Editor’s note: “The Spoken Word” is shared by Derrick Porter each Sunday during the weekly Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square broadcast. This will be given Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025.
Music is a gift from heaven. It can bring peace to our hearts, lift our spirits and give us courage (see “First Presidency Preface” in “Hymns”). The German priest Martin Luther once said, “Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.”
Beautiful music really is a present from God. And for each inspiring song, there is also a backstory — a story that begins with an experience or emotion before developing into song. God’s gift of music often begins by blessing its writer and then transforms into a blessing for all who hear its sound.
Consider Horatio Spafford, who faced immense personal trials. His financial investments were ruined in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. A short time later, his wife, Anna, and their four young daughters set sail for Europe, and Horatio planned to join them soon. But tragedy struck when the ship that Anna and her daughters were on was hit by another vessel. In 12 short minutes, the ship sank. Though Anna survived, all four of their daughters were lost at sea.
Upon hearing the news, Horatio immediately set sail to join his wife. Several days into his journey, he passed the spot where the shipwreck had occurred. Despite his deep sadness, he found peace and resolve in his heart, and being inspired, he wrote the lyrics to what would become the renowned hymn “It Is Well With My Soul“ (see spaffordhymn.com and hymnologyarchive.com). As he passed over the watery grave of his four daughters, he penned these words:
When sorrows like sea billows roll —
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
“It is well, it is well with my soul.”
(See first verse of “It Is Well With My Soul,“ ”Hymns — For Home and Church,” No. 1003.)
These words came to Horatio in a moment of desperate need. They buoyed him up when he felt he would collapse with grief. Now, more than 150 years later, this heavenly gift of music is printed in hundreds of hymnals around the world, and its words continue to lift and bless the lives of countless people.
God is the giver of all that is good (see James 1:17). And one of His many good gifts is the gift of music.
Tuning in …
The “Music & the Spoken Word” broadcast is available on KSL-TV, KSL News Radio 1160AM/102.7FM, KSL.com, BYUtv, BYUradio, Dish and DirecTV, SiriusXM (Ch. 143), tabernaclechoir.org, youtube.com/TheTabernacleChoir and Amazon Alexa (must enable skill). The program is aired live on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Mountain Time on these outlets. Look up broadcast information by state and city at musicandthespokenword.com/viewers-listeners/airing-schedules.
