During the Saturday morning session of the 188th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Church announced changes to weekly Church meetings, including that church meetings will now be two hours instead of three.
In recent years, Church leaders have "wrestled with a fundamental question," President Russell M. Nelson said. They have been trying to focus on the"simple purity" of the gospel and implement policies with "eternal efficacy to all of God's children," he said
“As Latter-day Saints, we have become accustomed to thinking of ‘church’ as something that happens in our meetinghouses, supported by what happens at home,” President Nelson said. “We need an adjustment to this pattern. It is time for home-centered church, supported by what takes place inside our branch, ward, and stake buildings.” Because of this, the Church decided to make changes to "organizational structures that will fortify our members and their families."
Elder Cook announced we will have a 60-minute sacrament meeting followed by a 50-minute class that will alternate each week. Church members will meet in Sunday School classes on the first and third weeks of the month; meet as Relief Society, elders quorum, Young Men, and Young Women on the second and fourth weeks; and fifth weeks will be under the direction of the bishop. Primary will be divided each week between singing time and class time.
"Our purpose is to balance the church and home experience to increase faith," Elder Cook said.
"This new shift will help our members focus on deepening conversion to God and Jesus Christ, strengthening families and individuals through home study, staying focused on the sacrament, and helping those on both sides of the veil through missionary work and temple work," Elder Cook added. This will also leave more time for home and family evenings any time of the week.
The new home manual will be available in December and these changes will be implemented in January 2019.
A new curriculum resource to be used by children, youth, and adults beginning January 2019, Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families, is available in print, at comefollowme.lds.org, and in the Gospel Library app in 47 languages.
Read more about these changes onldschurchnews.com.
Lead image from lds.org
