Editor’s note: “The spoken word” is shared by Derrick Porter every Sunday during the weekly Tabernacle Choir broadcast at Temple Square. This will be delivered on Sunday, November 10, 2024.

Today I want to share a story, a true story, about the power of words. Whether spoken or written, words have the power to inspire, teach and encourage. Words also have the power to belittle, mock and even destroy. The words we use, whether addressed to ourselves or others, create and define the lens through which we see and navigate the world.

Someone I greatly admire shared with me an experience about the power of words and how they helped him in a season of loneliness.

Years earlier, this man survived a truck accident and has suffered with every step he takes ever since. Additionally, he had recently lost a sibling to an unexpected and untimely death. One night, well after dark, he took a walk along a trail near his home. As he stopped to rest, he was surprised to find a stone perfectly positioned on the post where he had placed his hand.

Someone had written on the rock the words: “We are not powerless, we are powerful.” He smiled, put the stone in his pocket and went home. A few weeks later he returned and was surprised to find another rock in the same place, this time with the words “We will come home.” Once again he smiled and, comforted by this thought, he placed the stone in his pocket and returned home. This same experience happened three more times over the next few months. Another rock shared the thought: “What is sorrow but persevering love?” » Another: “Keep walking; I know you can! And finally, one with the simple but powerful word “Faith”.

However, to this day, no one knows who left these rocks perfectly positioned in a place where this man would find them, or even if they were left for him. But the words on those rocks brought him power. And oh, was he grateful for those words. This man still has these stones today, sitting in his home, which constantly remind him of the power of words. They raised him, not for a moment, but for years.

May we use our words wisely, recognizing that words have power – even enough power to change the world.

Listening…

The show “Musique & Parole” is available on KSL-TV, KSL News Radio 1160AM/102.7FM, KSL.com, BYUtv, BYUradioDish and DirecTV, SiriusXM (Ch. 143), tabernaclechoir.org, youtube.com/TheTabernacleChoir and Amazon Alexa (must enable skill). The show airs live Sundays at 9:30 a.m. MT on these outlets. Find news releases by state and city at musicandthespokenword.com/viewers-listeners/airing-schedules.