1. Name of the Church
- Emphasis on the Full Name: A sustained and formal effort was launched to encourage members, media, and the public to use the full, correct name of the Church: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and to avoid using unofficial nicknames like “Mormon” and “LDS.” This included changing the names of Church entities like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.
- New Church Symbol: A new symbol was introduced to visually emphasize Jesus Christ, showing a representation of the Christus statue beneath the name of the Church.
2. Temple and Ordinance Changes
- Temple Building Acceleration: President Nelson announced an unprecedented number of new temples across the globe (over 168 new temples as of his 100th birthday in 2024), more than any other Church president in history.
- Civil Marriage and Sealing Waiting Period Eliminated: The requirement for couples in the United States and Canada to wait one year between their civil marriage and their temple sealing was discontinued.
- Witnesses for Ordinances: Policies were changed to allow:
- Any endowed member with a temple recommend (men or women) to serve as a witness for temple sealings (marriages).
- Any baptized Church member (including women, youth, and children) to serve as a witness for baptisms in and out of the temple.
- Temple Ceremony Adjustments: Changes were made to the temple endowment ceremony to simplify the language, clarify the doctrine, and emphasize the equal partnership between men and women in the covenant relationship with God.
- Temple Recommend Questions: The interview questions for a temple recommend were revised to clarify understanding of temple covenants and prepare members more fully.
3. Organizational and Program Changes
- Two-Hour Sunday Meeting Block: The standard Sunday meeting schedule was reduced from three hours to two hours to emphasize “home-centered, Church-supported” gospel learning.
- Come, Follow Me Curriculum: A new, unified curriculum, Come, Follow Me, was introduced for home study and coordinated with Sunday classes, reinforcing the home-centered approach to gospel learning.
- Ministering Program: The Home Teaching and Visiting Teaching programs were retired and replaced with Ministering, a new, flexible, and more personalized approach to caring for Church members and their families.
- Priesthood Quorum Restructuring: The high priests quorum in each ward was discontinued. High priests (except those serving in a Stake Presidency or Bishopric) were combined with the Elders Quorum, with the goal of strengthening the Elders Quorum as the presiding quorum in the ward.
- Children and Youth Program: The Church discontinued its century-long affiliation with the Boy Scouts of America and replaced all existing youth programs (Scouting, Personal Progress, Duty to God) with a new, globally consistent Children and Youth program focused on personal goal-setting, gospel learning, and service.
- Ward Young Women Class Names: The use of class names (Beehives, Mia Maids, Laurels) was discontinued, and class organization became flexible, often based on age.
- Bishop as Young Men President: The Bishop and his counselors now serve as the Young Men presidency in the ward; the separate ward Young Men presidency was discontinued.
4. Policy Adjustments (LGBTQ+ Focus)
- Reversal of the 2015 Policy: The 2015 policy that had designated same-sex marriage as apostasy and barred baptism for children living with same-sex parents (without First Presidency approval) was reversed in April 2019. The new policy allows for the baptism of children of same-sex parents without First Presidency approval and removes the designation of apostasy for same-sex couples.
- Guidelines on Transgender Members: Church leaders issued updated guidelines clarifying that gender transition is considered a serious matter that may result in Church discipline, while affirming love and respect for all individuals.
5. Missionary Program
- Weekly Communication: Full-time missionaries were granted permission to communicate with their families weekly (via text, phone, or video chat), instead of only on Christmas and Mother’s Day.
- Service Mission Option: The option for young people to serve as “service missionaries” (living at home and serving locally) was expanded.
6. General and Administrative
- New General Authority Seventy and Apostle Appointments: Continued to diversify the general leadership by calling Apostles and General Authority Seventies from increasingly diverse international backgrounds.
- Partnership with the NAACP: An ongoing, formal working relationship was established with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to promote education, humanitarian aid, and service.
- Global Church Handbook: A fully revised and simplified Church Handbook (for leaders) was released, emphasizing principles and doctrine over rigid procedures.
- COVID-19 Pandemic Response: Led the Church through the global pandemic, including suspending meetings, closing and then reopening temples, and encouraging vaccination and public health measures.
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