lds church leaders are announcing adjustments to the Sunday class meeting schedule, unveiled in advance of the upcoming general conference leadership session set for April 2, 2026. The change was communicated in a First Presidency letter released Monday, March 30, 2026 (ET), with leaders framing it as support for members striving to be lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ. The updated schedule is set to begin September 6, 2026, applying to congregations worldwide.
What is changing in the Sunday schedule
The First Presidency announced that the current alternating weekly pattern for Sunday School and quorum or class meetings will be replaced beginning September 6, 2026. Instead of switching the second-hour focus by week, members will meet for all their meetings during the second hour under a new weekly structure.
Under the updated plan, Sunday worship will include a 60-minute sacrament meeting, followed by a five-minute transition. Members will then have a 25-minute Sunday School class, followed by another five-minute transition before concluding with 25-minute meetings for priesthood quorums, Relief Society, and Young Women. Primary will meet for 55 minutes during the second hour.
Sunday School and Primary classes will continue studying the scriptures using “Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church. ” Weekly Relief Society and elders quorum meetings will continue focusing on messages from the most recent general conference, emphasizing understanding prophetic teachings and applying them in daily life.
Lds Church leaders explain the purpose and the youth curriculum shift
Senior leaders and general officers emphasized that the goal is deeper learning and steadier spiritual support without increasing total learning time.
“Gathering weekly in every class helps deepen gospel learning by connecting it more closely to personal and family study, ” said President Paul V. Johnson, Sunday School General President. “It also enhances the spiritual support that members get. Though the schedule looks different, the amount of time spent learning together remains the same. ”
Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson highlighted what weekly connection is intended to build inside congregations. “There is additive strength that comes when we meet each week to counsel, learn and support one another, ” she said. “When we gather in His name, the Spirit is there to teach us, testimonies are strengthened, and we lift each other in discipleship. ”
For youth, an updated “For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices” will become the curriculum for Young Women classes and Aaronic Priesthood quorums beginning September 6, 2026. President Timothy L. Farnes, Young Men General President, called the guide “simple but powerful, ” adding: “It will help young men and young women focus on Christ, know His doctrine, and listen to the Spirit. ”
The updated guide is now available in the Gospel Library, with physical copies being shipped to units and not needing to be ordered by local leadership. Additional supporting content is expected through the “For the Strength of Youth” magazine starting with the September 2026 issue, and households are encouraged to subscribe at no cost, with help available through local magazine representatives or ward clerks if needed.
Quick context: why this is happening now
In January 2019, the Church implemented a two-hour Sunday schedule to increase opportunities for home-centered gospel study. Leaders now say these additional adjustments are intended to further enhance learning, fellowship, and worship while strengthening gospel learning in homes and congregations throughout the world.
What’s next as September approaches
The immediate next marker is the general conference leadership session on April 2, 2026 (ET), which the announcement explicitly references as the backdrop for these changes. Between now and the September 6, 2026 rollout, local units will be preparing for the weekly second-hour structure and the youth curriculum transition, as the lds church moves from alternating Sundays to weekly class gatherings built around “Come, Follow Me” and the updated youth guide.
