Album Notes

In March 2001, "Joseph Smith the Prophet" premiered at the Tabernacle in Provo, Utah. Composer Rob Gardner was then a student at Brigham Young University and organized the first concert with the help of a remarkably talented group of volunteer performers. The response was astounding. The audience filled the venue beyond capacity, forcing many to listen from the lawn outside. In the months and years following, thousands more in Arizona, Utah and Idaho marveled at the presentation and wards, stakes, institutes and universities organized their own performances around the world.

Undeniably, the power of "Joseph Smith the Prophet" is in the witness it bears: that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and that he did indeed see what he said he saw; that “he lived great and he died great....”

In October 2007, another group of performers met at Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City to present "Joseph Smith the Prophet." This time the group included the 150-voice Spire Chorus, a full symphony orchestra and a remarkable list of soloists including Jeffry Walker, Suzanne Disparte, Jordan Bluth, Michael Sackett, Daniel Beck, Angela Brower and Sharon Hopkins. This spectacular performance was captured on video so that audiences, regardless of where they live, might experience the presentation for themselves.

The resulting soundtrack is found on this album, where you can experience again and again the powerful majesty of the music, the inspiring drama of the story and the awesome impact of the life of Joseph Smith, the prophet.