functions.php

/** Register widget areas **/
genesis_register_sidebar( array(
  'id'			=> 'welcome-slider',
	'name'			=> __( 'welcome - Slider', 'executive' ),
	'description'	=> __( 'This is the slider section on the welcome page.', 'executive' ),
) );
genesis_register_sidebar( array(
	'id'			=> 'welcome-top',
	'name'			=> __( 'welcome - Top', 'executive' ),
	'description'	=> __( 'This is the top section of the welcome page.', 'executive' ),
) );
genesis_register_sidebar( array(
	'id'			=> 'welcome-cta',
	'name'			=> __( 'welcome - Call To Action', 'executive' ),
	'description'	=> __( 'This is the call to action section on the welcome page.', 'executive' ),
) );
genesis_register_sidebar( array(
	'id'			=> 'welcome-middle',
	'name'			=> __( 'welcome - Middle', 'executive' ),
	'description'	=> __( 'This is the middle section of the welcome page.', 'executive' ),
) );
	
} 

welcome.php

<?php

add_action( 'genesis_meta', 'executive_welcome_genesis_meta' );
/**
 * Add widget support for homepage. If no widgets active, display the default loop.
 *
 */
function executive_welcome_genesis_meta() {

  if ( is_active_sidebar( 'welcome-slider' ) || is_active_sidebar( 'welcome-top' ) || is_active_sidebar( 'welcome-cta' ) || is_active_sidebar( 'welcome-middle' ) ) {

		remove_action( 'genesis_loop', 'genesis_do_loop' );
		add_action( 'genesis_loop', 'executive_welcome_sections' );
		add_filter( 'genesis_pre_get_option_site_layout', '__genesis_return_full_width_content' );
		add_filter( 'body_class', 'executive_body_class' );
		add_action( 'genesis_after', 'executive_slider_excerpt_position' );

		/** Add body class to welcome page **/		
		function executive_body_class( $classes ) {
   			$classes[] = 'executive-welcome';
  			return $classes;
		}

		/** Moves the slider pager if the sidebars are active and the screen is wide enough */
		function executive_slider_excerpt_position() {
				?>
				<script type="text/javascript">
					 jQuery(document).ready(function() {
						if (jQuery(".slide-excerpt").length > 0) {
							jQuery(".flex-control-nav").addClass("nav-pos-excerpt");
						}
					});
				</script>
				<?php		
		}
	}
}



function executive_welcome_sections() {

	if ( is_active_sidebar( 'welcome-slider' ) || is_active_sidebar( 'welcome-top' ) || is_active_sidebar( 'welcome-cta' ) || is_active_sidebar( 'welcome-middle' ) ) {

		genesis_widget_area( 'welcome-slider', array(
			'before' => '<div class="welcome-slider widget-area">',
		) );

		genesis_widget_area( 'welcome-top', array(
			'before' => '<div class="welcome-top widget-area">',
		) );

		genesis_widget_area( 'welcome-cta', array(
			'before' => '<div class="welcome-cta widget-area">',
		) );

		genesis_widget_area( 'welcome-middle', array(
			'before' => '<div class="welcome-middle widget-area">',
		) );
		   
	}

}

genesis();