Mormon Church

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is touring the central United States this summer. Named America’s Choir by Ronald Reagan, they are considered an important part of American culture.

Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square

Brigham Young, the second president and prophet of the church, knew the Saints, as Mormons are often called, would need to keep their spirits up as they moved west after being forced from their homes in Illinois. When he put together the small group of people who would make the initial trek to Utah, he included musicians. In fact, every wagon company included at least one musician. Twenty-nine days after the first Mormons settled in Utah, a conference was held on August 22, 1847. A small choir sang at this conference, and the church has actually had a standing choir even before this, since the earliest days of the church in Ohio and Illinois. The first large choir was organized in 1829 under conductor George Careless. (more…)