SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – November 15, 2015 – (Gephardt Daily) – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints says it is changing its missionary training program starting next year.
In a Church news release, posted on ldsnewsroom.org, it was announced missionaries “assigned to teach in their native languages” will be required to spend three weeks in missionary training centers, known as MTC, instead of two.
The change takes effect March 1, 2016.
The decision to increase the amount of time missionaries spend in the MTC marks a return to the training program used prior to a 2012 decision lowering age requirements for missionary service.
The news release is as follows:
Missionaries Speaking Their Native Language Now to Spend Three Weeks in Training … MTCs will return to their previous program for those being instructed in their native language
SALT LAKE CITY —
Beginning March 1, 2016, missionaries assigned to teach in their native languages will again spend three weeks in the missionary training center (MTC).
In October 2012, President Thomas S. Monson announced a reduction in the age for missionary service, making missionary service an option for a large number of additional young men and women. To accommodate this influx, the length of the MTC stay for all missionaries was reduced by approximately one-third. For missionaries speaking their native language, this meant a reduction in their time in the MTC from three weeks to two weeks.
“This was simply an issue of capacity,” said Elder Brent H. Nielson, executive director of the Church’s Missionary Department. “Three weeks is the optimal amount of time for these elders and sisters to spend in an MTC setting. It gives them an opportunity to understand how to be an effective, successful missionary.”
The change to a three-week MTC experience will create some minor changes in transfer dates in some missions throughout the world and therefore may affect start or release dates for some missionaries. Families of missionaries will be contacted by the Missionary Department or the mission president beginning in December with information if there are any changes in dates.
