After several weeks experiencing the new Sunday meeting schedule, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offer reviews that range from glowing to gloomy.

When asked what they liked about the 25-minute classes, five of the nearly 60 respondents to a Salt Lake Tribune reader survey answered with a simple “nothing.”

Zip. Zilch. Zero.

Others called it “a mess” and “rushed,” limiting time for reflection. More than one compared the experience to a chain restaurant drive-thru.

“We’re calling it ‘In-and-Out Sunday!’” a Murray member said.

But does “fast and furious” (another term thrown around) necessarily mean less valuable?

Fast and focused

According to many of the survey takers, plus commenters on The Tribune’s Facebook page, the answer is — not necessarily.

“If the lesson isn’t going well,” said a Highland resident, “you know it will be over in less than 25 minutes.”

Rather than slapdash, a Tooele respondent described the shorter meetings as more “focused.”

Said a Salt Lake City respondent: “[There is] less complaining, conspiracy theories and announcements in my mid-single adult ward.”

Plus, shorter lessons mean “less time to listen to members who know everything,” noted another Salt Lake City resident.

The big winners: youth

One group that survey takers and social media commenters alike returned to again and again as standing to gain the most from the changes was youth.

The overwhelming consensus: Shorter lessons and the chance to touch base weekly with their youth leaders represent a win for these young members.

“I was skeptical about the idea,” said a third Salt Lake City respondent. “Less so now. I teach middle schoolers, and it works well for them.”

Others agreed.

“This new change has increased meaningful participation exponentially,” said a Kentucky Sunday school instructor assigned to teach 14- and 15-year-olds. “Where I would get four to five comments during an hour lesson, I am now getting eight to 15 comments during a 25-minute lesson.”

A Lehi teacher of 11- and 12-year-olds said the same.

“One hour felt too long,” he said. “It was very difficult to keep the kids’ attention the whole time. The new 25-minute length feels more appropriate, and it provides much punchier and direct lessons.”

Other benefits teachers described included being able to follow up more easily on previous assignments and conversations, plus more opportunities to connect with their pupils than in the past.

Calls for additional tweaks

By far the greatest area of agreement, however, was in what still needs changing. Again and again, survey respondents and social media commenters called for shorter sacrament meetings, the faith’s principal worship service, which are supposed to run no longer than an hour.

Some want to reduce sacrament meetings to increase the five minutes allotted between classes. Doing so would not only help those with mobility issues but also give teachers more time to set up. It would, several pointed out, bolster community building by giving members more time to visit and catch up in foyers, hallways and classrooms before lessons begin.

“Church feels sterile,” said a member from Rhode Island, “because there’s no time to be social like there used to be.”

Others advocated for using that time to lengthen classes — at least just a bit.

“I know it’s still early days with the schedule change,” said a California member, “but I am mourning my [women’s] Relief Society lessons when I had time to add a song or a visual to enhance the lesson and touch the sisters in a way that words sometimes can’t.”

The next most-popular item on respondents’ wish list?

Ditch the lessons built around church leaders’ General Conference talks.