For many, the Bells at Temple Square are a familiar and joyful sight, especially at the Tabernacle Choir’s annual Christmas concerts or broadcasts of Music and the Spoken Word. It’s easy to appreciate the beautiful music, but what’s the story behind this world-class ensemble? How did it start, and what is its unique role within the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square organization? A new interview over at the Latter-day Saint history blog, From the Desk, answers these very questions. The interview features the ensemble’s conductor, Geoff Anderson, who provides a remarkable “insider’s view” of the group’s history, its distinct purpose, and his own fascinating journey to leadership. It’s relatively unique among From the Desk interviews as being one with someone who is living the history rather than documenting it after the fact, and it is well worth the read.

The Bells at Temple Square: The Tabernacle Choir’s World-Class Handbell Ensemble

One of the first things you notice about the Bells is its sheer size as an ensemble. The Bells at Temple Square is what is called a “double bell choir.” In other words, it is actually composed of two full bell choirs ringing in tandem. Anderson explains that the group’s formation as a “double choir” wasn’t just for visual effect, but was a practical solution to an acoustic problem.

Bells at Temple Square was organized as a double choir due to the size of the Tabernacle Choir and the venues. There was concern that, with a standard-sized choir, the bells would not be heard.

Having the double choir allows for performances with 360 voices in an auditorium seating 21,000 people.

Having two sets of bells and ringers makes coordination difficult (particularly in a space with acoustics as kooky as the Tabernacle’s), but it matches the size and volume of the Tabernacle Choir better than a single bell choir would.

Anderson’s personal path to becoming its conductor wasn’t a simple job application but a long, patient process that beautifully illustrates the intersection of professional talent and lay ecclesiastical service. His predecessor, LeAnna Willmore, had him in mind for a leadership role for years, but the timing wasn’t right:

She later told me she wanted me to be her associate when she was made conductor of the Bells at Temple Square, but I had been made bishop of my ward just a year prior. So, she waited.

I did not know then, but LeAnna would periodically check on my service and tenure as a bishop.

Finally, in the fall of 2016, she had President Ron Jarrett call my stake president to see if it was time to release me. However, he indicated that I was still needed as my ward’s bishop. Another call to check on my availability was made in January 2017. This time, President Jarrett was told that I would be released at the end of the month.

Willmore was able to deliver on her plan to have Anderson as her successor, though she relied on Larry Smith to help her lead the Bells at Temple Square in the intervening year, with Smith serving as her Associate Conductor between 2011 and 2017.

Throughout the interview, Anderson is clear that the ensemble’s primary purpose is explicitly missionary. He states that “baptisms have been traced back to our influence” and notes that the way they perform is a conscious effort to reflect their purpose:

My favorite comment from those who belong to other faiths is about the way our musicians look during performances: “They are joyful when they play. There is something special about how they look.”

That is our effort to show the Savior’s love in our performance.

This sense of mission filters into Anderson’s final reflections on what it means to lead the group. He doesn’t frame it as a prestigious gig, but as an opportunity to witness the “consecration” of the members:

One of the things I enjoy the most about my association with the Bells is watching the members consecrate their time and talents to building up the Kingdom of God! … I am in awe of the sacrifice it takes to be a member. And I am humbled by the service given by the members of the Bells, not to be in Geoff’s handbell choir—but to be in the Lord’s handbell choir.

While any Christian church handbell choir could be considered one of the Lord’s handbell choirs, that sense of consecrated musicianship shapes how Anderson and the ringers of the Bells at Temple Square approach their calling.

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This is just a small sample of a wonderfully informative interview. For more on the founding of the Bells at Temple Square (including Craig Jessop’s key role), its evolution into a world-class ensemble, and the organizational shift from a volunteer to a paid conductor, head on over to the Latter-day Saint history blog, From the Desk, to read the full interview with Geoff Anderson.