Key Takeaways
- Beginning September 6 2026, all Sunday classes (Sunday School, Relief Society, Elders Quorum, Young Women, Aaronic Priesthood quorums, and youth lessons) will be shortened to 25‑minute blocks.
- The change is accompanied by a new youth curriculum based on the updated “For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices.”
- An Implementation Guide (PDF) and instructional videos will be released the first week of August 2026 at sunday.ChurchofJesusChrist.org and are available in 24 languages.
- On Sunday, August 30 2026, youth (including Primary children who will turn 12 in 2027), their parents, and youth leaders will review section 3 of the guide and learn how to use the new curriculum and the “For the Strength of Youth” magazine.
- On Sunday, September 6 2026, the first day of the new schedule, youth and adults will watch two introductory videos (“Sunday School” and “The Sabbath and Sacrament Meeting”) and discuss sections 1, 2, and 4 of the guide; Relief Society and Elders Quorum will view a third video and discuss section 5; Primary will continue its regular 55‑minute schedule.
- The overall purpose is to foster joyful, Christ‑centered worship, renew the home‑centered, Church‑supported pattern, and strengthen covenant belonging among members.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints announced on March 30 2026 that, starting September 6 2026, the Sunday class meeting schedule would be restructured. Rather than the longer, traditional blocks, each adult and youth class—including Sunday School, Relief Society, Elders Quorum, Young Women, and Aaronic Priesthood quorums—will meet for 25 minutes. Youth lessons will also follow this shorter format. The adjustment is not merely logistical; it is framed as an invitation to deeper, more joyful worship that reinforces the home‑centered, Church‑supported model and strengthens members’ sense of covenant belonging.
To support this transition, the Church has published an Implementation Guide that outlines the step‑by‑step process for leaders and members. The guide is downloadable as a PDF and will be supplemented by a series of instructional videos made available during the first week of August 2026 on the dedicated website sunday.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Recognizing the global nature of the Church, the guide and accompanying materials have been translated into 24 languages, ranging from Cebuano and Chinese (both Simplified and Traditional) to Ukrainian. For languages not yet covered, local leaders are directed to follow the instructions in the guide and the notice sent to them on June 25 2025.
A pivotal preparatory meeting is scheduled for Sunday, August 30 2026. On that day, youth—including Primary children who will turn 12 in 2027—along with their parents and youth leaders, will gather to discuss section 3 of the Implementation Guide. The session will focus on familiarizing participants with the new youth curriculum, which is rooted in the revised “For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices.” Attendees will also receive instruction on how to effectively use the accompanying “For the Strength of Youth” magazine, which can be subscribed to in print via magazines.ChurchofJesusChrist.org or accessed digitally through the Gospel Library app. While youth engage in this orientation, adults will attend a 5th Sunday meeting, and Primary will continue its regular schedule.
The first official Sunday under the new arrangement is September 6 2026. On that day, youth and adults will begin their 25‑minute Sunday School classes by viewing two short videos: “Sunday School” and “The Sabbath and Sacrament Meeting.” After the videos, they will discuss sections 1, 2, and 4 of the Implementation Guide, which cover the theological rationale, practical steps for home‑centered study, and ways to integrate the changes into daily family life. Concurrently, Relief Society and Elders Quorum members will watch the video “Relief Society and Elders Quorums” and then discuss section 5, which addresses quorum‑specific application and fellowship. Having already reviewed the changes the previous week, youth will commence using the new curriculum immediately, while Primary classes will retain their existing 55‑minute format, ensuring continuity for the youngest members.
The Implementation Guide emphasizes that the schedule shift is intended to create more space for personal and family scripture study, prayer, and service, thereby deepening each member’s relationship with Jesus Christ. By condensing class time, the Church hopes to encourage richer discussions, greater participation, and a stronger focus on applying gospel principles in the home. The rollout plan—complete with multilingual resources, preparatory meetings, and clear timelines—reflects a deliberate effort to support leaders and members worldwide as they adapt to this renewed pattern of worship. Ultimately, the change seeks to foster a more joyful, Christ‑centered Sabbath experience that strengthens both individual faith and communal belonging.