Becoming a missionary is HARD! My MTC experience was one of the highlights of my mission, but it was also super tough to become detached from family, friends, technology, and wearing sweatpants all day. A little pick-me-up can mean a lot to a new missionary – I remember how it felt to find out that I had gifts from family waiting for me at the office.
Here’s our guide on how it works to deliver packages to the MTC and some gift suggestions.
How To Send Gifts to Missionaries in the Provo MTC
I live in Orem, and my parents drove me only fifteen minutes to drop me off at the MTC. You’d think that family/friends in Utah could deliver gifts by dropping them at the off at the front office or throwing them over the fence, but not so.
Basic rules for gift deliveries:
- No personal deliveries: “Family and friends should not deliver things to missionaries at the MTC security booth, during temple visits, gym time, over the MTC fence, or by any other unapproved delivery method.” Source
- No DoorDash, Grubhub, or Uber Eats: These services “will only deliver directly to the individual [which doesn’t work at the MTC]. These will be turned away at the security booth, even if the approved services below offer them as a delivery option.” Source
- No perishable foods: The MTC does not accept the following: Source
- Items Requiring Refrigeration: We do not have refrigeration capabilities in the mailroom. Packages may sit for extended periods before being picked up.
- Fast Food: This includes, but is not limited to, Café Rio, Costa Vida, McDonald’s, In-N-Out, Chick-fil-A, Taco Bell, KFC, Raising Cane’s, Panda Express, Subway, Jimmy John’s, Gandolfo’s, or any kind of pizza.
- Frozen or Cold Treats: Ice cream, popsicles, Jamba Juice, smoothies, and similar items.
- Ice Packs/Hot Packs: Coolers, Styrofoam containers, or “keep refrigerated” packaging can leak and affect other packages.
- Dairy Products: Items such as cheese, whipped cream, and cream cheese are not permitted.
- Cream-Based Desserts: No cheesecake, cream pies, éclairs, cream puffs, or fresh pies with whipped cream.
- Fresh Condiments: No freezer jams, guacamole, or fresh salsa. Commercially packaged, shelf-stable condiments are acceptable.
- Cooked or Raw Meats and Seafood: Including sushi and any seafood. Jerky is permitted.
- Refrigerated Juices: Juices like Naked, Odwalla, Simply Orange, and Tropicana must be kept cold and are therefore not allowed. Shelf-stable juices from the juice aisle are acceptable.
- Fresh Produce: Please do not send fruits or vegetables.
- Matches, Lighters, or Fireworks: These items are strictly prohibited.
- Yes commercial delivery sources: “Letters or packages to missionaries should come through US Mail or other commercial delivery services such as UPS, Fed Ex and Amazon.” Note that Amazon only delivers to the MTC “Monday through Friday between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm.” Also note that “Delivery confirmation texts and emails from shipping services are not always accurate as to when packages actually arrive at the MTC.” Source
- Yes approved local delivery services: The MTC lists several approved local options for delivery: Source
- General Mail and Packages:
- BYU Mail Services (Provo) 801 422-3658
- PostMart (Provo) 801-373-5900
- PostalAnnex (Spanish Fork) 801-798-5456
- Medicines:
- Art City Pharmacy 801-489-5618
- Maple Mountain Pharmacy 801-515-6048
- Other:
- Provo Bakery 801-375-8330
- Shirley’s Bakery 801-375-8020
- Crumbl Cookies 801-823-1544
- Milk & Cookies (Bakery cookies)
- Nothing Bundt Cakes 385-265-2067
- Great Harvest Bread 801-373-9816
- Called2Serve.com (Krispy Kreme, Cinnabon, other gift boxes)
- General Mail and Packages:
How it Works to Send Mail and Packages:
- Note their MTC mailing address: “Missionaries receive an email showing their full MTC mailing address several days before they travel to the MTC. Family and friends can obtain the mailing address directly from the missionary. MTC staff are not authorized to release missionary mailing addresses.” Your package or mail will need to have this mailing address for MTC staff to determine who the package belongs to. Source
- Pick your delivery service: Choose a commercial service or approved local service listed above.
- Avoid perishable foods: These will not be accepted.
- Purchase goods and arrange delivery with provider: Note that delivery confirmations may not reflect when your missionary actually receives the package.
Best Gifts to Send Missionaries in the Provo MTC
1. Snacks/Treats: At the MTC, missionaries are fed buffet-style for three meals per day, but they have assigned meal times. If they get hungry between meals or at night, they’re out of luck (unless they buy from a vending machine). Sending snacks or treats is a great way to show that you’re thinking of them. But remember – your missionary will have no way to refrigerate them.
- For treats, check out our list of approved businesses above that deliver to the MTC (like Crumbl, Shirley’s, and Nothing Bundt Cakes).
- For snacks, we recommend these:
2. Scripture marking tools: A few little tools can make a big difference in your missionary’s ability to use and remember scriptures, which is a significant skill in missionary work.
3. Picture printouts: Your missionary will most likely be missing home terribly. A few picture printouts to hang on the wall by their bed can bring a lot of comfort and love while they’re homesick. Plus, a lot of missionaries decorate their study desks throughout their missions, so these pictures will be put to good use for a long time.
4. Mail tools and stamps: I loved sending and receiving physical mail as a missionary, and it’s crazy how a few fun little items could brighten my day SO much. Plus – nobody wants to spend their missionary money on stamps.
5. Care package: A care package can bring a lot of comfort – but make sure to avoid ones with candles, and pick things that they’ll actually use.
- Option 1: For sisters – really cute and no candle (missionaries aren’t allowed to have open flames!)
- Option 2: For elders – cozy things they can actually use.
- Option 3: Huge variety of snacks.
6. Painted Book of Mormon with your testimony: This meaningful craft will mean the world to your missionary because it will show how much you love them. On hard days, they’ll read your testimony, and it will give them the strength to keep going. Plus, if you paint the Book of Mormon to directly reflect them (a hobby, experience, or trait), they’ll feel especially seen.
7. Games for P-day: One of my favorite memories from my mission is when the zone would get together and play games on P-day. The comradery of other missionaries truly makes a difference. Here are some games that my mission loved!
- Catch Phrase: This was my FAVORITE GAME to play on my mission!
- Magic the Gathering: All the Elders in my mission loved this game.
- One Night Werewolf: Another favorite on my mission.
- Code Names
- UNO
- Cover Your Assets
8. Drink mix packets: A 0-Calorie, vitamin-enhanced drink packet can do wonders for getting through the fifth class of the day.
9. Stain remover pen: It’s not fun to spill food on yourself, and it’s even less fun to not have any time to change. Every missionary will need some of these for their bag.
10. A new bag: A missionary often needs two different bag sizes – one lightweight for every day, and one duffel for exchanges, transfers, and when they need more resources. If they don’t have one or the other, you should make sure they do:
11. Lesson Helps: Special visuals can be really good for lessons. Here are some of my favorites.
- Plan of Salvation tiles
- Small photos of Joseph Smith, Moroni, Jesus, happy families, church buildings, etc.
12. Missionary email and photo book: Your MTC missionary will love knowing that their missionary emails and photos, capturing their important experiences, will be preserved forever in a formatted book. Click the link to order now so we can collect their memories throughout their mission!
