Virginia and I just completed a week of training at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. We have visited sacred places all over the world, of many faiths. Something I have learned over the years is that a place is sanctified by the people who inhabit, worship, and practice their faith in God within it’s walls. Such is the case with the MTC. The campus where missionaries are trained is indeed sacred ground. It is one thing to be trained with peers from learned and sage professors of the faith, but it is entirely a different matter when the majority of those we’re around including our instructors are young enough to be our children or even grandchildren. We were among a few dozen senior missionaries called to serve in various parts of the world. The vast majority of the missionaries that were participating in the training programs were not our peers, but young men and women between the ages of 18-22. Their numbers exceeded 1,600 strong. Our instructors were returned missionary sisters in their early twenties. I hadn’t expected such a deep level of gospel insight from those much younger than I.

I titled this post about a factory where missionaries are made. I know from my own observations that the “factory” actually exists in the homes of families all over the world. The primary instructors are dedicated and loving parents who work for years shaping and molding the character of their children. Also, countless youth leaders, educators, and other inspired individuals act as mentors and caregivers to the world’s youth. Not all children serve a formal mission. Serving a mission is never a measure of a parent’s success or a child’s individual choice. Regardless, Virginia and I were in the company of nearly 2000 young persons who made the choice to join the Lord’s battalion. I was impressed with the other seniors with whom we studied, but I was in awe at the younger generation that seemed to swallow us in a crowd. At 63, my two years of service are valuable at this stage of life now that I have completed my career and raised my children. Somehow, it seems that these young people offer a more sanctified gift because their sacrifice comes from their youth instead of their retirement. I’m reminded of the time Jesus observed a widow casting her meager offering into the collection box at the temple. Christ taught that of all those who gave offering that day, hers was of greatest value; for the others gave of their abundance, while she gave of her want. These young people have put education on hold and postponed their social life; not an easy choice to make in today’s world. Serving a mission is completely voluntary and comes largely of the expense of the young person and his/her family.

Our training experience involved understanding general principles of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, supporting local church units, and various types of service. Our mission is not a proselyting mission; that activity is carried out mostly by the younger missionaries. Our mission is more service oriented. We’ll spend a large part of our time mentoring the college students who work at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie Hawaii and working in the Pacific Theatre on the main stage show.

Some of our classwork at the MTC covered topics like coming to know God and His son Jesus Christ, identifying the character of Christ and His role in my life. Surprisingly, we were encouraged to take advantage of technology. I’ve resisted using my iPhone for doctrinal study, preferring my paper scriptures instead. I only maintained that resistance for a brief period at the MTC. One of our young sister trainers pointed out that it won’t be long before the church rests in the hands of the current generation, a generation raised from birth on technology. If we want to stay current with published church material, we need to embrace the powerful research and study aids available online. Perhaps the very reason God has given this technology to mankind was ultimately to further the spread of His word. With that invitation from our instructors, Virginia and I had a short conversation and felt inspired to take a grand leap of faith. We packed away our paper scriptures and study guides and asked our daughter to take them to our home. We are going to Hawaii with only online access to the Book of Mormon, the Bible, and all other media resources. Some missionaries say they gain a little weight while at the MTC, the food is plentiful. We lost about 20 pounds in the moment we passed off our books to Eliza, and we gained needed space in our luggage. So far, my studies have not suffered, but have vastly improved by turning to digital technology.

I was sad the day we left the MTC. I didn’t want to separate from the Spirit that permeated those sacred grounds. On the other hand, I was never called to serve sequestered behind a locked gate. My mission lies across the vast Pacific Ocean from home. The Missionary Training Center helped me prepare for the work I will be doing over the next two years and beyond. I am forever changed by that training, and I hope to be a more useful missionary because of the instruction and training I received.