The farewell talk and the family gathering.
Before your LDS missionary leaves, the bishopric invites them to speak in a regular sacrament meeting, about Jesus Christ, His restored gospel, and the joy of sharing the gospel and serving others. The Church's General Handbook (opens the Church's page in a new tab) also asks members not to hold open houses, except for family gatherings.
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The farewell talk.
The bishopric invites your missionary to speak in sacrament meeting before their mission begins. It's a regular sacrament meeting, and its regular time isn't extended.
The focus is on the sacrament and the Savior. The handbook asks that your missionary be invited to speak about Jesus Christ, His restored gospel, and the joy of sharing the gospel and serving others.
Family members and friends aren't normally invited to speak.
Ask the bishopric which Sunday it will be, so family traveling in can plan for it.
Helping with the talk.
The topic is already given, so the help they may want is a listener. Offer to hear a practice run, or share a scripture or a family story that fits.
Let the words be theirs.
What the handbook asks members to avoid.
The handbook asks members and leaders to avoid anything that may distract from the sacred nature of a mission call or create unnecessary expense.
For example, it asks them not to print special sacrament meeting programs, and not to form reception lines after sacrament meeting.
A family gathering, not an open house.
The same section asks members not to hold open houses, except for family gatherings. If you hold a family gathering, it recommends that it not conflict with Sunday meetings.
Ask your missionary who they would like there, and pick a time outside Sunday meetings.
Their email list, before they go.
If you haven't yet gathered the email addresses of everyone who will want your missionary's weekly letters, a family gathering is a good time.
Set a sign-up sheet by the door, or our QR code flyer: people scan it, enter their email, and they're on the list. Share its social post with friends who aren't there.
A note to take with them.
A card is a goodbye they can carry. A few lines are enough: something you've seen them grow into, and something you'll pray for while they're gone.
Once they're at the MTC, letters reach them there too. Read letters and packages to the MTC.
Saying goodbye.
Immediate family may take a missionary to an MTC, but they aren't expected to, and the MTC doesn't hold a meeting for families to say farewell. So plan your goodbyes for home.
For drop-off day, read the MTC, from a parent's side.
Before then comes the setting apart. Read set apart, then the home MTC.
Where this comes from.
This guide follows the Church's own page, checked in November 2026. If anything here has changed, follow the Church's page. The ideas for helping with the talk and for the card are ours.