By Leisa Parsons, Area Media Specialist
“The ultimate missionary training center is in our homes….” taught Elder David A. Bednar of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in April of 2019. He continued: “Vital temple preparation classes occur in our homes…. Making our homes sanctuaries wherein we can ‘stand in holy places’ is essential in these latter days…. it will be even more vital in the future.” Elder Bednar’s prophetic words are being realized in many homes in our area through the Virtual MTC.
“I wouldn’t change this home MTC experience for the world. Our family loves it, and we feel so blessed to be a part of this special time.” said Kacee Carlson, of the Stone Oak Ward, whose son Tyler is in the MTC, adding: “Our home is usually a happy place, but just like any home and family we have our moments! Since Tyler started his Home MTC, however, it is like a dream at home. The kids are happy, we are all productive, and we feel like we are all working together toward a common goal.”
Camilla Montoya, from the Balconies Heights Ward has also loved having the MTC at home, but initially recognized the disappointment it would be to her son Lucas not to go to the Provo MTC. She said: “About a month before his official start date, he asked us if we thought there was any chance of the MTC reopening in July. We told him probably not, that we understood this is not what he had planned for his entire life, and although it didn’t seem fair, it was important for him to always take the best from whatever situation is handed to him in life. I think it was important to acknowledge his feelings of disruption, but at the same time encourage him to understand the blessings of the alternative situation in his life. He never complained about it.”
“Lucas is in meetings or doing personal study for long, long hours, but everyday, they [Lucas and younger brother Diego] take a quick break together in the early afternoon to sit at the kitchen table, just the two of them and share a snack together. Lucas shares what he’s been learning, and then they just hang out as brothers. I’m loving that!”
The influence on Elder Montoya’s little brother Diego has even expanded beyond gospel topics. Diego decided to start working on one of his youth goals set in January to learn and study Swahili. He’s been sitting at the computer like his older brother for hours using Duolingo. His mom, Camilla said: “I think this is a reflection of seeing Lucas learning Dutch and practicing for 6-7 hours a day during home MTC.”
Wendy White, described the impact that holding the MTC has had on their family, she said: “It is more peaceful. Less distractions…there is an elevated awareness of supporting and helping Garrett learn and develop as a missionary as well as spend as much time together before he leaves. Everyone has been more positive and kind to one another. Garrett and I had a conversation the other day about he feels happier without the distractions and how much time many of us waste. ”
Initially, Cindy Vines, from the Castle Hills Ward, worried that her son, Cameron, wouldn’t feel like a missionary with the home MTC experience. She said, “Once we wrapped our brains around the change, we decided to approach the MTC as we were instructed to in the letter that was sent to us a few weeks before Elder Vines was to report. In the letter it stated, ‘we hope that as a family you can prepare together for this experience.’ We were asked to support our missionary by helping them to live the missionary standards, to engage in conversations with family members, to encourage our missionary to share things that they are learning and activities they are participating in, and to provide a family member to be his companion whenever possible. We realized that the Lord was asking us to make this a FAMILY experience and to make our home the ‘Vines FAMILY Branch’ Missionary Training Center!”
Vines continued: “There is a special Spirit in our home right now. The first day I really noticed it, I likened it to when missionaries come to your home for dinner. They bring a certain feeling with them that is hard to explain, but is unique to missionaries. Having an Elder in our home has brought that spirit here constantly. We are really going to miss it when he leaves!” She added, “Elder Vines is every bit the missionary he would be in Ghana. He is learning French at a miraculous rate, and is learning how to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have seen him grow first hand, not just through letters, but on a daily basis.”
What advice would these moms pass on to younger moms? Donna Cummings, from the Castle Hills Ward, encourages them to “Talk about missionary experiences all the time. Point them out and share your own, particularly the uncomfortable or unsuccessful ones. Share that not every testimony ends with “in the name of Jesus Christ” and that feelings and promptings of the Spirit often make you stretch your comfort zone, but are ALWAYS worth it.”
Kacee Carlson, from the Stone Oak Ward, said, “I would encourage young mothers to protect their home as the sanctuary it should be. It doesn’t have to be perfect to contain love and the Spirit. ….A house does not need to be spotless, and lives do not have to be perfectly scheduled and scripted, but organizing yourselves enough so that gospel teaching and learning can take place effectively in the home is important…. If gospel discussions are welcome and appropriate in your home environment now, then your home is ready to serve as an MTC.”
Jessie Frenkel, from the Deerfield Ward, said, “It’s important to support your kids with healthy friendships in the ward and stake, it makes it so much easier for kids and teens to stay active. Support them in Church activity – seminary is key in their gospel growth! Have an environment at home where they can ask “uncomfortable” gospel questions where they can talk about their doubts!”
Most of the missionaries leaving soon, have been unable to receive the blessings of the temple endowment. Many of the mother’s expressed the hope that they would be able to attend with their sons at a future time. Nevertheless, they have been teaching and preparing their sons for the experience. Susie Barlow, of the Deerfield Ward, said: “We have talked about how sacred the temple is, and of course about the difference between secret and sacred. One thing I like to tell my kids, is that when we go to the temple to make covenants, it’s really no different than what they’ve already promised at baptism, only deeper. Promises that we are taking upon us His name, bearing other’s burdens, mourning with those who mourn, standing as a witness, serving God as we serve others, and keeping his commandments. The difference is really in the beautiful blessings that we are going to receive as we make those promises and better understand them with frequent trips to the temple. Not only will we be able to have our sins forgiven and have the spirit with us, but all the other blessings that we are promised of eternal families. What a beautiful place to go and make promises where our Heavenly Father pours out blessings to us as we faithfully keep our covenant.”
In this week’s “Come Follow Me” lesson, members of the Church of Jesus Christ will be learning about Helaman’s soldiers and what made them so exceptional. The spiritual environment in the homes of those young soldiers impacted their lives. Former Relief Society general president Julie B. Beck described the powerful influence of parents who teach the gospel in their homes: “A well-taught friend told me that he did not learn anything at church that he had not already learned at home. His parents used family scripture study, prayer, family home evening, mealtimes, and other gatherings to teach. Think of the power of our future missionary force if mothers considered their homes as a pre–missionary training center. Then the doctrines of the gospel taught in the MTC would be a review and not a revelation” (“Mothers Who Know,” Oct, 2007). It is certain that these group of elders will also know that their mother’s knew.
