Sunday, March 20, 2016 – Music and the Spoken Word, Provo City Center Temple Dedication

This morning Pam and I did another first, we attended the live broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word in the historic Tabernacle on Temple Squire. We were there early and got seats right up front, perfect!

 

We also got a special treat; there has been a choir festival recently in SLC and a choir from Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia was invited to perform with the Mo Tab Choir. In addition, two other youth choirs (from the same festival) were in the loft. After Music and the Spoken Word was over, all 4 choirs did an encore number, “Gloria”. It was wonderful!

Then, before the audience left, the whole choir and orchestra stood and sang acapella to us “God Be with You Till We Meet Again”. It was a very powerful and emotional “Thank You” from the performers to us for attending. Wow!

(FACEBOOK POST: Watching the Mormon tabernacle choir rehearsal for this morning’s "Music and the Spoken Word". Beautiful!)

(FACEBOOK POST: Sunday, March 20, 2016 - This morning Pam and I had another first, we attended the live broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word in the historic Tabernacle on Temple Square.)

At noon Pam & I were privileged to attend the dedication of the newly completed Provo City Center Temple. We found a stake center only 2 blocks from Temple Square were we had our lunch in the parking lot. We went into the chapel 45 minutes early and found very good seats up front.

(FACEBOOK POST: Sunday, March 20, 2016 - At noon Pam & I were privileged to attend the dedication of the newly completed Provo City Center Temple. We found a stake center only 2 blocks from Temple Square. The dedicatory session was a wonderful experience as usual. Since our Marriage 45 years ago, this is only the 7^th Temple dedication we’ve participated in.  One of the special parts of any Temple dedication is the “Hosanna Shout”. This is a tradition in the church that only happens in a temple dedication.  It makes me think of the Kirtland Temple dedication in 1836 when the saints sang “The Spirit of God like a Fire is Burning”. I love it!)

Pam and I have only participated in a Temple dedication 7 times in our lives, the Mesa, Arizona rededication – April 1975, Albuquerque New México – March 2000, Snow Flake Arizona – March 2002, Nauvoo Illinois – June 2002, Gilbert Arizona – November 2010, Phoenix Arizona Temple – June 2011, and now the Provo City Center Temple – March 2016. At the Gilbert Arizona Temple dedication we actually got to attend one of the dedicatory sessions inside the temple. Bishop Nathan E Johnson got us tickets so Pam and I could attend with him and Valerie. That was a really special time

.

The dedication and all of the talks were wonderful. But one of the most special parts of any Temple dedication is the “Hosanna Shout”. This is a tradition in the church that only happens in a temple dedication.  It makes me think of the Kirtland Temple dedication in 1836 when the saints sang “The Spirit of God like a Fire is Burning”. 

(Chorus]

We'll sing and we'll shout with the armies of heaven,

Hosanna, hosanna to God and the Lamb!

Let glory to them in the highest be given,

Henceforth and forever, Amen and amen!

Waving our white handkerchiefs and shouting “Hosanna, Hosanna to God and the Lamb” to me is one of the singularly most special moments in a temple dedication and indeed, in all of Mormonism.  

The Temple choir also sang “The Hosanna Anthem”. This song was written for the dedication of the Salt Lake City Temple back in 1893. It has become a tradition to sing it at all subsequent temple dedications. Just another moment that is uniquely for temple dedications.