Tabernacle Choir 75th anniversary concert, at the Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake City.

As we celebrate this great star-spangled achievement, we might appropriately call the roll of the many who have brought us to this bright and shining day.

The seed was planted in Kirtland in 1835, when Emma Smith put together the first hymn book. From it the immortal words of William Phelps, "The Spirit of God like a fire is burning!" were sung at the 1836 dedication of the temple.

Those seeds took root in the travails of our people. In the years of Missouri and Illinois, when they left Nauvoo and fought their way through the mud of Iowa, and thence onward to these mountain valleys, burying their dead along the way, they took courage from William Clayton's words, "Come, come, ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear."

The idea of a Tabernacle Choir came with singing in the old Tabernacle which stood where the Assembly Hall now stands.

Then came the great new Tabernacle. In the first meeting held there, on October 6, 1867, Brigham Young said, "We can't preach the gospel unless we have good music. I am waiting patiently for the organ to be finished, then we can sing the gospel into the hearts of this people."

In 1869, the year the rails were joined at Promontory, George Careless, a well trained and gifted convert from London, took the baton. From that day to the present, the Choir has been led by a series of great and able conductors and their assistants. Each in his own time has worked wonders. The culmination of that procession is found today in Craig Jessop and Mack Wilberg.

In 1893, the Choir traveled to Chicago, where they sang at the World's Fair. They won second place. The judges, I think, could not bring themselves to award first place to the Mormons. That was the last time the Choir has been in second place. Wherever it has gone across this broad world, wherever its wonderful music has been heard, it has been acclaimed number one. And it becomes better constantly.

In 1895, President Wilford Woodruff, with this counselors, announced some governing principles which were instituted and have been in place since that time.

"First — members of the Tabernacle Choir are really acting as missionaries called for their special work, their duties being to give the necessary time for training and practice, and their services on the Sabbath, and on other occasions ...

"Second — Being called to this work, all other duties of a public nature should be secondary.

"Third — All those called to this work should be faithful in their attendance, and should give hearty and cheerful aid to their conductors; complying ... with (what is) deemed necessary to the choir's proper advancement towards perfection ..."

They then went on to say:

"We desire to see this choir ... become the highest exponent of the 'Divine Art' in all the land ...

"This is a noble work, a glorious cause, worthy of your earnest efforts, and of the exertion it requires; as well as the exercise of the divine gifts and talents with which you are endowed ...

"For to this goodly work you are called, and we confidently believe you will give to it your best energies, will be faithful to this trust, and succeed gloriously."

And how gloriously you have succeeded.

The thousands who have faithfully served in this tremendous organization have been loyal to that charter. God has blessed them through the years, has magnified them, has refined their talents, and has accepted their consecrated offerings.

And now, we commemorate at this anniversary season a most significant achievement. There is nothing to compare with it. Seventy-five years of weekly broadcasts. Since that awkward performance of July 15, 1929, when station KZN had Ted Kimball mount a 15 foot ladder and speak into the station's only microphone, your weekly broadcasts have been received by grateful millions.

Through the years of the terrible depression, during the long season of the second world war and the wars which have followed, in times of peace and prosperity, your music has brought inspiration, increased faith, given courage, and comforted all who have heard it. The spoken word by Richard L. Evans, followed by Spencer Kinard, and now offered by Lloyd Newell, has encouraged, enlightened and lifted people across the land.

The magnificent talent of the organists has entertained a vast, unnumbered audience. Nor must we ever forget the multitude of technicians who, without recognition, have handled production aspects with expertise and professionalism.

Now, more recently, we have the Orchestra at Temple Square. What a treasured addition you are.

Overseeing all of this large and complex organization has been a list of able, devoted and dedicated presidents of the Choir and their staffs, culminating in Mac Christensen and his associates.

Not only has there been a weekly broadcast, but you have traveled far and wide across the earth. You have been recognized and honored by your peers and critics, by presidents and ambassadors, by kings and rulers, and by enthusiastic audiences in the great music halls of the world. But I remind you that you stand today only on the foothills of a great upward climb. The summit rises majestically before you. The past has been but prologue to a greater future.

"And we hear the desert singing: Carry on, carry on, carry on!"

O, you "of the noble birth-right, Carry on!"

Sing to the glory of God. Sing to the praise of your Redeemer. Sing with grandeur. Sing with love. Sing with joy. Spread the gospel of peace to a world weary with conflict. Sing, sing until your very hearts burst with pride and gratitude for a great and splendid opportunity.

Thank you and God bless you, I pray in the sacred name of Him of whom you sing with great emotion, even the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.