Inside a musical instrument unlike any other

It has been a symbol in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for more than 160 years. You see it on television and hear it on the radio every week. You find it whenever you reach for the faith’s hymnal. For decades, it loomed as the most prominent fixture at General Conference. But to Joseph Nielsen, the Salt Lake Tabernacle’s famed pipe organ is more than a musical companion to a celebrated choir’s weekly performances, more than an embossed image on a songbook, more than a majestic monument to the pioneer past, more than an emblem of a global religion. To Nielsen, it’s personal. The master organ technician has played the pioneer pipes and maintained the organ’s entire system for the past three years. In this job, Nielsen is living his, well, pipe dream, tending not only to the Tabernacle’s iconic instrument but also to all the organs across Temple Square. “I call it the temple of tone,” Nielsen said. “When you’re in that temple, it’s a wonderful place to be because you’re listening to the universe, and you can get lost there.” And getting physically lost is easy to do, too. Navigating the complex labyrinth of pipes takes a sharp mind and a sharper ear. Nelson gave The Salt Lake Tribune an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the iconic organ. Video: Trevor Christensen Reporting: Dylan Eubank The Salt Lake Tribune