'9/11: Rising Above': A memorial from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

SALT LAKE CITY -- The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is paying tribute to the heroes and the victims of September 11 with its upcoming special "9/11: Rising Above." Choir members say it captures the American spirit of overcoming tragedy and coming together.

On that day in September, the impact of the attacks left an impression so vivid in our minds, people can quickly tell you where they were and what they were feeling. Mormon Tabernacle Choir bass singer Luke Howard is an immigrant from Australia who was shocked to see such devastation in a land known for freedom.

"For me, being a foreigner, it was a global tragedy," he said. " It was happening here, in this country, but I felt it as something that all of humanity was suffering."

That day, the late Gordon B. Hinckley, then president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, described September 11th this way: "It has been a day when the ugly face of hatred has shown itself with terror, death and destruction. It has been a day when uncounted numbers of the innocent have perished and their loved ones have been left to sorrow."

On September 11, 2001, the choir was scheduled to perform what was going to be an upbeat concert. After the attacks, First Alto Betsy Cundick didn't think they'd be taking the stage that night.

"[I was expecting] the phone call that our concert that night had been cancelled as well, and that call never came," she said. "So, as we got down here, the music changed and we were told we were going to do something completely different."

The lively concert was thrown out, and Second Soprano Cynthia Lambert says a program about peace and comfort was performed, instead.

"It was a time for our unity and to bring the nation together. I felt that's probably what our role was as a choir," she said.

Fast forward 10 years. The message of the choir's special "9/11: Rising Above," airing this Sunday, is similar to the message the concert sung 10 years ago -- a message of peace and overcoming.

Tenor Nate Smedley said, "We put our all into everything, but this one in particular. The meaning behind it and the type of exposure that we knew it would have, we knew that it had to be the best."

Smedley and Tenor Scott Russon say the music and the text recited by veteran newsman Tom Brokaw do a lot to heal the wounds left behind.

"For the tabernacle to be able to couple up with someone as prominent as Tom Brokaw really gives a great opportunity for America's choir to be able to present that memorializing, if you will, and this healing that has to keep taking place," Russon said. "It's a great opportunity for us."

Tom Brokaw said, "When I was invited to appear on a concert that would pay tribute to [the events of] 9/11, it was irresistible to me. It's been a really gratifying experience to be here."

Brokaw remembers watching firefighters from the station three blocks from where he lives race to the burning World Trade Center. Nine of those firefighters died.

"You'll hear from people who went to Ground Zero with their families, and they speak quite eloquently in personal testimonials about what it means for them to be there," Brokaw said. " In some fashion, they should be speaking for all of us."

He hopes the tenth anniversary of 9/11 will help the country recapture the spirit of unity the nation had immediately after the attacks, a feeling that he says has been lost since then.

"This probably ought to be a time for us to recommit to being citizens again," he said.

E-mail: pnelson@ksl.com

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