The shorter Sunday School lesson is not intended to cram a 50-minute lesson into 25 minutes. Instead, it is meant to change the role of Sunday School from being the primary place of gospel learning to a place where home study is strengthened, testimony is shared, and discipleship is encouraged.

Here are the main themes for teachers that have emerged from the First Presidency, the Sunday School General Presidency, and the implementation guidance.

1. Think “discussion,” not “presentation”

Sunday School should build on what members have already studied during the week. Rather than trying to explain every scripture, teachers should assume that learners have had some exposure to the material and invite them to contribute. 

That means asking questions such as:

“What impressed you in your study this week?”

“What helped you understand the Saviour better?”

“How did you apply this principle?”

Instead of:

• summarizing every chapter
• giving lengthy background information
• trying to cover every topic.

2. Focus on one or two truths

The implementation materials encourage teachers to identify only the most relevant gospel principles rather than attempting to teach everything in the assigned chapters.

A helpful pattern is:

• Read the scriptures.
• Prayerfully identify one or two doctrines.
• Spend the class helping people discover, discuss and apply those truths. 

3. Begin immediately

Because the class lasts only 25 minutes, Church leaders specifically remind teachers that lessons must begin promptly.

That means:

• minimise announcements
• avoid long introductions
• move quickly into scripture discussion. 

4. Keep Jesus Christ at the centre

President Paul V Johnson has pointed teachers back to the principles in ‘Teaching in the Savior’s Way’, especially:

• Focus on Jesus Christ.
• Teach the doctrine.
• Invite diligent learning.
• Love those you teach.
• Teach by the Spirit.

He explained that following these principles is more important than covering a large amount of material. 

5. Assume home study happened

This is perhaps the biggest mindset shift. Rather than seeing Sunday School as the place where members first encounter the scriptures, teachers should see it as:

• reinforcing
• clarifying
• inspiring
• applying

what members have already studied individually or as families. 

6. Spend less time teaching and more time inviting participation

With only 25 minutes available, lectures become even less effective.

Instead::

• ask open questions
• invite experiences
• bear testimony
• allow members to teach one another. 

The emphasis is on meaningful discussion rather than trying to “cover” every verse.

The underlying vision

These changes are designed to help us:

• focus more on the teachings of Jesus Christ,
• strengthen gospel learning in the home,
• and increase fellowship and belonging at church. 

In that vision, home becomes the primary place of gospel learning, while Sunday School becomes a weekly opportunity to deepen understanding, strengthen faith, and encourage one another as disciples of Jesus Christ.