[music playing] CHOIR: (SINGING) [inaudible] ANNOUNCER: From Temple
Square in Salt Lake City, we welcome you to Music and the
Spoken Word with the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra
at Temple Square. Conducting today's program are
Mack Wilberg and Ryan Murphy, with organist Richard
Elliott, and the Spoken Word by Lloyd D. Newell. [music - "redeemer of israel"] (SINGING) Redeemer of
Israel, our only delight, on whom for a blessing we
call, our shadow by day and our pillar by night, our
king, our deliverer, our all. We know he is coming
to gather his sheep and lead them to Zion in love. For why in the Valley
of Death should they weep or in the lone
wilderness rove? How long we have wandered
as strangers in sin and cried in the
desert for thee. Our foes have rejoiced when
our sorrows they've seen, but Israel will shortly be free. Children of Zion,
good tidings for us. The tokens already appear. Fear not, and be just
for the kingdom is ours. The hour of redemption is near. [MUSIC - "I KNOW THAT MY SAVIOR
LOVES ME"] A long time ago in a
beautiful place, children were gathered around Jesus. He blessed and taught as
they felt of his love. Each saw the tears on his face. The love that he felt
for his little ones, I know he feels for me. I did not touch him
or sit on his knee, yet Jesus is real to me. I know he lives. I will follow faithfully. My heart, I give to him. I know that my savior loves me. Now I am here in
a beautiful place, learning the teachings of Jesus. Parents and teachers
will help guide the way, lighting my path every day. Wrapped in the arms
of my savior's love, I feel his gentle touch. Living each day, I will follow
his way, home to my father above. I know he lives. I will follow faithfully. My heart, I give to him. I know that my savior loves me. I know he lives. I will follow faithfully. My heart, I give to him. I know that my savior loves me. I know that my savior loves me. I know he lives. [MUSIC - "PRAISE AND
THANKSGIVING"] [organ] [MUSIC - "OH, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL
MORNIN'"] Oh, what a beautiful morning. Oh, what a beautiful day. I've got a beautiful feeling. Everything's going my way. There's a bright golden
haze on the meadow. There's a bright golden
haze on the meadow. The corn is as high
as an elephant's eye, and it looks like it's climbing. And it looks like it's climbing. And it looks like it's
climbing clear up to the sky. Oh, what a beautiful morning. Oh, what a beautiful day. I've got a beautiful feeling. Everything's going my way. Oh, what a beautiful morning. Oh, what a beautiful day. I've got a beautiful feeling. Everything's going my way. Oh, what a beautiful morning. Oh, what a-- oh,
what a beautiful day. For all of their
differences, there are some things that many
of the world's religions share in common. One of these is the
symbolic tree of life, representing a connection
between heaven and earth and our longing for the eternal. Somewhere deep
inside, we all want to know that life continues,
that our existence has meaning beyond the here and now,
and that its purposes do not begin with birth
or end with death. Long ago, after a young family
moved into their first home, they planted a tree
in their backyard. It was exactly the same height
as their two-year-old daughter, so they called it her tree. For a time, the tree
and the little girl seemed to grow at
about the same rate, but before long, as the
girl helped water and care for the tree, it
quickly outgrew her. She and her friends spent
many summer afternoons playing beneath and around the
tree, climbing its branches and sometimes leaving
her toys near its trunk. As she got older, she often
sat to read in its shade, and sometimes when she
wanted to be alone, she went to the quiet
of her tree to think. Eventually, the girl became a
woman and went away to college. Now she has a home of her
own, but the tree remains. And she still comes back to
visit it from time to time. As she gazes at the branches
stretching heavenward and leans against the
thick, sturdy trunk that grasped the earth so firmly, she
remembers that she and her tree were once the same size, and she
thinks back on all the living and growing they both
have seen and will yet see in years to come. In some ways, this tree has
become her tree of life. It doesn't bear fruit
promising immortality, but it does help her
feel connected to heaven, and it links her
past with her future. It can be difficult to see
the growth in ourselves, but when we look
at a mighty tree that we once knew
as a sapling, we are reminded of the
potential inside each of us. No matter how small
we may feel now, we were created to grow,
to spread our branches, and to bear life-giving fruit. [music - "tree of life"] CHOIR: (SINGING) Oh, tree
of life, when spring arises, hear our voices
singing alleluia. The blossoms promising
the fruit we're seeking. Alleluia. New life in thee we're seeking. Alleluia. Oh, tree of life, when summer
nourishes our life emerging, alleluia. And fruit is born,
abundant, bright appearing. Alleluia. Sweet fruit of life appearing. Alleluia. Oh, tree of life,
when autumn calls, thine outstretched
arms entreating. Alleluia. Bid us come forth and
feast on life descending. Alleluia. The feast of life descending. Alleluia. Oh, tree, when winter comes
to thee, we bend in thee. Thou purest tree. Resplendent tree. Here we rest, we rest in thee. Oh, tree of life. Oh, tree of life. Bearing fruit of purest white,
of sweet, exquisite taste. Sweet fruit that makes us whole. In thee made whole. In thee made whole. Thy feast all life restores. The fruit of thy pure love
is our life forever more. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. [music - "the morning breaks"] The morning breaks,
the shadows flee. Lo, Zion's standard is unfurled. The dawning of a brighter day,
the dawning of a brighter day, majestic rises on the world. The cloud of error
disappear before the rays of truth divine. The glory bursting from afar,
the glory bursting from afar, wide over the nations
soon will shine. Jehovah speaks. Let earth give ear, and
gentile nations turn and live. His mighty arm is making
bare, his mighty arm is making bare his
covenant people to receive. Angels from heaven and
truth from earth have met, and both have record borne. Thus Zion's light
is bursting forth, thus Zion's light
is bursting forth to bring her ransomed
children home, to bring her ransomed
children home. Amen. ANNOUNCER: Today's performance
continues the 90th year of this historic program. Please join us next time for
Music and the Spoken Word. Until we meet again, may
peace be with you, this day and always. CHOIR: (SINGING) God be
with you till we meet again. [inaudible] Be with you till we meet again.
