"A spiritual feast all day long" is how Bishop Edward Johnson of the Lehi 1st Ward, Mesa Arizona Lehi Stake, describes the LDS Radio Network that provides Church-sponsored programming 24 hours a day.
In fact, Bishop Johnson was so excited about the network that he bought several FM subcarrier radios - one way to receive The Bonneville International LDS Radio Network - as Christmas presents for the widows in his ward."I felt like the programming would make their days happier, and it has," Bishop Johnson told the Church News. "These sisters tell me how it's made a difference in their lives and how they listen to the radio all day long."
This success story is just one of many since the network went on the air in a testing stage in spring 1992, and became an official radio network in March 1993. The network, owned and operated by Bonneville International Corp., a Church-owned broadcast/communication company, provides high-quality religious programs to listeners across the United States, Canada and parts of Central America.
Included on the network are such programs as general conference addresses; broadcasts of Book of Mormon recordings; news of the Church; the "Times and Seasons," an LDS program that deals with societal issues; "LDS Worship Service," which features sacrament meeting talks; "Music and the Spoken Word;" and other LDS-based programs. Programming that is not religious in nature is also included, such as news and sports programs. (Please see program guide on this page.)
"There's a hunger for this kind of programming," said Richard W. Linford, a vice president of Bonneville International Corp. and managing officer of the network. "People I have talked to indicate they listen for hours. They don't just listen for a few minutes. That's unusual because most of the time when people listen to news or to music stations, they won't listen for a long time. They'll channel hop."
Listeners may receive the LDS Radio Network through one of the following four ways:
Through a specially adapted AM/FM subcarrier radio that Bonneville has arranged with a manufacturer to provide. With this radio, listeners can listen to the network if they receive the following FM radio signals: KISN-FM, Salt Lake City, Ogden, Provo, Utah; KBIG-FM, Los Angeles, Calif.; KOIT-FM, San Francisco, Calif.; KIRO-FM, Seattle, Wash.; KPSN-FM, Phoenix, Ariz.; KZPS-FM, Dallas, Texas; KLTH-FM, Kansas City, Mo.; WTMX-FM, Chicago, Ill.; WMXV-FM, New York City, N.Y.; and KRIC-FM, Rexburg, Idaho.
Brother Linford cautioned, however, that unless a listener using the radio is within 50 miles of the subcarrier signal, it will be difficult - and often impossible - to pick up the network.
To order the 92Khz portable radio, contact Compol, Inc., 415 Campbell Mill Road, Mason, N.H. 03048, or call (800) 972-0881. The cost of the radio is $85, including shipping and handling. COMPOL 67KHz radios can be adapted for $20. 67KHz or 92KHz subcarrier radios made by other manufacturers will need to be adjusted to pick up the Bonneville signal.
Through a satellite radio signal on GE Satcom C1 (137 degrees west) satellite, Transponder 6, Audio 5.58 MHz in North America and part of Central America.
Through TCI Cablevision of Utah in Salt Lake City. Residents here who connect an FM radio receiver to the cable service may receive the network by tuning to FM frequency 100.8. Call (801) 485-0500 for details.
Through Dimension Cable in Orange County, Calif. Residents who connect a DCR tuner to the cable services may listen to the network by tuning the DCR tuner to Channel 53. Call (714) 240-1212 for details.
Listeners who want more information about the LDS radio network can call Bonneville International Corp. at (801) 575-7663.
In speaking of the success of the network, Brother Linford said that since March 1993, more than 1,300 radios have been purchased. He added that more than 600 satellite users receive the network, and with the recent addition of Dimension Cable to ways to tune into the network, some 56 more cable systems have access to the programming - in addition to the cable systems of TCI Cablevision of Utah.
Brother Linford explained that many people are finding out about the network through "word of mouth."
"I get the impression that certain people take it on as a cause to promote the network," he explained. "For instance, we have a large concentration of listeners in the state of Washington."
No matter how people are finding out about the network, they seem to be enjoying it. "People have difficulties in their lives," Brother Linford said, "and this type of programming brings comfort and calmness and peace, plus giving direction to improve one's life."
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Following is the program guide for The Bonneville International LDS Radio Network, with times listed as Mountain Time:
MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY
12 midnight Music
4 a.m. LDS general conference/music
5:30 a.m. BYU devotional/conference report
6:30 a.m. Music and the Spoken Word/music
8 a.m. LDS general conference/music
9:30 a.m. The Book of Mormon
10:15 a.m. Music and the Spoken Word/music
11 a.m. BYU devotional/conference report
Noon Doctrine and Covenants
1 p.m. News from the LDS Church/music
2 p.m. Times and Seasons or entertainment programs/music
3 p.m. LDS general conference/music
5 p.m. Music and the Spoken Word
6 p.m. Lectures and history
7 p.m. LDS general conference
8 p.m. The Book of Mormon
9 p.m. BYU devotional/conference report
10 p.m. KSL-TV Eyewitness News/music
Saturday and Sunday
Same as Monday through Friday except
for the following:
SATURDAY
5:30 a.m. Music
6 a.m. LDS general conference/music
8 a.m. The Greenhouse Show/music
11 a.m. BYU devotional/conference report-music
1 p.m. News from the LDS Church/music
2:30 p.m. Same as M - F schedule
10:35 p.m. Sportsbeat Saturday/music
SUNDAY
5:30 a.m. Music
6 a.m. BYU devotional/conference report-music
7:30 a.m. World of Religion
8 a.m. Everyday Lives . . . Values
9 a.m. Sound of Music
9:30 a.m. Music and the Spoken Word/music
10:30 a.m. LDS Worship Service
11 a.m. BYU devotional/conference report-music
1 p.m. Same as M - F schedule
4 p.m. Music
4:30 p.m. Music and the Spoken Word/music
7 p.m. LDS general conference/music
9-11 p.m. Various devotionals or musical programs
General conference sessions are carried live in April and October. Sessions are taped and replayed frequently. Station programming is subject to change. For more information, call (801) 575-7663.
