ATLANTA, Georgia — When the Rev. Lawrence Edward Carter Sr. — dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College — presented President Russell M. Nelson the Gandhi-King-Mandela Peace Prize in April, he hinted at a future collaboration between the Morehouse College and Spelman College glee clubs and The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.

“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if these three choirs could perform together?” the Rev. Carter said that evening. “All I can say is, stay tuned. The best is yet to come.”

This idea is becoming a reality as the Morehouse College Glee Club and Spelman College Glee Club are traveling to Salt Lake City to perform live with The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square for “Music & the Spoken Word” on Sunday, Oct. 22.

“It is our pleasure to host the glee clubs from Morehouse College and Spelman College during our weekly performance of ‘Music & the Spoken Word,’” said Tabernacle Choir President Michael O. Leavitt in a choir press release. “These are both distinguished and well-respected choral groups, and we are honored to have them join us.”

Located in Atlanta, Georgia, Morehouse College and Spelman College are private historically Black liberal arts colleges for men and women, respectively.

The Morehouse College Glee Club is the college’s premier singing organization and has traveled around the world, demonstrating excellence not only in choral performance but also in discipline, dedication and brotherhood, according to the Tabernacle Choir’s release. Similarly, the historic Spelman College Glee Club has maintained a reputation for choral excellence since 1924.

Trey Washington, president of the Morehouse College Glee Club, said: “We are honored and thrilled for the incredible opportunity to perform alongside the Tabernacle Choir and the Spelman College Glee Club at Temple Square in Salt Lake City.

“We believe this collaboration is and will be a testament to the power of music to bridge diverse cultures and communities,” Washington continued. “We are deeply grateful for the chance to share our voices and harmonize with such amazing and talented groups, and we look forward to creating a memorable and harmonious experience for everyone.”

The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square performs via video screen at the annual Worldhouse Interfaith and Interdenominational Assembly at the Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday, April 13, 2023. During this event, President Russell M. Nelson was awarded the inaugural Gandhi-King-Mandela Peace Prize.

Laura Seitz, Deseret News

The 30-minute program will be streamed live on the Tabernacle Choir’s YouTube channel Oct. 22 at 9:30 a.m. Mountain Time and can be viewed on-demand after it airs. The broadcast will be shown live at the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College in Atlanta.

Elder M. Andrew Galt, Area Seventy for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Georgia, added: “We invite everyone to view this historic performance. This is the first time in history the Morehouse and Spelman College glee clubs will perform with the Tabernacle Choir. We are thrilled for this exciting opportunity.”

President Nelson’s award from Morehouse College

During the WorldHouse Interfaith and Interdenominational Assembly in the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College on April 13, the Rev. Carter named President Nelson the inaugural laureate of the Gandhi-King-Mandela Peace Prize for building bridges of racial understanding and preserving freedoms of all humankind.

In his acceptance speech, President Nelson said people do not need to act alike or look alike to love one another. “If we have any hope of creating the goodwill and sense of humanity for which we all yearn, it must begin with each of us, one person and one interaction at a time,” he said.

“May we as sons and daughters of God — as eternal brothers and sisters — do all within our power to build up each other, learn from each other, and demonstrate respect for all of God’s children. May we link arms in love and brotherhood.”

The Rev. Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter Sr. and his wife, Dr. Marva Griffin Carter, talk with President Russell M. Nelson and his wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, on Friday, March 24, 2023, in the Church Administration Building on Temple Square in Salt Lake City.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Music during the event included virtual performances by The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square of “Come, Come, Ye Saints” and “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” The Morehouse College and Spelman College glee clubs performed “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” “Good Trouble” and “We Shall Overcome.”

Earlier in the day, President Leavitt and Elder Jack N. Gerard, Area Seventy, were inducted as scholars into the Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers, Sponsors and Collegium of Scholars as part of the College of Ministers and Laity. President Leavitt told the Church News after the event that “it was a very important night for the relationship of the Church and this community.”

How to watch ‘Music & the Spoken Word’

“Music & the Spoken Word” is a weekly radio and television broadcast presented by the Tabernacle Choir featuring uplifting music and an inspirational message. Now in its 95th year, “Music & the Spoken Word” is the longest continuous broadcast on air.

The “Music & the Spoken Word” broadcast is available on KSL-TV, KSL News Radio 1160AM/102.7FM, KSL.com, BYUtv, BYUradio, Dish and DirecTV, SiriusXM (Ch. 143),  tabernaclechoir.org, youtube.com/TheTabernacleChoir and Amazon Alexa (must enable skill). The program is aired live on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Mountain Time on these outlets. 

Look up broadcast information by state and city at musicandthespokenword.com/viewers-listeners/airing-schedules.