The Church has directed that Sunday School classes and Sunday elders quorum, Relief Society, Aaronic Priesthood quorum, and Young Women meetings should begin with a prayer.
This is a change from the instructions given in October 2018 when the Church announced a change to the Sunday meeting schedule. That that time, direction was given that the second hour meetings would not begin with an opening hymn or prayer but would conclude with a closing prayer.
This recent notice, dated December 21, 2022, reminded stake and ward councils of the following:
- Prayers in Church meetings should be brief, simple, and directed by the Spirit.
- Any baptized Church member may offer either an opening or closing prayer.
- Members should pray using words that express love and respect for Heavenly Father. In English, this includes using the pronouns Thee, Thy, Thine, and Thou when addressing Him.
Good change-I teach Primary 8 year olds, and opening the class time w/prayer, sets a tone that improves the ‘spirit’ of learning! The whole demeanor is improved .