
Historical records indicate that some form of Sunday school was held by Latter-day Saints in Kirtland, Ohio, and Nauvoo in the 1830s-1840s. However no formal organization was established until 1849. In 1849 Richard Ballantyne invited students into his home, we know approximately 30 children between the ages of 8-13 attended. The local organization Ballantyne belonged to (the Salt Lake Fourteenth Ward) adopted Ballantyne's Sunday School program. The Sunday School, at this point, was completely autonomous and under the direction of the local Bishop. On 11 November 1867 President Brigham Young met with Church leaders to bring a standard structure and organization to the over 200 independent Sunday schools that had been created in wards throughout the Church. He, along with Daniel H. Wells, George A. Smith, Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon, and Brigham Young, Jr. met and organized the Parent Sunday School Union. Cannon was appointed first general Superintendent. In 1872 the Sunday School organization was renamed the Deseret Sunday School Union. The 1970s then saw a change within the Sunday School. In 1971 the name was changed to simply Sunday School, and the Sunday School general "superintendent" was renamed the general Sunday School "president". Learn more
Formed in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States
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Occurred On 1849 December 9
George Q. Cannon Sustained as Sunday School General President
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Started Circa 1867 November
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Ended Circa 1901 April
Lorenzo Snow Sustained as Sunday School General President
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Started Circa 1901 May
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Ended Circa 1901 October
Joseph F. Smith Sustained as Sunday School General President
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Started Circa 1901 November
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Ended Circa 1918 November
David O. McKay Sustained as Sunday School General President
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Started Circa 1918 December
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Ended Circa 1934 October
George D. Pyper Sustained as Sunday School General President
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Started Circa 1934 October
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Ended Circa 1943 January
Milton Bennion Sustained as Sunday School General President
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Started Circa 1943 May
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Ended Circa 1949 September
George R. Hill Sustained as Sunday School General President
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Started Circa 1949 September
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Ended Circa 1966 November
David McKay Sustained as Sunday School General President
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Started Circa 1966 November
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Ended Circa 1971 June
Russell M. Nelson Sustained as Sunday School General President
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Started Circa 1971 June
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Ended Circa 1979 October
Hugh W. Pinnock Sustained as Sunday School General President
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Started Circa 1979 October
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Ended Circa 1986 August
Robert L. Simpson Sustained as Sunday School General President
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Ended On 1989 September 30
Hugh W. Pinnock Sustained as Sunday School General President
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Ended On 1992 August 15
Merlin R. Lybbert Sustained as Sunday School General President
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Ended On 1994 August 15
Charles A. Didier Sustained as Sunday School General President
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Ended On 1995 September 30
Harold G. Hillam Sustained as Sunday School General President
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Ended On 2000 October 7
Marlin K. Jensen Sustained as Sunday School General President
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Ended On 2001 October 6
Cecil O. Samuelson Sustained as Sunday School General President
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Ended On 2003 April 5
Merrill J. Bateman Sustained as Sunday School General President
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Ended On 2004 April 3
A. Roger Merrill Sustained as Sunday School General President
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Ended On 2009 April 4
Russell T. Osguthorpe Sustained as Sunday School General President
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Ended On 2014 April 5
Tad R. Callister Sustained as Sunday School General President
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Ended On 2019 April 6
Mark L. Pace Sustained as Sunday School General President
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Ended On 2024 April 6
Paul V. Johnson Sustained as Sunday School General President
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Started On 2024 April 6
