LDS Church Abandons Proposal To Construct High-Rise Missionary Training Center In Provo, Utah

In a rather unexpected development, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced on October 12th, 2012 that it will not proceed with the construction of a new nine-story, 161-ft. tall Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Provo, Utah. This decision is surprising considering that the announcement of the lowering of age limits for missionary service means that more missionaries will be called, and more MTC space needed to accommodate them. For the time being, the existing MTC structures will be used, and any excess missionaries may be housed in BYU dorms during the spring or summer semesters; there are an average of 2,700 missionaries at the Provo MTC at any given time. Media stories published by the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News and the Provo Daily Herald. KSL news video embedded below:



LDS Church spokesman Michael Purdy issued the following statement:

"There has been a great deal of discussion regarding the Church's proposal to construct a new building at the Provo Missionary Training Center. Church leaders have determined that, due to a number of complexities and concerns, we will not move forward with the nine-story building originally proposed.

"Expansion of the MTC is necessary but we are confident we can find a solution that builds upon the long-standing working relationship between the MTC, BYU, and the community at large. We look forward to further discussions as the process moves forward."

Although the LDS Church has not announced any replacement scheme, it has not pulled its application to build. According to Provo Community Development Director Gary McGinn, the Church could amend the application and still be vested to build. But any new application would be subjected to a moratorium on the construction of buildings taller than five stories in a public facilities zone that is within 1,000 feet of the Pleasant View neighborhood passed by the municipal council back in September.

Provo Mayor John Curtis expressed his appreciation for the Church working hard to find a solution to a difficult situation, and says he looks forward to working with them as this unfolds. Neighborhood activist Paul Evans expressed his relief, saying "I think we can all look at this and think we're heading in the right direction. We look forward to working with the MTC and helping them meet their needs as growth and expansion occur."

The proposed project, first announced in March 2012, drew mixed reaction from the mostly-LDS residents in the neighborhood. While many were pleased with the proposed expansion, others complained about the possible negative impact upon property values due to the possibility that the structure would block views of the mountains. In July 2012, the discourse took a more controversial turn when a local stake president relayed an invitation from a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder Russell M. Nelson, to support the Church's decision to build the facility. It was presented as an "invitation to support the decision of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles" to build the facility, after which neighborhood chairman Paul Evans, who promoted the idea of constructing two separate five-story buildings instead, abruptly reversed his opposition to the Church's proposal, in part because he is a BYU employee. After complaints surfaced about turning the MTC proposal into a "worthiness" issue, Stake President Chris Randall said that that to suggest that this was an attempt by Church leaders to exercise undue influence was without merit.

Perhaps the LDS Church will now consider Paul Evans' alternative idea of constructing two five-story buildings instead.

Sustaining The Brethren: Has The LDS Church Made Support For The New Provo Missionary Training Center A Worthiness Test?

Update October 12th: The LDS Church announced it will not pursue the proposal to construct a nine-story Missionary Training Center in Provo; updated post HERE.

An editorial entitled "Editorial: An invitation to fall in line", published by the Provo Daily Herald on July 8th, 2012, raises questions about whether or not the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has made support of a proposed nine-story Missionary Training Center in the Pleasant View neighborhood of Provo a worthiness issue under the guise of "sustaining the Brethren".

First, a short synopsis of the project is in order, since it's not been previously discussed on this blog. The project was first announced by the LDS Church in March 2012; it would replace the old Melvin J. Ballard Building with a nine-story facility that will house 16 classrooms, one or two large workshop rooms, seven to nine small practice teaching rooms, two computer labs and quiet spaces for reflection on each floor, and also a basement. The new facility would be completed in late 2014, and more information is available HERE.

Opposition to the project soon emerged, and since most of the local residents are Mormon, it can hardly be attributed to "anti-Mormon bigotry". Opponents are concerned that the 161-foot height of the structure is too imposing and will overwhelm the neighborhood, obstructing their views of the mountains and the Provo Temple looking from west to east, and from east to west losing the view of the valley and Utah Lake. A few even squawk about property values, which is a more selfish concern. Opponents also claim that BYU officials once promised in 1974 that the maximum height of any MTC building on BYU property would be four stories, and that all future building would occur on property east of 900 East.

One of the point men leading the opposition has been neighborhood chairman Paul Evans, who promoted the idea of constructing two separate five-story buildings instead. In response to that alternative proposal, MTC administrative director Richard Heaton explained that discussion had gone up and down the line from the MTC to the missionary department staff to the missionary executive council to the Quorum of the Twelve and the First Presidency more than once, and it was decided that the construction of only one building would be the most economical use of tithing funds.

Now it seems like Paul Evans has abruptly abandoned his position in opposition to the project after a local stake president relayed an invitation from a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder Russell M. Nelson, to support the Church's decision to build the facility. An excerpt from an email Evans sent to Gary McGinn, director of Provo city's Community Development department:

"On Monday June 25, 2012, I received an invitation from a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints ecclesiastical leader relayed from a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, the second-highest governing body of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...The invitation was to support the decision of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to build a 9-story building at the Provo Missionary Training Center. I accept the invitation."