The program was presented by the Tabernacle Choir and Organ, and broadcast through the courtesy and facilities of the Columbia Broadcasting System’s coast-to-coast network, throughout the United States. The broadcast, written and announced by Elder Richard L. Evans, originated with radio station KSL, Salt Lake City, and was presented as follows:

(Organ began playing “As the Dew,” and then the choir and organ broke into “Gently Raise,” singing words to end of second line of that hymn, from which point choir hummed for announcer’s background to end of verse. )

Richard L. Evans, announcer: Again, with music and the spoken word, we welcome you to the valleys of the mountains, at the Crossroads of the West, as another week of life begins for all men.

At this hour the Columbia Broadcasting System and its affiliated stations bring you the 847th presentation of this traditional broadcast from Temple Square in Salt Lake City.

J. Spencer Cornwall conducts the singing of the Tabernacle choir. Alexander Schreiner is at the organ. The spoken word by Richard Evans.

We begin this day with the reassuring message of the 23rd Psalm—but in a setting different in character from the musical mood in which it is usually sung. To the tune known as Brother James Air, the Tabernacle Choir sings: “The Lord is My Shepherd, I Shall Not Want.”

(Choir sang—“23rd Psalm”)

… “And Jesus made as though he would have gone … but they constrained him, saying, abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” (Luke 24:28-29.) The relentless passing of time and the unknown events toward which it ever moves us has been musically portrayed by Louis Vierne in a sounding symbol of reminder—“For all things must come to pass in their time.” (Doctrine and Covenants 64:32.) “The day or the hour no man knoweth—but it shall surely come.” (Doctrine and Covenants 39:21.) “Therefore, be ye also ready.” (Matthew 24:44.) We are urgently moved along with the drama of the hours—with the breathless sweep of the days and the years—as Alexander Schreiner
presents “Westminster Chimes.”

(Organ presented “Westminster Chimes”—Vierne)

… Many composers have turned their hands to the blessed theme of peace; and many have turned their thoughts to the scripture which now follows, in the musical setting given it by F. Flaxington Harker, as sung by the Tabernacle Choir: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that sayeth unto Zion, thy God reigneth!”

(Choir sang “How Beautiful Upon the Mountains”—Harker)

… There is an old Scotch proverb which reads: “If the devil find a man idle, he’ll set him to work.” It was by no mere whim that the Lord God gave man his work to do and commanded him to do it. Yet men often suppose that they would enjoy themselves everlastingly in idleness. But let them be forced to idleness, and it would quickly become more irksome than work had ever done. In fact, he who supposes a heaven without work supposes no heaven at all, but a place of boredom—a place of restless, discontented souls. Of course there are extremes of work, as there are extremes of idleness. Some work becomes burdensome soon; all work may become burdensome if continued without respite, but so does all leisure. Sometimes we hear of those who suppose that we have a surplus of hands or brains—those who seem to fear that one class of men, or all men, are going to run out of things to do, and who would restrict, therefore, how much a man may do. As to this, we need but ask a few self-answered questions: Was there ever a time when even the meager and modest wants of men were fully satisfied? Was there ever a time when everything was made that should be made—or when everything was built that needed building? Were all things ever beautified that needed beautifying? Were all the children ever taught that needed teaching? Were all the souls ever saved that needed saving? We might even ask if all the worlds were ever made that could be made? Who under heaven is ever going to run out of work! Or in heaven, either—for that matter. To withhold labor contributes but to impoverishment, because the world is enriched only by the total effort of all, and the less there is for all of us, ultimately the less there is for each of us. Progress has been the gift of those who were fearful that they couldn’t do enough—and not of those who were afraid they were doing too much. Progress comes by letting good men do their best—and we assume much when we assume the power and privilege of wasting human energies, of making needed things scarce, or of retarding the progress of men. Either men are free to work, or they are not free at all; for work, even for its own sake, is essential to happiness, as well as for what it creates. Of course, free men must also have their freedom not to work—but it is wrItten: “Thou shalt not be idle; for he that is idle shall not eat the bread nor wear the garments of the laborer.” (Doc. & Cov. 42:42.) “Blessed is he who has found his work” (Thomas Carlyle)—and who pursues it with all his mind and strength.

(Organ selection: “How Great the Wisdom and the Love.”)

… “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father.” ( Doc. & Cov. 76:22. )

In closing now from Temple Square we have time yet to sing the glorious tribute by George Frederic Handel to Jesus the Christ. We hear the “Hallelujah Chorus” from the Messiah.

(Choir sang—“Hallelujah Chorus”—Handel)

… Until we beckon your thoughts again unto the hills, may peace be with you, this day, and always.

This concludes another presentation in the 17th year of this traditional broadcast from the Mormon Tabernacle on Temple Square, brought to you by the Columbia network and its affiliated stations, originating with Radio Station KSL in Salt Lake City, at the Crossroads of the West.

With the passing of another seven days, those voices which now fade within these echoing walls will return once more, at this same hour, with music and the spoken word, over your Columbia station.

J. Spencer Cornwall conducted the singing of the Tabernacle Choir. Alexander Schreiner was at the organ. The spoken word by Richard Evans.