Andy Reid Honors America’s 250th Anniversary on ‘Music and the Spoken Word’

As the United States marked its 250th anniversary, Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid encouraged Americans to keep building a “more perfect union” through unity, respect and a shared commitment to the nation’s founding ideals.

This was Reid’s message as guest narrator for the July 5 episode of “Music and the Spoken Word” from The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square. The episode, originating from the Tabernacle on Temple Square, honored the 250th anniversary of the United States. It aired on C-SPAN, NewsNation, BYUtv, and NBC stations in Salt Lake City, Boston, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Kansas City.

Reid said the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution provide a “game plan to keep moving toward … a ‘more perfect union.’”

He knows something about game plans. Reid is one of the most successful coaches in the history of the National Football League. He is entering his 14th season leading the Kansas City Chiefs — a team with which he has won three Super Bowls.

“Whether on the football field, in our communities, or in our homes, progress can at times feel like an uphill climb,” Reid said. “But I’ve learned that when people come together for a common goal — when they respect and support one another — progress happens. That’s what a team does. It works to get better every single day.”

Reid highlighted the truths in the Declaration of Independence that “all [people] are created equal . . . [and] are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights,” including “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

These truths “help us make better decisions—and correct our mistakes,” he said. “Even in difficult times, they remind us to keep going. To keep building. To keep improving.”

The coach recalled a story from the day the Constitution was signed. Noting a sun painted on the back of George Washington’s chair, Benjamin Franklin said he had often wondered whether that sun was rising or setting.

“But in that moment, [Franklin] said, ‘[Now I] know it is a rising and not a setting Sun,’” Reid said. “For 250 years, that sun has continued to rise on this land. And I believe it will for generations to come. We can all do our part. We can help build a ‘more perfect union’—a nation ‘under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.’”

Among those in attendance Sunday were Church Prophet and President Dallin H. Oaks; President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Elders Quentin L. Cook and Gary E. Stevenson of that quorum; and Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson and Primary General Presidency Second Counselor Tracy Y. Browning.

Reid’s call to help build a “more perfect union” echoes themes that have shaped many of the Church’s America250 efforts, including community service, family history and music initiatives designed to bring people together.

On July 4, those efforts were highlighted in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. In Los Angeles, JustServe volunteers invited community members to participate in local service opportunities. In Philadelphia, a national time capsule included a record of the Church’s and JustServe’s contributions to America250’s nationwide service initiatives.

In collaboration with America250, the Church is participating in nationwide service, food donations and volunteer efforts designed to strengthen communities across the country. Additionally, the Church invited U.S. members to participate in a day of fasting and prayer for global religious freedom on July 5. The Church is also providing educational resources on religious freedom, using FamilySearch to help people discover their family stories, and featuring The Tabernacle Choir in “America’s Soundtrack” to honor the semiquincentennial.

Together, these efforts reflect the Church of Jesus Christ’s desire to honor the nation’s 250th anniversary by strengthening communities, preserving memories and bringing people together in service.