When President Dallin H. Oaks became President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one of the first things he taught was that “Jesus Christ is the way.”
Elder David P. Homer, a General Authority Seventy and executive director of the Church’s Priesthood and Family Department, said the teachings from President Oaks are the best backdrop for future changes to the Sunday meeting schedule. Members will attend two 25-minute classes each Sunday after a one-hour sacrament meeting.
“This is part of a long-standing effort on the part of the Church to help its members become more godly, lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ,” Elder Homer said on the “Church News” podcast this week.
Another benefit of the new schedule, Elder Homer explained, is that it connects what’s happening at home and what’s happening in the church in a more direct way. Now everyone talks about “Come, Follow Me” in their Sunday School classes every week.
Weekly meetings in Young Women, Relief Society, and priesthood quorums also strengthen a sense of belonging and community.
As Elder Homer participated in this discussion of change, he came to understand above all else that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life (see John 14:6).
“For all the noise, all the chaos, all the confusion in the world we live in, God’s message is very simple: ‘Come, follow me.'” So God is trying to help us understand. There are several ways we can take a step closer to God. ”
move forward
Elder Homer said the lessons going forward will be different. Teachers may feel that they have to convey a lot of important information. “But really, it’s about helping people share what they’re thinking, what they’re feeling, what they’re experiencing.”
Teachers can make a more intentional effort to quickly understand the teachings of the scriptures and conference talks, he said. Announcements and conversations about other topics may be shortened or conducted at different times or methods.
To support teachers, the new schedule will also allow for more regular teacher council meetings.
Meanwhile, the new youth curriculum leverages an expanded For the Strength of Youth guide.
Elder Homer said that the excitement or anxiety people may have about the second hour should not erase the fact that sacrament meeting remains the most important part of the Sabbath and that “we have an opportunity to make covenants that change who we are as human beings.”
additional resources
As teachers, leaders, and members look forward to updating the September Sunday meeting schedule, Elder Homer said they should familiarize themselves with the resources at sunday.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. This landing page includes answers to frequently asked questions, links to implementation guides in multiple languages, discussion questions, and details about next steps.
“We felt it was important so that people could take the time to think with their ward councils, ‘Okay, what do we do with this? What changes do we make? How can we help make all of that happen?'” Elder Homer said.
On Sunday 30th August, young people, children who will turn 12 in 2027, their parents and leaders will be invited to a conference on the new youth curriculum.
Additional video material will be released during the first week of August, and wards and branches will watch together on Sunday, September 6th to explain what is to come.
For example, Elder Homer said one video includes an example of how a Sunday school teacher can jump right into a lesson. Another video shows Relief Society general president Camille N. Johnson and Elder Arnulfo Valenzuela of the Presidency of the Seventy discussing the new format for Relief Society and elders quorums.
In another video, Elder David A. Bednar and Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles discuss sacrament meeting.
Elder Homer said that Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said in his April 2026 general conference leadership instructions that “this will be of great importance in order to realize the blessings that the Lord intends to shower on his people.”
So, although the announcement was made in March, the changes will not be made until September so that members and leaders can prepare.
“Change is not always easy, and it is easy to try to poke holes in what it is,” Elder Homer said. “But I really believe that once we embrace them and start moving forward with what we’ve got here, our members are going to really enjoy what their experience is.”
