The MTC Experince -The First Week

Elder and Sister Pettingill, Elder and Sister Quirk, Elder and Sister Prater, Elder and Sister Robison, Anna Christensen



Have you ever wondered what it will be like to live with a Zion people? Well living in the MTC (missionary training center) feels like that. Everyone we met is committed to giving their all to serve the Lord for the next few months of their lives. We have heard so many incredible stories of sacrifices and miracles. This truly is the best place to be buoyed up before going into the world to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. 



All senior missionaries no matter what their mission assignment spend a week of Preach My Gospel training. They may also spend a second week in the MTC receiving specialized training for their specific assignments. Therefore during our first week we spent time in devotionals and in a class room setting learning more about how to teach the basic gospel principals found in the Preach My Gospel manual. 



On our first full day of training we were divided into districts with four missionary couples in each district. Joe was called as district leader. We have grown to love and admire all the couples in our district. Each district has two teachers who are young returned missionaries, one teaches us in the morning and the other in the afternoon.  



Our teachers were both so enthusiastic and knowledge about the gospel. We loved them so much. They would teach us a principle, we would discuss it and than have opportunities to practice what we learned. The time just flew by as we were fully engaged in what we were learning. And I must say we had some pretty funny Elders in our district that kept us laughing. 

I felt like we spent a lot of time in the cafeteria eating. Because time was flying it would seem like we ate, start learning and than was back to the cafeteria to eat again. It is amazing to me how many missionaries get fed in the MTC each day. The food was pretty good. They always had two entrees to choose from, a salad bar, soups and some days Hawaiian BBQ and rice bowls. Needless to say my intention of eating lighter once we arrived at the MTC did not happen.  

Being in the cafeteria was always fun because you would have a chance to visit with both Senior couples and the young missionaries. It was so fun to find out where people were going to serve and where they came from. I got to admit that after awhile we had talked to so many missionaries that we were starting to forget who we had already talked to and where they were going. We do know three other couples that are also serving in California just in different missions. 

All missionaries like to stand in front of the big world map that is in one of the hallways in the MTC and have their picture taken as they point to the area they will be serving in. It is a very fun tradition. 



Besides classroom instruction, there are several night time activities during the first week. One is a devotional with a general authority. We had Steven Lund, the Young Men’s General President talk to us, and he invited Brad Wilcox to come and share his testimony. We really enjoyed the evening. 

They also schedule time in the Provo temple for the seniors to attend an endowment session one night that first week. 



One of the new buildings at the MTC has amazing gigantic murals with sitting areas. Each mural has a scripture that depicts what scene is pictured in the mural along with a questions to help you think how it applies to you. We enjoyed spending time with other missionaries looking and pondering around these scenes.  





It snowed particularly every day during our first week at the MTC. But since we were staying in a room we didn’t have to worry about driving any where in the snow. 



We had a very comfortable room with an attached bathroom. It also had a table and two chairs where we could sit and study. Our room looked right out onto the Provo Temple with the beautiful snow covered mountains in the background.  



On Saturday, we had a preparation day with no activities planned. We were able to catch up on some sleep and do a little shopping in Provo. That evening we visited with some friends in Payson. 

Our first week at the MTC is now over and we have one more week to look forward to with specialized training for our assignment- member leadership support. The time flew by and we had a great experience. I wish everyone had a chance to experience the Zion like atmosphere of the MTC. 

One last note- I was very careful this week and made sure that I did not make the mistake of walking into the men’s bathroom like I did on our first mission! Wish me luck that this week goes just as well.