After nearly 18 years leading Beauty Industry Group, Derrick Porter felt prompted to step down from his position and instead become a member of the company’s board.
One reason for this change became clear when, only three days after announcing his decision, Derrick received an invitation from the First Presidency to accept a calling as the new executive producer, principal writer, and presenter of the Spoken Word, replacing host Lloyd D. Newell after 34 years of service.
Derrick describes the calling as a “complete shock and surprise,” noting there was no audition he sought out or interest list for the assignment. But looking back, he can see “continued confirmation” of the Lord’s hand in this call to serve.
“The timing of it was just one confirmation that this is how I should be spending my time for as long as the Lord sees fit,” he says. “In the moment the calling was extended, it was difficult to see how I could fulfill this role. But after weeks and months of looking back at my life, I can see clearly how preparation has been offered step by step—‘precept upon precept; line upon line’—leading me here to today.”
Evidence of Divine Preparation
Derrick has been passionate about music his entire life. He grew up performing with his siblings and spent the summers of his early teenage years performing with an auditioned vocal group in Japan. He and his wife, Rebecca, met performing at a local amusement park, and their six children play many instruments, including the piano, cello, drums, and trumpet.
“When life has presented itself with its most important moments, music has been there, and it matters,” he says. “When I was married, the songs at my wedding mattered. When my little sister passed away, the songs at her funeral mattered. When I served as a bishop, every song in sacrament meeting mattered.”
During his time as a bishop, Derrick says that he received an undeniable invitation to focus on improving his writing skills to create inspiring short sermons and speeches.
“I marveled as I was then called some years later to this position where writing plays such an important role. This was another continued confirmation that this assignment is right.”
Through Derrick’s professional responsibilities, he’s had opportunities to present to audiences large and small and travel regularly to dozens of countries across the world—connecting with people across every continent except Antarctica.
“Many of my close friends live in obscure places in the world,” he says. “Everywhere I go, I have been inspired by the people I’ve met. They’ve helped me recognize the value that all people bring and how the world needs the rich diversity that it has. As we’re able to blend together all of that diversity, this beautiful tapestry unfolds.”
For the past decade, Derrick and his family have brought visitors from around the world to see Music & the Spoken Word performances.
“I brought a couple from the United Kingdom two years ago to a broadcast,” Derrick shares. “When the first song began, I looked over, and the husband and the wife were both in tears. And so I reached over just to say, ‘Are you guys okay?’ And they said, ‘This is our wedding song.’
“And this wedding song rekindled feelings that had been felt 15 years earlier when they were married and instilled renewed feelings of joy and love and connection. And that’s what Music & the Spoken Word does every single week for everyone that participates.”
A Broadcast with Global Participation
The week after Derrick’s first broadcast in the new assignment, he had many people reach out to him after the program, including a friend in Iraq and a friend from Ukraine. The latter was not a member of the Church but felt a desire to tune in, messaging Derrick, “Never has Ukraine needed what this program can offer more than today.”
“Music is the universal language—it is the great connector,” Derrick says. “And even when instantaneous translation is impossible of words, because of the Spirit, instantaneous translation to the heart leads to connection through Music & the Spoken Word.”
Even in Derrick’s short tenure so far, he has received countless messages from people sharing their personal connections to the broadcast and their gratitude for the program’s uplifting and inspiring messages.
Many people don’t realize that the announcer role for Music & the Spoken Word is an unpaid, volunteer assignment. The broadcast, which features musical performances from the globally renowned Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, is the world’s longest continuous weekly network broadcast since 1929. Before Lloyd Newell, Richard L. Evans and J. Spencer Kinnard also served as hosts.
“This calling isn’t outlined in the Church’s general handbook; there’s not a lot of precedence around how to transition,” Derrick explains. “I was so humbled to stand on that stage for the first time. When, at the end of my pre-show remarks, I said, ‘May we officially present to you Music & the Spoken Word,’ it was really hard for me to get through that statement because I’m only the fourth person in 95 years to fill this role.’”
But even though many people will get to know Derrick’s voice through the weekly broadcast, he’s quick to acknowledge the team behind the scenes who keeps the broadcast running. Each choir and orchestra member is set apart as a missionary, and music directors Mack Wilberg and Ryan Murphy work together with Derrick and the choir’s presidency to create a program concept for each Sunday that will provide value to a universal audience.
“There are more than 40 people backstage or in the wings every Sunday morning, in addition to the choir and orchestra, to make things go smoothly,” Derrick says. “When you’re part of an institution, it’s bigger than just you or anyone around you. In this instance, it’s the Lord’s broadcast, and people feel that when they’re live.”
A crucial element of the broadcast is the technology that makes global participation possible. Technology has come a long way since the program’s inception, and thousands of people tune in each week through livestreams on social media channels.
“As I look to the future of Music & the Spoken Word, I’m most excited for more and more people on a global level to become aware of this broadcast and to benefit from its mission, which is to deliver peace and hope and joy to the world,” Derrick says. “And, with perhaps 8 billion people in the world, the opportunity is endless.
“Music & the Spoken Word, whether on TV, on radio, or in person, can be an added ‘balm of Gilead’ to those who are in need of hope, joy, or peace in their life. This program will never replace sacrament meeting—it never should replace the sacrament. But it is there as an additional witness, and our faith can be confirmed by the feelings that will come as we listen to this program.”
Watch or listen to Music & the Spoken Word on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Mountain Time on YouTube, or view past episodes here.
▶You may also like: Read Lloyd Newell’s final ‘Spoken Word’ message and watch the Choir’s tearful farewell performance
