The Church has directed that Sunday School classes and Sunday elders quorum, Relief Society, Aaronic Priesthood quorum, and Young Women meetings should begin with a prayer.

This is a change from the instructions given in October 2018 when the Church announced a change to the Sunday meeting schedule. That that time, direction was given that the second hour meetings would not begin with an opening hymn or prayer but would conclude with a closing prayer.

This recent notice, dated December 21, 2022, reminded stake and ward councils of the following:

• Prayers in Church meetings should be brief, simple, and directed by the Spirit.
• Any baptized Church member may offer either an opening or closing prayer.
• Members should pray using words that express love and respect for Heavenly Father. In English, this includes using the pronouns Thee, Thy, Thine, and Thou when addressing Him.

See General Handbook, 29.6.