Starting in September, the second hour of church will look distinctly different. With shorter class periods in 25-minute blocks, teachers might be wondering how to make the most of these new lesson times.
We spoke with Sunday on Monday podcast host Tammy Uzelac Hall to get her advice for keeping lessons succinct and powerful. She shared a method that can invite meaningful discussion while focusing on what matters most.
Begin Sunday Classes with a Question
In each Sunday on Monday episode, Tammy asks her guests a question: “What did the Spirit teach you in this reading?” She says this foundation always leads to insightful discussion about the Come, Follow Me passages they’re reflecting on.
Tammy explains she can’t take the credit for coming up with this idea, because it’s actually suggested in the Come, Follow Me manual. It says:
“One main reason we gather in Sunday School classes is to support and encourage one another as we strive to follow Jesus Christ. A simple way to do this is to ask a question like ‘What has the Holy Ghost taught you this week as you studied the scriptures?’ Answers to this question could lead to meaningful discussions that build faith in Jesus Christ and His gospel.”
Beginning with a question can help your class learn from one another. “Everyone is entitled to feel the Holy Ghost when they’re studying the scriptures,” Tammy says. “It teaches everyone something different, so we can all learn from each other.”
And that’s how it’s supposed to be. Doctrine and Covenants 88:122 invites us:
“Appoint among yourselves a teacher, and let not all be spokesmen at once; but let one speak at a time and let all listen unto his sayings, that when all have spoken that all may be edified of all, and that every man may have an equal privilege” (emphasis added).
A Simple, Spirit-led Class Framework
Tammy recommends that teachers always begin their lesson preparation by prayerfully reading the assigned scripture passage. “Pay attention to what the Holy Ghost teaches you,” she says. “Let that be the focus of your lesson.”
When you actually get into the classroom, start by asking what the Holy Ghost taught your students. After you let people share, Tammy anticipates you’ll likely only have about 15 minutes left to teach. This part of the lesson is when you can bring in what the Spirit taught you from the readings.
“Truly, a 15-minute lesson is all you need to teach [a] truth,” Tammy says. She's experienced this structure firsthand, since each Sunday on Monday episode is broken into 15-minute segments focused on a specific principle.
To sum up, Tammy believes teaching with the new class schedule can be that easy: start with a question, have a discussion, and lead a 15-minute lesson. While this method is just one simple way to approach the allotted 25-minute lesson time, you can seek the Spirit’s guidance to know exactly what your ward needs with the schedule change.
For more ideas, here are a few resources Tammy suggests exploring:
- Lesson 3 from Teaching, No Greater Call
- “What Does It Mean to Teach by the Spirit?” from the August 2025 For the Strength of Youth Magazine
- “The Spirit Is the Real Teacher” resource from the Church’s website
Sunday on Monday is a weekly Come, Follow Me–based podcast where host Tammy Uzelac Hall and her guests dig into the scriptures together. Find full episodes of the podcast on the Deseret Bookshelf app.
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