21 thoughts on “MTC Under Construction”

1. This will definitely date me. I remember attending the ground-breaking ceremonies as a newly called missionary, and then, as a recently employed instructor, moving from the old campus at Knight Mangum Hall into the new buildings across from the temple.

2. I remember when the road leading from where the MTC now stands to the temple (Google Maps says it’s now called Temple View Drive) was a 20-foot wide lane that leveled off as it came through a stand of trees just before a final drop down to 9th East. One snowy day as I rode down 9th East on my motorcycle, followed way too close by an old woman in a Chrysler Imperial, I watched a milk truck come down that lane, its wheels locking as the driver hit the brakes. I could imagine the truck sliding all the way across 9th East, making life difficult (and short) for me. If running into the milk truck didn’t send me to my eternal reward, the old lady in the Chrysler surely would.

   So I turned off the road onto the snow-covered gravel shoulder and put the bike down. The milk truck stopped in time, the Chrysler didn’t hit it, or me, and two or three years later the MTC showed up.

   Otherwise, I have no memories of the place. Rather than suffering there for two months of Japanese language instruction, I spent two months on the heavenly north shore of Oahu, at the Language Training Mission in Laie.

3. I’m not at my normal computer, but I’ll see if I can do something about the resolution on the photos. (Might need to happen on Saturday.)

4. I remember helping my grandparents get settled in their dorm room in 1989. My grandmother had us push the two twin beds together to form one bed since they hadn’t slept apart in 40 years – and she wasn’t about to change. My family returned one Sunday while they were there to sing a special musical number during their branch sacrament meeting. And we got to eat at the cafeteria afterwards with them. I was 12.

5. I wonder if the new dorms will have group or single stall showers. I was surprised to learn that while the showers on the male floor I was on was group, the showers on the womens’ floor (which we were assigned to clean once) were singles. I don’t know if the assignment was coincidence or by design. I don’t recall any urinals in the dorms either, so it may be that every floor was made to be genderless, allowing use for either depending on the need of the time.

6. I was in the Language Training Mission (Sep-Nov 1972) at BYU. The buildings we used and lived in were at the south end of the BYU campus. The LTM actually got overcrowded while I was there, and some of us had to start sleeping at a motel at the far south end of University Blvd (we were bused back and forth each day). From reports I’ve heard, though, the general time dilation is about the same: each day seems to last forever, but the actual total stay (8 weeks back then) passes in the blink of an eye.

7. I was there in August of 1998; I think it was maybe as crowded as it has ever been, before or since. There are more missionaries now, but also more places to train them. The air conditioning broke on our floor, which rapidly acquired a distinct locker-room aroma.

8. Due to the crowding, they also tried to get rid of p-day when I was there — you couldn’t have so many missionaries doing nothing productive all day! Instead, there was a designated time to go to the temple, a designated time for laundry (which was barely long enough, if you could find an open machine), and other little bits of “preparation time” scattered like chaff in 10-15 minute blocks through the week — not nearly enough downtime to write a good letter or polish your shoes (in fact, you might be nowhere near the dorms when it happened). I think they abandoned that experiment quickly, to avoid riots.

9. I liked all the keep-off-the-grass signs in different languages. And the Silent Sundays when no one spoke because everyone had to speak their new language. And the American Sign Language missionaries that seems to have the most fun doing pantomimes for everyone.

10. For bfwebster: The Royal Inn? Still used for overflow purposes in August 1974.

11. Amy’s higher resolution pictures have been swapped into the post — what a difference! Thanks, Amy.

12. I wonder how long after completion the first resident missionary will make a joke akin to “so this is the new MTC, modeled after the old MTC where we used to live”

13. I don’t think that would have been the Royal Inn, since that was up at the northern end of University (and I presume bfwebster meant “Avenue” not “Boulevard,” since there was no street with that name in 1972).

    With the new high resolution photos, I think I can guess that the new buildings are south of the existing MTC, down where the University Press and some other buildings used to be. Is that right?

14. Wow! in July 1976 we checked into Knight Magnum Hall, slept in Heritage Halls, ate at the Morris Center (Deseret Towers) and had class in the new MTC. We did a lot of walking. Because of visa delay (Brazil) we were able to move into the new MTC dorms and be there for the dedication.

    http://www.moderatebutpassionate.com/2012/02/dedication-of-provo-ltm-mtc-1976.html

    http://www.moderatebutpassionate.com/2012/06/dedication-of-provo-ltm-mtc-1976-part.html

15. Mark B., these pictures are taken going south along 9th East and the last one looking back at the buildings across University Parkway. Google Maps is showing one of the previous buildings there as BYU Print and Mail, so it looks like you’re correct.

16. I remember taking my sister to the MTC in the early 80s (1982, maybe?). Rather than today’s curb dropoff, we all went in for a short program, and then families went out the door we’d come in by while the newly called missionaries went out another door. It was supposed to be the last time we saw each other for a year and a half, two years for the families of elders, but my sister and I actually met up and arranged for me to sneak in on her last night and spend a couple of hours there.

17. You’re in my era now, Cate — I went in on 31 December 1981. I’d gone up to Provo alone so didn’t have anyone with me in that meeting, and I remember looking around at all those tearful parents who could hardly bear to say goodbye to their missionaries, and thinking that the missionaries would be glad when they could finally put all those tears behind them and get started on their missions! By the end of her time in the MTC, though, I’ll bet your sister was genuinely glad to have you with her.

18. As a BYU sophomore in 1985, I remember accompanying a friend (my roommate’s boyfriend) to the MTC. We went in, along with his parents and sister, for the program and goodbyes. I can’t imagine why I thought that was a good idea. What must his parents have thought?!

    This summer we will be dropping off our third son at the MTC. I sure hope none of his girlfriends are planning to come along!

    Does anyone know the expected completion date?

19. I went in April 1st, 1998 and stayed 5 weeks going to LA english speaking.They did this telecentre and class thing so we stayed longer. One fun memory is when I was in the telecentre and coming from Canada we were doing call outs to see if people got what they ordered (bibles, videos etc)I got a call from “William Clinton” age 52 1600 Pennsylvania Ave Washington DC and he ordered a Bible. I had NO CLUE it was the President of the US! long story short I got his secretary and he was busy to take my call. This was just before the whole Monica Lewinsky thing hit the fan so I figure someone ordered him a Bible to put him on the straight and narrow! for the next hour afterwards people were trapsing in our call room to see my screen as being legit for a Canadian calling the White House!

20. Because of overcrowding when I was there in September of 1990 we had all our classes in a stake center about a 15 min walk from the MTC. Those beautiful fall walks past the temple 6 times a day were a lifesaver for me. For the last two weeks of my 9 week stay we were moved back into the MTC for classes and it was torturous.

21. MY MTC memories:

    1) My companion was a total joke. Hindsight often leads one to reflect and realize that he had often been too harsh on people; this was not the case. He was really that awful. He stole the scriptures, which I was very proud of having marked, threw them away, and lied about it (he was the ONLY one with access to them, and he had a perfect window of opportunity about an hour before I noticed they were missing). I stored lots of sentimental items inside. I’m still mad about this.

    2) I was in over the 4th of July. That morning we were up playing volleyball at the sand pit next to the temple (is that still a thing?), and some hot air balloons flew over the MTC. I said to somebody near me, “Just when I thought this place couldn’t get any more like East Berlin…” He didn’t get it.

    3) During devotionals, we would change the lyrics to We’ll Bring the World His Truth to say “and we are NOW the Lord’s missionaries,” and it always made me choke up.

    4) My stake president was called as a mission president, and the seminar took place during my stay at the MTC. He and his ditched the fancy MP meals with General Authorities and came and ate with me at least three times. Talk about a tender mercy for a homesick kid.

    5) The shower drains constantly backed up, so much so that we had to shower in ankle-deep water. It was disgusting. I paid a fortune at the MTC bookstore for shower flip flops, which I had eschewed as only for weirdos, and it was worth every penny.

    6) My not-girlfriend and her roommates would come to the TRC while I was conveniently inside… that was maybe not the wisest decision, but it certainly felt good at the time!

    7) During the 4th of July we got to watch Stadium of Fire fireworks, but only after sitting through an interminable fireside which involved playing patriotic music on wind chimes led the wife of a counselor in the MTC presidency. We dinged on those stupid things for more than an hour, and the poor lady could not figure out why we were so restless (which led to several lectures by her husband).

    I hated the MTC at the time, but have largely fond memories!

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