By Breanna Olaveson Church Magazines
Breanna Olaveson, “International MTCs Play Important Role,” Ensign, Dec. 2010, 74–76
Beginning in 1925, newly called missionaries spent time in a small “mission home” in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, before beginning their service.
In the 85 years since, the Church has established missionary training centers (MTCs) around the world. A missionary in training might be one of thousands in Provo, Utah, USA, or one of only a few dozen in Johannesburg, South Africa. But no matter which MTC they attend, missionaries come away ready to preach the gospel.
“At the MTCs, we do everything we can to prepare missionaries to accomplish their purpose, to ‘invite others to come unto Christ,’” said Kelly Mills, director of international MTCs in the Church’s Missionary Department.
In the early 1970s, the first MTC was established in Provo, Utah. In 1977, MTCs were established in São Paulo, Brazil; and Hamilton, New Zealand, to train local missionaries. The smaller, local MTCs proved efficient and helpful, and over the next 25 years the total of MTCs operating worldwide rose to 15, and are now found in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, England, Ghana, Guatemala, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, Spain, and the United States.