Changes to the Sunday Class Meeting Schedule

This adjustment is intended to help members focus more on the teachings of Jesus Christ, strengthen gospel learning at home, and increase fellowship, belonging, and community at church.

No. Sacrament meeting will continue to be no longer than 60 minutes. During this meeting, members partake of the sacrament and remember Jesus Christ. Sacrament meeting provides an opportunity to reflect on God’s plan, participate in teaching and music, and share testimonies of Jesus Christ and His gospel. Leaders should plan meetings that are uplifting and inspiring, and members and leaders should work together to create a positive and meaningful worship experience.. (See General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 29.2.1.)

Sunday School classes strengthen gospel learning at home. Classes open and close with prayer, and teachers lead discussions focused on the scriptures and Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church. These conversations encourage personal and family scripture study while giving members opportunities to share insights, testimonies, and experiences that build faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. (See General Handbook, 13.2.3.)

Meetings begin and end with prayer. Gospel instruction is centered on messages from the most recent general conference. Presidencies seek the guidance of the Spirit as they select messages to discuss. Members counsel together during the lesson about how the principles in the messages apply to their respective challenges and opportunities. They are encouraged to both understand the teachings and apply them in their daily lives. Leaders and teachers ensure the discussion focuses on the Savior and helping members deepen their covenant relationship with Him.

Starting September 6, young women and young men continue to study Come, Follow Me during Sunday School every week. In Young Women classes and Aaronic Priesthood quorums, youth will discuss eternal truths found in the FSY guide and the scriptures that will help them live as lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ. Additional curriculum support for classes and quorums is in the For the Strength of Youth magazine.

Meetings begin and end with prayer and are conducted by a member of the quorum or class presidency. Gospel instruction is provided by an adult leader, a youth (or multiple youth), or a youth assisted by an adult leader.

Starting in September 2026, lessons will focus on truths in the updated For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices (available now in the Gospel Library and available soon in print). The new edition contains 12 chapters, with one chapter designated for study each month. The For the Strength of Youth magazine will offer additional resources to support each monthly theme, beginning with the September 2026 issue.

Primary meetings will follow the schedule below:

In wards with many children, Primary leaders may divide children into two groups. One group is in classes while the other group is in singing time, and then the two groups change places.

Teacher council meetings are held monthly during one of the 25-minute class times on Sunday.

• Relief Society, Young Women, and priesthood quorum teachers and leaders can meet while Sunday School is being held.
• Sunday School teachers can meet while Relief Society, Young Women, and quorum meetings are being held.
• Information about teacher council meetings for Primary teachers can be found in General Handbook, 17.4.

The ward council may organize teacher council meetings, as needed, for parents to help them improve gospel teaching in the home. Like other teacher council meetings, these are held during one of the 25-minute class times on Sunday. (See General Handbook, 13.5, 17.5.)

For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices (FSY guide) is a principle-based guide designed to help youth choose to live the gospel and follow Jesus Christ. One of the best ways to use the guide is to help youth understand the doctrine that is foundational to the principles. Added curriculum support in the For the Strength of Youth magazine will emphasize the doctrine behind each principle in the guide. The FSY guide and curriculum support in the magazine will help youth find their purpose, place, and potential in God’s plan.

The updated For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices is now available in the Gospel Library. Printed copies are being sent to units and do not need to be ordered by local leaders.

Youth, parents, and leaders are encouraged to subscribe to the For the Strength of Youth magazine at no cost on the Church’s website. The magazine provides monthly curriculum to support study of the updated guide. One free subscription is available per household; additional copies may be purchased. Current and past issues are also available digitally in the Gospel Library app and at magazines.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Youth are encouraged to read and study the guide on their own in advance of the schedule change. Weekly use of the guide at church will begin on September 6, 2026.

Video instruction will be shared in advance of the September 6 start date. Youth, their parents, and leaders are encouraged to watch the instruction during class time of the August 2026 fifth Sunday. Youth leaders are also encouraged to read the updated For the Strength of Youth guide and subscribe to the For the Strength of Youth magazine.

The Aaronic Priesthood quorum theme can help each young man understand his divine identity and his purpose as a priesthood holder. Young men and their leaders may repeat the theme at quorum gatherings.

The Young Women theme can help each young woman understand her divine identity and become converted to Jesus Christ. Young women and their leaders may repeat the theme at Young Women gatherings.

For units where Young Women classes or Aaronic Priesthood quorums meet separately, meeting together as a group of young women or young men is not necessary. Young men and young women may occasionally combine for a Sunday lesson, as coordinated by the bishopric and the Young Women presidency. (See General Handbook, 10.2.1.2, 11.2.1.2.)

Sunday School is an opportunity to “feast upon the words of Christ” (2 Nephi 32:3) in ways that are relevant to the needs and abilities of the learners. It’s also a way to support members in their home-centered gospel learning.

• Open with a simple welcome and an opening prayer.
• Classes may begin by asking learners a question that directs them into the scriptures and allows them to reflect on their individual or family study. For example, “What did you learn about the Savior from your reading this week”? Or ask a question about one of the principles from Come, Follow Me.
• Teachers briefly help learners understand the storyline and content of the scriptures. Teachers and learners identify and seek to understand the eternal truths the scriptures teach. Classes will have time to discuss only 1–3 of the most relevant and important principles. Teachers encourage learners to apply the principles they learn in their daily lives.
• Most important, all teaching and learning should be focused on Jesus Christ. Each week, teachers and leaners should look for Jesus Christ in the scriptures and find opportunities to testify of His roles, attributes, and promised blessings.
• Encourage members to continue studying the scriptures at home.
• Close with a prayer.

Relief Societies and elders quorums counsel together about the teachings of living prophets and apostles and seek inspiration and direction for their lives. As they teach and learn together by the Spirit, they understand one another and are edified and rejoice together (see Doctrine and Covenants 50:22).

• A presidency member opens with a simple welcome and invites someone to give the opening prayer.
• A presidency member or assigned instructor invites discussion with a question about how the conference message helps members follow Jesus Christ. How does it help them minister to others, including members of their families?
• Choose a few principles from the message that build faith in Jesus Christ and seem especially relevant to members’ needs. Counsel about how the principles apply to members’ lives.
• A presidency member invites someone to give the closing prayer.

The purpose of sacrament meeting is to remember Jesus Christ by partaking of the sacrament and to joyfully worship together.

• Limit the number and length of announcements.
• Limit the number of speakers.
• Invite speakers to prepare short, Christ-centered messages (5–7 minutes).

Keep in mind that if the planned program does not fill an entire hour, you may end early.