New host of 'Music & the Spoken Word' says the program aims 'to go deep'

Estimated read time: 6-7 minutes

SALT LAKE CITY — This Sunday morning's "Music & The Spoken Word" will be a first, not only because it has a new voice, but the program will be the first with words written by Derrick Porter.

Porter replaced Lloyd Newell as the voice for "Music & The Spoken Word" in June — but, so far, listeners have only heard messages written in advance by Newell before he left the position to serve as a mission president for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Porter said developing the program's script has been "a remarkable experience." Each three-and-a-half-minute message can take him 12 to 15 hours to write as he reads through general conference talks, scriptures, stories and talks to people about the idea.

Each time he finishes a message, he realizes how much he learns in the process.

"It begins with a concept, and then a story, and then working to try to take it down to its finest level — that is simplistic and universal in nature — that everyone can understand," Porter said.

This Sunday's message, which correlates with the church's 194th Semiannual General Conference, will be called "Everyday Courage" and explains how it takes courage to live in the world today. Porter said he was inspired at the temple and considered the courage of young mothers.

Finding deeper meaning

Porter said he hears from people of all ages who listen to "Music & the Spoken Word," from missionaries he meets at airports, to church President Russell M. Nelson, who Porter said listens every week.

The program intends to provide deep meaning to listeners and viewers.

"'Music & the Spoken Word' is not here to go out and procure the most likes, the most followers, to have the widest distribution and to win in all of those areas that normal broadcasts might. Rather, the goal is to narrowly focus on those who are looking for peace and joy, comfort, hope and confidence in their lives and to go deep," Porter said.

As the world continues to be troubled, he said, more people will find the broadcast. The hope is to make "Music & the Spoken Word" relevant to anyone who needs it.

Porter said he has a list of songs from Mack Wilberg, director of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, that could go with messages, and he suggests songs to Wilberg that could go well with the message. Ultimately, Porter writes the message, and Wilberg chooses the songs for each program.

Both the words and the music help listeners feel something, hear counsel from the Lord and be moved to action.

"You can't have that with just the spoken word; where it really is driven home is combining music and the spoken word," he said.

Porter and the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square are using the new hymns being released by the church as they plan messages, and this weekend there will be hymns members have not yet experienced.

"Hymn, if not scripture, is the closest thing to it that we have, that is continuing to come — along with, of course, the words of prophets and apostles," he said, saying the experience of listening can be revelatory for members.

A full-time volunteer

For 20 years, Porter was an entrepreneur — he spent 18 years at his last business and felt it was time to move on.

"I did not know what was next. I had had feelings, certainly not about this. This had never, never even come close to crossing my mind," he said about his new position as the voice of "Music & the Spoken Word."

Despite never considering it, he said his answer when the invitation was extended was immediate. It was such an opportunity.

In addition to leaving behind his career, Porter also left behind his "wonderful" calling as a bishop in his local ward.

He joked there are two things he doesn't like — changing clothes and taking pictures — and now both are part of his position. But there is a lot he does enjoy.

"Every day there's been a new opportunity, a new experience, new insights, new things that I never had even considered before," Porter said. "And that's been exciting. Every day is full of learning."

Porter studied much of what Richard L. Evans, the creator of "Music & the Spoken Word," has written, and he has also spent time with the other narrators — Spencer Kinard and Newell. He said the foundational work each of them did was "exactly right" for their time.

"I marveled at the wisdom that came out of what they have written and have just, again, learned … this has nothing to do with me," he said, adding that the messages come from God, and inspiration for them comes when, rather than asking God what he should say, he asks, "What do you want me to write?"

The words can come at any time. He recently woke up at 2 a.m. thinking "peace in a troubled world," and spent hours this week writing 350 words about that topic. He has a running tab of thoughts, some of which are thoughts that come "forcefully" when he isn't trying to think of one.

In addition to writing the words to go along with the music at each week's program, Porter also has assignments within the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. He is tasked with helping the choir spread its message to the world.

As part of this role, he attended one of the watch parties in Tennessee during the choir's tour in the southern states. He said there were about 700 people at the meetinghouse, and he was the emcee for two hours ahead of the broadcast.

Porter said the choir's strategy is to "anchor and radiate" and said the choir was anchored in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, that day, but he helped the choir radiate through 10 states in the area at other events.

A family affair

Sunday will also be the first time Porter has participated live in a "Music & The Spoken Word" broadcast. He said, up until now, his broadcasts have been filmed early so there is time to translate them into other languages — but it's different during conference weekend.

Porter said his children, ages 3 to 18, have been very interested in his new role and have gotten involved. They talk to him about the messages and his experiences. The family goes together on Sunday mornings to the broadcast, and some of his children have brought friends.

"It's really been a family affair, and I've been encouraged to include the family in this journey, and that's been an exciting opportunity for me," he said.

"I'm looking to everyone, everywhere to determine what needs to be said. I know revelation is scattered among us," he said.

Porter said he cherishes the opportunity to hear what prophets have been thinking about every six months and to study their talks with the footnotes afterwards, which he said are "rich" and "deep." He said prophets can see around corners and give early warnings.

"As we sit there and we hear what's been on their minds, I then want to work to make sure that's important to me as well," he said.

General conference

All five general conference sessions of the church Saturday and Sunday will be streamed live on KSL.com and summaries of the talks from church leaders will be published shortly after each speaker.

The sessions begin at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Mountain time each day in addition to a 6 p.m. session on Saturday.

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Emily Ashcraft

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Emily Ashcraft is an award-winning reporter for KSL.com. She covers state courts and legal affairs as well as health and religion news. In her spare time, Emily enjoys crafting, cycling and raising chickens.