Videos

September 13, 2020 - #4748 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.

This encore performance of Music & the Spoken Word has been specially selected for airing while the Choir and Orchestra are practicing social distancing.  It contains a newly-recorded Spoken Word, written and delivered by Lloyd Newell.

Music

Conductors: Mack Wilberg and Ryan Murphy
Organist: Joseph Peeples
Announcer: Lloyd Newell

“Simple Gifts”
Music and Lyrics: Shaker song
Arrangement: Ryan Murphy

“Pilgrim Song”1
Music and Lyrics: American folk hymn

“Scherzo” from Dix Pièces pour Orgue, no. 8 (Organ solo)
Music: Eugène Gigout

“His Voice As the Sound”2
Music and Lyrics: American folk hymn
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg

“What a Wonderful World”
Music and Lyrics: George David Weiss and Bob Thiele
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg

“I Think the World Is Glorious”3
Music: Alexander Schreiner
Lyrics: Anna Johnson
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg

  1. On the CD Glory! Music of Rejoicing.
  2. On the CD Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.
  3. On the CD Teach Me to Walk in the Light.

 

The Spoken Word

Of Blind Spots and Open Hearts

Anyone who has ever passed a driving test knows what a blind spot is. It’s that troublesome area just outside your field of vision that can make changing lanes dangerous. No matter how you adjust your mirrors, you can’t truly drive safely unless you’re aware of and account for your blind spot. 

We all have another kind of blind spot, one that has nothing to do with driving, but it can be just as dangerous. And if we don’t account for it, we could seriously hurt ourselves and others. The truth is, when we look at life and at each other, we don’t see the complete picture. Unavoidably, biases and preconceptions form over the years, and they can keep us from fully seeing, understanding, and connecting with another. 

For example, when we see someone who looks different from us, what do we think? Do we make assumptions based on limited information? So often we think we’re talking to each other when we’re really talking past each other. We carry on monologues, not dialogues. We make judgments, not connections. 

The good news is that even though we all have blind spots, we can all overcome them. As with driving, the first step is to acknowledge that blind spots exist—to stop assuming that we can see everything there is to see. We share life’s highway with many other drivers, and no two are exactly alike; we all have been shaped by our history, background, and experiences. To travel safely, we need to travel together. Maybe the best way to check your blind spot is to reach out to someone who has a different view, who sees things you don’t—and then listen without judging.

Recently, the leaders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a joint statement about racial harmony, demonstrating that we see more clearly when we look together. They wrote: “Unitedly we declare that the answers to racism, prejudice, discrimination and hate will not come from government or law enforcement alone. Solutions will come as we open our hearts to those whose lives are different than our own, as we work to build bonds of genuine friendship, and as we see each other as the brothers and sisters we are—for we are all children of a loving God.”1

 

  1. “Locking Arms for Racial Harmony in America,” Medium, June 8, 2020.