Dividing adult Sunday School classes into smaller class sizes

8 January 2019

Bishops and Branch Presidents,

You likely noticed that your Adult Sunday school class (aka Gospel Doctrine class) last Sunday was packed! It was not unique to our stake. Based on a survey of my children, spread from coast to coast, it was a dynamic felt in most wards and branches.

The numbers are likely coming from: (1) elimination of other adult classes, such as Gospel Principles; (2) members, who thought 3 hours was too long, are now staying; and (3) third-hour teachers, who used to prepare their class in the hall or foyer during the 2nd hour, are also attending.

You may be wondering, where are you going to put everyone if this trend continues?

Hopefully it will continue and even grow. 

Please consider calling several teachers and dividing your Adult SS class into several small classes. You can create small classes by placing chairs in a small semi-circle in each corner of the cultural hall, if classrooms are needed. It will be a blessing as it gives more members an opportunity to learn and serve as teachers of the gospel and creates small, more manageable classroom sizes where everyone feels a need to participate and contribute to the discussion.

When I was called into the YSA Ward Bishopric several years ago, we divided the gospel doctrine class into four small classes and it was wonderful to see the YSA respond. For sure, it puts a lot of pressure on your SS presidency to make sure teachers are prepared and show up, but it was worth the extra effort. Each class was reduced to 12-15 students, much more manageable for a teacher and the students took ownership of the class as they recognized that their participation was needed and appreciated. It can be done!

We divided the classes by the first letter of the last name to discourage students from going into the class of a favorite teacher.

I hope this is helpful. Feel no obligation to implement this, but I hope you’ll see the value this can be in addressing our wonderful problem of so many attending the Adult Sunday school class.

President Lewis