Starting this week, across the world, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will begin a new, shorter, Sunday meeting schedule. This change is accompanied by a charge to make our homes the center of our church lives — including regular personal and family Gospel study.
As Latter-day Saints, we have become accustomed to thinking of “church” as something that happens in our meeting houses, supported by what happens at home. We need an adjustment to this pattern. It is time for a home-centered Church, supported by what takes place inside our branch, ward, and stake buildings.
President Russell M. Nelson, “Opening Remarks,” General Session, 188th Semiannual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, October 6, 2018.
The suggested course of study for 2019 is the New Testament. The Church has provided each household with a study guide entitled “Come, Follow Me — For Individuals and Families.” The lesson manuals for both Sunday School and Primary are correlated to the home study guide. The youth Sunday School and the adult Sunday School will be using the same manual.
The study guide divides the New Testament into chapters to be studied each week. Church members are asked to come to Sunday School (now held only on the first and third Sunday of the month) having already read and studied the chapters at home. In addition to personal and family growth, this will lead to increased understanding and appreciation of the Gospel and more inspired participation in Sunday School class discussions.
Knowledge is the power of salvation
Joseph Smith, Sunday, May 21, 1843
In my ward, the Sunday School Presidency was asked to speak in Sacrament Meeting on December 30, 2018 to lead into the new curriculum. My topic was “The Purpose and Value of Gospel Study.” Using the scriptures and quotations from Joseph Smith, I pointed out that failure to study the Gospel is a failure to seek our own salvation.
I hope all members of the Church will take up this challenge to increase both the frequency and the magnitude of Gospel study in our lives and with our families.
Note: A pdf copy of my talk (with source links) is available in the “Downloads” section of this blog site. (Click below to go to the download page for this talk).
