It is definitely a multilayered organization, says Jessop, and what makes it succeed is that "everyone here comes with a common purpose. They are united by two things — their faith, which provides discipline and is a unifier, and their love of music, which gives them extraordinary focus. They are a dedicated group."

· · · · ·

A typical Sunday morning in the Tabernacle on Temple Square begins with a check-in time of 7:25. By 7:30, choir members are in their seats, beginning warm-ups.

On this particular morning, Wilberg is taking them through Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," which will be the opening number on the choir broadcast. He gives them tips on timing, pronunciation, expression. "I know created ends with t-e-d, but we don't say it that way. It's tud, tud — not ted, but tud." Then he adds, "More bloom. We need more bloom and blossom on the 'impassioned."'

An interesting language, this musical one they speak.

Jessop moves about the hall, listening to the sound in various locations. The goal of the recent renovations was to not change the acoustics of the historic old building, he says, but it actually made them better. "They are richer, cleaner, clearer."

After the warm-ups, there are announcements: choir President Mac Christensen reports on his trip scouting for the 2009 tour. Executive director Scott Barrick comments on the new Spirit of the Y Award for Musical Excellence the choir received as part of Brigham Young University's homecoming the previous week.

There are updates on illnesses, announcements of winners of a recent golf tournament, a comment about names on the prayer roll, and then an opening prayer.

At 8:30, a full run-through of the program begins. It must be exactly 27 minutes and 56 seconds. "It's the conductor's job to bring it in," says Barrick, "and then the organ plays to the very last second."

On this morning, however, the program is a bit short, and they decide to add one verse of a hymn that ties in to the "Spoken Word." There is a quick run-through of that, for both timing and quality. "Remember," Jessop tells them, "don't be normal. Don't be mundane. You must be extraordinary, and you have one shot at it."

Choir members get a brief break around 9:15, while program host Mark Eubank comes in to greet the audience, explain a few things about the facilities and the choir, introduce special visitors and talk about the day's program. The broadcast will be heard on about 2,000 TV, cable and radio station, he explains. Only a few will run it live; for the rest it will be a tape-delay.

"But you are now part of the recording experience," he says. "If you have to cough, do it now."