“Regular communication with their families is an important part of a missionary’s service,” the church’s governing First Presidency said in a statement. “One of the major purposes of this adjustment is to encourage families to be more involved in their missionary’s efforts and experiences.”
Still, those young men and women serving full-time missions should “use judgment in determining the length of phone calls and video chats,” the statement said, “and to be considerate of their companions.”
Family members are asked “not to initiate calls or chats but instead should wait for the missionary to contact them on his or her weekly preparation day,” the leaders said.