Comments about ‘Curbside goodbyes at the MTC’

No matter how it is done, it is an tough time for parents.

Sure, being tough on illegal immigration breaks up families... but THIS DOESN'T????

It's true that it is always tough for people to say goodbye to their missionaries, and this will be a bit of a nuisance for some LDS families who have family traditions...

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!

thinking back to the feeling in your gut when you leave your family like gives me that same feeling even now.....loved it, but that was a tough day.

Sorry, I must have missed the in-depth focus on illegal immigration in the MTC story. Could you please either: a) Enlighten me why that topic is in any way relevant, or b) Get some help for an apparent obsession that causes you to think and talk about illegal immigration even when it isn't relevant? Thanks!

Anonymous,

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.

I personally know of more than 5 people who have become converts because they accompanied a missionary to the MTC and sat thru the spiritual meeting and goodbye held inside. The spirit inside the MTC is one nearly unmatched anywhere else! Taking an investigator to the drop off now seems almost counter productive.

Although I do see the good side in such a move, I think an opportunity was lost as well.

Although I've been there and can understand your statement to a certain extent, I still find it an odd thing to say. As they said, the changes were already in the works, and were just hastened by the flu concerns. I'm quite sure those investigators would have been given another opportunity to feel the spirit confirm to them what they were searching for, had the MTC experience not been possible, because, after all, God loves them and knows them individually.

A lot of us sent sons (or daughters) on missions who didn't even go to Provo. We said our good byes at the airport as they left for Africa etc.

We always seem to take things away that are special and seldom add, we are becoming way to carful about everything and restrictive with all aspects of life.

sad: No more fairwells, no goodbye and the airport, no MTC experience.

hey california steve whats your point?

I can understand what you said too. The MTC Spirit is a very special spirit, and a choice experience for an investigator to have.

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)...

gotta love them parents for being obedient though. better to be safe than sorry...

Having no children to go on missions, I miss the Sacrament meeting farewells, just to hear their story about deciding to go on a mission. Miss the homecomings too and the talks about their missions. It is a big deal. How many future missionaries are not being inspired to go? But I know there's a reason for it.

No more farewells ... but families can have farewells in their own homes rather than converting sacrament meeting into a family reunion.

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.

We have just sent off 2 missionaries, a daughter we took to the Provo MTC in January and a son just 2 weeks ago from the very small airport in Modesto CA to enter the Brazil MTC. The MTC experience was a wonderful experience, but the small airport was just as wonderful. There is no need to go to an MTC to feel the missionary spirit, we felt it in a tiny municipal airport in CA.

Iu also remember Pres. Boone telling an audience that it was like ripping off a bandaid--say your goodbyes quickly and leave and it will hurt less than dragging it out. Having been a missionary who walked through the door and having been a parent who wathched my son walk through the door, It's harder to be the parent. The missionary is ready, the parents arent.

I think that person who made the illegal alien comment must have been thinking of how the church is currently being scrutinized for knowingly sending out an illegal alien missionary in the states.

I know this was really hard for a lot of people. I had shed some tears this last weekend because I wasn't able to accompany my son to the MTC for the anticipated meeting (we live several thousand miles away, etc.). But then I remembered when I went to the MTC as a missionary. I was just eager to go. The meeting honestly didn't mean a lot to me. Any place my family said goodbye would have been fine, I think. Thinking about things from the missionary's point of view helps. It is his/her mission after all. :)