Tabernacle Choir gets new presenter after 34 years

IDAHO FALLS – After astir 35 years, nan sound of nan Tabernacle Choir is stepping down.

In a news release dated June 16, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Lloyd Newell and his wife, Karmel, person been called to service arsenic ngo leaders for nan California Los Angeles Mission and will statesman their work successful mid-June.

Replacing him is Derrick Porter, a business man from Bountiful, Utah, who antecedently served arsenic a bishop of his section congregation.

On Sunday, Newell delivered his last connection connected nan choir’s play broadcast, “Music and nan Spoken Word. During his remarks, he reflected connected 3 and a half decades successful this role.

“On Nov. 25, 1990, I stood present successful nan Tabernacle connected Temple Square and delivered a spoken connection message for nan first time,” Newell said. “My talented and supportive woman has been astatine my broadside each measurement of nan way. Our 4 children person grown up pinch their begetter giving nan spoken word. I simply could not person done this broadcast without my family’s unfailing emotion and support.”

During a news convention connected Friday, Tabernacle President Michael Leavitt is “admired by millions who person go accustomed to his soothing sound and trademark contented connected Sunday morning.” In 34 years, he’s fixed 1,752 “digestible sermons and insights.”

“Music and nan Spoken Word” has been connected nan aerial since 1929. After 95 years of broadcasts, it is nan longest-running continuously broadcast web programme successful nan United States.

Newell, who was besides nan show’s shaper and writer, is nan 3rd personification to big nan program. J. Spencer Kinard and LDS Apostle Richard L. Evans antecedently served successful nan role.

“What an grant and blessing to statesman each Sunday greeting pinch The Tabernacle Choir astatine Temple Square for much than half my life,” Newell says successful a news release. “I can’t statesman to seizure nan galore meaningful moments I person shared pinch nan Choir. It has been a ineffable spot to hole and present inspirational Spoken Words complete truthful galore years, and now my woman and I look guardant to serving nan Lord successful caller ways.”

The existent and erstwhile presenters of The Tabernacle Choir astatine Temple Square stitchery astatine nan Salt Lake Tabernacle for Lloyd Newell’s (center) last broadcast of “Music and nan Spoken Word” successful Salt Lake City, Utah, connected Sunday, June 16, 2024. Newell is joined by J. Spencer Kinard (left) and Derrick Porter (right), nan caller producer, main writer and presenter. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church’s First Presidency called Porter to service pinch nan Choir connected March 22.

In an question and reply pinch section media, Porter referred to Newell arsenic “a legend,” saying he’s watched Newell successful this domiciled astir of his life. He’s enjoyed getting cognize him complete nan past respective months.

“This came arsenic a complete daze and astonishment to (me and my wife) erstwhile we received this invitation from President Nelson to service successful this way,” Porter said.

Porter completed his acquisition astatine Weber State University and Ohio State University successful 2012. He’s worked arsenic an entrepreneur successful Utah for nan past 20 years.

He and his wife, Rebecca, person six children.

“This invitation from President Nelson is rather different than nan activity I’ve been engaged pinch complete nan past 20 years,” Porter said. “Speaking to group successful a business mounting is 1 thing, but sharing belief messages requires thing much than master expertise. It requires a individual relationship to nan words some spoken and sung.”

Porter will present his first Spoken Word connection connected June 23.

Derrick Porter is nan Tabernacle Choir’s caller presenter and will present his first Spoken Word connection connected June 23. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Though he’s going to miss having Newell successful nan role, Leavitt said he’s excited to spot Porter return complete nan position and thief nan choir “carry nan messages from this beloved programme to group passim nan world successful caller and breathtaking ways.”

“Derrick represents nan opening of a caller era for ‘Music and nan Spoken Word,’” said Leavitt.

During Sunday’s broadcast, Newell besides expressed excitement astatine nan imaginable of “trading nan microphone for this sanction badge, which I will deterioration each day.”

At nan conclusion of his remarks, he said nan words that person go his signature motion disconnected for nan broadcast 1 past time.

“Until we meet again, my friends, whitethorn bid beryllium pinch you this time and always.”