By Kevin V. Hunt
If I were to use one word to describe the Missionary Training Center – The MTC, I would just say that it is “MAGNIFICENT”. Words really cannot describe it adequately. Two words that could describe the MTC campus and function would be “TOTALLY AWESOME!”. “GRANDEUR AND MAJESTY” would be three words. And four words would “FULL OF THE SPIRIT” (meaning the Holy Ghost). I could go on and on, but you get the drift.
ARRIVING AT THE MTC – AND IN-PROCESSING
In a recent blog, I took you right up to the door of the MTC with us. We told the family, “We’re going to be hanging up now” as we literally went through the door. It was such fun having many of our family members on-line to share that special moment with us. This was something that we had been hoping and dreaming of for several years. And, as I said before, it was interesting to now to have them be the ones to drop us off at the MTC.
I had brought to my mind the general motto of the Brigham Young University – the campus where the MTC is located. I remembered this motto from years ago when I entered BYU as a student (a hundred years ago). That was, “Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve”. That’s what we were doing!
Elder and Sister Hunt at the MTC
We were ushered into the office facility of the MTC. I was in awe that the building is named for Wilford Woodruff – the fourth prophet of the Church and one of the greatest missionaries of all time. There is beautiful painting or photo of him in the center lobby. I have a special love for Wilford Woodruff – since two of my own fourth great grandfathers were the missionaries who tracted out and baptized Wilford (Zera Pulsipher and Elijah Cheney).
President Wilford Woodruff
In a script that we would use later in the week, (preparing us to give historic tours in Nauvoo), we were told that Wilford can be compared to the four royal sons of King Mosiah who taught for 14 years among the Lamanites – and who baptized 1,000’s of their brethren. Those men are some of my own favorite characters in the Book of Mormon. I love to read of their missionary labors (Alma chapters 16 to 26).
We did not have our luggage with us. We knew that we could connect with it later.
We were placed in a holding line – while the MTC personnel determined who we were. This was further complicated by the fact that there were THREE HUNT COUPLES who were all entering the MTC – all on the same day – and all of us going to Nauvoo. Talk about confusing! More on my “cousins” later.
Once the folks determined our identity, we were led into a large room where we saw a multitude of other such “senior couples” We were directed to a table that had four or so ladies waiting for us. Each one had their specific function to perform. And we were put onto a large serpentine function that wove us around to various stops for various tasks.
MTC Name Tags
We were first given the famous missionary black badges – to tell the world who we now are and what our function will be. It was so exciting to put on our badges that tell the world that we are now official representatives of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We were happy to take upon ourselves this sacred designation. They gave us three varieties of badges – to accommodate all kinds of suit coat situations.
We were given an official “Ministerial Certificate” – officially signed by Russell M. Nelson, our current church prophet, and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We were told that we could take these to the MTC copy center to have them laminated – for a longer shelf-life. We later made our way over there and left the cards there for their lamination. And yes, they lost our cards in their process. (They suggested that maybe one of the other Hunt couples got ours by mistake – but not so.)
Sister volunteers asked about our travel plans for getting to the mission. Like most missionary couples serving in the U.S., we brought our own vehicle. We presented our travel plans and when we would plan to get to our Nauvoo mission.
At another table, a sister reviewed the cafeteria scenario and we talked of dietary issues. We had none! Wow! Look at us! We were told about available exercise facilities at the MTC but ultimately, we did not have time to use this equipment. We were just too busy.
We were given fresh fruit and a choice of a variety of finger breads.
And by this time, it was time for us to enter the cafeteria for our first MTC lunch. Wow! What a collection of food options. And seeing that throng of young missionary Elders and Sisters, as well as a large crowd of Senior Couples – all holding on to each other and practicing their “Senior Shuffle” – everyone dressed in white shirts and ties, and suits – and fancy (simple but very beautiful) dresses for the ladies. That is when “magnificent” hit me.
MTC Cafeteria
SENIOR ORIENTATION
Senior Couple In-Processing
After our lunch, we returned to our former orientation room – to find the full place now filled with seats for our auditorium gathering. (They do fast work for such things here).
We were introduced to the couples who serve as the Presidency of the MTC operation. We met President Kevin Calderwood (good name!) and his wife, Sydnee. After an opening song and prayer, we were invited to introduce ourselves. Each couple got a moment to tell who we are, where we are from, where we are going, and the number of children and grandchildren we have. (I think we were the most blessed in that activity!)
It was interesting to note that in that gathering, there were 124 senior missionaries reporting for duty. There were six single sisters, and the rest were couples. We came from all over the United States, and we were leaving to serve all around the world! That is where “Totally Awesome” began to sink in. We found that there were 13 couples who are all heading together to Nauvoo and of those 13, eight of them are going to serve as “Teamsters” – managing oxen and horses and giving historic tours along the routes of the wagon teams. It suddenly became “really cool” to be wagon teamsters. (And that’s a blog for another day … More on them later!) We were told that the MTC presently had over a thousand missionaries – with 240 more scheduled to arrive on Wednesday. We were told that of the crowd, 51% of the group are young “Sister Missionaries” – and that in June, this would reverse – with about 85 per cent to be Young Elders.
And just a note … that was our first time to get a look at the three Hunt cousins. I tried to memorize their faces so that we could connect after the meeting.
We were then given some general instructions. These complete, we were greeted by a young brother – actually employed by the MTC. He had more general stuff for us to know. This gathering event seemed to take most of the afternoon.
It was soon time for dinner. And another look at all of those magnificent missionaries.
ASSOCIATION WITH THE HUNDREDS OF MISSIONARIES
Everywhere we walked, met, or went, we saw hundreds of missionaries – as described above. What a grand missionary force! The cafeteria became the natural “hang-out” place. I don’t know how many folks the place would hold, but I do know that it was a lot.
In the cafeteria, there were a multitude of food stations – each with their food specialty. There was definitely something for everyone! They had a variety of main dish options, a well-stocked salad bar, sandwiches, a fruit bar and more. With my “generations of sweet tooth” things going on with me, of course, I went to the dessert bar first. Yummy. They had new delicacies there every day. Wow.
We were free to eat anywhere we wanted to land ourselves. We tried to sit by new people (young and old) at each meal – in order to make new instant friends. Of course we all asked or answered the three questions: “Who are you, where are you from, and Where are you going to serve?” So easy to start a conversation based upon these questions.
In the MTC (and the cafeteria) we met folks of all sizes and shapes, and people from a multitude of nations and peoples – all appropriately and wonderfully dressed in missionary attire.. This was so exciting and wonderful. That’s where “GRANDEUR AND MAJESTY” became evident. Seeing and being with those hundreds of young people truly was a grand and majestic experience. I thought, “Where else in the world can you find a crowd of young people such as these – all dressed sharp, all committed to serve, and all righteous (having met the very stringent application questions). This truly was a manifestation that the work of the Lord is moving forward! Words cannot describe the image and feeling of being with these men and women of God.
Sister Missionaries at map of the world – Pointing to their Missions
Elders in the hallway
That brings up the four words: “FULL OF THE SPIRIT”. The light and power of Christ – and the presence of the Holy Spirit (the Holy Ghost) was everywhere present – in the cafeteria, in the halls, walking around, in every classroom, and just permeating everywhere. This was such a grand and majestic thing to experience.
And as a side note … we soon found out just “how awesome” it is for us to be going to Nauvoo (and we didn’t even request such an assignment). In every discussion, with folks everywhere on our trail, as we said, “Nauvoo to be site missionaries” we were met with a silent attitude a gasp of awe and wonder. We realized that this is “the ultimate” place that everyone wants to go. We were humbly proud and excited for our special and sacred opportunity to serve in Nauvoo – this “Covenant Community” – the “Cornerstone of Zion.” (Of course, every place is awesome and cool – and people are called to these places by the Lord’s prophet – to accomplish great things according to their own talents and abilities.)
It was fun at the MTC to greet old friends and to make many new friends – both old and young!
Friends from home – Mark and Marlene Ellingson
More Mesa, Arizona Friends – Ray and Sharon Snyder
THE MTC “BOOKSTORE”
We soon discovered that the whole MTC missionary world was drawn to the “bookstore”. We followed the crowd and made our way there. We bought some marking pens and other note-taking necessities. We were anxious to meet Joe Merrill – the Bookstore Manager – since we share four grandchildren with him. It was great visiting with him. Of course, we took several photos with him and us, and sent them pronto to his kids and ours. They used that “Awesome” term when they saw the photos.
NO ROOM AT THE INN
Elder Ronald Rasband, one of our current 12 Apostles, and a great leader in the church, recently gave a talk at the October 2023 General Conference of our Church. In his talk, he invited all senior couples of the Church to review their life situations to see if this might be the time to leave grandkids and to serve a couple mission. He said that couples were greatly needed throughout the world – “and everywhere in between”.
Elder Rasband’s talk must have had a positive effect on many “Elderly” couples. I know that his message had a major effect on Sister Hunt and me.
And because of this enthusiasm to serve the Lord, as he had invited, we arrived at the MTC and were greeted with news that “there was no room in the inn”. They had more couples than they could accommodate. So, we were assigned to stay in the “Residence Inn” (located abut a mile and a half north and west of the MTC) for the full duration of our MTC stay.
Of course, we were not ones to complain … It was really a hard life living in this “apartment” (with cooking equipment, a fridge, dish washer, two TV’s, a couch and chairs, and a king sized bed. Kind of a rough life … but someone has to do it. It was fun coming home to this place each night after the work of the day.
THREE HUNT COUSINS
Of course, the news of three Hunt couples – all here together at the MTC – and going to Nauvoo was interesting to all. I quickly cornered the other two Hunt Elders. We each opened the “Relatives Around Me” app on the FamilySearch program on our phones. We were anxious to find out how we are all related – assuming that we are. As we opened the APP, we learned that we are all (Elder Brad Hunt of Diamond Valley, Utah (by St. George), Elder Jacob Hunt (from Centerville – north of Salt Lake City and me) are all “4th Cousins”. We descend through three different sons of Amos Hunt, our common 3rd Great Grandfather. Amos is probably proud … I hope so! I Took a photo of the Hunt cousins. And we had fun being “cousins” all week long.
Later in the week, we also met a young Elder named Hunt. It was interesting to note that his own first name is Jefferson Hunt (shhhh!). He told us that he comes through the lineage of Jefferson Hunt, Captain of the 1840’s “Mormon Battalion”. We brought him into the family photo with us. And for the record, there is no close connection to our Hunt line with that of Captain Jefferson. As a side note, the other two Elder Hunts are both going to serve in the Teamster group at Nauvoo. They can have their basic ox …!
CLASSES AND TEACHING
The Church recently revised the “old” “Preach My Gospel” study guide for missionaries. The first edition came into Vogue about 20 years ago (as our son was serving his mission in Texas – and he helped to teach this book and its use throughout his mission).
We had training classes each day of our first week at the MTC. We studied the “PMG” book and gleaned some really great insights to the missionary effort and our role in it.
Our AM Study District
Elder and Sister Hunt with other Senior Missionaries – PM Study Group
For our final two days of training – we studied another book – specific to our roles of “Historic Site Missionaries”. This was also excellent training – and was a bit more “hands on”.
For all of these classes, we had different teachers. Two sisters taught in the first week. One taught daily in the morning and the other taught in the afternoon. Both of these sisters had previously served as full-time missionaries. They taught “with the Spirit” (The Holy Ghost”) and they knew their “stuff”. They taught with power and authority. And then in the afternoons, we had another team of equally qualified Sisters. They were all amazing and wonderful
We had Friday night off – after the classes finished at 3 PM. We arranged for the Belcher siblings (seven of the living eight) to get together. We trekked to the Murray, Utah Chuck-A-Rama restaurant and had a great visit together.
Thursday evening was “Temple Night” for everyone. The Provo Temple (adjacent to the MTC) is presently closed for major remodeling. They provided buses for the Young missionaries and the couples found their own rides.
Sister Hunt and I found space for us at the American Fork – Mt. Tiimpanogas Temple.
GENERAL CONFERENCE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
General Conference in the MTC
Typically, MTC missionaries participate in regular Sunday services – just as they would if at their homes. Ours was a special privilege, however since our stay included the 194th Annual General Conference of the Church. We convalesced at our “Inn” and watched the two morning sessions of the conference there.
Then in the afternoons, we went to the MTC – and viewed the conference with hundreds of missionaries (mostly the young Elders and Sisters). Wow! What a great army. Again, the power of the Holy Ghost radiated everywhere among the majestic crowd. It was fun to view the conference proceedings shoulder to shoulder with these young missionary greats. It was a special blessing and opportunity to hear the inspired words of our Prophets, Apostles, and other General Church authorities. As ever, I took copious notes of the many talks.
Typically, on Tuesday nights at the MTC, missionaries get to hear a talk presented by an Apostle or General Authority of the Church. Because of the General Conference week, we did not have that privilege.
We did have a couple of wonderful evenings of Gospel presentation. One night we learned and basked in the study of the Character of Christ. Then on the other night, we heard messages from the MTC presidency members.
I am a “people watcher” anyway, so I loved looking behind me (behind the seats reserved for us “Seniors”) and seeing the young Elders and Sisters gathered for the events. One Elder in a gold suit wanted to be seen in my photos.
THE FAMOUS MTC MURALS
There are 21 different meeting and residence facilities at the MTC. Throughout all of the buildings, they have on virtually every available wall space, majestic murals of the Life of Christ and His servants – as well as real life missionaries teaching people all over the world. These murals are so awe-inspiring – and they strongly bring the Power of the Holy Ghost to the entire campus.
The “T-4” (teaching building #4) building, is a six-story structure. And throughout this facility they have giant, full-wall murals of Christ and His workers in His kingdom. We were encouraged to go through the facility to view and experience these beautiful murals. Each mural was awe-inspiring, magnificent, and wonderful. These really helped me to feel the Spirit – and the power of the might of Christ, prophets, and others. So magnificent!
Mural of “The Sons of Mosiah” Preaching to the Lamanites
A BIT OF MTC TRIVIA
The MTC was established in the mid-1970’s. My younger brother was one the last Elders to enter the Salt Lake Mission Home. That was September 15, 1978. Today, the MTC trains over 20,000 missionaries each year. And the missionaries are trained in 60 different languages of the world and there are a dozen or more regional MTC facilities located through the world.
I am so old that my “young missionary training (1973) actually precedes the MTC experience. My wife and I actually reported for missionary training and duty at the old Salt Lake City “Mission Home”. Wow! That is really old! This Mission Home was housed in an old school located across the street from 29-story skyscraper of the Church office building. That is an interesting scenario that warrants a study by interested historians. Good stuff. As I was compiling my 20-volume autobiography a couple of years ago, I researched the old Mission Home and included it in one of the volumes. Here is a link for avid historians.
Also, here is a link to my own journal entries for that experience.
Enjoy!
TO THE NATIONS
One of my favorite experiences of the MTC was feeling the reverence and awe of the Gospel being taken – with all of these magnificent missionaries – to all countries of the world.
There is a rotunda of flags of the nations to which the Gospel is being taken. They line the sidewalks all around the training buildings. It is so exciting to see these flags. They are rotated daily to include more of the national flags. These flags are a testimony of God’s work spreading over all of the world. Just being here at the MTC is a testimony of God’s work and the truthfulness of the Restoration of the Gospel – wherein God and Christ called Joseph Smith to be their modern prophet and the person through whom their Church was restored for our day.
International Flags at Mission Training Center
In a prior day, I wrote a hymn that expresses my feelings about these flags of the world nations. This is what I wrote:
I look forward to sharing this Gospel and The Restoration with the many visitors who come to experience Nauvoo with us. This should be a grand adventure.
The words of “MAGNIFICENT”, “TOTALLY AWESOME!”, “GRANDEUR AND MAJESTY” and “FULL OF THE SPIRIT” definitely describe our wonderful MTC experience. Ready now for action in Nauvoo.
We take off from the MTC April 10th– though I am “sicker than a dog” at the moment. We go forward in faith! Nauvoo bound! Pray for our safety!
Elder Kevin and Sister Lou Hunt
On the Nauvoo Trail 