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Our Days
Renewed as of Old: The Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Nauvoo
by
Robb Cundick
“Our
inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens.”
“Turn thou us unto thee, O Lord, and we shall be turned; renew our
days as of old.”
— Lamentations 5:2, 21
Surely the first
of these two verses reflects the thoughts of early church members
as they left Nauvoo, and the second has been the prayer of every
succeeding generation of Latter--day Saints. Oh that we could return
to beautiful Nauvoo; that the Lord would renew our days as of old!
Whether or not we trace our ancestors there, we have all shared
the pain of the heartbreaking story. The announcement of the restoration
of the Nauvoo Temple fulfilled a dream we had hardly dared to dream
and now, once again we have a spiritual home on the banks of the
Mississippi. As I reflect upon the Tabernacle Choir’s experiences
at the dedication this past weekend, it seems that the temple has
invited our longstanding wounds to be healed as we see Nauvoo with
new perspective
Throughout our
trip, the experiences of our ancestors were on our minds, and it
felt like we were helping to complete a circle begun long ago.
The choir has always traced its beginnings to the first choirs that
sang in the Salt Lake Valley – starting when the pioneers arrived
in 1847. But now that we have had the chance to look west once
again from Nauvoo, we realize that our roots go back even farther
– for those who reached the valley did not wait until the end of
the journey to sing. They sang around campfires all the way across
the plains, and they sang in Nauvoo. I did some research and discovered
that the journal of pioneer Mary Richards tells how she attended
a choir practice at Winter Quarters. Stephen H. Goddard directed
the choir, and Mary remarked that this was their first meeting since
the dedication of the Nauvoo Temple. (See: Mary Richards Journal
in Maurine Carr Ward (ed.), Winter Quarters, The 1846--1848 Life
Writings of Mary Haskin Parker Richards, 103). Brother Goddard
later became the second conductor of the early Mormon Tabernacle
Choir so it seems likely that some of those early Tabernacle Choir
members sang at the temple dedication in Nauvoo. How fitting, then,
that the choir was invited to participate in the dedication of the
rebuilt temple.
The first contingent of the choir arriving at Quincy Airport.
Arriving
in Illinois
Because
the full Tabernacle Choir could not be accommodated in the temple,
we were divided into four 80--voice choirs which would rotate, singing
at ten of the thirteen sessions (local choirs sang at the others).
Brother Jessop decided the fairest way to choose the opening session
choir was to base it on length of service; and with twelve years
in the choir, I squeaked in. We arrived at Quincy airport on Wednesday,
the day before the dedication sessions began (others would arrive
on Thursday and Friday). With four choirs on separate schedules,
the logistics were more complicated than for any previous tour.
Each choir had to be in different places at different times. Gary
Cannon was my roommate, but since he was in a different choir I
rarely saw him – one or the other of us was always up and gone before
the other awoke.
Seeing the
Temple
Thursday
was a day of much emotion. It took about an hour to drive north
to Nauvoo from our motel in Quincy; and that hour was filled with
anticipation. It reminded me of childhood excursions to Manti,
Utah, where my forefathers helped to build another temple. As Dad
drove the car up the Sanpete Valley, Mom would occupy our attention
by challenging my brothers and sisters and me to see who could first
spot the spires of the Manti Temple. I can still remember our excitement
as someone cried, ‘there it is!” and we thrilled at the glorious
sight of the sun shining upon its twin steeples. Such was my feeling
when we rounded a curve of the Mississippi and someone said, “There’s
the temple!”
Just after we arrived at the temple, I managed to capture this picture
of Elder and Sister Packer.
The Temple!
Standing once again on that great bend of the Mississippi river
where it has always remained in paintings and dreams. Its majesty
grew as we neared Nauvoo until, as the bus entered the streets of
the old part of the city, we looked up to see it dominate the view
as it had for our forefathers.
This day was
completely devoted to preparing to sing at the opening session.
The bus unloaded across the street from the temple at the Joseph
Smith Academy. We put our things in an auditorium, and then rushed
outside to gaze at the temple. After a quick lunch we donned our
performance clothing, posed while Gerry Avant of the Church News
took a photo on the front steps, and made our way inside the temple
to the first floor assembly room for a rehearsal.
The Rehearsal
Walking
into the temple felt like taking a step back into history. We would
not see most of it until later in the week, but the assembly room
was more than enough to fill our hearts with rejoicing. We wanted
to memorize every detail of that glowing room, which felt so pure
and holy even before its dedication. Elder Russell M. Nelson was
with us for the rehearsal, and offered a beautiful prayer in which
he invoked an apostolic blessing upon us, the rest of the Tabernacle
Choir, and our families at home (we were not able to have family
with us on this trip).
We had prepared
three separate sets of music for the temple – this would provide
variety for President Hinckley and General Authorities attending
multiple sessions. All three conductors (Craig Jessop, Mack Wilberg,
and Barlow Bradford) took turns leading different sessions. Each
conductor led a particular set of pieces but wasn’t always paired
with the same choir, so all of the choirs needed to memorize all
of the music. Thursday afternoon was the only opportunity any of
the choirs would have to rehearse inside the temple, and since each
conductor wanted to check balances between choir and accompaniment,
we rehearsed all eleven numbers. By the time Brothers Wilberg and
Bradford finished, we were tiring, but Brother Jessop wasn’t about
to let us relax. He was conducting the first session and so things
intensified when he stepped before us. We all felt such great responsibility
to do our part to make this uniquely special, sacred historical
occasion the very best it could be.
Three of the
hymns for the opening session, “Come, Come Ye Saints,” “A Poor Wayfaring
Man of Grief,” and “Praise to the Man,” had been set in reverent
new arrangements by Mack Wilberg. They were so beautiful and appropriate
for the temple, but also included soft unison sections that would
quickly expose faulty pitch, failure to stay together, or mistakes
in remembering the words. We needed to be on our toes, and Brother
Jessop worked us very hard, demanding our highest efforts.
We were given
a break before the session, and we walked over to the Hotel Nauvoo
for our nicest meal of the trip. Too bad I was too nervous to enjoy
it very much! On my return I made a complete circuit of the temple,
wanting to relish the sight from every angle.
The Opening
Dedicatory Session
The
gifts of the Spirit described in the scriptures are many and varied,
and so it is with some hesitation that I describe my experience
in the dedication service. Mine is but one perception in a sea
of millions; for I hope most of the members of the church were able
to attend the dedication either in person or via broadcast. Choir
member David Bowers, in a prayer following the afternoon rehearsal
in the temple, spoke of a spiritually charged feeling in the room,
and that feeling had multiplied by the time we returned. A testimony
borne by tenor Mark Olsen drew attention to what I felt to be its
source. [Mark was to sing the solo for “Joseph, the Seer,” a special
request from President Hinckley. Brother Jessop asked him to share
his feelings before we went in.] He spoke of remembering our ancestors;
how we were standing upon the shoulders of so many that had sacrificed
so much. Brother Jessop followed with a beautiful prayer in which
he asked that angels attend us as we sang.
As we took our
places I had the feeling that everything in the room was spiritually
connected. This feeling remained throughout the service, and I
thought about how to describe it. The best I can come up with is
that the space seemed filled with a tangible substance; like still
water, only much lighter and purer, and crystal clear. It seemed
to wrap me like a warm blanket. Singing in that atmosphere felt
transcendent; I hope that we were able to give voice to the unity
and joy in that room – to translate in sound what we felt in spirit
and thereby make the experience more complete. It felt like that
was what happened, and even more so when all joined in singing,
“The Spirit of God” at the end of the “Hosanna Anthem”.
I was standing
right behind Mark Olsen as he sang “Joseph, the Seer”. Didn’t he
sing beautifully? His voice was so strong and clear. Afterwards
I asked him about his feelings and he told me what a great responsibility
he had felt to do justice to a piece so beloved by President Hinckley.
To sing in this dedication was the greatest privilege he’d ever
had, and he worked hard so he would be ready and the Spirit could
magnify his efforts. When the time came, the Spirit enveloped him
like a warm blanket (exactly the words that came to me as I thought
to describe our experience). He felt completely at one with Brother
Jessop and with those who have passed to the other side of the veil.
Mark has soloed with the choir many times and I have never heard
him sing better.
To walk out
of the temple with that sacred spiritual feeling; to see the smiles
of those standing outside; to look to the west and see an orange
sun fading into the haze over the Mississippi River; and then to
turn around and look up at the steeple of the temple is a sequence
of events I’ll never forget. I remember remarking, “I still can’t
believe it’s back!” In the days that followed I heard repeated
comments about of the wonderful spiritual feelings the other choirs
experienced in their sessions. My choir sang a second session on
Friday afternoon, again feeling great warmth and gratitude. But
this time I couldn’t linger outside the temple; we hurried to board
busses for Quincy where the whole choir would be together to sing
a benefit concert that evening.
Walking in Quincy, I saw this sign and wondered if things might
have been
different had the Saints seen such a warning on their way to Missouri!
The Quincy
Concert
Everyone
who is up to snuff on their church history will remember Quincy,
the Mississippi River town that offered refuge to the Saints fleeing
Missouri in 1839. If Friday night was any indication, Quincyans
haven’t changed much in 163 years; we were received with friendship
and graciousness. The concert was held in the beautifully restored
Morrison Theater, which is the auditorium of a former high school
(built in the 1930’s – it’s now a junior high). It seated 1700
people and – even at $45.00 a ticket – was completely sold out.
For the first time ever, it was air--conditioned. A temporary system
had been set up in trucks outside, and the air pumped in through
large, flexible ducts. For once I didn’t feel badly about high
ticket prices (which unfortunately seem to be a necessity on our
tours); this time all of the proceeds went to the Quincy Area Community
Foundation as a gift of thanks for the kindness of their ancestors
those many years ago.
This recently installed monument next to the Mississippi river
commemorates the welcome the Saints received there.
President Hinckley
made an appearance to officially present the proceeds to a committee
including the Mayor of Quincy, though he teased that he hadn’t brought
a check (the money was already in the bank). He quickly won over
the audience with his characteristic warmth and humor; even after
a full day of dedication sessions, he appeared fresh and sharp.
But do you know
what was the very best thing about that concert? Singing with the
whole choir again! Those 80--voice “sub--choirs” were fine, but
not the same. We had really missed each other, and the joy of our
reunion flowed through our voices. The choir was in top form; the
audience seemed to love every minute of it. We could tell that
most of them were not members of the church because few were singing
along at the conclusion when invited to join us for “God Be With
You ‘Til We Meet Again”. Afterwards I heard several in the choir
say things such as, “The people of Quincy are so friendly. I’ve
found it wherever I’ve gone in the city!”
Choir members listen to details about Joseph and Hyrums' martyrdom
outside the Carthage Jail.
A Heritage
in Nauvoo
Depending
on our various schedules there were opportunities to see significant
historical sites. I believe everyone got a chance for an excursion
to Carthage, where the tour guides surely listened to more renditions
of “A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief” in the upper room of Carthage
Jail than they’d ever heard in a single day. We all had some time
to wander the immaculately restored buildings of old Nauvoo, maintained
by our church and by the Community of Christ (formerly RLDS), with
whom we share much spiritual heritage. One of the choirs even had
time to go to Springfield to see sights connected with Abraham Lincoln.
My youngest
brother David and his family were in Nauvoo to pick up their missionary
son Dustin. They took my brother Tom and wife Betsy (both members
of the choir) for a ride to the site of Yelrom, a settlement founded
by our ancestor Isaac Morley who joined the church in Kirtland.
Yelrom was burned by a mob, and Brother Morley and another ancestor,
Frederick Walter Cox, lived for a short time in Nauvoo before heading
west. (They later helped found Manti, Utah which I mentioned earlier
on). I was sorry to have missed connecting with Tom and Dave.
Another ancestor, Burr Frost, was a blacksmith who travelled with
the original 1847 pioneer company. We went to the land and records
office in Nauvoo and looked up the location of the plot where he
had lived as a tenant.
Choir member Cindy Doxey's ancestor ran this shoe shop. (Cindy's
inside -
sorry I didn't get a shot of you coming out, Cindy!).
I am sure much
of the choir can relate such stories. When I visited the restored
George C. Riser shoe shop in old Nauvoo, choir member Cindy Doxey
was just coming out, thrilled to have seen where her ancestor lived
and worked. I walked up the street to the Browning Gun Shop and
there stood choir member Mike Browning, who showed me a picture
of his grandfather standing in front of the shop on the way home
from his mission. When, at the Quincy concert, Lloyd Newell asked
all choir members who stemmed from ancestors who had lived in the
Nauvoo/Quincy vicinity to stand – about 85% of the choir rose to
their feet!
A historical sight: the choir tapes Music and the Spoken Word in
front of the Nauvoo Temple.
Music and
the Spoken Word
I
was glad there was one more event in which the whole Tabernacle
Choir could participate – the taping of “Music and the Spoken Word”
in front of the temple on Saturday evening. The day had been extremely
hot and humid. We started at around 7 p.m. and for a while the
sun was in our faces and the heat nearly insufferable, but fortunately
things got better as the sun went down. A large crowd had gathered
(I estimated perhaps two or three thousand). I hope they weren’t
disappointed, because the only effective way to work things in the
open air is to have us sing to a prerecorded track. But surely,
more than anything else, the thing that made waiting around in uncomfortable
weather worthwhile was the historical sight: the Mormon Tabernacle
Choir arrayed in front of the Nauvoo Temple; a sight that no one
but Gordon B. Hinckley ever dreamed of seeing just a few years ago.
The awe of that sight was reflected in the eyes of our conductors,
who could not refrain from turning their eyes upwards to the temple
as we performed.
My final sight of the temple. How glad we are that this time we
can go back!
Then, afterwards,
the perfect climax for the choir: we were divided into small groups
and given a tour of the entire temple. I can only say that pictures
cannot do it justice. As we walked through each sacred room, we
saw everywhere the loving attention to detail that makes this a
temple of temples. And surely it should be, for this temple does
indeed renew our days as of old, paying homage to the sacrifices
of those who have gone before, and especially to the Prophet Joseph
Smith, who gave his life for his testimony of the gospel revealed
to him by our Savior Jesus Christ. Though the bus drivers were
anxious for us to hurry back, we did not want to leave, but kept
turning around for one last look – again, as our forefathers must
have done. But this time we know that we can come back; this time
we leave with happy thoughts and fond memories. No longer need
the wounds of the past remain open. The sacred temple at Nauvoo
stands once again, a spiritual home renewed!
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