Songs of Hope | Spoken Word #5044 May 17, 2026

For the past three years, the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square have been traveling the globe as part of our Songs of Hope world tour. From Mexico to the Philippines, from the United States to Peru, and from Argentina to right here in Saõ Paulo, Brazil, we’ve rejoiced as we’ve met new friends in new places—joining together in song and experiencing the uplifting power of music. The music you’ll hear today comes from a few of the songs that were shared as part of our tour. These are our Songs of Hope. For more than a century, The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square has been touring the globe—seeking to bring joy, peace, faith, and hope to all who listen. This tour has been unique. Using technology, these songs of hope were shared not only with those attending in a concert venue but also, with tens of thousands more watching by live stream from far away, even in different countries. For one performance, my wife and I travelled to Bogotá, Colombia, where we gathered with hundreds of others to watch the live concert taking place more than 1,800 miles to the south in Lima, Peru. During the concert, a guest artist began to sing the hymn “I am a Child of God.” As he sang, something unexpected happened: nearly the entire audience of 35,000 strong began to sing along—so fervently that the artist reverently lowered his microphone and allowed the audience to carry the music. As we watched the live stream, we marveled at what we were witnessing. And then, suddenly, the 500 or so people gathered with us in Bogotá also began to sing along. In that moment, a feeling—one of hope and trust in God—transcended miles and borders and found its way deep into our hearts as we sang. While this unfolded, we noticed a young man quietly remove his hat, take out his phone, and begin recording what was happening. When the concert ended, my wife and I approached him and asked what he had felt in that moment. He shared that he had felt direction from God—clarity about what his next step in life needed to be. His eyes were bright. His heart was filled with hope. Through the music, the Spirit of God had simultaneously touched the hearts of a multitude in Lima and of a young man in Bogotá—even though they were thousands of miles apart. Songs of hope. Music that inspires. Lyrics that lift. The Spirit of God at work.