On a stage decorated with stars, lights and poinsettias, 32 Temple Square members tolled more than 300 bells to celebrate the season of thanksgiving and the birth of Jesus Christ during the “Ringing in the Season of Light” concert held Nov. 21 and 22 at the Salt Lake Tabernacle.
The 80-minute program will be streamed on Temple Square Tabernacle Choir’s YouTube channel and will be available on demand for about a year.
This concert was conducted by conductor Jeff Anderson and was the debut concert for associate conductor Matt Ulmer. It includes traditional folk music from Canada, the United States, Spain, and the United Kingdom, as well as popular music such as “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.”
Bell ringers hung stockings on music stands as the program progressed through fall music, Thanksgiving and Christmas. The last one, “The Bell Daze of Christmas,” is an adaptation of “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” with posters for each day.
Members of Bells at Temple Square hold up a sign that reads “Disenchantment of Christmas Bells” during the holiday concert “Ringing in the Season of Lights” at Tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City on November 21, 2025. |Randy Collier, Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
During the concert, Linda Margetts performed two organ solos and served as accompaniment for the bell ringer. Four members of the Temple Square Orchestra also performed: Lisa Watcott on flute and piccolo, percussionists Matt Nickle, Dave Featherstone and Emily Ashcroft.
The Bells at Temple Square is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, having been organized in March 2005. The bells are ringed by volunteer musicians, as well as members of the Tabernacle Choir, Temple Square Orchestra, and Temple Square Choir.
The Handbell Choir’s performances include two concerts a year, it is a frequent participant in the Tabernacle Choir’s weekly “Music & the Spoken Word” broadcast, and it plays an important role in the choir’s annual Christmas concert. Bell ringers also participate in the Spring Ring Conference of the local chapter of Handbell Musicians of America, a national organization of handbell groups. The Bell Ensemble rehearses weekly.
The 32-member Handbell Choir plays two sets of British handbells and hand chimes. One has seven octaves, the other six and a half octaves.
Members of Bells at Temple Square perform during the holiday concert “Sounds in the Season of Light” held at the Temple Square Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on November 21, 2025. |Randy Collier, Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
The program was as follows.
“Festive Dance on Holy Manna” (written by William Moore, arranged by Kurt Meyer) “Shenandoah” American folk song, arranged by Sondra K. Tucker “J’entends le Moulin (I Hear the Windmill)” French Canadian folk song, arranged by Donald Patrican, arranged by Carlos Enrique Rivera “Now Thanks We All Our God” by Johan Kruger, arranged by Virgil Fox (organ solo: Linda Margetts). “Adoration of Joy” from “Stralsund Gesampf”, arranged by Christian Goubert. “Crossing the River, Crossing the Woods” Traditional, arranged by Jeff Anderson. “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” by Felix Mendelssohn, arranged by Ian Good. “Pia Cantion” from “The Good King Wenceslas”, arranged by Sandra. Eitoun. “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen”, English carol, arranged by Alfred Fedak (organ solo by Linda Margetts). “Riu, Riu, Chiu” (written by Mateo Freccia the Elder, arranged by Alex Gebert). “Fantasy on the Wexford Carol” A traditional English carol, arranged by Derek K. Hakes. “Do You Hear What I Hear?” Written by Noel Regney and Gloria Shane, arranged by Sandra Aytoun. “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” Written by Albert Haig, arranged by Hart Morris. “The Bell Daze of Christmas” A traditional British song, arranged by Hart Morris.
For the encore, they performed “Carol of the Bells.”
Members of Bells at Temple Square perform during the holiday concert “Sounds in the Season of Light” held at the Temple Square Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on November 21, 2025. |Randy Collier, Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
Bells at Temple Square conductor Jeff Anderson speaks at the “Ringing in the Season of Light” holiday concert held at the Temple Square Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on November 21, 2025. |Randy Collier, Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
Members of Bells at Temple Square perform during the holiday concert “Sounds in the Season of Light” held at the Temple Square Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on November 21, 2025. |Randy Collier, Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
Temple Square organist Linda Margetts performs during the Bells at Temple Square holiday concert “Ringing in the Season of Light” at the Temple Square Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on November 21, 2025. |Randy Collier, Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
Light patterns are projected onto the pipes of the Salt Lake Tabernacle during the Bells at Temple Square’s holiday concert “Ringing in the Season of Light” held at the Tabernacle at Temple Square in Salt Lake City on November 21, 2025. |Randy Collier, Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
Members of Bells at Temple Square perform during the holiday concert “Sounds in the Season of Light” held at the Temple Square Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on November 21, 2025. |Randy Collier, Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
Matt Ulmer, assistant conductor of Bells at Temple Square, conducts the holiday concert “Ringing in the Season of Light” held at the Tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City on November 21, 2025. |Randy Collier, Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
Members of Bells at Temple Square perform during the holiday concert “Sounds in the Season of Light” held at the Temple Square Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on November 21, 2025. |Randy Collier, Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
Members of Bells at Temple Square perform during the holiday concert “Sounds in the Season of Light” held at the Temple Square Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on November 21, 2025. |Randy Collier, Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
Lisa Watcott of the Temple Square Orchestra plays piccolo during the Bells at Temple Square holiday concert “Ringing in the Season of Light” held at the Temple Square Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on November 21, 2025. |Randy Collier, Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
Members of Bells at Temple Square raise a bell during the “Christmas Bells Day” holiday concert “Ringing in the Season of Lights” held at the Temple Square Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on November 21, 2025. |Randy Collier, Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
Members of Bells at Temple Square perform during the holiday concert “Sounds in the Season of Light” held at the Temple Square Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on November 21, 2025. |Randy Collier, Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
Members of Bells at Temple Square perform during the holiday concert “Sounds in the Season of Light” held at the Temple Square Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on November 21, 2025. |Randy Collier, Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
Jeff Anderson, conductor of the Bells of Temple Square, puts his hand on his chest at the end of the holiday concert “Ring in the Season of Light” at the Temple Square Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, Nov. 21, 2025. |Randy Collier, Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
