For 97 years — or 5,052 weeks — listeners have heard The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square’s weekly “Music & the Spoken Word” broadcast.
The first broadcast was on Monday, July 15, 1929, and one microphone for the choir and announcer was attached to the ceiling, with a long cable connecting it to KSL’s radio controller, a city block away.
Ted Kimball, the 19-year-old son of organist Edward P. Kimball, climbed atop a 15-foot step ladder and stayed there during the broadcast, announcing each song.
Now, there are multiple microphones, video cameras, electronic equipment — along with camera operators and multiple technicians — as the “Music & the Spoken Word” program airs Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Mountain time. It is available on a variety of television and radio stations and is online at tabernaclechoir.org and youtube.com/TheTabernacleChoir. See thetabernaclechoir.org/music-spoken-word.html for more on attending or watching “Music & the Spoken Word.”
Sunday, July 13, 2025, marked the 5,000th week of broadcasting for the 360-voice Tabernacle Choir’s weekly 30-minute “Music & the Spoken Word” broadcast that’s heard or seen on the radio, television or online by about 6 million people in 50 countries around the world.
Here are several recent stories about the Tabernacle Choir.
1. NFL coach Andy Reid narrates ‘Music & the Spoken Word’ to celebrate United States’ 250th birthday
Andy Reid, head football coach of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, joined The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square in celebrating the United States’ 250th birthday for the “Music & the Spoken Word” on Sunday, July 5, in the Tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City.
Read more about Reid’s message and watch the broadcast here.
2. Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra perform benefit concerts at the Hollywood Bowl
The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square celebrated “Songs of Hope,” honored women, raised money to help women and children around the world and testified of the Savior through music during the “Songs of Hope” concerts on Wednesday, June 24, and Thursday, June 25, in the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California. The choir first performed in the iconic venue in 1926.
Read more about the concert in the Hollywood Bowl here.
3. Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra’s ‘Music & the Spoken Word’ celebrates joy through music, African cultures
The “Music & the Spoken Word” on Sunday, April 19, celebrated African culture and joy that can be found as people seek to follow God’s commandments to love Him and others.
The program was shown live in more than two dozen countries in Africa and featured videos and images of different countries, cities and people during the music.
Read more about the episode and watch it here.
4. Brazilian singer Ivete Sangalo surprise guest artist at Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra’s concerts in São Paulo, Brazil
45 years ago, The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square sang in the Ginásio do Ibirapuera venue in São Paulo, Brazil.
The Tabernacle Choir was back in the same arena on Friday, Feb. 27, and Saturday, Feb. 28, with the Orchestra at Temple Square as they celebrated “Songs of Hope” and testified of the Savior, Jesus Christ, through music. This time they had a surprise guest artist and several other musicians join them.
See more about the concerts and watch it here.
5. Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra releases new album ‘This New Day’
“This New Day: Music of Reflection and Devotion,” a new album from The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square, made its debut Friday, May 8.
It is the first non-Christmas album the choir and orchestra have recorded and released since “Let Us All Press On: Hymns of Praise and Inspiration” seven years ago, in 2019.
Find out more about the album and how to listen to it here.
6. ‘America’s Soundtrack’ selection: The history and legacy of ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic’ by Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra
This year, the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square’s rendition of “Battle Hymn of the Republic” — arranged by Peter Wilhousky — is part of “America’s Soundtrack,” a national music collection created to commemorate the 250th anniversary. The soundtrack is on the America250 YouTube channel.
With its opening marching drum beats and trumpet call, “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” has been performed by the 360-voice Tabernacle Choir for decades and in concerts around the world.
Learn more about the choir and orchestra’s history with the song here.
7. Church News podcast, episode 272: Tabernacle organist Richard Elliott on sacred music and his conversion
The Tabernacle Choir organization includes more than singers. There are organists, the Orchestra at Temple Square and the Bells at Temple Square.
Organist Richard Elliott has been an organist for The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square for 35 years. In this episode of the Church News podcast, the principal organist for The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square discusses the power of music and conversion to Christ.
