Missionaries Speaking Their Native Language Now to Spend Three Weeks in Training

SALT LAKE CITY —

Sister missionaries at the missionary training center in Mexico City.

Beginning March 1, 2016, missionaries assigned to teach in their native languages will again spend three weeks in the missionary training center (MTC).

In October 2012, President Thomas S. Monson announced a reduction in the age for missionary service, making missionary service an option for a large number of additional young men and women. To accommodate this influx, the length of the MTC stay for all missionaries was reduced by approximately one-third. For missionaries speaking their native language, this meant a reduction in their time in the MTC from three weeks to two weeks.

"This was simply an issue of capacity," said Elder Brent H. Nielson, executive director of the Church's Missionary Department. "Three weeks is the optimal amount of time for these elders and sisters to spend in an MTC setting. It gives them an opportunity to understand how to be an effective, successful missionary."

The change to a three-week MTC experience will create some minor changes in transfer dates in some missions throughout the world and therefore may affect start or release dates for some missionaries. Families of missionaries will be contacted by the Missionary Department or the mission president beginning in December with information if there are any changes in dates.