Krissie and I decided to go to her Mom’s house in Nampa and watch General Conference for our church with her Mom, Grandma, and Sister. As President Nelson gave his opening remarks, he made a few comments.
In recent years, we in the presiding councils of the Church have wrestled with a fundamental question: how can we take the gospel in its simple purity and the ordinances with their eternal efficacy to all of God’s children?
Russel M Nelson – Opening Remarks, October 2018 General Conference
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. 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.
At this point I looked at my wife and sister-in-law and we all said, almost simultaneously, “2 HOUR CHURCH!!!”. Almost as a big exclamation of excitement. President Nelson had not quite made the change to our 3 hour church block as we currently knew it, but I could sense it was coming. He then let us know that Elder Quentin L. Cook will explain these changes to us in further detail.
Elder Cook’s Talk, Deep and Lasting Conversion to Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, has a lot of fun things in there. His talk is very difficult to just pick out a couple of points, but the big ones which goes along with the point of my post is:
The Sunday Church meetings will consist of a 60-minute sacrament meeting each Sunday, focused on the Savior, the ordinance of the sacrament, and spiritual messages. After time for transition to classes, Church members will attend a 50-minute class that will alternate each Sunday:
- Sunday School will be held on the first and third Sundays of the month.
- Priesthood quorums, Relief Society, and Young Women meetings will be held on the second and fourth Sundays.
- Meetings on the fifth Sunday will be under the direction of the bishop.
Primary will be held each week during this same 50-minute period and will include singing time and classes.
Elder Quentin L. Cook, October 2018 General Conference
I am not excited for the shorter church block, just to get less church. However, I am excited more for the chance to spend this time studying with my wife and family. The Prophet and other leaders emphasized that this isn’t a free hour to watch football, but should be spent at home studying the gospel with our families.
0 Comments