LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH

I am in Salt Lake City, Utah and yesterday I went to the tabernacle on Temple Square to hear "Music and the Spoken Word." Maybe you've heard it or seen it; it's the world's longest continuing network broadcast show. They've been broadcasting these for over 81 years, but this is the first time I've attended. This was show number 4,182 and because Veteran's Day is this week, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square prepared a patriotic show that was really moving.

Veteran's Day was originally called Armistice Day and was meant to be a day dedicated to the cause of world peace. I like these spoken words yesterday:

"If turmoil and conflict have any worth, it may be that they can help us value and remember those who have sacrificed for peace." (Lloyd Newell, the narrator of the program)

And these words by Richard L. Evans: "Peace is a positive and not merely a passive thing. It is more than the absence of war. It is a way of life, an attitude, and an inner condition."

I wish I could recreate for you here on the page the spirit in the room as the choir sang "This is My Country," "America the Beautiful," and "Salute to the Armed Forces." The organ pumped us up with Sousa's "The Thunderer" and then choir and orchestra performed John William's powerful piece, "Hymn to the Fallen." That was my favorite -- haunting, reverent, rich.

And the final number--the one we sang back in the 70's, holding hands, swaying back and forth:

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father
We are family;
Let us walk with each other
In perfect harmony.

Let there be peace on earth,
Let this be the moment now.
With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow:
To take each moment
And live each moment
With peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.

Peace: let it begin.