdom and strength to carry out the solemn promises I shall be making, and that I may faithfully serve Him and you, all the days of my life.”2  Clearly, God answered those prayers.

“Faithful” is a good word to describe Queen Elizabeth’s service. Her faith in a Heavenly King guided her life and her work. She often spoke of that faith—of the Christian ideals that inspired her. And yet Queen Elizabeth’s faith was evident not only in her words but also her actions. She endeavored to serve, not just to be served. She visited the downtrodden. She lifted those who suffered and gave hope to those in despair. She explained: “For me the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life. I, like so many of you, have drawn great comfort in difficult times from Christ’s words and example.”3

Just as Queen Elizabeth has been a constant in the lives of her people, faith has been a constant in her own life. Just a few years ago, the Queen said: “The life of Jesus Christ … is an inspiration and an anchor in my life. A role-model of reconciliation and forgiveness, he stretched out his hands in love, acceptance and healing. Christ’s example has taught me to seek to respect and value all people of whatever faith or none.”4

To lose such a noble leader brings sorrow. But to remember her life of faith brings comfort and peace to our souls.

  1. The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued the following statement following the Queen’s death: “The United Kingdom and the people of the world have lost a noble monarch with the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. She presided through seven decades, in times of peace and conflict, plenty and struggle, and did so with characteristic grace and goodness” (“Admiration, Respect and Gratitude for the Life of Queen Elizabeth II,” Sept. 8, 2022, newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). 
  2. In Dudley Delfs, “Died: Queen Elizabeth II, British Monarch Who Put Her Trust in God,” Christianity Today, Sept. 8, 2022, christianitytoday.com.
  3. In Catherine Pepinster, “Elizabeth II, Longest to Rule Britain and Church of England, Dies at 96,” Religion News, Sept. 8, 2022, religionnews.com.
  4. From a Christmas broadcast, December 25, 2014, royal.uk.

 

There Is No Fear in Love

(Original Spoken Word for the live broadcast of Sunday, September 11, 2022)

Written by Don Staheli

Some days, reading the news feels like reading those prophecies in the Bible about the end of the world. “Perilous times,” the Apostle Paul called them1—when peace would be taken from the earth,2 when the heavens and earth would shake3 and when hearts would fail with fear.4 Even if it’s not quite the end of the world, feelings of fear and anxiety plague us. What’s worse, too often these feelings come to the surface in the form of anger and hostility toward others. All of this stress is having a profound effect on the health and well-being of so many of us.

Some might take all the chaos and fear to mean that there is no God. But that, of course, only leads to more chaos and fear. What would happen if instead the perils of the day turned us toward God, not away from Him?

For example, imagine how our view of life would be affected if God’s love for His children were always our underlying assumption, no matter what is happening in our lives.5 Perhaps that same love would inspire us to reach out to others, no matter what is happening in their lives. And maybe that love would lift our hearts in gratitude for the good things in our lives, including the values and beliefs that make up the best in each of us. Maybe then we could create a loving community where peace and joy thrive and where fear no longer causes distress.

It has been said “that religion in a devout believer has little equal as [a reliever] of stress. … [Religion] tells [us] that God loves [us] and will go on taking care of [us] no matter what.”6 Belief in a God of love will give us confidence in the present and hope for the future. By building on a foundation of faith in the Almighty, we can withstand the winds of fear that blow so hard against us. We can overcome the worldly commotion that might otherwise shake us to the very core.

The Apostle John offered great comfort when he said, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear."7 Anxiety and fear can be managed—even replaced with peace and hope—as we focus on loving God and loving our neighbors as ourselves.

  1. 2 Timothy 3:1.
  2. See Revelation 6:4.
  3. See Joel 3:16.
  4. See Luke 21:26.
  5. See Russell M. Nelson, “Joy and Spiritual Survival,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 82.
  6. Walter McQuade and Ann Aikman, Stress: What It Is, What It Can Do to Your Health, How to Fight Back (1974), 8–9.
  7. 1 John 4:18.