A letter from the Provo MTC this week announced that new missionaries are no longer required to have a COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to enter the Provo MTC. Masks are also optional for missionaries training at the facility.
“You will now determine for yourself whether to use a facemask in all settings at the Provo MTC based on your own individual circumstances,” the letter said, as reported by Deseret News. “We encourage all to extend love and respect to others and their decisions.”
Church spokesman Sam Penrod gave a statement to the Deseret News about the changes: “Following the recent guidance of local health departments and government officials, church leaders have reduced some of these requirements at various training centers, such as allowing masks to be optional, eliminating testing before arrival and encouraging but not requiring vaccination for missionaries who are training in person.” Penrod also said that up-to-date COVID-19 vaccinations are still required for missionaries to serve in assignments outside of their home countries.
Some missionaries may still need proof of a negative COVID test result if it’s required for their airline travel to the MTC, or if a missionary has cold or flu-like symptoms in the days before entering the MTC.
“Please remember that these changes apply to MTC training only,” the letter from the MTC read. “You may still be required to wear masks, be tested, and/or be vaccinated depending on travel requirements or requirements for your assigned mission.”
Missionaries at the Provo MTC will still be required to wear a mask when they attend the Provo Utah Temple as masks are mandatory in all of the Church’s temples. Penrod and the MTC letter both indicated that changes will be instituted at the Church’s nine other MTCs “as COVID circumstances and local government restrictions allow.”
Read more about the letter from the MTC and new missionary requirements at Deseret News.
