Missionaries Heading To Provo, England Will Be Trained Virtually
Mar 11, 2020, 10:27 AM | Updated: Mar 20, 2020, 5:06 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced a significant change in the operation of two Missionary Training Centers due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19.
Missionaries scheduled to begin their service in Provo, Utah and Preston, England after March 16 will remain home and be trained remotely by video conference.
The announcement was made Wednesday, in conjunction with plans to hold the April 2020 General Conference without a public audience in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City.
In addition to changes in the Provo and England Missionary Training Centers, Church officials said.
Other missionary training centers will continue to function as usual, but they will not receive any missionaries from regions where government officials are restricting activity due to COVID-19. Missionaries from those areas will also be trained by video conference.
— The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (@Ch_JesusChrist) March 11, 2020
There were just over 1,100 missionaries at the Provo MTC and about 60 missionaries at the Preston, England MTC when the announcement was made, according to a church spokesperson.
Those groups will get smaller week after week as missionaries depart for their assigned missions. Missionaries who arrived in Provo on Wednesday as part of the last group before the temporary virtual training program starts next week said they are happy they will still get the MTC experience.
“I’m just glad I made the last batch,” said Nathan Meyers from Kirkland, Washington, who will serve his mission in the Philippines. “It would have been a lot more difficult, for sure, for me to be able to learn the new language—especially just from home.”
“It will be nice to get in the groove of living with other new missionaries before I’m in the field,” said Haylee Loveless from American Fork. “I’m excited to be surrounded by new missionaries and just get right into it.”
Loveless will spend about three weeks at the training center before heading to her mission in Columbus, Ohio.
VIDEO: “I’m just glad I made the last batch"
Missionaries in #Provo react to news that they are the last group to enter the @Ch_JesusChrist's missionary training center before temporary video training starts due to concerns over #COVID19 #coronavirus
FULL STORY, 6pm on @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/Mq00c3Kuuk
— Ladd Egan (@laddegan) March 11, 2020
“I feel lucky she gets to still go to the MTC,” said Haylee’s dad, Russell Loveless. “It’s good to have the full experience and the time to study.”
The MTC and General Conference changes were made in response to global concerns about the coronavirus, based on recommendations from government leaders and medical professionals.
“We are deeply concerned about the global spreading of illness caused by COVID-19. We have counseled with worldwide governmental, ecclesiastical, and medical leaders and have prayerfully considered the current circumstances,” Church officials said in a statement.
Officials said the Church’s other training centers across the world would continue normal operations, but incoming missionaries from areas in the world where civic leaders have restricted travel will also be trained remotely.
Missionaries trained remotely will report to their assigned missions directly from home after completing their training.
Coronavirus Resources
Have you or a family member been affected by coronavirus issues in Utah? KSL TV wants to hear from you. Contact KSL by emailing social@ksl.com.
What is COVID-19? Here’s What You Need To Know To Stay Healthy
What We Know And Don’t Know About The Coronavirus
Four Common Coronavirus Questions Answered
The latest coronavirus stories from KSL TV can be found here.
Your Life Your Health: How can parents prepare their home, children against coronavirus?
How Do I Prevent It?
The CDC has some simple recommendations, most of which are the same for preventing other respiratory illnesses or the flu:
- Avoid close contact with people who may be sick
- Avoid touching your face
- Stay home when you are sick
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
The CDC does not recommend wearing a facemask respirator to protect yourself from coronavirus unless a healthcare professional recommends it.