Bonnie Goodliffe: Mormon Musician

Bonnie Lauper Goodliffe is one of the Salt Lake Temple Square organists. She is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

She was born in 1943 in San Francisco, California, in 1943. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from Brigham Young University. She also studied piano and organ at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. She became an organist on Temple Square in 1979 and performs with the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, the Temple Square Chorale, and the Bells on Temple Square. She also performs recitals in the Tabernacle and the Conference Center.

She is a Fellow of the American Guild of Organists. She has held key positions in that organization, such as member of the national certification committee and regional education coordinator. She has published several articles in the Guild’s official magazine, The American Organist.

Goodliffe has an extensive background in music theory and composition. She teaches music theory for the 16-week Mormon Tabernacle Choir training school held each winter. She is a published composer and arranger. She composed the music for “We Meet Again As Sisters,” which is included in the current Church Hymnbook. She also served in the Music Committee for the Church at the time this edition of the hymnal was prepared.

Goodliffe and her husband, Glade, are the parents of seven children. She is a sister to Claudia Bushman, wife of Richard L. Bushman, and Georgia Gates, wife of Crawford Gates.