Letters from the MTC

[RC Vikings]

I can't remember if it was three or four or five days in SLC but I was glad when it was over.

[scottie]

I liked the MTC, but I was only there 2.5 weeks. I can understand why some wouldn't like it. One time my comp and I were walking down one of the hallways and saw our MTC MP's wife so I had my comp take a picture of me with her. (WTH would I have wanted a photo with her??? Weird). I put my arm around her shoulder and she chided me for that. I thought something was really wrong with me because I wasn't crying during the huge devotional/fireside things when the other missionaries in my district were bawling.

[PaloAltoCougar]

You poor saps, stuck in the sterile buff brick environment of the MTC cannery. Pre-1975, we got to stay in Amanda Knight Hall for four weeks, after which we were consigned to any one of several of Provo's finest inns. I got to share a double bed with my companion at the Safari Inn although, homophobes that we were, we dismantled the bed each evening so that one could sleep on the box springs, the other on the top mattress on the floor, lest one of us had to go BKP on the other. We were the exception, however, as it was quite common for companionships to sleep together in the same small double.

Like a well-dressed chain gang, each morning we'd be loaded up in a bus, taken to AKH for classes, then return to our beds of affliction each night.

For reasons other than those stated, I enjoyed the LTM experience.

[LA Ute]

You poor saps, stuck in the sterile buff brick environment of the MTC cannery. Pre-1975, we got to stay in Amanda Knight Hall for four weeks, after which we were consigned to any one of several of Provo's finest inns. I got to share a double bed with my companion at the Safari Inn although, homophobes that we were, we dismantled the bed each evening so that one could sleep on the box springs, the other on the top mattress on the floor, lest one of us had to go BKP on the other. We were the exception, however, as it was quite common for companionships to sleep together in the same small double.

Like a well-dressed chain gang, each morning we'd be loaded up in a bus, taken to AKH for classes, then return to our beds of affliction each night.

For reasons other than those stated, I enjoyed the LTM experience.

It was Knight-Mangum Hall when I got there in late 1973. Right in the middle of campus. It was odd to go to the Wilkinson Center for some purchase or other errand and run into my brother or a friend from home.

We had bunks, 4 missionaries to a room.

[byu71]

I was in the MTC so long ago it was called the mission home. Nice big building where conference center is now located. It was 1 week where looking back on it, it was a week devoted to getting your "heads right".

I remember some good talks and all of them the first 3 days emphasizing the Elders should make sure they got in to see the MP and confess any unconfessed sins. No way man. I wasn't going to take a chance I was going to have to tell my Bishop and folks some of the stuff I didn't tell them. I was always worried not telling would prevent me from ever becoming a ZL, but I did.

The worst part was hearing all the stories the next day about Elders doing battle with evil spirits. Luckily, I never had the experience.

Also Mitt Romney and I hung out a couple of times, but I am sure he doesn't tell people he hung out with '71.

[RC Vikings]

I was in the MTC so long ago it was called the mission home. Nice big building where conference center is now located. It was 1 week where looking back on it, it was a week devoted to getting your "heads right".

I remember some good talks and all of them the first 3 days emphasizing the Elders to make sure they got in to see the MP and confess any unconfessed sins. No way man. I wasn't going to take a chance I was going to have to tell my Bishop and folks some of the stuff I didn't tell them. I was always worried not telling would prevent me from ever becoming a ZL, but I did.

Three days of talks trying to scare the hell out of you. I felt like a loser that I didn't have anything to repent of.

[clackamascoug]

I was there for 3 weeks in Aug of '78, and was part of a pilot program for English speaking missions. Our "keeper" was a nut job nerd in my eyes, and 3 weeks later, I viewed him as an Apostle candidate. We left and never looked back.

30 years after my mission I'm glad I went. However, it could have been so much more productive than it was. I had 13 baptisms against a 6 baptism average, but 3/5's of the mission was door knocking futility. I could have preached more Gospel of Jesus Christ cutting hair for free in a barber shop.

[byu71]

Three days of talks trying to scare the hell out of you. I felt like a loser that I didn't have anything to repent of.

I had a few companions like you. Two of them from Idaho. They were two of the best companions I had. I really liked Idaho Elders. Dang hard workers. One of them always took the turn getting up first. He said 5:30 for him was like sleeping in.

[il Padrino Ute]

I hated the MTC. 9 weeks of hell. The worst part was hearing the losers in Cougar Stadium on a number of Saturdays.

[Donuthole]

I didn't mind the MTC. I made a couple very good friend who I'm still close with today. It was like the PG version of college dorms, only without the making out, and with a lot of scripture and language study mixed in.

Good thing I liked it, as I was there for 11 weeks.

My dad went to the LTM in SLC for two weeks, and then spent two months in Hawaii learning Mandarin.

[wally]

When I was in the MTC there was this guy in another district/zone/whatever that always wore long sleeves. ALWAYS. And it was a hot summer.

Before I left, I finally got to see him in short sleeves sweeping a sidewalk on his group's P-day. Dude had tattoos all over his forearms, I don't normally care about tattoos on people, but this guy's tats were all of stuff like "dragons holding confederate flags" and what-not.

Besides getting gas from the horrible BYU creamery products, tattoo guys dragons were the coolest part of my MTC experience.

[Surfah]

When I was in the MTC there was this guy in another district/zone/whatever that always wore long sleeves. ALWAYS. And it was a hot summer.

Before I left, I finally got to see him in short sleeves sweeping a sidewalk on his group's P-day. Dude had tattoos all over his forearms, I don't normally care about tattoos on people, but this guy's tats were all of stuff like "dragons holding confederate flags" and what-not.

Besides getting gas from the horrible BYU creamery products, tattoo guys dragons were the coolest part of my MTC experience.

There was an elder in my mission who had White Power tattooed on one arm. An executioner with a confederate flag was on his calf.

[DrumNFeather]

I loved the MTC. I enjoyed the structure. Studying. The food. My favorite part was being in my 8th week and all the 1st week Elders and Sisters thinking I was awesome.

The Elders that had been there for a few weeks always looked to me like they were wayyyyyy older than me. Then, you get out into the field and you see the ones that are going home and they might as well be 40.

[thesaint258]

Oh c'mon. The orange juice just gave you gas.

I appreciated the video before gym that included that little nugget of wisdom. One guy in our district decided to drink as much as he could every day. We ended up buying an air freshener for our classroom.

[Pheidippides]

There was an elder in my mission who had White Power tattooed on one arm. An executioner with a confederate flag was on his calf.

Giant CTR crest tat on the shoulder of one dude in my district. I win.