NAPERVILLE, ILL. — For almost 15 years, Jolyne V. Hatch has directed the Naperville 1st Ward Choir, and in that time, it has literally saved her life.

With an average of 60 faithful and enthusiastic members, the Naperville group is likely one of few ward choirs in the Church, if not the only one, to have recorded an album of music on compact disc. And though the recording has had little distribution beyond the choir members themselves, their families and friends, it does illustrate the fervor with which they approach this musical form of service in the Kingdom. At the same time, they enjoy themselves.

"Joy," in fact, is the title of the album, which includes "Joy in the Morning," the famous anthem written by Natalie Sleeth and often performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

The title has deep meaning for Sister Hatch, her accompanist and dear friend Ann Castleton, and their vocalists. Taken from Ps. 30:5, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning," it underscores Sister Hatch's life experience during her tenure as choir director.

"Music has been therapy for me," said Sister Hatch, a mother of six. "I've been sick for 10 years. I recall being in the hospital living on a central [intravenous] line. I didn't eat for three years. I had a paralyzed digestive system. And when I developed a very bad blood condition that most sufferers don't recover from, the doctors told me to get the family together, that this was pretty much the end. I remember visualizing, using the thought that I would get up and move again and go direct the choir. And I did!"

That was in 1992. With the help of an assistant director, Sister Hatch retained her calling. During her recovery, she would come to choir rehearsals and sit on a stool the entire time to lead the group because she was too weak to stand.

"She hasn't said it, but the choir was the carrot [or incentive] that kept her alive," Sister Castleton commented. "We worked and worked, and looked forward to the time when she would be able to fully resume her duties as director."

In fact, Sister Hatch lived in Sister Castleton's house for several weeks. A week before she found herself in the hospital intensive care unit fighting for her life, a strong wind blew a tree down onto the Hatch home and seriously damaged it. It took four months to repair the house, and the family stayed with the Castletons part of the time. As visiting teaching companions, Sister Hatch and Sister Castleton faithfully fulfilled their calling, though special accommodations had to be made while Sister Hatch was bedridden.

"It was while I was so ill I could hardly do anything that this scripture [Ps. 30:5] came to my mind," Sister Hatch said. "It seemed like my spirit was a prisoner in my body, and I comprehended what the resurrection would be like. I really began to understand what it would mean to have a body that was whole and healthy and perfect as it could be."

"When she was better, I asked her, 'What music do you think we should do?' " Sister Castleton recalled. "She said, 'We have to do "Joy in the Morning," because I have a new body.' It is interesting that one of the choir members commented that he thought he understood the resurrection, but not until Sister Hatch started directing the choir again after her illness did he really understand what great joy there will be."

Maybe it is because of the bond that develops when one person helps another through adversity or maybe it is just that they've been a team for 10 years, but Sister Hatch and Sister Castleton are of one mind in their work with the choir. They have an uncanny knack such that Sister Hatch might require that a song ending be altered and Sister Castleton is able to improvise an ending exactly as the director hears it in her mind.

The synergy enhances the choir's performance and motivates the members to keep coming for rehearsals. That and the dedication exhibited by the leader and accompanist. ("I know that if I stop rehearsals, it takes weeks to regroup and get my choir back," Sister Hatch said.)

Thus, the choir is always poised to perform and therefore has had a number of memorable opportunities, such as participating in interfaith events in nearby Chicago and performing last Christmas at the Church's Nauvoo Visitors Center.

But though it strives for excellence, this choir is no elitist aggregation. The invitation is extended to all ward members to come and participate.

"I directed community theater back east, and my belief was that you can teach people and they can learn," Sister Hatch said. "Most of my people in this choir don't read music. So they sit by people who can, and it is amazing what can be accomplished."

A common desire to testify of Jesus Christ through music seems to be the choir's success formula.

Sister Hatch said, "As we work with different churches in interfaith programs, we have the opportunity to help them understand, through our music, that we are a Christ-centered Church. That is what joy is."