What Happens After You Get Your Mission Call
You opened your call. Now what? A friendly overview of accepting your call, preparing to report, sharing the news, and getting ready to serve.
First, take it in
You just read where you'll serve. Whether you shouted, cried, or sat in stunned silence, every reaction is normal. Before you start planning, take a few minutes to enjoy it with the people around you. Take photos. Write down how you feel. You'll want to remember this.
Then it's time to start turning a destination into a plan. This guide walks through the general steps most new missionaries go through. Details vary by person and by mission, so always treat your call packet and the official Church instructions as the final word.
Read your call packet carefully
Mission calls are delivered digitally through the Church's missionary portal and are usually read on a phone or computer. Along with the call letter itself, you'll typically find information about:
- Your mission and the language you'll speak.
- Your report date and where you'll begin your training.
- Steps you need to complete before you report, such as accepting the call.
- Clothing, packing and health guidelines.
Read everything once for the excitement, then again slowly with a notebook. Write down every deadline and task in one place.
Accept your call
Your call packet will explain how to formally accept your call, which is typically done through the missionary portal. Don't put it off. Accepting promptly lets your mission and the people helping you prepare know you're on your way.
Understand your report date and training
Your call will include the date you report. Many new missionaries begin with training at a missionary training center (MTC) or a similar program, which may be in person or partly online depending on your assignment. Your packet will tell you what applies to you, including whether you'll study a language before arriving in your mission.
Mark your report date on every family calendar. It shapes everything else: shopping, travel, saying goodbye to friends, and when to finish work or school commitments.
Start preparing now
The time between your call and your report date goes fast. A few things that help almost every new missionary:
- Study the language if you're learning one. Even a little vocabulary before training makes a difference.
- Learn about the place. Read about its history, culture, food and climate. Our mission directory has a page for every mission with a map of its boundaries.
- Practice daily habits you'll keep as a missionary: early mornings, regular scripture study, cooking simple meals and doing your own laundry.
- Take care of your health. Follow the medical and dental instructions in your packet, and build up your walking or biking stamina.
- Handle paperwork early, especially anything with a long processing time. If you're serving abroad, follow the passport and visa instructions you're given as soon as you can.
Shopping and packing
Resist the urge to buy everything the day after your call. Wait until you've read the clothing and packing guidelines for your mission, since climate and local customs make a big difference. Missionaries headed somewhere tropical need very different gear from those going somewhere with snowy winters.
Ask recently returned missionaries, ideally from your mission or a similar climate, what they actually used and what they wish they'd left at home.
Enjoy the time before you go
Between preparing and packing, make room for the people you love. Plan a last family dinner, visit grandparents, and say thank you to the leaders and friends who helped you get here. Those memories will carry you through homesick days.
Planning a celebration? Our mission call party ideas and opening checklist can help.
Make call day a game
Create a free guessing game and let family and friends drop their pins before the call arrives.
Frequently asked questions
How are mission calls delivered?
Mission calls are delivered digitally through the Church’s missionary portal and are typically read on a phone or computer.
How much time is there between a mission call and the report date?
It varies from person to person. Your report date is listed in your call, so check your call packet for your specific timeline.
When should I start shopping for my mission?
After you have read the clothing and packing guidelines for your specific mission. Climate and local customs can change what you need.
How do I share my mission call with everyone who guessed?
If you created a MissionCallGuess game, enter your actual mission on your manage page. The site calculates how close every guess was and creates a results page you can share.