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

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

Creation Lesson for Little Ones – Teaching the creation story using flannel figures.

Friend November 1996 “For Little Friends: Window Picture” (Print the picture of the earth and the picture of Jesus back to back.) Show the picture of the earth and ask who created it. Have the children hold it up to a light or window to check their answer or find the answer. Explain that the earth was created by Jesus under the direction of Heavenly Father. Question: Why did Heavenly Father want the earth created? (See Abraham 3:24-26 – For us to gain a body and be tried and tested to see if we would learn to exercise control over our bodies and keep the commandments.)

Friend June 2003 “Sharing Time.” Discuss how Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ created the earth and all forms of life. Assign each class a scripture about something the Lord created: Gen. 1:11 (grass, herb, tree), Gen. 1:16 (sun, moon, stars), Gen. 1:21 (everything that lives in water and in air), Gen. 1:25 (animals on the earth, everything that creeps on the earth), Gen. 1:26–27 (man, male and female), Amos 4:13 (mountains, wind), John 1:3 (all things), Mosiah 2:23 (you). Have the children locate the scriptures, then take turns reading them aloud while you list the creations on the chalkboard. (Could do a game were the children name as many things as they can think of under each category, like different animals and insects.)

Weather permitting, and if safety is not an issue, have the children take a walk around the church to look for other creations. Or sing “All Things Bright and Beautiful” (p. 231) or “The World Is So Big” (p. 235).

Give each child paper and a pencil to draw something that the Lord created. Show and discuss the pictures by collecting them from the children and using a pretend fishing pond. Have the children take turns “fishing” out each other’s pictures. As a picture is drawn out, invite the child to tell something that he or she could do to treat that creation with respect. Invite the children to share their drawings with family members and discuss ways they can show respect for all of God’s creations.

Friend September 1999 “The World Jesus Made” Poem about appreciating the wonderful things in the world

Friend January 2018 “Old Testament Card: Jehovah Helped Create the Earth“

Friend September 1999 “The World Jesus Made” Poem about appreciating the wonderful things in the world

Take the children for a walk outside. Let the children take turns describing a creation they see, and ask the class to guess what they are describing.
Friend January 2023 Take your little ones for a walk outdoors. Look at the amazing things in nature—like the trees, birds, wind, or sky. Let your children pick up rocks or smell flowers. Tell them, “Jesus loves you and created this beautiful world for you.”

If the weather is not conducive for a walk, try showing pictures. The link below has some images that might work. Or you could bring in some items they could smell and touch.

Ensign July 2020 “Family Study Fun” Read Alma 30:44 and talk about how God created this beautiful world for us. Then play this game to continue thinking about God’s creations.

Have each family member write the letters of the alphabet in a list down one side of a paper.
For two minutes, everyone should try to write a creation that begins with each letter. For example, you could write “Trees” for the letter T.
When time runs out, have everyone share their list.

Discussion: How do these blessings from God make you feel? What can we do to take care of God’s creations?

Click to access Little-Ones-Sabbbath-Day-Visual-aids.pdf

Days of the Creation

Friend February 2018 “Funstuff: The Earth was Created for You” Find the words of each day of the creation in the word search.

Creation Game: Place the correct picture and label on the chart according to which “day” it took place in the creation.

Friend May 1988

Pictionary Game: Divide the chalkboard into seven sections and number them 1 through 7. Have the children draw cards labeled with the day number and the creation event that happened on that day. Going in order, have the child with number one draw their item and have the other children guess what it is. Read the scripture to the children after the children guess what it is.

Friend August 1999 “Days of Creation” Trying to pull creation cards from a bag in the right order.

Friend January 1984 - The Creation — Friend January 1984

Friend May 1986 “Bobby’s Creations” This story has a Family Home Evening idea a child could do.

Individual Days

Day 1: Light and Dark

Day 2: Clouds and Sky

Friend March 2017 “Raining!” Rain makes the earth clean and beautiful. Water helps us in many ways.

Day 3: Oceans, Rivers, Land, Plants

Friend August 2017 “My Favorite Tree” Action Rhyme about a favorite tree. (Could be used in Sunbeams Lesson 10: I Am Thankful for Trees, Plants, and Flowers)

Day 4: Stars, Moon, Sun

Friend February 2018 “Day and Night” Reese is is grateful for day and night.

Day 5: Fish, Whales, Birds

Friend October 2021 “Find It” Jesus Christ created amazing animals that live underwater (see Genesis 1:20–21). Can you find these things in the Caribbean Sea?

Friend September 2020 “Find It” These kids love watching birds with their aunt! Find 15 birds and 10 eggs. Then find the other objects. Bonus: How many times are birds (or “fowls”) mentioned during the Creation, in Genesis 1? ______. (6)

Day 6: Insects, Animals

Friend June 2018 “Family Night Fun” Making insects with fruit.

Friend August 2022 “Miguel and the Worm” As Miguel helped his mother with the garden he found a worm. He didn’t want to hurt it but he didn’t want it to hurt the plants. His mother explained that worms were helpful to gardens because they beak up the dirt. Miguel liked the worms. He wanted to treat all of Heavenly Father’s creatures with respect.

Day 6: God Made People

I Was Created in the Image of God.

Ether 3:13, 15

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “Ether 1–5: “Rend That Veil of Unbelief”

Show a picture of the Savior, and invite the children to point to various parts of His body. Read Ether 3:13 and 15, and explain that when the brother of Jared saw Jesus Christ, he learned that we all look like Jesus. As you point to a body part in the picture, invite them to point to the same part of their own bodies. Testify that we were created to look like our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
Sing together a song related to our bodies, such as “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” (Children’s Songbook, 275). Help the children talk about why they are grateful for different parts of their bodies.

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”

Liahona March 2021 “Family Study Fun”

Beautiful Creations of God: Read Doctrine and Covenants 20:17–19 about how God created “heaven and earth, and all things which are in them.”

Take a moment to look out a window or go on a walk.
Point out the creations of God that you see.
Verse 18 tells us that God “created man, male and female, after his own image and in his own likeness, created he them.” We are some of God’s creations too! Take a moment to admire all the things your body can do. What are your talents?
In verse 19 we are commanded to “love and serve him, the only living and true God.” How can you use your talents to serve Him?

Discussion: How can we worship God?

Ensign July 2020 “Family Study Fun” Read Alma 30:44 and talk about how God created this beautiful world for us. Then play this game to continue thinking about God’s creations.

Have each family member write the letters of the alphabet in a list down one side of a paper.
For two minutes, everyone should try to write a creation that begins with each letter. For example, you could write “Trees” for the letter T.
When time runs out, have everyone share their list.

Discussion: How do these blessings from God make you feel? What can we do to take care of God’s creations?

God Made This Beautiful World for Us Because He Loves Us

Doctrine and Covenants 77:2

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 77-80”

Show the children pictures of animals, including insects and birds. As you read the words “beasts,” “creeping things,” and “fowls of the air” from Doctrine and Covenants 77:2, invite the children to point to the related pictures. Testify that God created all of these things because He loves us and wants us to be happy (see also Doctrine and Covenants 59:16–20).

Friend July 2021 “Heavenly Father’s Plan of Happiness” Coloring page: What a beautiful world Heavenly Father gave us to live in!

Friend July 2021 “Find It” Julia and Leo went on a nature walk with their dad and stepmom. They loved seeing all of God’s creations! Find the hidden objects below.

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 77-80”

After reading this verse, family members could draw pictures of their favorite “beasts, … creeping things, … [or] fowls of the air” created by God. What do we learn about God’s creations from this verse? (see also Doctrine and Covenants 59:16–20). You could also sing a song about God’s creations, such as “My Heavenly Father Loves Me” (Children’s Songbook,228–29), and display the painting that accompanies this outline.

Friend June 2021 “A Day at the Beach” Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ made a beautiful world for us to enjoy. When we look around, we can remember how much They love us!

Friend November 2021 “Find It! These children like to find fun shapes in the clouds! The beautiful world reminds them how much Heavenly Father loves them. Find the hidden items.

Friend August 2016 Creation — Friend August 2016

Friend March 2023 “Margo and Paolo” Seeing Heavenly Father’s amazing creations (such as a meteor shower) helps Margo and Paulo feel God’s love.

Sing with the children a song about God’s creations, such as “My Heavenly Father Loves Me” (Children’s Songbook,228–29). Ask the children how the things they are singing about help them feel God’s love.
See the below visuals here.

Friend June 2023 “Have You Seen Jesus?”

“The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.”

PSALM 8 A messianic psalm of David—He says that babes and children praise the Lord—He asks, What is man, that Thou art mindful of him?

Reading Psalms 8; 19; and 33 may inspire you to consider the Lord’s many wonderful creations. Pay attention to your thoughts and feelings as you do. How do the Lord’s creations “declare the glory of God” to you? (Psalm 19:1).

“The heavens declare the glory of God.”

PSALM 19 David testifies, The heavens declare the glory of God, the law of the Lord is perfect, and the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

Psalms 19:1; 33:5

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Psalms 1–2; 8; 19–33; 40; 46”

Psalms 19 and 33 teach that we can find evidence of the glory and goodness of God all around us in His beautiful creations. Help the children learn to see God’s hand in the world around them.

Show the children some pictures of beautiful things God has created, or look out a window together to see these things. Ask the children what they love about Heavenly Father’s creations. Read either Psalm 19:1 or 33:5, and ask the children how they feel about Heavenly Father when they see His creations.

Media Library Images “Nature and Creation”

Sing together a song about God’s creations, such as “The World Is So Lovely” (Children’s Songbook, 233). Invite the children to pick something God has created (such as something mentioned in the song) and draw a picture of it to share with their families

Appreciating God’s Beautiful Creations

Friend June 2020 “Want to Go on a Walk?” As Abby and her little sister, Sophie, go on a walk, Sophie sees many pretty things. Abby begins to realize how many wonderful creations there are just in their yard.

Friend September 2019 “A Beautiful World for Mason” Mason draws pictures of wonderful things he sees on his nature walk. Mason is glad Jesus made such a beautiful world for him. Can you find the things he saw in the picture below?

Friend April 2019 “The Creations” Poem written by a child about his love of the the wonderful creations.

Go for a nature walk. Wrap a section of duct tape, inside out, around your child’s wrist. Let her collect little treasures along your walk and stick them to her nature bracelet. At home, you can cut off the bracelet and discuss them further.

Friend July 2016 “A Beautiful World” Go for a walk and fill this booklet with the things you see, touch, smell, and hear.

Printable version

Friend September 2017 “Snacks and Crafts” Pick some flowers and make a stain glass window display.

Friend January 2018 “The Creation”

Friend June 2020 “Thankful for Jesus” Brynn loves to draw. One day her art teacher tells the class that she wants them to draw something they are grateful for. Brynn decides to draw Jesus because he created the earth and all the wonderful things in it.

Friend October 2019 “Beautiful World” Action Rhyme: Gratitude for this beautiful world that Heavenly Father made for us.

Friend June 2022 “For Little Friends” Heavenly Father created a beautiful world for us! What do you like to do outside?

Taking Care of the Earth

Friend May 2021 “Jesus Helped Create the Earth” Jesus Christ helped Heavenly Father create the world we live in. They told Adam and Eve and their children to take good care of the earth. We should also treat all of Their creations with kindness and respect.

Friend April 2024 “Bottles of Love” Isabela helped with a project at school to make “bottles of love,” which are plastic bottles filled with single-use plastics. The bottles were sent to an organization that made them into plastic bricks. The bricks could be used to build outdoor benches and houses for people in need.

Friend January 2019 “Food and Fun” Make paper using paper scraps -how recycling works.

Friend February 2018 “Caring for the Earth”

Ensign March 2004 Read the section “Attendant Responsibilities.” Discuss ways we can care for our beautiful home on earth. Plan an activity, such as cleaning up a nearby park, that helps preserve the earth’s beauty.
3. Have family members take turns describing something in nature while the others try to guess what it is. Example: It falls from the sky and makes plants grow. Answer: Rain. Read and discuss Doctrine and Covenants 59:20–21 [D&C 59:20–21]. How can we show our appreciation for the beauty of nature?

Friend March 2021 “Adventures in the UAE” Victoria wants to help people have clean water. You can help too by not wasting water. And you can help keep it clean.

Challenge: Look for living things in a pond, river, or ocean near you. You can help protect them by picking up trash near water and not putting harmful chemicals down drains.

Friend June 2024 “Planting Trees” Falefatu’s Primary got to do community service to help the environment by planting trees. They also learned why trees are so important. Trees help protect the earth. They give us fruits, medicine, and wood. They also give us oxygen to breathe. Falefatu wants everyone to plant more trees.

Friend June 2024 “What We Can Give” Aliya’s class went on a school trip to a nature preserve. She was excited to learn about the animals, but she was new and didn’t know how to make a friend. The class helped clean the ponds because they learned It’s about what we can give. She remembered that saying and met a girl named Zoe by complimenting her shirt. They became friends and had lots of fun together. She was thankful to Heavenly Father for the beautiful world and for her new friend.

Yard Work

Friend November 2024 “Gardening with Mum” Emily wants to help with the garden, but then she gets tired of pulling weeds. It’s hard work taking care of a flower garden and Emily wants to know why they planted so many flowers. Her mom explains that Heavenly Father created flowers so we could have joy, and that it makes her happy when she sees them. They remind her of Heavenly Father’s love.

Being Kind to Animals and Insects

Friend September 2018 “Cole Helps the Baby Birds” When a wind storm knocks a blows a bird nest out of the tree, Cole helps put it back in.

Additional Resources

ChurchofJesusChrist.org: Resources For Teaching Children “Creation“
Lesson 3: The Creation,” Primary 6: Old Testament (1996), 9–12 Purpose: To increase each child’s appreciation for the earth that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ created for us.
ChurchofJesusChrist.org: Topics “Creation” Includes pictures, videos, articles, lessons, songs, etc.

Activities & Games

Friend January 1998

Stories and Poems

Friend January 2022 “The Rainbow Hello” Darcy had a fun day playing in the rain and watching the sunset. Her mom said Heavenly Father could see her so she waved at the sky. The rainbow they saw was like a wave back from Him.

Songs

My Heavenly Father Loves Me

Ideas: Have children each hold one of the song pictures (in random order). Have the children guess what song it is based on the pictures. Ask: Looking at these pictures, why do you think this song is called “My Heavenly Father Loves Me”? Play a recording of the song. Afterwards, have the other children place the children holding the pictures in the correct order. Play the recording again and see if they got it right.