Leading up to the first Sunday with 25-minute lessons, I had some worries about how it would go. My concerns (that I heard many other people voice as well) all had to do with time—how could 25 minutes be long enough to:
- Connect socially, especially in youth settings
- Cover enough lesson material
- Transition between classrooms
- Have a good discussion, especially if someone in class went off on a tangent?
But after experiencing the new Sunday schedule, my perspective has shifted.
As a Young Women leader, I noticed our 25-minute lesson felt more focused and intentional. Nothing was missing from our classes; we just reordered things. In the past, we would first talk about what was going on in the girls’ lives. While chatting like that does build relationships, it was often hard to make the jump from that conversation to the lesson topic. This week, however, the teacher went right into the gospel discussion. Then, we all naturally lingered in the classroom for 10 minutes after the closing prayer to talk about life.
While we’re still adjusting to the new class windows, I’m already seeing this statement from President Emily Belle Freeman materialize:
“Over time, I think we will realize that relationships will deepen in our classes and in our quorums—and testimonies will strengthen—because what becomes the priority of those 25 minutes is Jesus Christ. We’re going to see lives change because of that.”
Time at church did seem to fly by—but in a good way. I felt myself looking at the clock less and more at the other faces in the room with me.
I realized that our new 25-minute lessons have plenty of time for:
- Testifying of Jesus Christ and how His enabling grace is helping our day-to-day lives
- Feeling the Holy Ghost testify of truth
- Smiling at people we do and don’t know as we take our seats in class
- Starting a meaningful chat in the hallway after church
- Reading a verse of scripture
- Explaining and testifying of a doctrine
Our class may not be able to fit in all of these things every Sunday—and that’s OK. Even if only the first two items on that list happen, I think we could say church that day was worth it.
Elder David P. Homer, General Authority Seventy and executive director of the Church’s Priesthood and Family Department, said in relation to our new schedule:
“Change is not always easy, and it’s easy to try and poke holes in what the changes are. … But I really believe that when we just embrace them and we just start to go forward with what we have here, I think members are going to be genuinely delighted with what they find their experience is.”
I love the visual image Elder Homer paints: We can either poke holes or embrace. While there may be a learning curve, my first week of 25-minute lessons reminded me that we have more than enough time for what matters most.
If we lean in, I think we’ll find there is plenty of time to draw closer to Christ together. And that’s what attending church is all about.
For help with teaching 25-minute lessons, check out the articles below.
▶ Worried about shorter Sunday classes? Try exercising ‘generous authority’
▶ Sister Browning: 2 ways to teach a quality 25-minute lesson
▶ The power of a short lesson: Making 25 minutes count
