All Mtcs Shutting Down

[smac97]

Here:

Quote

PROVO, Utah — All missionaries in the 10 Latter-day Saint missionary training centers around the world will either leave to travel to their mission or return home to self-isolate this week or soon after, a church spokesman said Sunday night.

That means every MTC will be empty in short order.

Any missionary at an MTC who had a calling to serve in a foreign country will be reassigned to his or her home nation. Those in a foreign MTC will travel home to self-isolate before going to their new, domestic assignment.

“All impacted missionaries and their families are receiving information regarding travel dates and other logistics, including details of their new assignments if they were originally planning to serve outside their home country,” said Daniel Woodruff, spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Thanks,

-Smac

[LoudmouthMormon]

Not one to raise alarm, but it's always good to read up on prophetic last days quotes, to see how close or far away they appear.

https://josephsmithfoundation.org/missionaries-will-the-missionaries-be-called-home-prior-to-calamities-in-the-last-days/

[Avatar4321]

Many of us are aware of the prophecy although im not sure this is how we interpreted it

[bluebell]

43 minutes ago, LoudmouthMormon said:

Not one to raise alarm, but it's always good to read up on prophetic last days quotes, to see how close or far away they appear.

https://josephsmithfoundation.org/missionaries-will-the-missionaries-be-called-home-prior-to-calamities-in-the-last-days/

This is being discussed in a different thread.  There are some similarities but I think the main problem is that the missionaries are not being brought home for the reasons outlined in the prophecy.  Plus, for now, many of them are being reassigned to different stateside missions.

[Stargazer]

10 minutes ago, bluebell said:

This is being discussed in a different thread.  There are some similarities but I think the main problem is that the missionaries are not being brought home for the reasons outlined in the prophecy.  Plus, for now, many of them are being reassigned to different stateside missions.

Maybe it's a warmup drill for when it does happen for the stated reasons. 😄 

[rongo]

A bigger issue within the topic of the OP (MTCs all closed, foreign-assigned missionaries now changed to stateside) is how in the world this is going to work with all of the Asian, African, and Philippines missionaries being reassigned stateside, plus any who currently have a foreign mission call. In the peak of The Surge, missionaries in many wards (particularly in the West) were tripping over each other. Sometimes three or four companionships in a ward. The Tempe Mission president at the time, the seven-footer President Toone, said that he was regularly receiving requests from Salt Lake to take on an additional 30 missionaries every transfer above and beyond whom he was scheduled to receive. They didn't really have any place good to put them, but had to place them nonetheless. 

Our son is doing well in Norway, and they're hoping not to be sent home --- even though they are mostly sequestered in the apartment for the foreseeable future. They would be in a stateside mission, anyway. They do get to get out and take the sacrament to sisters in a neighboring town every Sunday. But, morale is high, and we all really hope they aren't among those who will be reassigned "in the coming weeks" (the president thinks there's a good chance they will be among the last to be forced home). 

The toll and the effect on the foreign missions is going to be catastrophic, and not something that can be rectified quickly. It will take years to recover from calling home the couples and then the missionaries, if foreign levels are ever again reached, if they do a full-out call home. 

For the record, I don't regard this as fulfilling the prophecies, and anyone who knows me knows I pay keen attention to them. The prophecies seem to be a lot more "final" than this reaction to Coronavirus. And, I haven't seen enough of God preaching his own sermons to qualify, in my view.  

[Stargazer]

30 minutes ago, rongo said:

For the record, I don't regard this as fulfilling the prophecies

I think this is one of the warmups to the sermon the Lord will preach. The coronavirus is just part of the choir.  And will be followed in short order by the economic problems the reactions to the virus will cause.

As for me, I was planning to visit Poland in July and going back the US for a few weeks in October, but it's all in doubt now.  I know I can go back home to the US, but coming back to the UK afterwards may be difficult. So, I'm stuck here!  Isn't it strange, that though I wasn't really feeling all that keen on going back to the US, now that I really can't, I'm more keen to do it? Just because I can't, now I want to.

[Robert J Anderson]

I think this probably has nothing to do with prophecy, but I could be wrong.  It seems like this is a reaction to what society at large has already done regarding social distancing.  The NBA and all other sports leagues have shut down.  Governments have counseled to keep groups to a minimum of 5 or less and so it follows that the church would follow suit and close down the crowded MTC's.  I would think that the church would have led on this if it was a fulfillment of prophecy instead of falling in line with what governments have suggested to do.

[smac97]

Oi.

I generally don't care for Jana Riess, but in this story she is right on the money:

Quote

While the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been quick to act to limit the potential damage of the coronavirus, some of its members have not followed the church’s example.

Last night hundreds of people gathered at the Salt Lake City airport to welcome Mormon missionaries who had been serving in the Philippines. The scene looked like this, according to Kelly Vaughen of KUTV:

These people are not practicing social distancing, despite the fact that a state public health order that’s in place until at least April 1 has prohibited any gatherings of more than 10 people and instructed residents to avoid any unnecessary social visits. Apparently those who went to the airport were asked to maintain a six-foot distance from one another. Instead, it’s clear from the photos that some were crowded together en masse, jockeying for position to be the first to cheer for their beloved missionaries.

Some people may have thought this was fine because “most” of the missionaries had already been in isolation for two weeks before their flights home. Therefore most of them would not be carrying the coronavirus.

But the missionaries were not tested for the virus, so it’s all too possible that at least a few were infected but asymptomatic. It’s also possible that even those who had been in successful self-isolation before leaving the Philippines picked up the virus while traveling home. And because of the mass gathering at the airport, upon arrival they could infect not just their own families but others as well.
...
But what’s frustrating is that according to KUTV, the Church already issued stringent guidelines about how missionaries were to be picked up at the Salt Lake airport, with the all-caps designation “MUST BE ADHERED TO EXACTLY”:  

We need to do better.  

Thanks,

-Smac

[bluebell]

2 hours ago, rongo said:

A bigger issue within the topic of the OP (MTCs all closed, foreign-assigned missionaries now changed to stateside) is how in the world this is going to work with all of the Asian, African, and Philippines missionaries being reassigned stateside, plus any who currently have a foreign mission call. In the peak of The Surge, missionaries in many wards (particularly in the West) were tripping over each other. Sometimes three or four companionships in a ward. The Tempe Mission president at the time, the seven-footer President Toone, said that he was regularly receiving requests from Salt Lake to take on an additional 30 missionaries every transfer above and beyond whom he was scheduled to receive. They didn't really have any place good to put them, but had to place them nonetheless. 

Our son is doing well in Norway, and they're hoping not to be sent home --- even though they are mostly sequestered in the apartment for the foreseeable future. They would be in a stateside mission, anyway. They do get to get out and take the sacrament to sisters in a neighboring town every Sunday. But, morale is high, and we all really hope they aren't among those who will be reassigned "in the coming weeks" (the president thinks there's a good chance they will be among the last to be forced home). 

The toll and the effect on the foreign missions is going to be catastrophic, and not something that can be rectified quickly. It will take years to recover from calling home the couples and then the missionaries, if foreign levels are ever again reached, if they do a full-out call home. 

For the record, I don't regard this as fulfilling the prophecies, and anyone who knows me knows I pay keen attention to them. The prophecies seem to be a lot more "final" than this reaction to Coronavirus. And, I haven't seen enough of God preaching his own sermons to qualify, in my view.  

I know many that are being called home are not being sent out again, but are being released. This seems to be especially true if they have 6 months or less left on their missions. And some stateside missionaries are being released early as well, if they were close to being done.

That, though sad, will help accommodate the influx. I’m sure though that it won’t solve the problem completely. 

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

Be it real or perceived, this is quickly becoming a very “Biblical Scale” type of last, or “Latter-day” occurrence. One that will cause many, be they, former, active, less active, or any other adjective (one might wish to use) to turn too, or tune into the the Prophet’s voice. A condition that will have many returning to the fold, as they will be looking for answers to individual, or collective answers to their prayers. This General Conference is going to be (for many) a singular event to which they will use as an anchor for many years to come. In a very real way, A Great and dreadful day of the Lord. 

[Calm]

Were there multiple pictures showing a larger crowd?  For hundreds of missionaries, that is actually a small crowd.  It appears to be in the parking lot as well.  The people standing behind the two or three deep front line appear to be back  a ways where I can see through.

The plane I saw the inside packed wall to wall missionaries looked at least a hundred missionaries on it....that picture is no way close to a hundred families.

Having heard from other reports of those who were there, many were sitting in their cars, but some had not received the instructions at that time.  Many out of their cars were practicing social distancing as well.

So some families may have known better and still did it, but hopefully no one here is assuming all or even most did without better proof than one photo of a comparatively small group (for a missionary homecoming).

Edited March 23, 2020 by Calm

[strappinglad]

Just watched a video on the London subway traffic. There are way fewer passengers but they cut back on the number of trains so people are still packed in like sardines. The phrase " straightening deck chairs on the Titanic " comes to mind. 

[Tacenda]

1 hour ago, Calm said:

Were there multiple pictures showing a larger crowd?  For hundreds of missionaries, that is actually a small crowd.  It appears to be in the parking lot as well.  The people standing behind the two or three deep front line appear to be back  a ways where I can see through.

The plane I saw the inside packed wall to wall missionaries looked at least a hundred missionaries on it....that picture is no way close to a hundred families.

Having heard from other reports of those who were there, many were sitting in their cars, but some had not received the instructions at that time.  Many out of their cars were practicing social distancing as well.

So some families may have known better and still did it, but hopefully no one here is assuming all or even most did without better proof than one photo of a comparatively small group (for a missionary homecoming).

[provoman]

1 hour ago, Tacenda said:

Is there any evidence that those two photos are from this past weekend?

I tend to doubt that the airport would allow that many people in the public.

[Tacenda]

9 minutes ago, provoman said:

Is there any evidence that those two photos are from this past weekend?

I tend to doubt that the airport would allow that many people in the public.

This photo below was posted on FB along with the two I posted, notice the sign in the girls hand on the left. You've probably seen the one with all of them in the parking lot. 

Edited March 23, 2020 by Tacenda

[Robert F. Smith]

7 hours ago, bluebell said:

This is being discussed in a different thread.  There are some similarities but I think the main problem is that the missionaries are not being brought home for the reasons outlined in the prophecy.  Plus, for now, many of them are being reassigned to different stateside missions.

There are, however, whole countries and regions which are no longer receptive to the Gospel message.  Something has been going on, and it might be worthwhile to take a look at the signs of the times.

[Robert F. Smith]

6 hours ago, Robert J Anderson said:

I think this probably has nothing to do with prophecy, but I could be wrong.  It seems like this is a reaction to what society at large has already done regarding social distancing.  The NBA and all other sports leagues have shut down.  Governments have counseled to keep groups to a minimum of 5 or less and so it follows that the church would follow suit and close down the crowded MTC's.  I would think that the church would have led on this if it was a fulfillment of prophecy instead of falling in line with what governments have suggested to do.

That assumes the LDS Church leadership can clearly see any and every fulfillment of prophecy when it occurs.  This is very much akin to the mistaken belief in infallible leaders.  They are humans, and humans have an ungodly propensity to err.

[provoman]

1 hour ago, Tacenda said:

This photo below was posted on FB along with the two I posted, notice the sign in the girls hand on the left. You've probably seen the one with all of them in the parking lot. 

 

What I mean is, I do not believe the photos showing crowds inside the terminal were taken since the Utah Social distancing started

Edited March 23, 2020 by provoman

[Tacenda]

23 minutes ago, provoman said:

What I mean is, I do not believe the photos showing crowds inside the terminal were taken since the Utah Social distancing started

Whoever posted the pics on FB seemed to think so. But they could be wrong, or lying. It's a post that is going viral. 

Here's an article from Deseret News. The Bountiful man and the only Utah person to have died, apparently attended the temple a week before, not good. No fault of his, but not good that the temple stayed open, IMO.

https://www.deseret.com/faith/2020/3/23/21191722/mormon-temple-covid-19-coronavirus-utah-death-bountiful-lds-church?fbclid=IwAR0r4f3-VFVAXpm1jVyh0nC-TOnucBg1ux6tHeBaxianzJ1JDXQ_aQKOnuo

[Robert J Anderson]

1 hour ago, Robert F. Smith said:

That assumes the LDS Church leadership can clearly see any and every fulfillment of prophecy when it occurs.  This is very much akin to the mistaken belief in infallible leaders.  They are humans, and humans have an ungodly propensity to err.

Time will tell.  If the covid-19 thing dies down like H1N1 or the others did, perhaps the church leaders were just being prudent and careful.

[Raingirl]

2 hours ago, Tacenda said:

This photo below was posted on FB along with the two I posted, notice the sign in the girls hand on the left. You've probably seen the one with all of them in the parking lot. 

I’ve seen these same photos from another source. They are legit. They are from the recent arrival of several plane loads of missionaries. The families were sent information regarding rules they were required to follow. They were not suggestions. 

As can clearly be seen, many people did not follow the rules of one family member only, the family member was to stay inside the car and wait for the missionary to come to them, etc. 

People all over the US are ignoring doing what we’ve been asked to, to try to slow this virus down, and we’re all going to pay the price for their selfishness. 

[Robert F. Smith]

16 minutes ago, Robert J Anderson said:

Time will tell.  If the covid-19 thing dies down like H1N1 or the others did, perhaps the church leaders were just being prudent and careful.

Yes, of course.  Or they may be as much victims of circumstance as he rest of us.  So far, it appears that they are making a series of good decisions based on events which have been thrust upon them.  They are rolling with the punches.  It may turn out that Pres Nelson's claim that this would be a very special Conference is more true than he knew.

[Calm]

5 hours ago, Tacenda said:

That definitely looks worse. Too bad. 

[Calm]

2 hours ago, Tacenda said:

No fault of his, but not good that the temple stayed open, IMO.

Hard to tell a young bride and groom they can’t get married in the temple as they have been dreaming yet and who knows how long they have to wait.  

For now it makes sense to have the bishop marry in very small ceremony and then have the sealing and reception when this is over.  Thank goodness they changed to policy of marriage no delay for a sealing after a civil marriage.

I wonder how the government is handling civil marriages and applications for marriage licenses as well as driver’s licenses and anything else that requires in person presence. 

Edited March 24, 2020 by Calm