"This is a delightful experience," said Turley. So nice to have people come in and talk to you; so different from my mission in the Eastern States when I was a young man. Then it was difficult to get anyone to even talk to you."

Many people come through the gates of the temple grounds. According to records, approximately 270,000 in 1987. Of course, Turley pointed out, all of those people did not take a Tour. Some just walk around the grounds. But in December 1987, 1,126 visitors toured the center, and films were shown to 3,602. About 2,000 came to see the Christmas lighting, some from Los Vegas and California. And 674 Books of Mormon were distributed, and pictures, pamphlets and postcards are also available here.

The Visitors Center is open 12 hours a day, six days a week, Turley noted. The Brigham Young Home, which attracted 41,000 visitors from January to September of last year, is open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 7 p m as is the Jacob Hamblin Home; which in that same period entertained 28,000 visitors.

Tours of the Tabernacle are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day, except on some occasions when staff is unavailable. The Tabernacle is also used for church and community programs through special arraignments with the center director.

In May of last year, 66 buses stopped at the center. There is every indication that there will be just as many or more this year, as they have been rolling in sometimes at the rate of two a day.

People come from all over the world; some are LDS but many are not. They are frequently able to view films in their native language, and Books of Mormon are available in many languages.

One man came from India. Others from France, Germany, Mexico, Taiwan, Japan, Holland, and England. Cleo and Sten Turley enjoy the variety and challenge of their work at the center.

"When I come in the morning as the sun hits the temple from the east and see that beautiful building with the words, "Holiness to the Lord," it thrills me through and through."