Sunday School (LDS Church)
Encyclopedia
Sunday School is an official auxiliary
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). All members of the church and any interested nonmembers, age 12 and older, are encouraged to participate in Sunday School.
and Nauvoo, Illinois
in the 1830s and 1840s. However, the meetings were ad hoc and no formal organization endured the Mormon
exodus from Nauvoo.
The first formal Sunday School in the LDS Church was held on December 9, 1849 in Salt Lake City under the direction of Richard Ballantyne
, a former Sunday School
teacher in the Relief Presbyterian Church in Scotland
. Lacking a suitable building to hold the meeting in, Ballantyne invited his students into his own home; approximately thirty Latter-day Saint children between the ages of 8 and 13 attended. The local congregation that Ballantyne belonged to—the Salt Lake City Fourteenth Ward—quickly adopted Ballantyne's Sunday School program and integrated it with regular Sunday meetings. Other LDS congregations followed the Fourteenth Ward's example and adopted Sunday School programs based on the Ballantyne model. At this stage, each Sunday School was completely autonomous and under the sole direction of the local bishop.
ordered that a union of the Sunday Schools be carried out. On November 11, 1867, Young and church leaders Daniel H. Wells
, George A. Smith
, Wilford Woodruff
, George Q. Cannon
, and Brigham Young, Jr.
met and organized the Parent Sunday School Union. Young appointed Cannon as the first general superintendent of the Sunday School, a position he would hold until his death in 1901. In 1872, the Sunday School organization was renamed the Deseret Sunday School Union.
The organized Sunday School addressed lesson topics and source materials, grading, prizes and rewards, use of hymn
s and songs composed by members of the church, recording and increasing the attendance, developing an elementary catechism
, and libraries. It also sponsored the publication of administrative guidelines and materials for classroom use, resulting in increased uniformity lesson content.
Until the early 1900s, only children were taught by the Sunday School. Eventually, classes were added for the youth
of the church; in 1904, an adult Sunday School class was created.
, the name of the Deseret Sunday School Union was changed to simply Sunday School, and the Sunday School general superintendent was renamed the general Sunday School president. Additionally, curriculum planning and writing became more centralized and coordinated; for the first time, the Sunday School stopped providing unique lesson manuals each year, and the church began a four-year curriculum rotation pattern. In 1979, Hugh W. Pinnock
became the general president of the Sunday School, the first general authority
of the church to hold the position since Apostle David O. McKay's
tenure ended in 1934. In 1980, the church instructed the Sunday School to stop passing the sacrament during Sunday School classes, a practice that Brigham Young
had begun in 1877.
magazine. Although the magazine was owned and edited solely by Cannon, it nevertheless became the de facto official publication of the Deseret Sunday School Union in the late 1860s. On January 1, 1901, the church purchased the magazine from the Cannon family
and the Juvenile Instructor officially became an organ of the church's Sunday School. In 1930, it was replaced by The Instructor
, which was published until 1970. The Sunday School currently does not have an official periodical, but information that may be used in Sunday School appears in the Ensign and the New Era
magazines.
of the church, which are considered scripture. The primary class in Sunday School for those 14 years of age and older is called Gospel Doctrine. In general, the Gospel Doctrine curriculum follows a four-year cycle:
However, there are also a number of "generalist" and "specialist" Sunday School classes that may be taught in Sunday School. For example, Gospel Principles
is a generalist class that is primarily intended for those new to or inexperienced in the church or for those whose calling is related to missionary work. It is also common for a local congregation to offer specialist Sunday School classes in family history
, temples
, marriage
and family relations, and teacher training.
In most church congregations, Sunday School is a 40-minute class which is held either immediately after or immediately prior to Sacrament meeting
. Everyone 12 years of age and older are encouraged to attend; children under age 12 have Sunday School-style classes taught to them in Primary, but these classes are not administered by the LDS Church's Sunday School auxiliary. Many congregations provide special Sunday School classes for youth. When youth classes are held, the curriculum for 12- and 13-year-olds differs from the regular Gospel Doctrine curriculum.
. The president of the Sunday School may call two counselors and a secretary to assist him. Other adults in the congregation will serve as instructors in the various Sunday School classes. Often, full-time missionaries
assigned to the congregation are asked to teach the Gospel Principles class. A stake or district
Sunday School presidency will oversee the Sunday School presidents in a group of five or more congregations.
of the First Presidency
announced that "a recent decision [has been made] that members of the Quorums of the Seventy [will] not serve in the general presidencies of the Sunday School and Young Men." Thus, the members of the presidency are no longer general authorities of the church.
As of April 2009, the general presidency of the Sunday School was composed of Russell T. Osguthorpe
, President; David M. McConkie
, First Counselor; and Matthew O. Richardson
, Second Counselor.
The Sunday School General Board also assists in the leadership of the church's Sunday School programs and in the development of guidelines, policies, and materials. Its current members are Cory H. Maxwell, George I. Monsivais, Randy J. Olsen, Carolyn J. Rasmus, Andrew C. Skinner
, and Bonnie Jane B. Studdert.
Auxiliary organization (LDS Church)
An auxiliary organization is a secondary body of church government within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that is "established for moral, educational, and benevolent purposes." As their name suggests, LDS Church auxiliary organizations are ancillary to the governing power of the...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). All members of the church and any interested nonmembers, age 12 and older, are encouraged to participate in Sunday School.
Purpose
According to the LDS Church, the purposes of its Sunday School program are to:- "Teach the gospel of Jesus Christ; and
- "Strengthen individuals and families by encouraging them to study the scriptures, obey the commandments, receive the essential ordinances, and keep the associated covenants."
Early LDS Sunday Schools
Historical records indicate that some form of Sunday School was held by Latter Day Saints in Kirtland, OhioKirtland, Ohio
Kirtland is a city in Lake County, Ohio, USA. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census. Kirtland is famous for being the early headquarters of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Origins of Kirtland:...
and Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
in the 1830s and 1840s. However, the meetings were ad hoc and no formal organization endured the Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
exodus from Nauvoo.
The first formal Sunday School in the LDS Church was held on December 9, 1849 in Salt Lake City under the direction of Richard Ballantyne
Richard Ballantyne
Richard Ballantyne was the founder of the Sunday School of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, having begun the program in December 1849. He was also a Mormon pioneer and missionary....
, a former Sunday School
Sunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
teacher in the Relief Presbyterian Church in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Lacking a suitable building to hold the meeting in, Ballantyne invited his students into his own home; approximately thirty Latter-day Saint children between the ages of 8 and 13 attended. The local congregation that Ballantyne belonged to—the Salt Lake City Fourteenth Ward—quickly adopted Ballantyne's Sunday School program and integrated it with regular Sunday meetings. Other LDS congregations followed the Fourteenth Ward's example and adopted Sunday School programs based on the Ballantyne model. At this stage, each Sunday School was completely autonomous and under the sole direction of the local bishop.
Deseret Sunday School Union
Anxious to bring a standard structure and organization to the over 200 independent LDS Sunday Schools that had been created, LDS Church President Brigham YoungBrigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
ordered that a union of the Sunday Schools be carried out. On November 11, 1867, Young and church leaders Daniel H. Wells
Daniel H. Wells
Daniel Hanmer Wells was an apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the third mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, United States....
, George A. Smith
George A. Smith
George Albert Smith was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and served in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and as a member of the church's First Presidency.-Childhood:Smith was born in Potsdam, St...
, Wilford Woodruff
Wilford Woodruff
Wilford Woodruff, Sr. was the fourth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1889 until his death...
, George Q. Cannon
George Q. Cannon
George Quayle Cannon was an early member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and served in the First Presidency under four successive presidents of the church: Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Lorenzo Snow...
, and Brigham Young, Jr.
Brigham Young, Jr.
Brigham Young, Jr. served as president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1899 until his death. His tenure was interrupted for one week in 1901 when Joseph F...
met and organized the Parent Sunday School Union. Young appointed Cannon as the first general superintendent of the Sunday School, a position he would hold until his death in 1901. In 1872, the Sunday School organization was renamed the Deseret Sunday School Union.
The organized Sunday School addressed lesson topics and source materials, grading, prizes and rewards, use of hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
s and songs composed by members of the church, recording and increasing the attendance, developing an elementary catechism
Catechism
A catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present...
, and libraries. It also sponsored the publication of administrative guidelines and materials for classroom use, resulting in increased uniformity lesson content.
Until the early 1900s, only children were taught by the Sunday School. Eventually, classes were added for the youth
Adolescence
Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and mental human development generally occurring between puberty and legal adulthood , but largely characterized as beginning and ending with the teenage stage...
of the church; in 1904, an adult Sunday School class was created.
Priesthood Correlation Program changes
The 1970s saw dramatic change within the Sunday School. In 1971, as part of the church Priesthood Correlation ProgramPriesthood Correlation Program
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Priesthood Correlation Program is a program designed to provide a systematic approach to maintain consistency in its ordinances, doctrines, organizations, meetings, materials, and other programs and activities...
, the name of the Deseret Sunday School Union was changed to simply Sunday School, and the Sunday School general superintendent was renamed the general Sunday School president. Additionally, curriculum planning and writing became more centralized and coordinated; for the first time, the Sunday School stopped providing unique lesson manuals each year, and the church began a four-year curriculum rotation pattern. In 1979, Hugh W. Pinnock
Hugh W. Pinnock
Hugh Wallace Pinnock was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1977 until his death....
became the general president of the Sunday School, the first general authority
General authority
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a general authority is a member of certain leadership organizations who are given administrative and ecclesiastical authority over the church...
of the church to hold the position since Apostle David O. McKay's
David O. McKay
David Oman McKay was the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving from 1951 until his death. Ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1906, McKay was a general authority for nearly 64 years, longer than anyone else in LDS Church...
tenure ended in 1934. In 1980, the church instructed the Sunday School to stop passing the sacrament during Sunday School classes, a practice that Brigham Young
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
had begun in 1877.
Sunday School periodicals
In 1866, just prior to the formal organization of the Sunday School Union, Cannon had begun publishing the Juvenile InstructorJuvenile Instructor
The Juvenile Instructor was an official periodical of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1901 and 1930. It was first published in 1866 as a private publication...
magazine. Although the magazine was owned and edited solely by Cannon, it nevertheless became the de facto official publication of the Deseret Sunday School Union in the late 1860s. On January 1, 1901, the church purchased the magazine from the Cannon family
Cannon Family
The Cannon family is a prominent U.S. political family in the states of Utah, Nevada and Idaho which descends from the 19th century marriage of George Cannon and Ann Quayle before their emigration from Peel, Isle of Man. The family's most notable member was their oldest son George Q. Cannon...
and the Juvenile Instructor officially became an organ of the church's Sunday School. In 1930, it was replaced by The Instructor
The Instructor
The Instructor was an official periodical of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1930 and 1970, during which It was the official organ of the LDS Church's Sunday School auxiliary....
, which was published until 1970. The Sunday School currently does not have an official periodical, but information that may be used in Sunday School appears in the Ensign and the New Era
New Era (magazine)
New Era is an official magazine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. First published in January 1971 along with the Ensign and the Friend, the New Era's intended audience has always been the youth of the Church...
magazines.
Chronology of the general superintendency and presidency of the Sunday School
| No. | Dates | General President (General Superintendents in Italics) (Church general authorities in bold) |
First Counselor (First Assistants in Italics) (Church general authorities in bold) |
Second Counselor (Second Assistants in Italics) (Church general authorities in bold) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1867–1901 | George Q. Cannon George Q. Cannon George Quayle Cannon was an early member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and served in the First Presidency under four successive presidents of the church: Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Lorenzo Snow... |
George Goddard George Goddard (Mormon) George Goddard was a Mormon pioneer and a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .Goddard was born in Leicester, England. He was converted to the LDS Church in January 1851... (1872—1899) Karl G. Maeser Karl G. Maeser -Brigham Young Academy:When Maeser arrived at Brigham Young Academy in 1876 it was dying. Enrollment had declined since Warren N. Dusenberry had started the school a few months before. There were only 29 students at the time of Maeser's arrival.... (1899—1901) |
John Morgan (1883—1894) Karl G. Maeser Karl G. Maeser -Brigham Young Academy:When Maeser arrived at Brigham Young Academy in 1876 it was dying. Enrollment had declined since Warren N. Dusenberry had started the school a few months before. There were only 29 students at the time of Maeser's arrival.... (1894—1899) George Reynolds (1899—1901) |
| 2 | 1901 | Lorenzo Snow Lorenzo Snow Lorenzo Snow was the fifth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1898 to his death. Snow was the last president of the LDS Church in the nineteenth century.-Family:... |
George Reynolds | Joseph M. Tanner Joseph M. Tanner Joseph Marion Tanner was an American educator and a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He has been described as "one of the most gifted teachers and writers in the [LDS] Church in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries".Tanner was born in Payson, Utah Territory... |
| 3 | 1901–1918 | Joseph F. Smith Joseph F. Smith Joseph Fielding Smith, Sr. was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints... |
George Reynolds (1901—1909) David O. McKay David O. McKay David Oman McKay was the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving from 1951 until his death. Ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1906, McKay was a general authority for nearly 64 years, longer than anyone else in LDS Church... (1909—1918) |
Joseph M. Tanner Joseph M. Tanner Joseph Marion Tanner was an American educator and a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He has been described as "one of the most gifted teachers and writers in the [LDS] Church in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries".Tanner was born in Payson, Utah Territory... (1901—1906) David O. McKay David O. McKay David Oman McKay was the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving from 1951 until his death. Ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1906, McKay was a general authority for nearly 64 years, longer than anyone else in LDS Church... (1907—1909) Stephen L Richards Stephen L Richards Stephen L Richards was a prominent leader in the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the LDS Church and as First Counselor in the First Presidency.... (1909—1918) |
| 4 | 1918–1934 | David O. McKay David O. McKay David Oman McKay was the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving from 1951 until his death. Ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1906, McKay was a general authority for nearly 64 years, longer than anyone else in LDS Church... |
Stephen L Richards Stephen L Richards Stephen L Richards was a prominent leader in the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the LDS Church and as First Counselor in the First Presidency.... |
George D. Pyper George D. Pyper George Dollinger Pyper was the fifth general superintendent of the Sunday School of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a member and manager of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and the editor of a number of Latter Day Saint periodicals.Pyper was born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory... |
| 5 | 1934–1943 | George D. Pyper George D. Pyper George Dollinger Pyper was the fifth general superintendent of the Sunday School of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a member and manager of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and the editor of a number of Latter Day Saint periodicals.Pyper was born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory... |
Milton Bennion Milton Bennion Milton Bennion was an American educator and a university and educational administrator.-Biography:Bennion was born in Taylorsville, Utah Territory. He received a B.S. degree from the University of Utah in 1897 and an M.A... |
George R. Hill George R. Hill George Richard Hill, Jr. was an American educational administrator and was the seventh general superintendent of the Sunday School organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1949 to 1966... |
| 6 | 1943–1949 | Milton Bennion Milton Bennion Milton Bennion was an American educator and a university and educational administrator.-Biography:Bennion was born in Taylorsville, Utah Territory. He received a B.S. degree from the University of Utah in 1897 and an M.A... |
George R. Hill George R. Hill George Richard Hill, Jr. was an American educational administrator and was the seventh general superintendent of the Sunday School organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1949 to 1966... |
A. Hamer Reiser A. Hamer Reiser Albert Hamer Reiser was a prominent community leader in Utah and a missionary and leader of the Sunday School in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.... |
| 7 | 1949–1966 | George R. Hill George R. Hill George Richard Hill, Jr. was an American educational administrator and was the seventh general superintendent of the Sunday School organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1949 to 1966... |
A. Hamer Reiser A. Hamer Reiser Albert Hamer Reiser was a prominent community leader in Utah and a missionary and leader of the Sunday School in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.... (1949—1952) David Lawrence McKay David Lawrence McKay David Lawrence McKay was the eighth general superintendent of the Sunday School of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1966 to 1971... (1952—1966) |
David Lawrence McKay David Lawrence McKay David Lawrence McKay was the eighth general superintendent of the Sunday School of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1966 to 1971... (1949—1952) Lynn S. Richards (1952—1966) |
| 8 | 1966–1971 | David Lawrence McKay David Lawrence McKay David Lawrence McKay was the eighth general superintendent of the Sunday School of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1966 to 1971... |
Lynn S. Richards | Royden G. Derrick Royden G. Derrick Royden Glade Derrick was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1976 until his death.... |
| 9 | 1971–1979 | Russell M. Nelson Russell M. Nelson Russell Marion Nelson is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and an internationally renowned cardiothoracic surgeon.-Medical career:... |
Joseph B. Wirthlin Joseph B. Wirthlin Joseph Bitner Wirthlin was an American businessman, religious leader and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was sustained to the Quorum on October 4, 1986, and ordained an apostle on October 9, 1986 by Thomas S. Monson, following the... (1971—1975) B. Lloyd Poelman (1975—1978) Joe J. Christensen Joe J. Christensen Joe Junior Christensen was the president of Ricks College from 1985 to 1989 and has been a general authority in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1989. He was also president of the San Diego California Temple from 1999 to 2002.Christensen served as an officer in the United... (1978—1979) William D. Oswald William D. Oswald William Duncan Oswald has been a counselor to A. Roger Merrill in the general presidency of the Sunday School of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 2004. Oswald was also a counselor in the same organization to Russell M. Nelson in 1978 and 1979.Oswald was born in Salt Lake... (1979) |
Richard L. Warner (1971—1975) Joe J. Christensen Joe J. Christensen Joe Junior Christensen was the president of Ricks College from 1985 to 1989 and has been a general authority in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1989. He was also president of the San Diego California Temple from 1999 to 2002.Christensen served as an officer in the United... (1975—1978) William D. Oswald William D. Oswald William Duncan Oswald has been a counselor to A. Roger Merrill in the general presidency of the Sunday School of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 2004. Oswald was also a counselor in the same organization to Russell M. Nelson in 1978 and 1979.Oswald was born in Salt Lake... (1978—1979) J. Hugh Baird (1979) |
| 10 | 1979–1986 | Hugh W. Pinnock Hugh W. Pinnock Hugh Wallace Pinnock was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1977 until his death.... |
Ronald E. Poelman Ronald E. Poelman Ronald Eugene Poelman was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1978 until his death. In 1984, he delivered a controversial sermon in the LDS Church's general conference which the church redacted before publishing.-Biography:Poelman was born in Salt Lake... (1979—1981) Robert D. Hales Robert D. Hales Robert Dean Hales is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Currently, he is the eighth most senior apostle among the ranks of the Church... (1981—1985) Adney Y. Komatsu Adney Y. Komatsu Adney Yoshio Komatsu was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1975 until his death. Komatsu was the first person of Asian descent to become a general authority of the LDS Church.Born of Japanese parents in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, Komatsu became a... (1985—1986) |
Jack H. Goaslind Jack H. Goaslind Jack H. Goaslind, Jr. was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1978 to his death. He was the seventeenth general president of the Young Men organization of the church from 1990-98.-Early life and local church service:Goaslind was born in Salt Lake City,... (1979—1981) James M. Paramore James M. Paramore James Martin Paramore has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1977.... (1981—1983) Loren C. Dunn Loren C. Dunn Loren Charles Dunn was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1968 until his death.... (1983—1985) Ronald E. Poelman Ronald E. Poelman Ronald Eugene Poelman was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1978 until his death. In 1984, he delivered a controversial sermon in the LDS Church's general conference which the church redacted before publishing.-Biography:Poelman was born in Salt Lake... (1985—1986) |
| 11 | 1986–1989 | Robert L. Simpson | Adney Y. Komatsu Adney Y. Komatsu Adney Yoshio Komatsu was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1975 until his death. Komatsu was the first person of Asian descent to become a general authority of the LDS Church.Born of Japanese parents in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, Komatsu became a... (1986—1987) Devere Harris (1987—1989) |
A. Theodore Tuttle (1986) Devere Harris (1987) Phillip T. Sonntag (1987—1988) Derek A. Cuthbert Derek A. Cuthbert Derek Alfred Cuthbert was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1978 until his death. He was the first resident of the United Kingdom to be called as an LDS Church general authority while living in Britain.-Early life:Cuthbert was born in Sherwood, a suburb... (1988–1989) |
| 12 | 1989–1992 | Hugh W. Pinnock Hugh W. Pinnock Hugh Wallace Pinnock was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1977 until his death.... |
Derek A. Cuthbert Derek A. Cuthbert Derek Alfred Cuthbert was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1978 until his death. He was the first resident of the United Kingdom to be called as an LDS Church general authority while living in Britain.-Early life:Cuthbert was born in Sherwood, a suburb... (1989—1991) H. Verlan Andersen H. Verlan Andersen Hans Verlan Andersen was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .... (1991) Hartman Rector Jr. (1991—1992) |
Ted E. Brewerton Ted E. Brewerton Teddy Eugene Brewerton is an emeritus general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .... (1989—1990) H. Verlan Andersen H. Verlan Andersen Hans Verlan Andersen was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .... (1990—1991) Rulon G. Craven (1991) Clinton L. Cutler (1991—1992) |
| 13 | 1992–1994 | Merlin R. Lybbert Merlin R. Lybbert Merlin Rex Lybbert was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1989 to 1994. From 1992 to 1994, Lybbert was the thirteenth general president of the LDS Church Sunday School.... |
Clinton L. Cutler | Ronald E. Poelman Ronald E. Poelman Ronald Eugene Poelman was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1978 until his death. In 1984, he delivered a controversial sermon in the LDS Church's general conference which the church redacted before publishing.-Biography:Poelman was born in Salt Lake... |
| 14 | 1994–1995 | Charles A. Didier Charles A. Didier Charles Amand Didier is an emeritus member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints... |
J. Ballard Washburn | F. Burton Howard F. Burton Howard Fred Burton Howard has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since September 1978. He was a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy from that time until he was given emeritus status in October 2005.F. Burton Howard was born in Logan, Cache County, Utah. He... |
| 15 | 1995–2000 | Harold G. Hillam Harold G. Hillam Harold Gordon Hillam has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1990. Hillam was the fifteenth general president of the LDS Church's Sunday School organization from 1995 to 2000 and was the president of the Boise Idaho Temple from 2005 to 2008.Hillam was... |
F. Burton Howard F. Burton Howard Fred Burton Howard has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since September 1978. He was a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy from that time until he was given emeritus status in October 2005.F. Burton Howard was born in Logan, Cache County, Utah. He... (1995—1997) Glenn L. Pace Glenn L. Pace Glenn Leroy Pace has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1985. He as served as a member of the presiding bishopric and the First Quorum of Seventy and in 2010 became an emeritus general authority... (1997—1998) Neil L. Andersen Neil L. Andersen Neil Linden Andersen is the junior member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was accepted by church membership as an apostle on 4 April 2009 during the April 2009 General Conference of the church... (1998—2000) |
Glenn L. Pace Glenn L. Pace Glenn Leroy Pace has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1985. He as served as a member of the presiding bishopric and the First Quorum of Seventy and in 2010 became an emeritus general authority... (1995—1997) Neil L. Andersen Neil L. Andersen Neil Linden Andersen is the junior member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was accepted by church membership as an apostle on 4 April 2009 during the April 2009 General Conference of the church... (1997—1998) John H. Groberg John H. Groberg John Holbrook Groberg has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1976.- Biography :Groberg was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho in 1934 and was reared there after the Great Depression... (1998—2000) |
| 16 | 2000–2001 | Marlin K. Jensen Marlin K. Jensen Marlin Keith Jensen has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1989 and has been the official Church Historian and Recorder of the church since 2005. He is the 19th man to hold that calling since it was established in 1830.- Biographical background... |
Neil L. Andersen Neil L. Andersen Neil Linden Andersen is the junior member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was accepted by church membership as an apostle on 4 April 2009 during the April 2009 General Conference of the church... |
John H. Groberg John H. Groberg John Holbrook Groberg has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1976.- Biography :Groberg was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho in 1934 and was reared there after the Great Depression... |
| 17 | 2001–2003 | Cecil O. Samuelson Cecil O. Samuelson Cecil Osborn Samuelson, Jr. is the 12th and current president of Brigham Young University and has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1994... |
John H. Groberg John H. Groberg John Holbrook Groberg has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1976.- Biography :Groberg was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho in 1934 and was reared there after the Great Depression... |
Richard J. Maynes Richard J. Maynes Richard John Maynes has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1997.... (2001—2002) Val R. Christensen(2002—2003) |
| 18 | 2003–2004 | Merrill J. Bateman Merrill J. Bateman Merrill Joseph Bateman is an emeritus general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . From 2003 to 2007, Bateman was a member of the Presidency of the Quorums of the Seventy of the church... |
John H. Groberg John H. Groberg John Holbrook Groberg has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1976.- Biography :Groberg was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho in 1934 and was reared there after the Great Depression... |
Val R. Christensen |
| 19 | 2004–2009 | A. Roger Merrill A. Roger Merrill Ariel Roger Merrill was the general president of the Sunday School organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 2004 to 2009... |
Daniel K Judd Daniel K Judd Daniel K Judd was the first counselor to A. Roger Merrill in the general presidency of the Sunday School of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 2004 to 2009... |
William D. Oswald William D. Oswald William Duncan Oswald has been a counselor to A. Roger Merrill in the general presidency of the Sunday School of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 2004. Oswald was also a counselor in the same organization to Russell M. Nelson in 1978 and 1979.Oswald was born in Salt Lake... |
| 20 | 2009– | Russell T. Osguthorpe Russell T. Osguthorpe Russell Trent Osguthorpe has been the general president of the Sunday School of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since April 2009. He is the twentieth leader in the history of LDS Church Sunday School. Osguthorpe is also the author of books on education.Osguthorpe has multiple... |
David M. McConkie David M. McConkie David Merrill McConkie is an American lawyer and has been a member of the general presidency of the Sunday School of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 2009.... |
Matthew O. Richardson Matthew O. Richardson Matthew Ottesen Richardson is a professor of religion at Brigham Young University and from 2002 to 2006 he was an associate dean of religious education at that institution.... |
Curriculum
Sunday School focuses on a study of the Standard WorksStandard Works
The Standard Works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the four books that currently constitute its open scriptural canon.* The Holy Bible * The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ...
of the church, which are considered scripture. The primary class in Sunday School for those 14 years of age and older is called Gospel Doctrine. In general, the Gospel Doctrine curriculum follows a four-year cycle:
- Year 1: Old TestamentOld TestamentThe Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
(and the Book of MosesBook of MosesThe Book of Moses is part of the scriptural canon of Mormonism dictated by founder Joseph Smith, Jr. It is an amalgamation of the "Vision of Moses," which Smith dictated in June 1830, the "Book of Enoch," dictated December 1830, and material deriving from Smith's revision of the Book of Genesis in...
and Book of AbrahamBook of AbrahamThe Book of Abraham is a 1835 work by Joseph Smith, Jr. that he said was based on Egyptian papyri purchased from a traveling mummy exhibition. According to Smith, the book was "a translation of some ancient records....purporting to be the writings of Abraham, while he was in Egypt, called the Book...
from the Pearl of Great Price) - Year 2: New TestamentNew TestamentThe New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
- Year 3: Book of MormonBook of MormonThe Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
- Year 4: Doctrine and CovenantsDoctrine and CovenantsThe Doctrine and Covenants is a part of the open scriptural canon of several denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement...
and church historyHistory of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsThe history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is typically divided into three broad time periods: the early history during the lifetime of Joseph Smith, Jr...
However, there are also a number of "generalist" and "specialist" Sunday School classes that may be taught in Sunday School. For example, Gospel Principles
Gospel Principles
Gospel Principles is a book that sets out some of the basic doctrines and teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . The book is published by the LDS Church and is provided to its members as a personal study guide and as a church lesson manual.-History:Gospel Principles was...
is a generalist class that is primarily intended for those new to or inexperienced in the church or for those whose calling is related to missionary work. It is also common for a local congregation to offer specialist Sunday School classes in family history
Family history
Family history is the systematic narrative and research of past events relating to a specific family, or specific families.- Introduction :...
, temples
Temple (LDS Church)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord, and they are considered by Church members to be the most sacred structures on earth. Upon completion, temples are usually open to the public for a short period of time...
, marriage
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
and family relations, and teacher training.
In most church congregations, Sunday School is a 40-minute class which is held either immediately after or immediately prior to Sacrament meeting
Sacrament meeting
Sacrament meeting is the weekly worship service held on Sunday in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .Sacrament meetings are held in individual wards or branches in the chapel of the meetinghouse. The bishop or branch president of the ward or branch presides, unless a higher authority...
. Everyone 12 years of age and older are encouraged to attend; children under age 12 have Sunday School-style classes taught to them in Primary, but these classes are not administered by the LDS Church's Sunday School auxiliary. Many congregations provide special Sunday School classes for youth. When youth classes are held, the curriculum for 12- and 13-year-olds differs from the regular Gospel Doctrine curriculum.
Local structure
Each local congregation is permitted to call an adult male as the local Sunday School president, who oversees the Sunday School under the direction of the bishop or branch presidentBranch President
A branch president is a leader of a "branch" congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.The calling of branch president is very similar to the calling of bishop, except that instead of presiding over a ward, the branch president presides over a branch...
. The president of the Sunday School may call two counselors and a secretary to assist him. Other adults in the congregation will serve as instructors in the various Sunday School classes. Often, full-time missionaries
Mormon missionary
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
assigned to the congregation are asked to teach the Gospel Principles class. A stake or district
District (LDS Church)
A district of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative unit composed of a number of congregations called branches. A district is a subdivision of a mission of the church and in many ways is analogous to a stake of the church. The leader of a district is the...
Sunday School presidency will oversee the Sunday School presidents in a group of five or more congregations.
Church-wide oversight
The church's three-man general Sunday School presidency directs the Sunday School program throughout the church. Since 1979, members of the general Sunday School presidency had been seventies and general authorities of the church. However, in the April 2004 general conference of the church, Thomas S. MonsonThomas S. Monson
Thomas Spencer Monson is an American religious leader and author, and the 16th and current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . As president, Monson is considered by adherents of the religion to be a "prophet, seer, and revelator" of God's will on earth...
of the First Presidency
First Presidency (LDS Church)
The First Presidency is the presiding or governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It is composed of the President of the Church and his counselors. The First Presidency currently consists of President Thomas S. Monson and his two counselors, Henry B...
announced that "a recent decision [has been made] that members of the Quorums of the Seventy [will] not serve in the general presidencies of the Sunday School and Young Men." Thus, the members of the presidency are no longer general authorities of the church.
As of April 2009, the general presidency of the Sunday School was composed of Russell T. Osguthorpe
Russell T. Osguthorpe
Russell Trent Osguthorpe has been the general president of the Sunday School of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since April 2009. He is the twentieth leader in the history of LDS Church Sunday School. Osguthorpe is also the author of books on education.Osguthorpe has multiple...
, President; David M. McConkie
David M. McConkie
David Merrill McConkie is an American lawyer and has been a member of the general presidency of the Sunday School of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 2009....
, First Counselor; and Matthew O. Richardson
Matthew O. Richardson
Matthew Ottesen Richardson is a professor of religion at Brigham Young University and from 2002 to 2006 he was an associate dean of religious education at that institution....
, Second Counselor.
The Sunday School General Board also assists in the leadership of the church's Sunday School programs and in the development of guidelines, policies, and materials. Its current members are Cory H. Maxwell, George I. Monsivais, Randy J. Olsen, Carolyn J. Rasmus, Andrew C. Skinner
Andrew C. Skinner
Andrew C. Skinner was a dean of religious education at Brigham Young University and the author of a wide variety of books and articles on historical and doctrinal topics. Skinner currently serves as the executive director of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship.- Biography...
, and Bonnie Jane B. Studdert.
See also
- Worship services of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsWorship services of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsIn Mormonism, worship services include weekly services, held on Sundays , in neighborhood based religious units...
- Young Men Organization
- Young Women Organization
- Relief SocietyRelief SocietyThe Relief Society is a philanthropic and educational women's organization and an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It was founded in 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois, USA and has approximately 6 million members in over 170 countries and territories...
External links
- Official website of the LDS Church's Sunday School
- Information for Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders on Curriculum, 2005 through 2008 - includes links to Sunday School curriculum