Editor’s note: “The Spoken Word” is shared by Derrick Porter every Sunday during the weekly Tabernacle Choir broadcast from Temple Square. This is the 5,053rd episode broadcast on Sunday, July 19, 2026.
Note: Reservations are required to attend Music and the Spoken Word at the Salt Lake Tabernacle. Click here for more information on how to make a reservation.
Not too long ago, my wife and I were traveling to another country. As we were driving, we passed a sign that read “Dios de Amor,” or “God of Love.”
Later that day, we joined a small gathering of people and witnessed their humble expression of faith. As they sang, talked and interacted, we couldn’t help but notice their immense joy. My thoughts returned to the simple phrase “Dios de Amor.”
God is love. Jesus is our heavenly Father and we are His children. Because of this truth, each of us, individually and collectively, is of great importance. Our Eternal Father loves us more than words can express. Our souls are precious to God. We are God’s family.
Because God loves us, not only does He want us to be happy, but He also allows difficulties to come into our lives. Sometimes these are the result of our own actions. Sometimes they happen because of someone else’s choices. And sometimes bad things happen to good people simply because of mortality.
It may seem surprising that God allows difficult events to occur in our lives. When something like this happens, we may immediately think that God is punishing us or that He is not really there. But we can trust that God in His perfect wisdom uses all things for our good, even if we don’t fully understand why (see D&C 122:7). He knows that growth comes from rain as well as sunlight.
When we face trials, God knows our struggles and shares in our sorrows in ways we may not fully understand. No matter the trials we face, no matter how far we feel from God, God is always there, ready to be called upon. He blesses, strengthens, and heals.
The apostle Paul, no stranger to suffering, declared: “I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither height nor depth, nor anything in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God” (Romans 8:38-39).
The vast nature of God’s love encompasses every challenge we face and extends to every human experience and emotion. His love is immeasurable, unbreakable, eternal, active, and deeply personal. It’s perfect love.
Dios de Amor. God of love. His love is greater than all the sorrows and tragedies on this earth combined. His love is overflowing. His love is infinite.
Tuning…
“Music & the Spoken Word” broadcasts are 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 (skills must be enabled). The program will be broadcast live on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Mountain Time on these stations. Find airing information by state and city at musicandthespokenword.com/viewers-listeners/airing-schedule.
