What to write them each week.

A weekly letter to your LDS missionary can answer what they wrote, share a little of your week and your own faith, and ask about the people they serve. A 2024 article for parents in the Church's Liahona  (opens the Church's page in a new tab) suggests sharing your scripture study, your time in the temple and your own efforts to share the gospel. You can write any day: your missionary reads it when they have time and replies on P-day.

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Start with their letter.

Answer what they asked, and reply to what they told you. If they named someone they're teaching, ask about that person by name next time.

An April 2024 Liahona  (opens the Church's page in a new tab) article for missionaries' friends suggests praying for the people your missionary teaches by name, and keeping up with their experiences.

Missionaries can't always answer each letter they get, said a 2007 article in the Church's New Era  (opens the Church's page in a new tab). Keep writing, even when a reply is short.

A little news from home.

They want to hear from you. A few lines about the family, a photo or two, and what's happening in your ward say that home is well.

The same article suggests helping your missionary focus on what they're doing, rather than on what they're missing at home. So keep news of home to a few lines.

It also says that for some missionaries, especially early in a mission, a lot of time writing or calling home can make them more homesick, and asks friends to be understanding if they can't talk each week. So a short reply from your missionary doesn't by itself mean something is wrong.

Your own faith.

The August 2024 Liahona article for parents quotes three suggestions from Sister Bonnie H. Cordon, a former Young Women General President:

  • increase your own scripture study, and share your insights in your next email
  • attend the temple
  • seek your own missionary experiences, so together you can find the joy of sharing the gospel

So a weekly letter can carry what you're learning too: a verse that helped you, a lesson from church, a time you shared the gospel.

Questions to ask.

A question or two gives them something to answer:

  • What was the best moment of your week?
  • Who are you teaching, and how can we pray for them?
  • What is your area like?
  • What do you need from home?

If the answer to the last one is a package, read care packages, wherever they serve.

What to leave out.

The 2007 New Era article suggested not asking how many baptisms your missionary has had, since people in some missions are more ready to hear the gospel than in others. It also suggested not criticizing a missionary, even one who hasn't written back.

It also said not to bring up each problem at home: some they should know about, but many would only worry or distract them.

Hard news that needs their attention is different. You can tell them, and the Church asks your missionary to let their mission leaders know so they can support them. For serious news, read when something is wrong.

When the week was hard.

If their letter sounds homesick or discouraged, read when the first letters are hard.