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New MTC dropoff begins
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To be honest, this should be an adjustment, and not be an nuisance for anyone. Every other MTC in the world is already doing these sorts of things. It was only a matter of time before this stuff was coming anyways.
On top of that, I don't think any worthy, desirous missionary would want to get delayed or sent home because of an illness. The safety and well-being of LDS missionaries ought to be the top priority for ALL members of the Church, not just the MTC or the missionaries themselves and their families.
Not being able to attend orientation meeting with friends, your girlfriend or boyfriend, and family should be the last thing on a missionary's mind at this point.
Being healthy and well is the priority here, not getting an hour extra before saying goodbye. We should be honoring missionary service when missionaries return with honor, not when they depart!
I'm having a hard time how illegal immigration relates to this?
To your ill-conjured point, it is also important to remember that God is no respecter of persons therefore he is no respecter of the invisible country borders that men have arbitrarily created.
Although I do see the good side in such a move, I think an opportunity was lost as well.
But there are many other places you can take an investigator to feel the Spirit--for example, where possible you can invite them to a family home evening, a Church fireside, or a Church activity.
You can also invite them to attend a temple open house (i.e. Oquirrh Mountain Temple) or to visit the temple grounds. You don't have to go inside the temple to feel the Spirit. It is right there when you walk on the grounds.
There are also settings in church where one can feel the Spirit, too.
The MTC experience may not be there, but there are still many wonderful and choice experiences that investigators can have.
I highly doubt that anyone is going to say that because they can't enter the MTC to get a confirmation by the Spirit that they aren't going to join the Church.
If they did, I'm pretty certain that the MTC would be happy to assist in arranging something for that situation (wink, wink)...
No more goodbye at the airport ... but then those who lived far from SLC didn't have that luxury either.
No MTC experience ... but, but, this one IS sad. Needed, but sad.
My wife and I asked our seven kids and 17 grandkids to see us off, bid farewell, have a family devotional the days or weeks before we left for Peru. It worked out fine.
As President Boone said - The band-aid has to come off sometime. Rip it good!
Sure, being tough on illegal immigration breaks up families... but THIS DOESN'T????"
In the short term, yep.
In the long term, meaning the portion of life beyond death, NOPE!
Hope you get rid of your short-sightedness.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana Mission
8 November 1984 - 13 November 1986
Went through it with 2 older brothers (served in Kobe, Japan mission and the Seattle, WA missions) as well as a buddy who served in West Virginia.
The MTC President would welcome everyone and would speak for awhile and then at some point he'd say "Moms and dads and family, you go that way, (and then pointing through some doors in the opposite direction) Elders and Sisters, you go that way".
After some hugs and kisses, off we all went.
One of the VERY BEST decisions I ever made was to serve.
I was involved in 20 conversions over 2 years.
19 "non-members" and me.
The caravan moves on!
All of the hooplah that is given in Utah isn't so much a display of love as it is a display of helicopter parenting brought on by traditions that are outdated or SHOULD be...
These young men, young women and senior couples NEED the dignity of having a private family gathering for their goodbye and the dignity of an MTC experience without the overzealous family members hanging onto their ankles crying about how long they will be gone.
Time to cut the apron strings...
I remember going to the "Mission Home" in SLC and then going to the "LTM" in Provo before heading out to Northern Italy. My single Mother in Oklahoma couldn't come to see me off and it was a bit of a growing experience. I have fond memories of that time (1973) and appreciate the wisdom of the brethren in doing the things they do.
This is a wonderful time.
There's no need in this forum to write spitefully or in an angry tone. It amazes me the things that cause others to get upset.
It gets to the point where it's just time to get on with it -- to get the missionary up and going, out of the house, away from family and friends, etc.
Give 'em a hug and say, "God Bless!"
Just kidding!
Kyle | 1:43 a.m. June 4, 2009
Elders watch out for that horrible "swine" flu. You might feel a little sick. What a joke I can't believe the church bought into the hysteria...ridiculous!
I mean, my gosh I had him in my belly for 9 months, and they'll always be your baby, I refuse to just say "well, goodbye son" and then leave quickly. My anxiety just can't take that.
We get it. This is the church, and we need to be tough. But, thanks for pointing this all out anyway, so we know that you know too. :)
As the article points out some "tweaks" can, and will, be made. Yesterday's experience wasn't typical of a church-run production. The volunteers were a little flustered and made some insensitive comments. There was a little confusion in some instances. It was a little more like a Scout Camp drop off than a sacred goodbye.
(I'm sure that even the airport goodbyes aren't a dropoff at the curb with the baggage guy saying, "Keep it moving.")
They'll get it right. But yesterday, wasn't quite the final production I think they were hoping for.
We're still "bucking up" though and are happy to have another son serving!
The fact this new strain of H1N1 influenza has been less severe than initially thought doesn't mean the Church is "paranoid" by taking these precautions.
Missionaries from all over the world enter the MTC, and from there they go to all points on the globe; for the flu virus it's the perfect opportunity to spread itself. A large outbreak in the MTC would require the Church to quarantine the entire facility and would seriously hamper the missionary program for weeks, if not months.
Not to mention the damage to the Church's reputation if their missionaries were found to be responsible for starting a swine flu outbreak in some other country.
In my opinion, the Public Health establishment has been a little too successful in their efforts to stamp out communicable diseases. The lack of large-scale pandemics of deadly diseases has bred complacency among Americans to the point that it makes us more vulnerable to outbreaks because too few people believe it could happen to them.
Now it seems, that everyone will simply get a fast good bye. That does seem to me (even though the reason is Swine flu) that now no one will need to feel "left out" because one's own family members couldn't be bothered with seeing someone for the last time for over a year and a half or two year missionary experience. Like "happy to be me" I too, was grateful when all the good byes were said and then all missionaries were then on equal ground...loved ones were gone. The missionary experience could finally begin.
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