By Robb Cundick, with photos by Deb Gehris and Marene Foulger

In Roman times, milestones were placed along the Appian Way to help travelers measure their progress. A special marker called the “Golden Milestone” stood at the center of Rome as the beginning point from which all distances were calculated. The United States of America has its own version of the Golden Milestone. Known as the “Zero Milestone,” it stands just outside the grounds of the White House near the South Lawn. Dedicated in 1923, this stone marker was conceived as the starting point from which all road distances in the United States would be reckoned.

The Zero Milestone
Washington, D.C. (1923)

Today, of course, the term milestone is used not only as a measure of distance, but of time. Just six years after the Zero Milestone was dedicated, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir established its own starting point. On July 15, 1929, the first broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word became a Golden Milestone for the Choir. Every week since, a new marker has been placed as another installment of this time-honored program takes to the airwaves. The milestones have been many: one hundred broadcasts, five hundred, one thousand, two thousand, three thousand…five years, ten, twenty-five, and fifty.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir in 1929

Given that just a little less than two years before, the 75th anniversary broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word capped a celebration that lasted a full year, Sunday, April 30, 2006 may have seemed a little soon to be marking yet another significant milestone. But through times of tranquility or tumult, prosperity or privation; whether the Choir is at home in Salt Lake City or away touring throughout the world, Music and the Spoken Word has never missed a beat. Last Sunday its week by week run at last reached the four thousandth edition of what has become the longest-running network broadcast in the world. You don’t just let a milestone like that pass without comment. As Bruce T. Reese put it, “it isn’t often that you celebrate an anniversary with three zeros in it!”

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square
perform for the 4000th broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word

Mr. Reese, who is President and Chief Executive of Bonneville International — parent company of Bonneville Communications, which today produces and distributes Music and the Spoken Word — was among several dignitaries who spoke after the commemorative broadcast. It was a special treat to have Gordon B. Hinckley, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in attendance. In 1971 President Hinckley was called by a predecessor, President Joseph Fielding Smith, to serve as priesthood advisor to the Choir. It is a responsibility he felt important enough to have retained even after becoming president of the Church in 1995. In his remarks he congratulated the Choir on its longevity and the quality of its performances.

Distinguished guests included (left to right) President
Gordon B. Hinckey, Choir President Mac Christensen,
Senator Orrin Hatch, and Utah Governor Jon M. Huntsman.

Senator Orrin Hatch, Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Choir President Mac Christensen, and Director Craig Jessop also spoke. All had wonderful things to say, but other accounts have detailed the observance (click here for an article in the Deseret Morning News and here for a feature article in the Salt Lake Tribune). So — after a brief description of the broadcast itself — I would like to focus on comments and feelings that have come to me from friends and acquaintances via the Internet.

The Conference Center stage was decorated with images
and items recalling the long history of the broadcast.

The program was a wonderful combination of both old and new. Just as the first broadcast in 1929, it began with a stirring verse of the hymn “The Morning Breaks.” Announcer Lloyd Newell drew attention to the phrase, “The dawning of a brighter day,” in recalling the 1929 broadcast and introducing this historic four thousandth.

Lloyd Newell, current announcer and presenter of
the Spoken Word, introduces the 4000th broadcast.
Richard L. Evans (pictured behind him to the right)
performed this role from 1930 to 1971.

Next came Mack Wilberg’s dynamic arrangement of another classic hymn, “How Firm a Foundation” complete with the powerful accompaniment of the Orchestra at Temple Square. Former Choir Director Jerold Ottley introduced the following selection, reminiscing upon one of his most cherished broadcast memories: when the Choir sang the music of Russian composer Sergey Rachmaninoff in what is considered to be his artistic home — the exquisite Philharmonia Hall in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg). The Choir brought that memory to life with a reverent performance of “Rejoice, O Virgin” from Rachmaninoff’s All Night Vigil, sung à cappella and in the original Russian, with English subtitles.

Mormon Tabernacle Choir Director Craig Jessop emphasizes rhythmic precision, diction, and pitch.  His passionate and energetic conducting inspires both Choir and Orchestra to give their very best.


Mack Wilberg is Associate Director of the Choir. His insistence on
precise pitch and proper vowel placement are of tremendous help
to us, and his composing and arranging talents contribute mightily
to the broadcasts of today.

Longtime Choir friend Charles Osgood introduced the Rogers and Hammerstein inspirational favorite “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from the musical, Carousel. Next came another nod to the past as senior Tabernacle Organist John Longhurst introduced a re-creation by his colleague, Richard Elliott, of the organ solo featured on the first broadcast: “Pilgrim’s Chorus” from Richard Wagner’s opera, Tannhäuser. Playing from memory, Brother Elliott gave a virtuoso performance of this extremely difficult, soul-stirring piece.

Tabernacle Organist Richard Elliott gave a spectacular
performance of Richard Wagner's "Pilgrim's Chorus."

President Hinckley introduced another number of historic significance; the anthem “Let the Mountains Shout for Joy,” was written by early Mormon Tabernacle Choir director Evan Stephens. After paying tribute to the Choir, in characteristic fashion President Hinckley also pointed forward when he said, “May all that has occurred in the past be but prelude to an even greater future.” And what could be more appropriate to close this historic broadcast than Mack Wilberg’s reverential arrangement of the beloved pioneer hymn “Come, Come, Ye Saints?” The taped introduction for this final selection was given by none other than President George W. Bush, who spoke of the Choir’s performances for presidents going back to William Howard Taft, and for six presidential inaugurals, including his own. “You have brought music and inspiration to generations of Americans,” he said, “and I wish you continued success in the future.

I am sure each reader could contribute his or her own memories and feelings about how the music of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra at Temple Square, or the incomparable Mormon Tabernacle Organ has enriched their life. Here are some of the comments that have reached me:

Ken Jarvis, a singer in, and narrator for, the Mormon Choir of Washington, D.C., pointed out how remarkable it is that the broadcast’s format has continued unchanged for so long:

Ask any student of broadcasting and you'll be made well aware how primitive radio was 75 years ago. It was a big deal for the Choir to go on the air. It was a big deal for the network to get it on... and a very big deal to keep it on for 75 years!

Radio has changed so much. We've gone from AM to FM to FM stereo and now to digital. Programming trends have changed so many times that one loses count. Still the Tabernacle Choir marches on using the same format, even announcing the same intro/outro. That breaks every programming rule in the book!

That was a very big, emotional program for anyone even remotely connected to the broadcast industry. Great show! Congratulations to every Choir member, engineer, technician, organist, announcer, administrator, etc., etc. who ever had a hand in this program's famous history.

Several current Choir members sang in the 3000th broadcast, but Laurel Rolfing (left) and Diane Miller (right) sang for the 2000th (December 17, 1967). Stephen Stoker (center), who is currently a member of the Choir staff, sang in that historic performance as well.

I loved what Jack, who is head of disability ministries for a Catholic Church in California, had to say. It is representative of the wide appeal the broadcast has had not only among members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but for spiritually minded people of all faiths:

As I watched the 4000th broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word this morning, my heart soared. I got teary eyed, as I often do when hearing the Choir. By the time they sang "Come, Come Ye Saints," the tears, I have to admit, were freely flowing. I can't remember when the song was sung more reverently, and with such beauty.

To anyone who is part of the Choir, my profound thanks. Because of you and those who served before you, countless hearts have been moved, chills have run up the backs of spines, and yes, joyful tears have flowed. You are, have been, and always will be, America’s Choir.

Noah Garrido, of Cancun, Mexico, has been a fan of the Choir for as long as he can remember:

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is a huge musical instrument that affects the lives of numberless people today, including me (my family became LDS long before I was born in 1973). I don't remember when in my early childhood I fell in love with choral music because of the Tabernacle Choir. I majored in choral conducting and presently I am the director of Cancun's community choir. Needless to mention, in my choir (I'm the only LDS in the group) EVERYBODY knows the Tabernacle Choir, so, in my small circle of influence, the Choir's music has played a key role. Thanks to the Choir deeply from Cancun, Mexico.

David Hawley from Utah was able to attend the historic broadcast in person. He shared these impressions:

The Choir's broadcast on Sunday was a wonderful experience. Personally, my favorite parts were when they sang “How Firm a Foundation” and “Come, Come Ye Saints.” I have always loved both of these hymns and Mack Wilberg’s relatively new arrangements really did enhance them. I love hearing the Choir sing the words "Fear not, I am with thee, oh be not dismayed".... and especially when I hear "I'll never, no never, no never forsake" (referring to God's relationship to us) I am almost without exception filled with a sense of the love that God has for us. That song alone was worth attending the performance in my opinion.

I loved hearing President Hinckley's brief remarks following the broadcast, commenting on his relationship as its priesthood advisor for the past 35 years. The other comments were appreciated as well, but hearing President Hinckley speak with his apparent love for the Choir was touching to me. I was surprised that following his remarks, and especially in light of his remarks, that the Choir didn’t almost spontaneously sing "The Spirit of God Like A Fire Is Burning," but I am sure that everyone in the Choir and in the audience was singing that amazing song in their hearts after hearing him speak.

Bob Matthews is a brand new member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, so this was the first such experience for him. He shared these feelings:

Let me just say that my emotions were close to the surface and I can identify with others who commented about tears coming to their eyes. I just know one of these days the camera will catch me in one of those moments and I hope it doesn't look out of place. You don't often see Choir members singing with tears in their eyes. But standing next to them you can feel the emotion by the way they sing, and I think that collective spirit is one of the things that makes hearing this choir so powerful, particularly in person.

Of course, the commemorative video that showed along with the broadcast was interesting and fun to watch, and it was great to hear the comments that were given in the Conference Center afterward. But for me the music is where the power and emotion are, and I was certainly feeling both in abundance on Sunday.

I like Bob’s focus on the music as the most moving part, because for us in the Choir, all of the plaudits and congratulations on such an occasion tend to feel a bit awkward. Who, after all, is being congratulated? The vast majority of the people to whom credit is due are no longer with us. So I was glad for the opportunity to stand and applaud the former members and staff who were in attendance.

For input from a long time listener I called my friend Michael Haynie in Roanoke, Virginia. Mike has been a fan of the Choir for fifty years. As a twelve year old boy he would come home from delivering newspapers on Sunday mornings and lie down to listen as his parents tuned in to Music and the Spoken Word on the radio. He has always been religious and was raised Presbyterian. Also a lover of music, he soon discovered that besides prayer and Bible study (joined in recent years by Book of Mormon study, though he has not yet become a member of the LDS Church), music — especially that of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir — offered him a special spiritual connection. He enjoys the broadcasts so much that when BYU TV became available on satellite he subscribed especially so he could watch and listen multiple times throughout the week.

Every year Mike plans a vacation to out west, and one of his top priorities is a stop in Salt Lake City to hear the Choir (we have met on several such occasions). He loved the four thousandth broadcast, but for him it’s the weekly experience that is most meaningful. “It’s like anything else,” he remarked. “Some are better than others, but in that thirty minutes there’s always at least one thing that really stands out. Sometimes it’s the big numbers with the full orchestra and the crescendos, and sometimes it’s just the quieter, more meditative, more contemplative kinds of things.”

I thought that comment especially meaningful because, after all, a four thousandth milestone is really just like the previous 3,999. The switch over to three new zeros is a good time to pause and reflect upon the journey, but milestone 4001 will be placed next week, and 4002 the week after, and each will be built with the same loving care.

Director Craig Jessop, the Orchestra at Temple Square, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing the traditional broadcast farewell "God Be With You Till We Meet Again."

But that is not to say there wasn’t something special about number 4000. I was working in my yard yesterday when a neighbor drove by. Upon seeing me he quickly pulled into a driveway, turned around and drove up next to me to talk. “I want to make your day,” he exclaimed, “I just had to tell you about my experience last Sunday. I was feeling down when I turned on Music and the Spoken Word, but as I listened to the music and the things that were said, I began to feel a very strong spirit that bore witness about what a tremendous missionary work the Choir does. It just blew me away. I had never felt it so strongly before. Thank you so much for all you do!”

That did indeed make my day! But, in the end, after the music and the speeches and applause have faded away, who is it to whom the praise is really due? The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the Orchestra at Temple Square, our directors and organists; every one involved in producing and broadcasting Music and the Spoken Word are only — and can only hope to be — instruments in the hands of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. They are the why and how, the beginning and the end, and the focus of every note and every song of praise.

Each year, new faces join the legions that have made up the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and — since 1999 — the Orchestra at Temple Square. Each year a corresponding group of aging, beloved faces quietly depart as their time of service ends. But the great march begun at that Golden Milestone set in 1929 moves resolutely forward, carrying hope, encouragement, joy, and a spiritual lift to every soul it meets along the way. Milestone by milestone, the legacy is built upon as we march on in the service of God the Father and our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Click here to visit a page where you can read and listen to historic Spoken Word messages from the past 66 years.

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