What were the adjustments to Sunday schedules President Nelson and Elder Cook announced at General Conference?

• The Sunday Church meetings will consist of a 60-minute sacrament meeting each Sunday, focused on the Savior, the ordinance of the sacrament, and spiritual messages.
• After time for transition to classes, Church members will attend a 50-minute class that will alternate each Sunday: Sunday School will be held on the first and third Sundays of the month. Priesthood quorums, Relief Society, and Young Women meetings will be held on the second and fourth Sundays.Meetings on the fifth Sunday will be under the direction of the bishop.
• Primary will be held each week during this same 50-minute period and will include singing time and classes.

What was your reaction to the changes? Were you excited? Why?

What were the purposes of these adjustments?

• President Nelson announced an adjustment to achieve “a new balance and connection between gospel instruction in the home and in the Church.”
• The goal of these adjustments is to obtain a deep and lasting conversion of adults and the rising generation

‘For many years, Church leaders have been working on an integrated curriculum to strengthen families and individuals through a home-centered and Church-supported plan to learn doctrine, strengthen faith, and foster greater personal worship. Our efforts over these recent years to hallow the Sabbath—to make it a delight and a personal sign to God of our love for Him—will be augmented by the adjustments we will now introduce.’ (President Nelson, Opening Remarks)

‘The new home-centered and Church-supported curriculum needs to influence more powerfully family religious observance and behavior and personal religious observance and behavior. We know the spiritual impact and the deep and lasting conversion that can be achieved in the home setting. Years ago, a study established that for young men and women the influence of the Holy Ghost most often accompanies individual scripture study and prayer in the home. Our purpose is to balance the Church and the home experiences in a way that will greatly increase faith and spirituality and deepen conversion to Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.’ (Elder Cook)

What will we study?

• Family and individual gospel study at home will be significantly enhanced by a harmonized curriculum and a new Come, Follow Me resource for individuals and families that is coordinated with what is being taught in Sunday School and Primary.The new home-study Come, Follow Me resource for individuals and families is designed to help members learn the gospel in the home.
• The new Primary Come, Follow Me lessons taught in church will follow the same weekly schedule.
• The adult and youth Sunday School classes on the first and third Sundays will be coordinated so that they will support the new Come, Follow Me home resource.
• On the second and fourth Sundays, adults in priesthood and Relief Society will continue to study the teachings of Church leaders, with emphasis on the current messages of modern prophets.
• Young women and Aaronic Priesthood young men will study gospel topics on those Sundays.

What can we do as individuals and families, and as a quorum or Relief Society, to ensure that the changes accomplish what the Lord intends?

What extraordinary blessings do you think might come to individuals and families as they embrace these changes and purposes?

Elder Cook identified the following blessings:

‘What do these adjustments mean for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? We are confident that members will be blessed in extraordinary ways. Sunday can be a day of gospel learning and teaching at church and in the home. As individuals and families engage in family councils, family history, ministering, service, personal worship, and joyful family time, the Sabbath day will truly be a delight.’

What changes can we make today that will help us prepare for the new ‘home-centered and Church-supported plan to learn doctrine, strengthen faith, and foster greater personal worship?’