The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Wednesday it will use Raintree Commons apartments and parts of Wyview Park apartments as short-term expansion space for the Provo Missionary Training Center.
The Church said these buildings will help to accommodate the increase in the number of missionaries entering the MTC. The Raintree Commons apartments are located on 1849 N. 200 West, and Wyview Park apartments are at 146 W. 1940 North in Provo.
This is said to be a temporary arrangement to accommodate the sudden increase in the number of missionaries beginning their service for the Church following the October announcement by Church President Thomas S. Monson lowering the age at which young men and women are eligible to serve. The Church said that as of January, about 1,400 missionaries are being called each week. Additional structures will be installed near the two new sites to provide services to the missionaries.
Elder David F. Evans, executive director of the Church’s Missionary Department, expressed the department’s gratitude for all of those who have decided to serve missions.
“Regardless of where they are trained, missionaries will have a rich and inspiring experience that prepares them for their labors in their assigned missions,” he said in a news release from the Church.
Missionaries housed at the Raintree Commons and the Wyview Park apartments will eat, exercise and attend classes and worship services on-site. About 2,000 missionaries will stay at these new sites starting as early as May of this year.
The Provo MTC is currently evaluating options to potentially double the size of the MTC with the city and neighbors. No plans are finalized yet.
