As part of ongoing efforts to help Latter-day Saints “learn doctrine, strengthen faith, and foster greater personal worship,” President Russell M. Nelson announced adjustments to help balance and connect the unique and essential ways members worship and learn and live the Savior’s gospel both at church and at home.
Church leaders have announced changes to the Sunday meeting schedule, beginning in January 2019, in connection with the release of a new home-centered, Church-supported curriculum. These changes and others build upon several prior initiatives the Church has set in motion in recent years, meant to help members focus their lives more fully on Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and deepen faith in Them. These initiatives include a focus on more meaningful study of the gospel at home, honoring the Lord by keeping the Sabbath day holy, and caring for one another as the Savior would and as directed by the Spirit.
Read the Church News article “Changes Help Balance Gospel Instruction at Home and at Church” to learn more about adjustments at home and at church beginning January 2019. The article also explains changes in curriculum.
Read the First Presidency announcement letter, with 5 pages of frequently asked questions.
Also, watch the video “Church Announces New Balance between Gospel Instruction in the Home and Church 825 views” with excerpts from the announcements at general conference.
Question: Do you know if the following change is effective immediately or in January?
“Elders quorum and Relief Society lesson schedules will no longer include a first-Sunday council meeting or a fourth-Sunday special topic. Lessons will focus on recent general conference messages.”
In other words, do we continue having first-Sunday council meetings and fourth-Sunday special topic lessons through December? (If so, does the special topic stay as “ministering”?) Or do we immediately have all lessons be on conference talks?
The changes are effective beginning January 2019. In the conference issue of the Ensign and Liahona, there will be instructions about the fourth Sunday meetings for the rest of 2018.
Thanks! Do you know if the new 4th Sunday topic will come out in time for October’s fourth Sunday, or will this month’s 4th Sunday still be on “ministering.” Also, I saw that the 1st Presidency just announced Sacrament only for the 4th Sunday in December (12/23). So, would that mean we will only have one 4th Sunday (November’s) for the new topic?
You’re right that there will be a fourth Sunday lesson in October and November, but not in December. I don’t know when they plan to publish the new information about 4th Sunday topics at ComeFollowMe.lds.org. In our ward, we plan to talk about the new curriculum for 2019 on the fourth Sunday in October.
Looks like the new 4th Sunday topic just came out in the Gospel Library app. It’s “personal and family scripture study.” Thanks!