Benjamin Goddard (1851-1930), a native of Yorkshire, England, was president of the Bureau of Information, or what we know today as the Temple Square Mission. He spoke of his role in the October 1913 General Conference, telling a few stories that give us a glimpse of activities on the Temple Block a century ago:

Upon this block, I have the honor of meeting from day to day many of the strangers who come among us. At least two hundred and fifty thousand visitors come to Utah each year, many coming to this “City of the Saints” that they may learn something of our faith. I am impressed with the fact that one of the revelations, often referred to by our elders, has been fulfilled in greater detail than we sometimes declare, not only by the gathering of the Saints who have fulfilled to the very letter these words, but by the coming of the strangers: “For it shall come to pass I the last days that the mountain of the Lord’s House shall be exalted above the hills and all nations shall flow unto it, and many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of His ways and we will walk in His paths.” Although many may not so view it, yet they do come to learn something of the ways of the Almighty with regard to the work of this people in the Rocky Mountains. And we have pleasure in telling them the story with regard to the commencement of this great work, and that subsequently another heavenly personage came unto the prophet Joseph Smith. …

Let me tell you one little circumstance that occurred upon this block. Sometime ago, while glancing through the window, I perceived a little group of strangers on the steps of the Assembly Hall. I wondered who was conversing with these strangers. It was of interest to me to find out, it being part of my work to observe that the teachings here are given by men and women who are authorized to do the work. I therefore joined the company.

A stake conference was being held in the Assembly Hall, President Nephi L. Morris presiding over the meeting, but the group of strangers stood on the outside. Mingling with them I perceived that they were being entertained by a boy, a little fellow, who was standing on the steps so that they could see and hear him. The strangers were asking questions:

“Well, my boy, are you a Mormon?”

“Oh, yes, sir.”

“Well, are you a minister?”

“No, sir.”

“What are you?”

“I am a deacon, sir.”

“What is a deacon?”

“A deacon’s office is the first in the Aaronic Priesthood, and I have to work as a deacon, and that is why I am at the door.”

“And what is the Aaronic Priesthood?” was the question. The boy, not more than twelve or thirteen years of age, answered promptly:

“Sir, the Aaronic Priesthood is the authority given by John the Baptist when he laid his hands upon the head of Joseph Smith, and it has come down and I have been ordained a deacon, and I hold the Aaronic Priesthood.”

Oh! bless the soul of that boy. I don’t know today who he was but I felt like hugging him, because of the testimony he was thus bearing; for in the simplicity of his heart and by his youthful appearance he impressed those strangers so that, at least, they recognized the earnestness, frankness and sincerity of the Latter-day Saints….

I remember a few friends standing near the gates here, some years ago, when the President of the Ministerial Association was entertaining them. Unobserved I joined them and listened a little while to the conversation and then pleasantly asked, “My reverend friend, can I assist you a little?” He turned, astonished to see me, and remarked to his friends, “This man will tell you the other side of the story.”

“No,” I answered, “I may not; there is only one side, the true side, and, in your ministerial garb, you surely would not give any other.”

As he turned away he said, “You may tell them what you believe in. Now, be careful,” speaking to his companions, “or he will get you.”

“Now,” I remarked, “don’t make your friends nervous; we shall get you by and by.”

“Oh! no, you never will,” he retorted and turned away angrily.

‘Now, my dear friend,” I said, “be good natured. Don’t forget our teachings. We not only preach here, but we shall preach to the spirits in prison, and follow men throughout all eternity, or until they repent of their sins and accept the Gospel of Christ; that is our faith.” …

Let us so live, according to the will of God, that we may be worthy to minister to the living and for the dead, is my prayer.