MTC's new drop-off policy hastened by swine flu concern

No more long goodbyes.

Concerns over the spread of swine flu have prompted The Church of Jesus

Christ of Latter-day Saints to accelerate its plans to permanently allow only

curbside drop-off of new missionaries at the Provo Missionary Training

Center.

Parents and families taking new missionaries to the MTC will have to say

goodbye to their sons or daughters in the parking lot from now on, the church

announced Monday.

With this change, only missionaries will be allowed inside MTC buildings.

Parents and families had traditionally accompanied their missionary children

into the center for a brief orientation before parting. Precautions to prevent

possible spread of the H1N1 virus accelerated the church's plans to allow only

curbside drop-off at the Provo MTC. All other church missionary training centers

around the world already operate that way.

In addition, parents of missionaries entering the center are being asked to

pay particular attention to the physical condition of their sons and daughters

and to delay their arrival at the center if they show any signs of illness.Missionaries and staff at the center also will

be washing their hands more frequently, avoiding handshakes and hugging, and not

playing basketball for the time being, said Elder Richard G. Hinckley, executive

director of the LDS Church Missionary Department.

The health measures come after three missionaries at the center were

diagnosed with the H1N1 virus and another 17 tested positive for the type A flu

virus and are still being evaluated.

"Drop the missionaries off at curbside and give them a hug," Elder Hinckley

said. "As always, the well-being of our missionaries is our top priority. We are