Are announcements in the RS Sunday meeting given before or after the opening prayer

[Anonymous UserParticipant]

I have not been able to locate instruction in the RS manual concerning the announcements in RS during the Sunday meeting. I have seen it done both ways. Will you please advise with document reference for me to share with others. Thank you so much!

[Jenny SmithParticipant]

Before. Announcements are given before the song/prayer in all LDS meetings, including sacrament, Young Women, Seminary, Mutual, Relief Society (Sunday and additional meetings), Primary Opening Exercises, and Priesthood. You should follow the sacrament meeting pattern for all your meetings.

Singing and praying together invites the Spirit and sets the tone for a spiritual experience. By reading announcements first you help members prepare for the spiritual lesson segment of each meeting more easily by setting a musical boundary (of sorts) between the announcement portion of a meeting and the spiritual portion.

You can find simple instructions in the Branch Guidebook below:

http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=3c847befabc20110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=198bf4b13819d110VgnVCM1000003a94610aRCRD

and see also the new handbook section 18.2.2 for the pattern to follow:

http://lds.org/handbook/handbook-2-administering-the-church/meetings-in-the-church?lang=eng&query=opening+exercises#18.2.2

The basic pattern for LDS meetings is
1. Welcome
2. Announcements
3. Song
4. Prayer
5. Lesson/Council
6. Song
7. Prayer

I have just been explaining this pattern to the Young Women who are learning to conduct opening exercises in our unit. Hope this helps you, too!

[Jenny SmithParticipant]

And since you’re asking about Relief Society Opening Exercises, it’s worth noting that the 5-minute music period has been eliminated from the new handbook.

[Anonymous UserParticipant]

I have recently been called to the RS Presidency in our ward and was wondering about the same thing. This is what I found in the new handbook (9.4.1 p.67) which makes it sound like the announcements do come after the hymn and prayer afterall (and that is how we run things) :
‘Each (RS) meeting begins with a welcome by a member of the presidency, a hymn, a prayer, and brief announcements about opportunities to serve, upcoming events, illnesses, and other appropriate information……..’

[Jenny SmithParticipant]

Good point. There are two types of announcements: announcements and business. In Sacrament meeting announcements (like ward activities, mutual, campouts, etc) are given before the prayer. Business (like callings, baby blessings, awards, etc) are done after the prayer.

For Relief Society I would put announcements regarding ongoing meetings and events, signup sheets, etc, before the prayer and compassionate service after the prayer. The goal is to have a transition between the announcement portion of a meeting and the spiritual part by separating them with a prayer and song.

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