Sending Packages to the Provo MTC: The Complete Guide

Your missionary just entered the Provo MTC and you want to send something that says "we're thinking of you." This guide walks you through the whole process, from finding the right address to choosing how your package gets there.

Step 1: Get the complete mailing address

This is where most first-time senders stumble. A package to the MTC needs the assigned mailbox number, not just "the MTC." Without it, your delivery can be delayed or returned.

A few days before your missionary enters, they receive an email with their full MTC mailing address, including their mailbox number. They can also share it with you directly once they're on site. We cover the exact format in How to Find Your Missionary's MTC Mailing Address.

Step 2: Know what you can (and can't) send

The Provo MTC mailroom has no refrigeration, and packages may sit for a while before pickup. That single fact shapes everything you send.

Great things to send:

• Handwritten notes and letters (missionaries' most-loved item, hands down)

• Printed photos from home

• Shelf-stable treats: candy, crackers, beef jerky, trail mix, granola bars

• Stamps, pens, and stationery

• Lip balm and other small practical items

Things to avoid: anything refrigerated or frozen, fast food (Café Rio, In-N-Out, pizza), and perishables that melt or spoil.

For the full breakdown, see What You Can't Send to the MTC (and Why) and Can You Send Food to the MTC?. When in doubt, the official MTC package guidelines are the final word.

Step 3: Choose how it gets there

You have two routes, and the right one depends on your timeline. Mailing it yourself via USPS or UPS works well when you have lead time and you're shipping from outside Utah; the tradeoff is transit time and arrival guesswork. Same-day local delivery like Rushly drops right at the MTC the same business day you order, which is the better choice when a birthday or departure date is close. We lay out the honest pros and cons in Mailing vs. Same-Day Drop-Off to the MTC.

Step 4: Time it around their departure

Your missionary won't be at the MTC forever. English-speaking missionaries typically stay about three weeks; language missionaries stay longer, often four to seven. Always send so your package arrives before their departure date — a package that arrives after they've left for the field creates a forwarding headache. See How Long Do Missionaries Stay at the MTC? and When Will My Package Reach the MTC?.

Step 5: Keep it small and shareable

Missionaries open packages on their weekly preparation day (P-day) and live alongside a companion, with modest living space. A small, shareable package fits MTC life better than a giant box, and it's kinder to your budget — you can send more often when each one is modest. Frequent and small beats rare and enormous.

Don't forget the letters

Never underestimate a simple letter. Handwritten notes are the number one thing missionaries say they love most, they're light, and they're free to send through Rushly's letter option any day of the week. Learn more in How to Send a Letter to the MTC for Free.