Plan of Salvation: Premortal Life

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I Lived with Heavenly Father Before I Came to Earth.

  1. We lived as spirit children of God in a premortal existence.
    1. God is the father of the spirits of all mankind (see Hebrews 12:9D&C 76:24Acts 17:29Romans 8:16).
    2. Our spirit bodies are in the form of God’s physical body (see D&C 77:2Ether 3:6–16).

God is the Father of our spirits.

We are literally His children, and He loves us. We lived as spirit children of our Father in Heaven before we were born on this earth.

Children of God Scriptures

Doctrine and Covenants 93:23, 29, 38

Invite the children to repeat the phrase “We are the offspring of God” (Acts 17:29), and explain that offspring means children. Bear your testimony to each child, one by one, that he or she is a child of God. Invite them to share how they feel about their Heavenly Father.

  • Print one of the below image for each child and have them write their name on the line in the sentence and then draw a picture of themself

Heavenly Father is the father of our spirits, so we can grow to be like him. Heavenly Father is loving, good, and kind. When we are loving, good, and kind, we are being like Heavenly Father.

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine & Covenants 93”The Savior emphasized three times in section 93 that we lived with God “in the beginning” (verses 23, 29, 38). Why might He want us to know this? How might knowing this truth bless the children you teach?

  • Repeat together with the children the words “Ye were also in the beginning with the Father” (Doctrine and Covenants 93:23). Explain that before we were born on earth, we lived with Heavenly Father in heaven. Sing together “I Am a Child of God” or “I Lived in Heaven” (Children’s Songbook,2–3, 4).
  • Invite the children to draw pictures of themselves with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in the premortal life. Bear your testimony that God loves all of us and that we are all His children.
  • Sing together “I Am a Child of God” or “I Lived in Heaven” (Children’s Songbook, 2–3, 4). What truths do we learn from this song about our purpose for coming to earth?

Friend August 2021 “Scripture Time Fun” Reminder Rocks

  • Sing “I Am a Child of God” (Children’s Songbook, 2–3).
  • We lived with Heavenly Father before we came to earth (see Doctrine and Covenants 93:23). We are all His children.
  • Find some smooth rocks and write “You are a child of God” on them with paint or markers. Then give each rock to a friend, family member, or someone you think could use a reminder.

Heavenly Father knew me before I was born.

Jeremiah 1:5

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20” Because we lived with God before we came to earth, He knows us, even if we can’t remember Him. How will you help the children you teach understand this important truth?

  • Read to the children Jeremiah 1:5, and explain that God knew the prophet Jeremiah before he was born. Tell each child, individually, that Heavenly Father also knew him or her before he or she was born and that He sent each of us here for a purpose.

We lived in Heaven: Explain that before we were born on earth we lived in heaven with Heavenly Father.

We were spirits there. A spirit is what is inside of us that makes us alive. When we were spirits, we didn’t have flesh and bones like our bodies have now, but we looked the same.

  • Show the children a picture of a baby, and ask the children if they know where this baby lived before he or she was born. Sing together a song that teaches about our premortal life with God, such as “I Am a Child of God” or “I Lived in Heaven” (Children’s Songbook, 2–3, 4). Talk about the spiritual feelings the song brings. Bear your testimony that we all once lived with Heavenly Father and that He sent us here to earth.
  • If there is a new baby in the ward, invite the parents to bring him or her to class and share their feelings about welcoming this child into the world. (You could also show a picture of a newborn baby.) Talk with the children about where this baby’s spirit was before he or she came to earth.

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2022 “Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20”

You could use this verse to talk about our life with Heavenly Father before we were born. Resources like “I Lived in Heaven” (Children’s Songbook, 4) and “Introduction: Our Heavenly Father’s Plan” (in New Testament Stories, 1–5) could help. How can knowing about our premortal life affect the way we live our mortal life?

We Are All Children of God.

Doctrine and Covenants 76:24

President Dallin H. Oaks said that if we teach “a young person the powerful idea that he or she is a child of God,” we can give him or her the “self-respect and motivation to move against the problems of life” (“Powerful Ideas,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 25).

We lived in Heaven: (Click on the below picture. Print the picture, or show it on an electronic device.) Explain that before we were born on earth we lived in heaven with Heavenly Father.

We were spirits there. A spirit is what is inside of us that makes us alive. When we were spirits, we didn’t have flesh and bones like our bodies have now, but we looked the same.

Explain that Heavenly Father is the father of our spirits, and we are his spirit children

  • To help the children understand their potential to become like God, find ways to show them that baby animals grow to become like their parents—perhaps the children could match pictures of animals with pictures of the animals’ babies. Open the scriptures to Doctrine and Covenants 76:24, and tell the children that we are all “sons and daughters unto God.” Bear your testimony that God is our Father and that we can grow to be like our Heavenly Parents.

We can be like Heavenly Father 

(Print and cut out these images pdf.) Use the following questions with the images. They could also be made into a matching game.

  • What is a baby dog called?
  • What will that puppy grow up to be?
  • What is a baby chicken called?
  • What will that chick grow up to be?

Explain that just as animals grow up to be like their parents, we will grow up to be like our parents.

Friend January 2017 “Kylie’s Parents” Kylie is like her earthly parents, and she is also like her Heavenly Parents. PDF version

Heavenly Father is the father of our spirits, so we can grow to be like him. Heavenly Father is loving, good, and kind. When we are loving, good, and kind, we are being like Heavenly Father.  We should try to become more like Heavenly Father every day.

Have children tell or act out ways they can be loving, good, or kind.

  • Sing together “I Am a Child of God” (Children’s Songbook,2–3), and invite the children to point to themselves when they sing “I.” Ask them to sing the song again, replacing “I am” with “you are” and pointing to someone else in the class.

Explain that God is another name for Heavenly Father.

(The below visuals are from the Nursery Manual. Also see lds.org for the music)

Heavenly Father Presented the Plan of Salvation

Council in Heaven

God the Father provided the plan of salvation by which His spirit children could eventually become like Him.

 Abraham 3:24–27

“Sharing Time: I Shouted for Joy!” (February 1999 Friend)

“Hurray!” we cried. “Hurray!” We shouted for joy! Have you ever been so happy in a meeting that you wanted to shout for joy? Did you know that you attended a very big meeting before you were born? It was called the Council in Heaven. All of Heavenly Father’s spirit children were there. Jesus Christ was there, and each one of us was there. Jesus was Heavenly Father’s Firstborn Son in the spirit world. We are also His spirit children. We lived with Heavenly Father and Jesus in heaven before we were born on this earth.

In the Council in Heaven, Heavenly Father told us about His wonderful plan. We call it the plan of salvation or the great plan of happiness. As part of this plan, Jesus, under the direction of Heavenly Father, would create a beautiful earth for us. Heavenly Father wanted each of His children to come to earth and receive a body. We had learned as much as we could in the spirit world. With a body and with the gift of agency (freedom to choose right or wrong) we could prove to Heavenly Father that we wanted more than anything else to keep His commandments and return to live with Him again. We were excited to be able to come to earth. [We had progressed as far as we could without a physical body.]

Jesus Christ was chosen and foreordained to come to earth to perform the atoning sacrifice

1 Peter 1:19–20Moses 4:2Revelation 13:8Abraham 3:27).

But there was a problem. Heavenly Father knew that when we became mortal and had bodies, we could get sick and die. We would make mistakes and could be tempted. We could sin, and no one who is sinning can live with Him. Heavenly Father knew that someone would have to pay the price for our sins so that we could be clean again and free from sin. We would need a savior who would give his own life in payment for our sins. Heavenly Father asked, “Whom shall I send?” Jesus said, “Here am I, send me.” Jesus said that He would do whatever Heavenly Father wanted Him to do to help us. There was another spirit person there who wanted to take away our agency and force us all to follow him. That was Lucifer, or Satan. He didn’t want to follow Heavenly Father’s plan—he wanted his own plan. Heavenly Father said, “I will send the first.” (See Abr. 3:24–27.)

When we heard that Jesus would be our Savior, we were so grateful and so happy that we shouted for joy. All the prophets from Adam’s time onward knew that Jesus would come and be our Savior. All the prophets who have lived since Jesus’ birth testify that He did come and that He is the Christ. The Apostle John, who knew Jesus personally, declared “We believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:69). When we read that scripture, our faith can grow. Once again, we feel like shouting for joy!

  • On the board, draw a heart with the word Satan and a sad face inside it. Explain that Satan said in his heart, “I will exalt my throne above the stars of God” (Isaiah 14:13), which means that he wanted to be better than Heavenly Father. Invite a child to draw another heart, this one with the word Jesus and a happy face inside it. Help the children understand that Jesus wanted to do what Heavenly Father asked Him to do (see Moses 4:1–2). How can we follow Jesus’s example?

There was a war in heaven.

Lucifer, a spirit in authority in the presence of God, sought the glory and honor of God and the elimination of the agency of the children of God

Moses 4:1–3D&C 76:25–28Isaiah 14:12–14).

Lucifer’s rebellion against God caused a war in heaven

Revelation 12:7D&C 76:25–29).

Isaiah 14:12–14

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Isaiah 13–14; 24–30; 35” Before the world was created, Heavenly Father chose Jesus Christ to be our Savior. Isaiah 14:12–14 describes the pride that Satan showed in the premortal Council in Heaven.

  • Use “Introduction: Our Heavenly Father’s Plan” (in New Testament Stories, 1–3) or the song “I Lived in Heaven” (Children’s Songbook, 4) to tell the children about the War in Heaven before we were born. (As you do, include phrases from Isaiah 14:12–14 that describe Satan.) Then invite the children to take turns telling the story back to you. Emphasize that Jesus Christ followed Heavenly Father’s plan and became our Savior.

New Testament Stories “Introduction to Our Heavenly Father’s Plan” Images and video

One-third of the spirits were cast out of heaven because they chose not to keep their first estate

 Abraham 3:27–28D&C 29:36–382 Peter 2:4Revelation 12:8–9).

  • All who kept their “first estate” (premortal life) were promised that they would “be added upon” (which includes receiving mortal bodies). All who keep their second estate will have “glory added upon their heads for ever and ever” (Abraham 3:26).

Friend January 2010 “Jehovah and the Wonderful Plan of Our Heavenly Father”

  • We loved Heavenly Father. And He loved us so much that He wanted us to grow up to be like Him and live with Him forever. He wanted us to know everything He knew. But how could we learn all that?
  • Heavenly Father had a wonderful plan. He gathered us all together and told us about His plan. He would create a beautiful world with rivers, mountains, flowers, and animals. Then He would give each of us a chance to come to earth and have a physical body. We would be able to hold warm sand in our hands and feel soft grass under our feet.
  • You would depart from the arms of yourFather, pass through a veil of forgetfulness, receive a mortal body, and learn and experience things that hopefully would help you grow to become more like Father in Heaven]“Back to Your Heavenly Home” (April 2015 Friend)
  • On earth we would have families. They could feed, protect, and love us.
  • On earth we wouldn’t be able to remember Heavenly Father, so we would need to learn about Him. The scriptures, the prophets, and our parents could teach us about Him. We would be tempted to disobey, and sometimes we would make mistakes. Sometimes we would get sick, and eventually we would all have to die.
  • Jehovah was the firstborn of Heavenly Father’s children. He always obeyed His Father. He was like Heavenly Father. He accepted Heavenly Father’s plan. One of the other spirit children of our Heavenly Father, Lucifer, rebelled against the plan. He said we shouldn’t be able to choose between right and wrong.
  • Heavenly Father said that for His plan to work, someone needed to go to earth to help us learn how to get back to heaven.
  • Someone needed to show us how to follow Heavenly Father. Who was obedient enough to do it?
  • Someone needed to atone for our sins so we could repent when we made mistakes. Who was good enough to do it?
  • Someone needed to die and be resurrected so we could all be resurrected and return to heaven. Who was brave enough and loving enough to do it?
  • Was anyone willing to do all this for us?
  • One person was. Our oldest brother, Jehovah, said, “Here am I, send me” (Abraham 3:27).
  • How we loved Him for that.
  • When Jehovah came to earth, He was our Savior. He was called Jesus Christ.
  • God’s whole purpose—His work and His glory—is to enable each of us to enjoy all His blessings. He has provided a perfect plan to accomplish His purpose. We understood and accepted this plan before we came to the earth. In the scriptures God’s plan is called a merciful plan, the plan of happiness, the plan of redemption, and the plan of salvation.
  1. Our instruction and preparation for earth life began in the world of spirits (see D&C 138:56).
  2. God gave us agency in the premortal life (see Moses 4:3D&C 29:36).
  • Sing songs about God’s plan for us, such as “I Know My Father Lives” or “I Will Follow God’s Plan” (Children’s Songbook, 5, 164–65). Invite the children to draw pictures that go with the words. Let them use their pictures to teach each other truths from the songs.

I showed faith in Jesus Christ in the premortal life.(Jr)

Revelation 12:7–11

To help the children understand what it means to follow someone’s example, choose one child to be a “leader,” and ask the others to follow him or her by doing whatever he or she does. Then let other children be the leader. Read Revelation 12:7–11 to the children and explain that before we were born, we chose to follow Jesus and not Satan.(Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Revelation 6–14”)

The Red Crystal

Sing together a song about the premortal life, such as “I Lived in Heaven” or “I Will Follow God’s Plan” (Children’s Songbook, 4, 164–65). Ask questions like, “What happened in heaven before we were born?” and “What did we choose to do?” (See also “Introduction: Our Heavenly Father’s Plan” in New Testament Stories, 1–5, or the corresponding video on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.)(Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Revelation 6–14”)

I showed faith in Jesus Christ in the premortal life.(Sr)

Revelation 12:7–11

Read together Revelation 12:7–11, and write on the board the words dragonWar in Heavencast outtestimony, and Lamb. Ask the children to summarize these verses using the words on the board. What do we learn about Jesus Christ (the Lamb) from these verses? What do we learn about the choices we made in the premortal life?(Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Revelation 6–14”)

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: New Testament 2023 “Revelation 6–14”vWhat might the phrase “the word of their testimony” mean? How do our testimonies of Jesus Christ help us and others overcome Satan?

Some family members might enjoy drawing pictures of the visions described in Revelation. For example, drawing pictures based on Revelation 12 could lead to discussions about the War in Heaven (see verses 7–11). Pictures based on Revelation 14:6 could lead to discussions about the Restoration of the gospel.

After reading Revelation 14:6 together, consider showing pictures of the angel Moroni and of other angels who helped restore the gospel in our day (see the pictures at the end of this outline). Perhaps family members could take turns holding up one of the pictures and sharing reasons they are thankful that angels came “having the everlasting gospel to preach unto [us].”

On the board, create three columns and label them Before this lifeDuring this life, and Both. Prepare strips of paper that state truths about the premortal life and about mortal life, such as We have bodiesWe don’t have bodiesWe live in God’s presenceWe are at war with SatanWe exercise faith in Jesus Christ, and We follow God’s plan. Let the children take turns picking a paper strip and deciding which column it belongs in. Share your confidence that the children can continue to show faith in Christ.(Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Revelation 6–14”)

The Creation

The Earth was Created so We Could Become Like Our Heavenly Father

Jesus Christ Created the Earth Under the Direction of Heavenly Father.

Preach My Gospel “Plan of Salvation” Under the direction of the Father, Jesus Christ created the earth as a place for us to live and gain experience. In order to progress and become like God, each of us had to obtain a body and be tested during a time of probation on the earth. While on the earth we are out of God’s physical presence. We do not remember our premortal life. We must walk by faith rather than by sight.

Many became noble and great in the premortal world (see Abraham 3:22–25Jeremiah 1:4–6Alma 13:3–5).


Primary 1 (Sunbeams): Lesson 1 Ideas

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Lesson 1

I Am a Child of God

Note: I’ve included the words from the manual that each of the below visual aids goes with.

We lived in Heaven: (Click on the below picture. Print the picture, or show it on an electronic device.) Explain that before we were born on earth we lived in heaven with Heavenly Father.

Friend April 2015

We were spirits there. A spirit is what is inside of us that makes us alive. When we were spirits, we didn’t have flesh and bones like our bodies have now, but we looked the same.

(Use these puppets to demonstrate what it means to be a spirit. See here for assembly instructions.) 

Show the first picture again and explain that Heavenly Father is the father of our spirits, and we are his spirit children

Sing: I Am a Child of God. Tell the children they are going to sing the song “I Am a Child of God.” Explain that God is another name for Heavenly Father. (I like the Red Headed Hostess visual aids for the first verse of this song, but it does cost money. Jolly Jen has a flip chart that would work too, or you could use the below visual s from the Nursery Manual. Also see lds.org for the music)

Who is a child of God?  Do the bean bag activity in the lesson. Print and cut out this activity. Show the pictures one at a time and ask the following:

Is a policeman a child of God?

Is a grandmother or grandfather

Is a bishop

Is a soldier

Is a mailman or missionaries

Is a mom or dad

Is someone who doesn’t go to our church

Is someone who lives in a different country or culture

Have the children take turns posting each picture under the title “Child of God.” The title can be written on the board or in a file folder or display board.  You can also bring up people they know such as a neighbor.

Help the children understand that everyone is a child of God even though we may be different in age, hair color, what we do, where we live, skin color, or the church we attend, we are all children of God.

We can be like Heavenly Father 

(Print and cut out these images pdf.) Use the following questions with the images. They could also be made into a matching game.

  • What is a baby dog called?
  • What will that puppy grow up to be?
  • What is a baby chicken called?
  • What will that chick grow up to be?

Explain that just as animals grow up to be like their parents, we will grow up to be like our parents.

Friend January 2017 “Kylie’s Parents” Kylie is like her earthly parents, and she is also like her Heavenly Parents. PDF version

Heavenly Father is the father of our spirits, so we can grow to be like him. Heavenly Father is loving, good, and kind. When we are loving, good, and kind, we are being like Heavenly Father.  We should try to become more like Heavenly Father every day.

Have children tell or act out ways they can be loving, good, or kind.

Review Game: I really like the Red Headed Hostess folder game as a review, but it does cost money.

Resources Used:

The images for the activity “Who is a Child of God?” are from the Friend magazine. Soldier 6/16, Bishop 1/16, etc.

The images for the animals are from Pixabay: Free Images


Child of God: Lesson Ideas

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Heavenly Father is the Father of Our Spirits

Premortal Life

Made in His Image

Doctrine and Covenants 130:22

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 129-132”

When we understand that God the Father and Jesus Christ have bodies like ours, we feel closer to Them, and our relationship with Them is strengthened.

  • Show the children a picture of Jesus Christ, and invite them to point to His eyes, mouth, and other parts of His body. Then invite them to stand and point to those same parts of their own bodies. Read from Doctrine and Covenants 130:22: “The Father has a body of flesh and bones … ; the Son also.” Testify that our bodies are like Heavenly Father’s and Jesus’s bodies.
  • Sing together a song about our bodies, such as “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” (Children’s Songbook, 275), and invite the children to do actions that go along with the words. Ask the children to tell you some things they can do with their bodies. Express your gratitude for the body God has given you. How can we show we are thankful for this special gift?
  • Invite the children to draw pictures of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and themselves. Help them see how our bodies are like Heavenly Father’s and Jesus’s.

Friend August 2016 “God is Our Father” God our Father has ears with which to hear our prayers. He has eyes with which to see our actions. He has a mouth with which to speak to us. He has a heart with which to feel compassion and love. He is real. He is living. We are his children made in His image. We look like Him and He looks like us.

Friend November 2020 “Like Him”

We Can Become Like our Heavenly Father

Friend April 1984

Friend October 2015

Friend October 2015

Moses 1:1–4, 6, 30, 37–39; Abraham 3:22–28

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Moses 1; Abraham 3”

For younger children:

  • Read to the children what God said to Moses: “Thou art my son” (Moses 1:4). Invite a child to the front of the room, and ask the children to repeat with you, “[Child’s name], you are a child of God.” Repeat the phrase for each child in the class.
  • Show several pictures of children, and ask the class if these children are all children of God. Emphasize that everyone is a child of God. Let the children take turns looking in a mirror, and testify that they are children of God too.
  • Sing “I Am a Child of God” (Children’s Songbook, 2–3) with the children. Let them color this week’s activity page, and use it to review the truths this song teaches.

For older kids:

  • Read with the children Moses 1:4, 37–39 and Abraham 3:24–25. Give them opportunities to ask questions and share favorite words or phrases from these verses. What do we learn from these verses about Heavenly Father? about ourselves?
  • Show the children pictures of some of Heavenly Father’s many creations. Read Moses 1:30, and explain that Moses asked God about the purpose of these creations. Help the children search in verse 39 to find God’s answer. Testify that God’s purpose is to help each child gain eternal life.
  • Help the children think of situations in which they have to choose whether or not to “do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command” (Abraham 3:25). Let them practice or discuss possible responses to those situations. How can the Savior help us when we make a wrong choice?

Primary 1 (Sunbeams) “Lesson One: I Am a Child of God”

We lived in Heaven: (Click on the below picture. Print the picture, or show it on an electronic device.) Explain that before we were born on earth we lived in heaven with Heavenly Father.

Friend April 2015

We were spirits there. A spirit is what is inside of us that makes us alive. When we were spirits, we didn’t have flesh and bones like our bodies have now, but we looked the same.

(Use these puppets to demonstrate what it means to be a spirit. See here for assembly instructions.) 

Show the first picture again and explain that Heavenly Father is the father of our spirits, and we are his spirit children

Sing: I Am a Child of God. Tell the children they are going to sing the song “I Am a Child of God.” Explain that God is another name for Heavenly Father. (I like the Red Headed Hostess visual aids for the first verse of this song, but it does cost money. Jolly Jen has a flip chart that would work too, or you could use the below visual s from the Nursery Manual. Also see lds.org for the music)

Who is a child of God?  Toss a beanbag or soft object to a child as you say the words “I know a child of God named_____ .” Have the child say his or her own name and give the beanbag back to you. Repeat the activity until everyone has had a turn.

Print and cut out this activity. Show the pictures one at a time and ask the following:

Is a policeman a child of God?

Is someone who lives in a different country or culture

Is a bishop

Is a grandmother or grandfather

Is a soldier

Is someone who doesn’t go to our church

Is a mailman or missionaries

Is a mom or dad

Have the children take turns posting each picture under the title “Child of God.” The title can be written on the board or in a file folder or display board.  You can also bring up people they know such as a neighbor.

Help the children understand that everyone is a child of God even though we may be different in age, hair color, what we do, where we live, skin color, or the church we attend, we are all children of God.

We can be like Heavenly Father 

(Print and cut out these images pdf.) Use the following questions with the images. They could also be made into a matching game.

  • What is a baby dog called?
  • What will that puppy grow up to be?
  • What is a baby chicken called?
  • What will that chick grow up to be?

Explain that just as animals grow up to be like their parents, we will grow up to be like our parents.

Friend January 2017 “Kylie’s Parents” Kylie is like her earthly parents, and she is also like her Heavenly Parents. PDF version

Heavenly Father is the father of our spirits, so we can grow to be like him. Heavenly Father is loving, good, and kind. When we are loving, good, and kind, we are being like Heavenly Father.  We should try to become more like Heavenly Father every day.

Have children tell or act out ways they can be loving, good, or kind.

(The images for the activity “Who is a Child of God?” are from the Friend magazine. Soldier 6/16, Bishop 1/16, etc.The images for the animals are from Pixabay: Free Images)

Friend January 2022 “I Am a Child of God” Coloring page

Friend March 2023 “I Am Amazing”

Traits Inherited from Heavenly Father

Ensign July 2019 “Family Study Fun”

In Athens, Paul taught people who believed that gods were powers or forces, not living, personable beings. Help your family recognize that we are literally the “offspring of God” ().

  1. Pass out paper to each family member and instruct them to list on the paper the traits they’ve inherited from their parents, such as physical traits or personality traits. Discuss how these traits help you and your family members know who their parents are.
  2. Next, have each family member list traits they inherited from Heavenly Father. Refer to patriarchal blessings if appropriate. Discuss how knowing that we have inherited these traits can strengthen our testimony that we are children of God.

Heavenly Father Loves Us

Friend January 2022 “You Are a Beloved Child of God” “You are a beloved child of God. Please remember that fact. If you never forget that one pure truth, you can face any problem with faith and courage. I know that Heavenly Father watches over you. He loves you very much, and so do I.” (President Russel M. Nelson)

Primary Sharing Time 2018 “I am a Child of God” Week One

1. Guessing game with clues about who you are thinking of (Heavenly Father).

2. Read scriptures about how the Lord addresses each prophet, and then help the children understand that God knows each of us by name.

3. Pass around several items that represent God’s love for His children as they sing “I Am a Child of God” (CS, 2–3) or “I Know My Father Lives” (CS, 5).

Friend August 2019 “Show and Tell” Primary children in Virginia, USA, were given the “toothbrush challenge”—to look in the mirror and say, “I am a child of God,” when they brushed their teeth each day. Each Sunday they shared how God had helped them during the week. Then they put a pom-pom in a jar to help them remember that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love them.

Friend January 2016 Stand tall because you are a child of God and he stands with you. Heavenly Father lifts and helps us. He blesses us with others to help us. .

Doctrine and Covenants 18:10–12

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 18–19: “The Worth of Souls Is Great”

Many people struggle with feelings of low self-worth; others are unkind toward people who are different from them. The powerful message of Doctrine and Covenants 18:10 can change how we view ourselves and people around us.

Repeat verse 10 with the children, this time replacing “souls” with the children’s names.

Help the children think of things that people consider valuable. Then let the children take turns looking in a mirror, and as they do, tell each child that he or she is a child of God and of great worth. Testify that to Heavenly Father, they are more valuable than all the things they thought of earlier.

  • Ask each child to write his or her name on a piece of paper and pass the papers around the room. Invite them to write on each paper they receive something they like about that person. Encourage them to be kind and thoughtful in their comments. Then help the children read Doctrine and Covenants 18:10–12, and invite them to share what they learn about how God feels about us. Explain that we are all of great worth to God because we are His children.
  • Show the children something that is very valuable to you. How do we treat things that are valuable to us? Ask a child to read Doctrine and Covenants 18:10. How can we show other people that “the worth of [their] souls is great” in our sight?

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 18–19: “The Worth of Souls Is Great”

Each family member could read Doctrine and Covenants 18:10–13 and substitute his or her name in place of the words “soul,” “souls,” and “all men.” You could then discuss how these verses help us understand our worth to the Father and the Son (see Doctrine and Covenants 19:16–19).

Liahona February 2021 “Your Worth is Great” Family Study Fun: Circle of Worth

Circle of Worth: Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer were counseled to remember that “the worth of souls is great in the sight of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 18:10). As we help others to see their own worth, we bring them nearer to Christ while becoming closer to Him ourselves.

  1. Invite family members to sit in a circle.
  2. Each person will take a turn standing in the middle of the circle.
  3. Everyone sitting in the circle will tell the middle person, “You matter to me because ___________,” and share specific details of why that person is of worth to them.
  4. The middle person will then choose their own statement of personal worth: “I matter to God and myself because __________.”

Discussion: Why is it important to remember our own worth as well as the worth of those around us? If Christ were in the circle, what would He say about us? Read Doctrine and Covenants 18:10–13 and discuss what Christ went through because of how much He loves and values us.

Friend February 2021 “Scripture Time Fun”

Friend February 2021 “Scripture Time for Little Ones” For Doctrine and Covenants 18–19: Help your little ones say, “I am important to Heavenly Father.” Then sing “I Am a Child of God” (Children’s Songbook, 2) and have your children give themselves a hug when they sing the words, “I am a child of God.”

Friend November 2020 “We are Moving Forward”

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Friend March 2022 “He Is There” Song and Music Video

2. Do you ever stop to think What your Heavenly Father sees When He looks at you?

He smiles brighter than the sun When He sees His precious one; There’s just one like you!

So take comfort when that quiet voice reminds you:

Chorus 2: He is there, greater than any challenge. God is there, watching you as you grow,

Sending comfort in the night, Helping you know and choose what’s right.

You’re not alone, for He is always there. So keep trying, keep growing;

Keep praying, keep knowing:God loves you so, and He is always there.

For additional teaching ideas see “Child of God

Friend November 2023 “Conference Notes”

Elder Stevenson invited us to stop each time we see ourselves in a mirror and say, “Wow, look at me! I am amazing! I am a child of God! He knows me! He loves me!” Doing this will help us remember who we really are and how God and the Holy Ghost can help us.

This teaches me:

He Loves All His Children

Friend October 2022 “Bright Idea”

Friend September 2020 “Everyone is Important” We’re all daughters and sons of our heavenly parents—not all the same, but all equally important, needed, valuable, and loved!

Friend March 2019

Friend October 2018

Friend February 1988

Friend February 1988

Nursery Manual “Behold Your Little Ones”

If you’re very, very tall, (stretch and reach arms up)
Heavenly Father knows and loves you.
If you’re very, very small, (crouch down)
Heavenly Father knows and loves you.
Tall, (stretch up)
Small, (crouch down)
Tall, (stretch up)
Small, (crouch down)
Heavenly Father knows and loves us all.

We Feel Their Love When We Pray

Ensign October 2017 We grow closer to Them and feel their love as we pray and read the scriptures. Color a heart each time you do one of these things.

I Lived with Heavenly Father Before I Came to Earth.

God is the Father of our spirits. We are literally His children, and He loves us. We lived as spirit children of our Father in Heaven before we were born on this earth.

Doctrine and Covenants 93:23, 29, 38

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine & Covenants 93”

The Savior emphasized three times in section 93 that we lived with God “in the beginning” (verses 23, 29, 38). Why might He want us to know this? How might knowing this truth bless the children you teach?

  • Repeat together with the children the words “Ye were also in the beginning with the Father” (Doctrine and Covenants 93:23). Explain that before we were born on earth, we lived with Heavenly Father in heaven. Sing together “I Am a Child of God” or “I Lived in Heaven” (Children’s Songbook,2–3, 4).
  • Invite the children to draw pictures of themselves with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in the premortal life. Bear your testimony that God loves all of us and that we are all His children.
  • Sing together “I Am a Child of God” or “I Lived in Heaven” (Children’s Songbook, 2–3, 4). What truths do we learn from this song about our purpose for coming to earth?

Friend August 2021 “Scripture Time Fun” Reminder Rocks

  • Sing “I Am a Child of God” (Children’s Songbook, 2–3).
  • We lived with Heavenly Father before we came to earth (see Doctrine and Covenants 93:23). We are all His children.
  • Find some smooth rocks and write “You are a child of God” on them with paint or markers. Then give each rock to a friend, family member, or someone you think could use a reminder.

Heavenly Father knew me before I was born.

Jeremiah 1:5

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20” Because we lived with God before we came to earth, He knows us, even if we can’t remember Him. How will you help the children you teach understand this important truth?

  • Read to the children Jeremiah 1:5, and explain that God knew the prophet Jeremiah before he was born. Tell each child, individually, that Heavenly Father also knew him or her before he or she was born and that He sent each of us here for a purpose.

We lived in Heaven: Explain that before we were born on earth we lived in heaven with Heavenly Father.

We were spirits there. A spirit is what is inside of us that makes us alive. When we were spirits, we didn’t have flesh and bones like our bodies have now, but we looked the same.

  • Show the children a picture of a baby, and ask the children if they know where this baby lived before he or she was born. Sing together a song that teaches about our premortal life with God, such as “I Am a Child of God” or “I Lived in Heaven” (Children’s Songbook, 2–3, 4). Talk about the spiritual feelings the song brings. Bear your testimony that we all once lived with Heavenly Father and that He sent us here to earth.

We Are All Children of God.

Doctrine and Covenants 76:24

President Dallin H. Oaks said that if we teach “a young person the powerful idea that he or she is a child of God,” we can give him or her the “self-respect and motivation to move against the problems of life” (“Powerful Ideas,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 25).

Explain that Heavenly Father is the father of our spirits, and we are his spirit children

  • To help the children understand their potential to become like God, find ways to show them that baby animals grow to become like their parents—perhaps the children could match pictures of animals with pictures of the animals’ babies. Open the scriptures to Doctrine and Covenants 76:24, and tell the children that we are all “sons and daughters unto God.” Bear your testimony that God is our Father and that we can grow to be like our Heavenly Parents..
  • Sing together “I Am a Child of God” (Children’s Songbook,2–3), and invite the children to point to themselves when they sing “I.” Ask them to sing the song again, replacing “I am” with “you are” and pointing to someone else in the class.

Explain that God is another name for Heavenly Father.

(The below visuals are from the Nursery Manual. Also see lds.org for the music)

I am a child of God. (Younger Children)

Acts 17:22–31

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Acts 16-21” On Mars’ Hill, Paul taught basic truths about the nature of God, including the truths that we are His children and that He is “not far from every one of us” (Acts 17:27). How can you help the children feel close to their Heavenly Father?

Invite the children to repeat the phrase “We are the offspring of God” (Acts 17:29), and explain that offspring means children. Bear your testimony to each child, one by one, that he or she is a child of God. Invite them to share how they feel about their Heavenly Father.

  • Print one of the below image for each child and have them write their name on the line in the sentence and then draw a picture of themself

Show pictures of children with their families (if possible, include pictures of the children in your class). Ask the children to point to the parents in the pictures. Explain that we are the children of our mothers and fathers, and all of us are also spirit children of our heavenly parents.

  • Heavenly Father is the father of our spirits, so we can grow to be like him. Heavenly Father is loving, good, and kind. When we are loving, good, and kind, we are being like Heavenly Father.  We should try to become more like Heavenly Father every day.

Sing a song about Heavenly Father, such as “I Know My Father Lives” (Children’s Songbook, 5). With help from the children, write words or draw pictures on the board that represent things we learn about Heavenly Father from the song.

Read to the children these words from Acts 17:27: “He be not far from every one of us.” Talk about times when you have felt close to Heavenly Father, and invite the children to do the same.

  • Friend August 2017 “Ralphie’s Amazing Find” A boy is upset that his best friend is moving. He takes his dog for a walk, and his dog discovers a beautiful waterfall. The boy feels God’s love for him.

I am a child of God. (Older Children)

Acts 17:22–31

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Acts 16-21” How can you help the children remember that they are children of God?

Show the children a stone, and explain that in Paul’s day, people worshipped gods they made out of stone and other materials.

Ask the children to read Acts 17:27–29. What do we learn about God from these verses? Explain that offspring means children. Ask the children how it makes them feel to know that they are children of God. (Explain that we are the children of our mothers and fathers, and all of us are also spirit children of our heavenly parents.)

Ask the children to read Acts 17:27. Invite the children to write about or draw pictures of ways they can “feel after” or come closer to God. When have they felt that He is “not far from [them]”?

  • The below pictures can help the children with ideas on how they can come closer to God.
  • Talk to Him through Daily Prayer Gordon B. Hinckley said, “Never hesitate to get on your knees in some private place and speak with Him. What a marvelous and wonderful thing is prayer. Think of it. We can actually speak with our Father in Heaven.” God wants to hear from you, and He is always available to listen. He wants to hear about your day, he wants to hear what you are grateful for, and He wants to hear how He can help you. Latter Day Saint Channel “How to Build a Relationship with God
  • Study God’s Words in the Scriptures and from His Living prophets. Some describe the scriptures as “God’s love letter” to us. In the scriptures we learn more about God and of his love for us and how we can become like him and draw closer to him.
  • Keep the Commandments When we live righteously we are be blessed with “His Spirit to be with us”.
  • Go to Church Meetings and Temples. We learn of God and feel his Spirit in church meetings and at temples.
  • Take the Sacrament and Remember Jesus Christ. Heavenly Father loves us and sent Jesus to help us and be our Savior. Remembering Jesus Christ and what he did for us and the example he set helps us see and understand who our Heavenly Father is and how we can become closer to him.
  • Be Grateful for Our Blessings. The earth and everything on it was created under the direction of Heavenly Father. Gratitude for our many blessings helps us feel closer to Heavenly Father.
  • New Testament Seminary Teacher Manual (2023) “Acts 17:16–34” Seek the Lord Consider hiding something in the classroom that students would enjoy finding, like a piece of candy. Invite students to search for the hidden surprise until it is found. Discuss the effort students put into finding the object and why effort is needed to obtain something worthwhile. Encourage students to analyze Acts 17:27, including the Joseph Smith Translation found in footnote b. Point out that Paul testified to the Athenians that God is close to His children and desires all to seek after Him.

Child of God Resources See this site for additional Child of God resources

Heirs of God

You might introduce Galatians 4 by discussing the differences between a king’s servants and his children. What opportunities or potential does a king’s child have that a servant does not? Think about this as you read together verses 1–7. What do these verses teach about our relationship with Heavenly Father? (Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: New Testament 2023 “Galatians”)


Child of God: Stories & Poems

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God is Our Father

Friend January 2017 “Kylie’s Parents” Kylie is like her earthly parents, and she is also like her Heavenly Parents. PDF version

We Can Become Like Our Heavenly Father

Friend February 2019 “He Wants the Best for Me” Elder Martinez recalls a time his earthly father demonstrated his love by wanting his son to be a better doctor than him when he grew up. This made it easier for Elder Martinez to accept the missionaries teachings that he could become like God because God the Father would want the best for his children. (Activity: Baby animals also grow up to be like their parents. Follow the path from the baby animals to their parents.)

Heavenly Family

Friend July 2016 “No Matter Who You Are” Andi worries because her family aren’t members and they haven’t been sealed in the temple, but her teacher reminds her she is also a child of God.

Heavenly Father Loves All His Children

Friend January 2018 “Am I a Child of God?” Chloe hears the song “I am a Child of God”in Primary and wonders why she wasn’t born to “parents kind and dear,” and wonders whether or not she’s is a child of God. She was adopted out because her original parents weren’t kind.

Friend May 2021 “A Birthday Crown” Wyatt wonders if he is special because he gets to wear a birthday crown on his birthday. His father tells him he is special because he is a child of God and that everyone else is too. When a girl was afraid to go down the slide, Wyatt remembered that everyone is special to Heavenly Father and he encouraged her and praised her.

We Feel His Love When We Pray

Friend February 2017 “Explorer Everett” Everett knows Heavenly Father loves him because He answers Everett’s prayers. Activity: Find the things in the picture that show Heavenly Father and Jesus’s love.

Different but all Children of God

Friend September 2020 “Children of Heavenly Parents” Lisa Harkness of the General Primary Presidency visited the people in Africa. She found that the people of Africa come from many different countries and cultures and they speak many different language, but they are rich in their faith and their knowledge that they are children of God.