13. Sunday School (2024)

“13. Sunday School,” General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (2024).

“13. Sunday School,” General Handbook.

13.1

Purpose

The Sunday School helps accomplish God’s work of salvation and exaltation. It does this by helping God’s children learn and live the gospel of Jesus Christ. Sunday School leaders, teachers, and classes:

  • Strengthen faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ by teaching “the doctrine of the kingdom” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:77).

  • Support home-centered and Church-supported gospel learning and teaching.

  • Help members teach in the Savior’s way.

13.2

Ward Sunday School Leadership

13.2.1

Bishopric

The bishopric oversees the Sunday School. Usually the bishop assigns one of his counselors to fulfill this responsibility under his direction.

This assigned counselor meets with the Sunday School president regularly. They counsel about the needs of the Sunday School, how it is accomplishing its purpose, and the responsibilities outlined in 13.2.2.2.

13.2.2

Sunday School President

13.2.2.1

Calling a Sunday School President

The bishop calls and sets apart a Melchizedek Priesthood holder to be the ward Sunday School president. They discuss whether counselors should be called. If counselors are needed, and if there are enough men to serve in these positions, the Sunday School president may recommend one or two counselors. If the bishopric approves, a member of the bishopric calls them.

A member of the bishopric presents Sunday School presidency members in sacrament meeting for sustaining by ward members. A member of the bishopric also sets them apart.

13. Sunday School (1) In a large ward, the bishopric may call and set apart a man to be the Sunday School secretary. The Sunday School president may recommend whom to call. The secretary can help the presidency keep track of assignments or attendance if desired.

13.2.2.2

Responsibilities

The Sunday School president has the following responsibilities. If he has counselors, they assist him.

13.2.3

Sunday School Teachers

The Sunday School president may recommend members to serve as Sunday School teachers. If the bishopric approves, a member of the bishopric calls them, presents them in sacrament meeting for sustaining by ward members, and sets them apart.

Sunday School teachers get to know class members, including those who do not attend classes. Teachers support members in their efforts to learn and live the gospel of Jesus Christ.

To prepare to teach, Sunday School teachers use the scriptures and Come, Follow Me. They follow the principles in Teaching in the Savior’s Way and chapter17 of this handbook.

Sunday School teachers attend quarterly teacher council meetings (see 17.4).

13.3

Sunday School Classes

Sunday School classes are held on the first and third Sundays of the month. They last 50minutes. Classes begin and end with a prayer.

With the bishopric’s approval, the Sunday School president organizes classes for adults and youth. If he has counselors, they assist him.

The number of classes depends on (1)how many members are in the ward and (2)the number and size of rooms that are available. Usually, smaller classes make it easier for more people to participate actively and learn. The ward council can help the Sunday School president decide how many Sunday School classes to organize.

Young men and young women typically start attending a youth Sunday School class at the beginning of the year they turn12. They may start attending an adult class when they turn18.

The Sunday School president organizes as many youth classes as are needed. Youth should be assigned to classes according to their age. If there are few youth in an age-group, they may be combined in a class with a similar age-group. They stay in that same class until January of the next year.

At least two responsible adults should be present in each youth class. The adults could be two men, two women, or a married couple. To meet this requirement, classes may need to be combined.

All adults who work with youth must complete the children and youth protection training within one month of being sustained (ProtectingChildren.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). They repeat the training every three years thereafter.

13. Sunday School (2)

Image

youth Sunday School class

13.3.1

Small Branches

In a small branch, the Sunday School president may be the only Sunday School leader and teacher. He teaches a Sunday School class for all youth and adults in the branch.

13.3.2

Sunday School Classes for Specific Groups

As needed, the Sunday School president may organize Sunday School classes for specific groups. The curriculum for these classes is Come, Follow Me.

Groups that could benefit from their own Sunday School class include:

  • Young single adults.

  • Members who do not speak the ward’s primary language.

  • New members, returning members, and those who are learning about the Church.

  • Other groups as noted by the bishop.

13.4

Improving Learning and Teaching in the Ward

Ward leaders are responsible for improving learning and teaching in their organizations. This includes orienting newly called teachers (see Teaching in the Savior’s Way,40). They can ask the ward Sunday School president for help if needed.

Teacher council meetings are held quarterly during the 50-minute class time on Sunday (see 17.4). Their purpose is to help improve learning and teaching. Teaching in the Savior’s Way is the main resource for these meetings.

The ward council oversees and schedules teacher council meetings. The Sunday School president usually leads the meetings. However, the bishopric may ask another member to lead them.

For more information, see “For Leaders—Helping Teachers Succeed” in Teaching in the Savior’s Way (pages 38–40).

13.5

Improving Learning and Teaching in the Home

Parents are responsible for teaching the gospel to their children.

The ward council may organize teacher council meetings for parents during the 50-minute class time on Sunday. These meetings are led by a member of the Sunday School presidency or someone else the bishopric assigns. Teaching in the Savior’s Way is the main resource for these meetings.

For more information about teacher council meetings for parents, see 17.5.

13. Sunday School (3)

Image

adult Sunday School class

13.6

Stake Sunday School Leaders

The stake president assigns one of his counselors to oversee the Sunday School in the stake. He also calls and sets apart a high councilor to be the stake Sunday School president.

The responsibilities of the stake Sunday School president are outlined in 6.7.1 and 6.7.3. If counselors are called, they assist him.

13.7

Additional Guidelines

13.7.1

Members with Disabilities

Sunday School teachers give special care to class members who have disabilities. For information about teaching members who have disabilities, see disability.ChurchofJesusChrist.org; see also 38.8.27 in this handbook.

13.7.2

Resource Center

Some meetinghouses have a resource center (library) to help members learn and teach the gospel. The ward Sunday School president oversees the resource center. Wards that share a meetinghouse also share the resource center. Seminary and institute classes and FamilySearch centers share the resource center with the wards.

In meetinghouses that have a resource center, the bishopric calls a resource center specialist. The Sunday School president may recommend someone to call. Or the bishopric could ask a member of the Sunday School presidency to be the specialist. This person:

  • Organizes and cares for the resources.

  • Helps leaders, teachers, and other members obtain and use these resources.

The Sunday School president consults with the resource center specialist to determine if an annual budget is needed for the resource center. He then makes a recommendation to the bishopric.

The resource center specialist should attend sacrament meeting each week and other Sunday meetings regularly. If necessary, the bishopric may call an assistant to the specialist.

For more information, see “Resource Centers” at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

13. Sunday School (2024)

FAQs

What is the lesson of 1 Corinthians 13 on Sunday School? ›

1 Corinthians 13 is one of Paul's letters to the Corinthians, emphasizing the importance of loving others and knowing that you are loved. In this chapter, Paul says that love is patient and kind. If you love, you are patient, kind; you do not envy, boast, or dishonor others.

Is Sunday School good for kids? ›

Conclusion. Sunday School is AWESOME! However, it is not the answer to your kids having an abundant, life-long, world-changing, powerful relationship with Jesus. It is one tool that parents can and should use, but please use it as the sprinkles on the sundae of your kids' faith training.

What does Philippians 4 13 teach kids? ›

Listen as I read Philippians 4:13. Read the verse, and then have kids repeat it with you. Say: Jesus gives us the strength to stand up to people who pick on us, be nice to people who are different than we are, and forgive people who are mean to us. He can help us do anything.

Where is Mark L. Pace from? ›

As a young man he served as a full-time missionary in the Spain Madrid Mission. From 2012 to 2015 he served as president of the Spain Barcelona Mission. Brother Pace was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on January 1, 1957.

What is the key message of the Corinthians 13? ›

The gift that God gave us through His Son, declaring His indescribable love for us. We were created with love and in the image of love. We are called to use our spiritual gifts to love and share God's love with others. This is the central theme of 1 Corinthians 13 — Love!

What can we learn from Corinthians 13? ›

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

What is the main purpose of Sunday school? ›

THE main purpose of the Sunday school is Christian culture in compliance with the divine commands of both the Old and New Testaments. Conversion, by whatever term called, in its culmination is the work of the Holy Spirit. The Sunday school deals with the life, the soul, the aspirations of the individual for a lifetime.

How long should a Sunday school lesson last? ›

In most churches, Sunday School is scheduled between 45 and 75 minutes. In many of these churches, attenders arrive late. In some of these churches, an assembly time precedes Sunday School with a brief welcome, announcement, and/or devotional time.

What is the difference between children's church and Sunday school? ›

Children's church is focused on worship; Sunday school focuses on building faith foundations.

What is the biblical wisdom for raising your child? ›

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it” Proverbs 22:6. It's living in a way that makes your children look up to you. “Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children” Proverbs 17:6.

What does John 13 teach us? ›

John tells us that Jesus has come from God and is going to God, and that God has put all things into Jesus' hands. Yet the one who has all things in his hands now uses his hands to wash feet. His power comes to expression in self-giving love (13:3-5).

What does it mean to present your child to God? ›

The experience of Hannah shows that dedicating a child to the Lord invokes His divine blessings upon the whole family. This blessing is two-fold: (1) The child is blessed. Dedicating a child to the Lord serves notice to God, the parents, and the devil that this is a special child with a special destiny.

Who is the new Sunday school president? ›

Paul V.

Johnson, who will be the new Sunday School general president on August 1, and his wife, Jill, pose for a photo at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Monday, April 8, 2024.

Who is Michael T. Nelson? ›

Brother Nelson is a partner and chief financial officer in a commercial and residential real estate investment company. He studied organizational communications at Brigham Young University and the University of Utah.

Who is Jan E. Newman? ›

He worked as a serial entrepreneur for more than 30 years, founding several successful software companies. Currently, he is a partner at SageCreek Partners, a technology consulting company in Alpine, Utah. Brother Newman married Lucia Price in the Oakland California Temple on August 18, 1984.

What does 1 Corinthians 13 mean for church members today? ›

Love Never Fails

This is the kind of love He challenges Christians to have for others. Paul encouraged the Corinthian church to be patient in their love for each other and patient in their love for others. There is unity, purpose, and strength when church members are patient and committed to loving each other.

What is the Sunday school lesson about love your enemies? ›

Jesus says if we only love the people who love us, we're no different than anyone else in this world. Everyone loves the people who love them; God's people love everyone, even their enemies. Loving our enemies is a way to bring Heaven to this world because in Heaven, there is only love!

What is the message that Paul wants the church in Corinth to understand? ›

Paul writes to the church in Corinth to address some big problems: division, sexual misconduct, confusion about food and worship practices, and controversy surrounding Jesus' resurrection. Paul says these issues can be resolved because Jesus is alive.

What is the Sunday school lesson on Jesus washing his disciples feet? ›

Story Overview:

When Jesus and his closest disciples gathered for the Passover meal, Jesus performed a task usually done by servants. He was their teacher but modelled true service and love by washing his disciples' feet. He then goes on to teach them that they should show this kind of love and service to others.

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