SALT LAKE CITY — “Music & the Spoken Word” will be the first show this Sunday morning. Not only will there be new voices, but this will also be the first time the show will include lyrics written by Derrick Porter.
Mr. Porter replaced Mr. Lloyd Newell as the voice of “Music & the Spoken Word” in June, but until now listeners have heard Mr. It was just a message he had written before resigning as chairman. Of Latter-day Saints.
Porter said developing the show’s script was “an amazing experience.” When I read general conference talks, scriptures, and stories and then talk to people about those ideas, it can take me 12 to 15 hours to write each three-and-a-half minute message.
Every time I finish writing a message, I realize how much I learned in the process.
“It starts with a concept, then there’s a story, and we try to take it down to the highest level that anyone can understand, a level that is essentially simple and universal,” Porter said.
This Sunday’s message, associated with the Church’s 194th Semiannual General Conference, is titled “Daily Courage” and explains how courage is needed to live in today’s world. Porter said she was inspired at the temple and thought about the courage of young mothers.
find deeper meaning
Porter said he hears “Music and the Spoken Word” from people of all ages, from missionaries he meets at the airport to church president Russell M. Nelson, who listens every week.
This show aims to provide deep meaning to listeners and viewers.
“Music and the Spoken Word will get the most likes, the most followers, the widest distribution, and win in every area where regular airplay is possible. It’s not here. Rather, the goal is to narrow your focus. “For those who are looking for peace, joy, comfort, hope and confidence in their lives and are willing to go deeper,” Porter said.
As the world continues to face challenges, he said more people will see this broadcast. The hope is to make Music and the Spoken Word meaningful to everyone who needs it.
“Music and the Spoken Word” executive producer, lead writer and presenter Derrick Porter is pictured in Salt Lake City on Sept. 19 (Photo by Laura Seitz, Deseret News)
Porter said Mack Wilberg, director of Tabernacle Choir in Temple Square, has a list of songs that might fit the message and has suggested songs to Wilberg that might fit the message. . Ultimately, Porter writes the messages and Wilberg chooses the songs for each program.
Both words and music help the listener feel something, hear counsel from the Lord, and take action.
“You can’t achieve that with just the spoken word. It’s the combination of music and the spoken word that brings out its full potential,” he said.
Porter and the Temple Square Tabernacle Choir are planning a message using new hymns released by the church, and this weekend members will be performing hymns they have never experienced before.
“Even though they are not holy scripture, hymns are the closest thing we have and will continue to come along, of course, with the words of the prophets and apostles,” he said, adding that the listening experience is important for members. He said it could be a revelation. .
full time volunteer
Porter has been an entrepreneur for 20 years. He spent 18 years in his last business and felt it was time to take the next step.
“I didn’t know what was going to happen next. I had feelings, but of course not about this. It never crossed my mind,” he said. , spoke about his new position as a spokesperson for “Music & the Spoken Word.” ”
He said he had never considered it, but when the invitation was extended, the answer was immediate. It was such an opportunity.
Porter not only left behind his career, but also a “wonderful” calling as bishop of his local ward.
He joked that the two things he hates are getting dressed and taking pictures, both of which are now part of his position. But there are many things he enjoys doing.
“Every day brought new opportunities, new experiences, new insights, new things that I had never thought of before,” Porter said. “It was very exciting. Every day is full of learning.”
Porter studied much of the work of Richard L. Evans, author of “Music & the Spoken Word,” and also spent time with other narrators Spencer Kinard and Newell. He said the basic work done by each person was “just right” for the circumstances at the time.
“I marveled at the wisdom that came out of what they wrote, but I learned again…this has nothing to do with me,” he said, adding that the message came from God and that it was his message to them. Rather than asking God what to say, inspiration asks, “What would you like me to write?”
“Music and the Spoken Word” executive producer, lead writer and presenter Derrick Porter is pictured in Salt Lake City on Sept. 19 (Photo by Laura Seitz, Deseret News)
Words can come out at any time. He recently woke up at 2 a.m. to think about “peace in a troubled world,” and spent hours this week writing 350 words on the topic. He constantly records his thoughts, and some of them are “forced” to come to him even though he doesn’t intend to think about them.
In addition to writing lyrics to music in the weekly program, Porter also has assignments within the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. He is tasked with helping spread the choir’s message to the world.
As part of this role, he attended one of the watch parties in Tennessee during the choir’s tour of the Southern states. According to him, about 700 people gathered at the meeting place, and he acted as host for two hours before the broadcast.
Porter said the choir’s strategy is to “fix and radiate,” and while the choir was anchored in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., that day, other events have brought choirs to 10 states in the region. He said that he provided support for the spread of the disease in a radial manner.
family circumstances
Sunday will be Porter’s first live appearance on the “Music & the Spoken Word” broadcast. He said in the past his broadcasts were filmed early so he had time to translate into other languages, but conference weekends are different.
Mr Porter said children aged 3 to 18 were very interested in his new role and were actively participating. They tell him messages and about his experiences. The family went to watch the broadcast together on Sunday mornings, and some of his children brought friends.
“This is very much a family affair and I was encouraged to involve my family in this journey. It was an exciting opportunity for me,” he said.
“I look to people everywhere to determine what needs to be said. I know there are revelations scattered among us. “There is,” he said.
Porter said he values the opportunity to hear what the prophets are thinking every six months and study their stories in subsequent footnotes, calling the content “rich” and “deep.” Ta. He said prophets can see around the corner and give early warnings.
“As we sit there and listen to what they think, I want to try to make sure it’s important to me as well,” he said.
general meeting
All five sessions of the Church’s general conference on Saturday and Sunday will be streamed live on KSL.com, with summaries of Church leaders’ talks available immediately after each speaker.
Sessions begin at 10am and 2pm Mountain Time each day, with sessions beginning at 6pm Mountain Time on Saturdays.
The key points in this article were generated with the help of an extensive language model and reviewed by our editorial team. The articles themselves are only written by humans.
