SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Friday announced a change in the seminary program for high school students.

Beginning in January, students in seminary will study the same topic as they do in Sunday classes at church and home – a change welcomed by local seminary instructors.

“They will get more, getting it from seminary, getting from home, from church,” said Seminary Principal Jonathan Hall. “They will learn more and then they will come to our classrooms and share things that will help other students learn more.”

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who sits on the Church Board of Education, said this change is “significant” and will benefit seminary students and their families.

Despite the change to a calendar year curriculum, students will still begin seminary as they enter high school or secondary school. The course requirements for seminary graduation will also remain in place.

Read more about this First Presidency announcement here: https://t.co/8hufLBS7aR https://t.co/e9FpKrlut2 — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (@ChurchNewsroom) March 22, 2019

Seminary is a worldwide, four-year religious educational program for youth ages 14 through 18. It is operated by the Church but is open to teenagers of all faiths. Currently, there are more than 400,000 students enrolled in seminary in 140 countries. Courses are taught by full-time instructors in the populous areas of the Church and by volunteers in other areas, according to the Church News website.

KSL TV’s Sam Penrod contributed to this report.