MoTab - My First Day of Christmas (Sunday)

(Photo by Tom Smart, Deseret News)

Sunday morning I was able to enjoy the Music and the Spoken Word and Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas mini-concert of The Wondrous Gift of Christmas that followed. I tried to get tickets for one of the evening performances Thurs, Fri and Sat. but I was only able to get the Sunday show. But, it was so good, I couldn't have missed much, plus I got to watch the broadcast, now in its 81st year and the longest continuously-running program on radio.

I was once again amazed at the high quality performance, the number of people involved in making it happen, the volunteers, hosts, security, etc. In total the four performances delighted 80,000 people and it was FREE! I have paid a lot of money for shows that were not nearly as elaborate. Besides the guest performers, Natalie Cole and David McCullough, there were the bell ringers of Temple Square, the Mormon Tabernacle Orchestra, several children's choirs, dancers, a wonderful organ performance, and of course MoTab! The set was beautiful and this photo was taken from just about where my seat was. It was worth braving the rain turned to snow by the end of the show, the slush, icy roads, sidewalks, parking hassles and being stuck once!

(Photo by Tom Smart, Deseret News)

David McCullough said,

"History should not just be perceived as just politics and the military," he said. "It involves the whole realm of human expression and human experience. And to leave out music, art, literature, architecture, dance, poetry, drama is to leave out not just color and flavor and sound, but a lot of the soul of a culture. Many civilizations are known only for their art.

"That's all as much a part of the American reality and the American story as our expected protagonists of history," he said. "In this one performance we have musicians, dancers, people speaking great literature, singing, architecture, all working at once. And we should never ever take it for granted."

Like many of us, 2009 has brought trials to Natalie Cole who underwent a kidney transplant and lost a sister to the same fate as her talented father, lung cancer. She appeared deeply moved as she received thanks from President Thomas Monson and the Traditional God be with you 'Til We Meet Again by the choir. She said,

"This year has been a very emotional year for me," she said. "So to close it out working with these wonderful people is just such a feeling of goodness.

"I really think we are here to honor our Lord Jesus Christ. He will be definitely honored, and I'm sure he's pleased. It's so nice to take the I out of it and make it a team effort."

I couldn't agree more.