Weekly call and video chat tips
Make the most of the weekly call: how it works, a few easy habits, and questions that get better answers than “How was your week?”
Quick answer
Missionaries can contact family every week on their preparation day (P-day) by letter, email, text, messaging, phone or video. Your missionary starts the call, so agree on a rough time window and keep a short list of questions ready.
How weekly calls work
- Missionaries can contact family on their weekly preparation day by letter, email, text, messaging, phone or video.
- Your missionary starts the call or chat. Families don’t call them.
- They choose a sensible length, thinking of their companion and their purpose.
Sources: Missionary Standards 3.9
Easy habits
- Agree on a rough time window each week, and keep phones charged and the app updated.
- Pick one family member to run the call so everyone gets a turn.
- Keep a short list of questions (below).
- Let them talk first. Save home news for the end.
- End on time and on a good note.
- Write a few lines afterward in the weekly call journal, saved only on your device.
What to ask on the call
Pick three or four. Open questions get better stories.
- What was the best moment of your week?
- Who are you teaching or helping right now? (First names only are fine.)
- What’s your companion like? What do you do well together?
- What was hard this week?
- What’s one thing you learned from the scriptures?
- What’s the food like this week?
- What can we pray for?
- Is there anything you need us to send or look up?
- What’s a phrase you learned in the language?
- What do you want to remember from this week?
After the call
- Jot down names, highlights and prayer requests in the journal while they’re fresh.
- Share an update with relatives so the missionary doesn’t repeat it.
- If something worried you, see what’s normal or when they’re struggling.
Next steps
Questions
How often can missionaries call home?
Missionaries can call or video chat with family on their weekly preparation day, and they start the call. Mission rules can add details.
How long are weekly calls?
There’s no set length in Missionary Standards. Missionaries decide wisely, thinking of their companion and their purpose.
Where do I keep notes from calls?
Use the GotMyCall weekly call journal. It saves only on your device, and you can back it up or print it.
. Unofficial: check your call packet and the Missionary Portal for your own details. Official pages and your leaders are always the final word. GotMyCall is unofficial and not affiliated with or endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.