When visitors step through the gates of Temple Square in Salt Lake City, they not only get an up-close look at one of the nation's top tourist attractions but also become recipients of numerous courtesies extended to welcomed guests by friendly hosts.

Daily tours conducted on the Square briefly cover the historical and spiritual aspects of the Church. The guides are full-time missionaries, many of whom speak foreign languages, called specifically to Temple Square.Music lovers can enjoy live broadcasts of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and attend free concerts at the Assembly Hall. Daily organ recitals and weekly rehearsals of the Mormon Youth Chorus and Youth Symphony are available.

During a Church News interview, Pres. Ralph O. Bradley, Temple Square director, said, "When the temple was dedicated, they didn't just dedicate the temple, they dedicated this whole 10 acres. The dedicatory prayer asked that when people came here they would have peace, they would have a spiritual experience. Even members who are hurting come here. They know there's a peace here they can't find anywhere else."

Now in his second year as director, Pres. Bradley reported that July was the first month in the history of the Square with more than 700,000 visitors. He said this year's July total of 730,861 was 4.7 percent more than the 697,504 visitors in July 1989. The total number of visitors for the year through July was 2,396,512, 7.2 percent more than the first seven months of 1989. (July is the latest month for which attendance figures are available.)

There are 69 full-time sister missionaries and about 20 couples serving on the Square, Pres. Bradley noted. He added some speak as many as four languages. The latest 21 missionaries who have been called to serve on Temple Square speak at least one other language in addition to English.

"When people come to the Square, we can teach them in their own language," Pres. Bradley said.

For example, Aug. 16 records show that 11 foreign language tours were conducted. He said the predominant foreign languages spoken on the Square are German, Chinese, Japanese and French.

"I'm convinced that the Lord brings people to Temple Square. Our job is to make sure that we're in tune so we can touch the lives that He brings," said the director. "It's uncanny how people come here. They don't know why they come but they come. They have a spiritual experience. "

He said that rooms are available at the North Visitors Center for those with time to hear some or all of the discussions.

Temple Square accomplishes its purpose through a variety of tours and presentations. A popular tour is the "Historic Temple Square Tour," which includes the Tabernacle and ends in the North Visitors Center with "The Christus" statue presentation and the video "Heavenly Father's Plan."

Other tours are available to explain the Book of Mormon and the purpose of temples. Regular tours last 45 minutes. Shorter tours are also available for those with less time.

Many people are brought to Temple Square by friends or family members. One example is Gisela Panettas of Athens, Greece. She and her two sons, Andreas, 16, and Christos, 11, attended the Aug. 19 performance of "Music and the Spoken Word" with her sister, Lilo Barnes, and her family. The Barnes family resides in the East Mill Creek 10th Ward, Salt Lake Mt. Olympus North Stake. Mrs. Panettas was touched by the Mormon pioneer heritage depicted at Temple Square.

"I like the story of the Mormons, how they came here," explained Mrs. Panettas, who is not LDS and had not seen her sister for 11 years.

After taking a tour of Temple Square, Mrs. Panettas, her sons, and the Barnes family then attended a presentation on the Book of Mormon in the South Visitors Center. Their missionary guide spoke in German, which pleased both Mrs. Panettas and Sister Barnes, both originally from Munich, West Germany.

Mrs. Panettas was sensitive to what she learned that day. "I will work out all my impressions . . . and return to Greece to read the Book of Mormon," she said.

While families and friends introduce thousands to Temple Square, tens of thousands are introduced to the Square by travel agencies and tour guides. Shirley Gutke, a travel services manager, said her firm offers tours every day of the week, with 90 percent beginning at Temple Square. She added her company averages taking 90 people to the Sunday morning broadcast at the Tabernacle.

She said tourists are "mesmerized by the beauty" they find on Temple Square, and are "enchanted by the buildings." Her travel service gives some background information about Temple Square, she said, so tourists arrive looking forward to their visit.

Some visitors to Temple Square take time to receive a discussion. Jason Lawrence, a 19-year-old university student from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, heard a discussion when he visited the Square with his LDS friend, Neil Broadhurst, also of Calgary.

"I really like talking to Mormons, because they are so outgoing and easy to talk to," Lawrence said following the discussion.

Effective Tuesday, Sept. 4, Temple Square's hours will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., except Sunday mornings, when the Square will open at 8:30 a.m. to accommodate visitors to the broadcasts. On Thursday evenings, hours are extended to 10 p.m. for those attending the weekly Tabernacle Choir rehearsal.

Starting Saturday, Sept. 8, there will be a noon organ recital on weekdays and at 4 p.m. on weekends. Other presentations include the Temple Square Concert Series at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays; the Mormon Youth Chorus rehearsal on Wednesdays at 8 p.m.; and the Mormon Youth Symphony rehearsal at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays.