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The following text is excerpted from a document titled "Frequently Asked Questions" released Saturday morning to accompany the announcement of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regarding new Sunday worship programs. designed to achieve a new balance between teaching the gospel at home and in the church. .
The Council of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles approved an important step in achieving a new balance between teaching the gospel at home and in the church. The objectives and benefits associated with this and other recent changes are:
• Deepen conversion to Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen faith in them.
• Strengthen individuals and families through a home-based and church-supported education program that contributes to a joyful life of the gospel.
• Honor the Sabbath day, focusing on the sacrament ordinance.
• Help all of Heavenly Father's children on both sides of the veil through missionary work and receiving temple ordinances and covenants and blessings.
Beginning in January 2019, the church-wide Sunday schedule will include a 60-minute sacrament meeting and, after 10 minutes of transition, a 50-minute classroom period.
Sunday schedule starting January 2019
60 minutes – sacrament meeting
10 minutes – going to class
50 minutes – Adult Classes, Youth Classes, Primary
The 50-minute class period for youth and adults will alternate each Sunday according to the following schedule:
• First and third Sunday: Sunday school.
• Second and fourth Sundays: Priesthood quorums, relief society, and young women.
• Fifth Sunday: meetings between young people and adults under the direction of the bishop. The bishop determines the subject to be taught, the teacher or teachers (usually the ward or stake members), and whether young and old, men and women, men and women meet separately or in combination.
The primary will be held every Sunday for 50 minutes and includes singing time and classes.
The adjusted Sunday schedule allows members, and members are encouraged to do so, to spend the evening at home and study the gospel at home on Sundays – or at night. other times at the request of individuals and families. An evening of family activity could take place on Mondays or at other times. To this end, leaders should continue to keep Monday nights free from Church meetings and activities. However, time spent at home, studying the gospel at home, and activities for families and individuals is programmed according to the circumstances.
Informally and organized by those who want it, single young adults, single adults, single parents, families of partial members, new members and others can come together to enjoy sociality and reinforce each other through 39, study of the Gospel.
A new resource, "Come, follow me – for individuals and families", will be provided to support the study of the Gospel at home.
Additional information is available on Sabbath.lds.org and in the questions and answers below.
1. How will we improve the gospel learning and life at home and in our personal lives?
Church leaders encourage all participants to participate, on the Sabbath and throughout the week, in the study of the gospel, family councils, family home evening, family history and temple work, ministry, personal worship and family fun.
The study of the Gospel at home deepens the conversion to Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthens our families. A scripture study, supported by the new resource "Come, follow me – for individuals and families", is the suggested course of study of the Gospel at home. This rich resource provides a variety of study options for individual and family adjustment and aligns the Sunday and primary school curriculum with home study.
Individuals and families, however, seek inspiration to choose what will best meet their needs. They prayerfully examine options such as the Book of Mormon and other standard books, general conference messages, church magazines, information available on LDS.org, and other materials suggested by the media. general or local leaders. It is not expected that members will study all or even most of these resources at the same time.
2. What is the format of sacrament meetings?
The sacrament meetings last 60 minutes and are focused on deepening conversion to Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ and strengthening faith in them. In order for the sacrament to be the sacred center of Sabbath worship, careful planning is required, including minimal announcements and consideration of speakers, hymns, and music numbers. Neighborhood choirs can participate depending on local circumstances. The sacrament meetings begin and end with a hymn and a prayer. A hymn also precedes the blessing of the sacrament.
The sacrament meeting will be followed by 10 minutes for the classroom transition.
3. How will members know which meetings will be held and which topics will be discussed on Sunday?
During the week, leaders are invited to invite their members to pray together on Sunday. They can send an invitation by email, text, social media or by any other means, reminding members of the next Sunday's meeting schedule, including topics for discussion. This reminder could be as simple as "This week we will organize Sunday School. We will study Luke 2 and Matthew 2. "
At Sunday School, colleges, Relief Society and Young Women, leaders and teachers will remind classmates of the material "Come, follow me – for individuals and families" and the Associated scriptures that they could study at home. This simple reminder can be shared in writing, verbally or both.
4. What is the format of Sunday school classes for young people and adults?
The 50-minute Sunday school classes for youth and adults, the first and third Sundays, are devoted to the study of the scriptures. The teaching material is in "Come, follow me – for Sunday School". This study is aligned with the primary curriculum and individual and family resources.
If needed, at the beginning of Sunday School classes, Young Women leaders, Relief Society and priesthood colleges may make short announcements. After a brief reception and a reminder of the home study materials "Come, follow me – for individuals and families" for that day and the following week, the teacher should begin the instructions and the discussion on the Gospel. Sunday school classes will not start with a hymn or prayer, but will end with a prayer.
Since Sunday classes take place every two weeks, teachers and teachers will have to adapt their material, which currently includes classes for each week of the year. While individuals and families continue to read at home according to the weekly schedule of "Come, follow me – For individuals and families," Sunday School leaders and teachers will have to select the material for one or more lessons to stay in touch with individuals and families. family resources. To avoid confusion, the Sunday School Presidencies may wish to inform teachers and students of the adjustments in advance. More information can be found at ComeFollowMe.lds.org.
5. What is the format of the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood quorum college meetings?
The Aaronic Priesthood quorum meetings, which last 50 minutes, on the second and fourth Sundays, cover monthly gospel topics discussed in "Come, follow me – for the priesthood of". 39 and Aaron. " Leaders and teachers will continue to choose lesson plans on ComeFollowMe.lds.org or in the printed manual "Come, follow me – for the Aaronic Priesthood" that best meets the needs of college members.
The 50-minute elders quorum meetings, the second and fourth Sundays, are devoted to the messages of the last general conference. Teaching suggestions can be found in the May and November issues of Ensign and Liahona, on LDS.org, as well as in the Gospel Library for Mobile App. The first Sunday council meetings will be interrupted; However, if necessary, junior colleges may use a portion of a college meeting to advise on a specific topic.
Holders of the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood will no longer meet but will meet at their respective college meetings. After a brief welcome message, remind members of the home study materials "Come, follow me – for individuals and families" the next day and week, and direct all college work, the teacher should begin evangelical instruction and discussion. College meetings do not begin with a hymn or prayer, but end with a prayer.
Sometimes, when there is a special need, Aaronic Priesthood colleges can meet briefly before college members go to individual college meetings.
6. What is the format of Relief Society meetings?
The 50-minute Relief Society meetings on the second and fourth Sundays focus on the messages from the last General Conference. Teaching suggestions can be found in the May and November issues of Ensign and Liahona, on LDS.org, as well as in the Gospel Library for Mobile App. The first Sunday council meetings will be interrupted; However, if necessary, rescue societies may use part of the Sunday meeting to give advice on a specific topic.
After a member of the Relief Society presidency has given a short welcome message, remind members of the home study materials "Come, follow me – for individuals and families" from the day and the following week, and directs any other task. The instructor must start teaching the gospel. and discussion. Relief Society meetings will not begin with a hymn or opening prayer, but will end with a closing prayer. Anthems can be used to enhance a lesson, if necessary. The sisters and young women of the Relief Society will not meet for opening exercises but will meet at their respective meetings.
7. What is the format of young women's meetings?
The Young Women's 50-minute meetings, on the second and fourth Sundays, focus on a study of the monthly gospel topics found in "Come, follow me – for young women." Leaders and teachers will continue to select course outlines on ComeFollowMe.lds.org or the "Come, Follow Me – for Young Women" manual that best suits the needs of students.
All young women will not meet again but will be in their respective classes. After a brief greeting by a member of the class presidency, remind him of the home study materials "Come, follow me – for individuals and families" the next day and week, and lead the rest of the day. discussion. Classes do not begin with a hymn or a prayer but end with a prayer. Anthems can be used to enhance a lesson, if necessary.
Sometimes, when there is a special need, Young Women classes can meet briefly before class members go to individual meetings.
8. What is the format of the main meetings?
The 50-minute primary meetings will be held every Sunday, according to the schedule below:
25 minutes – prayer, scripture or article of faith, chat (5 minutes)
Singing Time: Music that Supports Scripture Studied in Classroom (20 minutes)
5 minutes – Classroom
20 minutes – Lesson: Lesson of "Come, follow me – for primary"
Note: If a primary is large enough to be separated into primary and secondary, the above schedule may be reversed for half of the children and the times adjusted as needed. The primary primary can start with singing time while the primary primary begins with the lessons – or vice versa.
The singing time will focus on the music that supports the scriptures that children study in class. The "schema for shared time" will be deleted. You can find more information about primary singing hours at Primary.lds.org and ComeFollowMe.lds.org. Primary will begin with a prayer, a scripture or article of faith, and a lecture given by a child. However, if the time for singing takes place after the children have attended their classes, it will end rather than begin with prayer.
During class, the children will focus on a scripture study aligned with the Sunday School curriculum and on the resource of individuals and families. The teaching material is in "Come, follow me – for the primary". If classes are held before the time of singing, they begin with prayer. If they are after the time of singing, they end with a prayer.
9. Do we organize optional courses at the church on Sundays?
Beginning in January 2019, the Gospel Principles course will be discontinued. Ward and full-time missionaries teach individuals and families the lessons of chapter 3 of "Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service" at home or at the meeting place, before and after baptism. On Sunday, all members and friends of the Church are invited to attend Sunday School classes and Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood quorums, Relief Society, or members of the Church. Young girls class with other adults or young people from the parish.
Other courses, such as those aimed at strengthening marriage and family, temple preparation, missionary preparation and family history, will not be organized during the second hour. However, at the discretion of the bishop and based on local needs, these classes may be taught at other times for individuals, families or groups.
10. When do teachers attend teacher council meetings?
Teachers attend teacher council meetings quarterly during the 50-minute class. Board meetings are held according to the following schedule:
• Priesthood, relief society, and young women can attend on the first or third Sunday, as determined by local leaders.
• Sunday school teachers may attend a second or fourth Sunday, as determined by local officials.
• Primary school teachers can attend any Sunday, as determined by the primary school and Sunday school presidencies of the district. If desired, primary school teachers can meet separately from other teachers to discuss the unique needs of children's education. More than one board can be held during a term for primary school teachers, so do not miss all primary classes at the same time.
11. What is the role of a teacher?
Jesus Christ is the teacher teacher. Church members called and set apart to serve as teachers receive a sacred trust and responsibility to follow His example and help the children of God build their faith in Heavenly Father and on the Savior and to become more like them. Those who are called as teachers must teach with the power and authority of God.
The goal of every teacher is to teach the pure doctrine of the gospel. Teaching can include inspired discussions; However, it also includes many other teaching responsibilities that are not expressed in a term such as discussion leader. The sacred responsibilities of a teacher can be found in "Teaching in the Savior's Way" (see ComeFollowMe.lds.org). For this reason, we invite leaders and members to use the term teacher (and not animator, facilitator, or moderator) with regard to those who have been called and set apart to teach in priesthood and auxiliary organizations of the Church.
12. What is the Sunday schedule for several parishes or branches sharing a meeting place?
Stake presidents take into account members' travel time, security issues and other local needs to determine the timing of Sunday meetings for meeting places with multiple parishes and branches. Suggestions are included in "Sunday Planning Options" (Sabbath.lds.org), but these suggestions, including the start time of meetings, should be tailored to best meet the needs of each unit.
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