This article is excerpted from the Church Newsroom. To visit their website, CLICK HERE.
From May through August 2025, daily organ recitals at the Salt Lake Tabernacle moved to the Conference Center exclusively to allow for thousands of pipes and other parts to be removed from the Tabernacle organ as part of an ongoing renovation project. Upon completion, over 75,000 pieces will have been assessed and replaced or refurbished.
This project is one of the many stories highlighted in the October 2025 World Report, which will be available on October 3, 2025, on the Church Newsroom YouTube channel in English only. With the passing of President Russell M. Nelson and the tragedy in Michigan this past weekend, those stories will be included in World Report, which will be released in the following languages — Cantonese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish — on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.
The Purpose of the Project
The purpose of this renovation is to make the organ mechanically sound and more accessible for routine maintenance, as well as to revive historic sounds that were lost or altered over time.
Joseph Nielsen, master organ technician at Temple Square, oversees the project. “We want to make sure that this instrument is heard by the masses, that it plays the music of the generations, but also that it is the most efficient and most lovely instrument of its kind,” he explained.
The Tabernacle organ is recognized and loved worldwide and has served an essential role in the cultural and musical identity of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “It is one of the best-known organs in the world,” said Emily Utt, Church historic sites curator. “It’s one of the symbols of the Church; the facade of this organ is on our hymnal.”
The organ has also heavily influenced the famous Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, “The organ is immediately associated with the Choir,” said Choir Music Director Mack Wilberg. “The organ has played a major role in not only the identity of The Tabernacle Choir but also in the sound of the Choir.”
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