Handbook 2:
Administering the Church

 

10.6 Sunday Gospel Instruction

Young women gather each Sunday to increase their gospel understanding, to recognize how the gospel answers their daily questions, to have opportunities to feel the Spirit, and to strengthen and share their testimonies.
 10.6.1

Opening Exercises

Where possible, all young women meet together for brief opening exercises before Sunday classes. The ward Young Women presidency oversees this portion of the meeting, and a member of a class presidency conducts.

In opening exercises, leaders establish an atmosphere that invites the Spirit for the lessons that follow. Opening exercises include a welcome, a hymn, a prayer, recitation of the Young Women theme, and announcements.

When authorized by the stake president, Young Women and Relief Society opening exercises may be combined one Sunday a month (see 9.7.1).
 10.6.2

Classes

After opening exercises, young women meet for gospel instruction. Young Women classes usually meet separately by age-group. However, leaders may consider the following alternatives as needed:

  1. 1.

    In a ward with a large number of young women, more than one class may be organized in an age-group, with an adviser and class presidency called for each class.

  2. 2.

    In a ward or branch with few young women, age-groups may be combined for Sunday gospel instruction, and advisers may not be needed.

  3. 3.

    In any ward, all the young women may meet together once a month for a combined lesson.

Lessons are usually taught by members of the Young Women presidency or by Young Women advisers. Presidency members and advisers may divide this responsibility as needed. Young women may assist in teaching from time to time. When young women give instruction, a member of the Young Women presidency or an adviser helps them prepare. Priesthood leaders and other faithful ward members may also be invited to teach on occasion. Those who teach should follow the principles in 5.5.4.

Leaders encourage each young woman to bring her personal copy of the scriptures where possible. As needed for individual lessons, leaders may also ask young women to bring other Church-approved resources.

Young women and young men may occasionally meet together, as directed by the bishopric.