John Chapter 1: Christ is the Word of GodāHe created all things and was made fleshāJohn baptizes Jesus and testifies that He is the Lamb of GodāJohn, Andrew, Simon, Philip, and Nathanael believe in Christ and follow Him.
Jesus lived with Heavenly Father before He was born.
Even before He was born, Jesus Christ played important roles in Heavenly Fatherās plan. As you read John 1:1ā5, what impresses you about Christās premortal work?
Explain that āthe Wordā in John 1:1 refers to Jesus. Read the verse aloud, and ask the children to say āJesusā each time you read āthe Word.ā Show the line drawing Premortal Life (LDS.org). Explain that Jesus Christ lived with Heavenly Father before He came to earth.
Ask the children if they know anything about what Jesus did before He was born. Invite them to look for answers in John 1:1ā5. It might help to look in Joseph Smith Translation, John 1:1ā5 (in the Bible appendix).
Joseph Smith Translation, John 1:1, reads: āIn the beginning was the gospel preached through the Son. And the gospel was the word, and the word was with the Son, and the Son was with God, and the Son was of Godā (in the Bible appendix).
Teach the children that we also lived with God before we came to earth. You may want to use āIntroduction: Our Heavenly Fatherās Plan,ā New Testament Stories, 1ā5; the corresponding video (LDS.org); or Guide to the Scriptures, āPremortal Life,ā scriptures.lds.org. Ask the children what they learn about Jesus Christ
Read John 1:3 with the children, and show the picture from this weekās outline in Come, Follow MeāFor Individuals and Families. Help the children memorize the phrase āall things were made by [Jesus Christ].ā
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 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 natureālike the trees, birds, wind, or sky. Let your children pick up rocks or smell flowers. Tell them, āJesus loves you and created this beautiful world for you.ā
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.
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
Ask the children to think of ways in which they can take care of the creations around them (for example, being kind to animals).
Come, Follow MeāFor Primary: New Testament 2023 “John 1“The symbolism of light can help children understand the Savior and His gospel. How can you inspire the children to seek the light of the Savior when the world seems dark?
āJesus Christ is the light of the world because he is the source of the light that quickens our understanding, because his teachings and his example illuminate our path, and because his power persuades us to do good.ā Dallin H. Oaks
Those who are lonely.Those who are tired or discouragedThose who are afraid
Show a picture of the Savior and some objects that give light, such as a flashlight. How is Jesus Christ like these objects? How can we share His light with others? Sing together āThe Lord Is My Lightā (Hymns, no. 89) or another song about gospel light.
Story: Jesus Christ is sometimes called the ātrue Lightā (John 1:9). The scriptures teach that we should keep His commandments and follow Him. Then we will have āpower to become the sons [and daughters] of Godā (John 1:12).
Activity: Draw a picture of a goal you have. Have someone hide your picture somewhere in the room and turn off the lights. Now get a small light and shine it around the room. Can you find your picture now? Talk about how Jesus Christ can help you reach your goals.
Give each child a picture of a light (such as a sun, a candle, or a light bulb). Help them think of ways they can share the Saviorās light with others. As each idea is shared, invite them to āariseā and āshineā their light by holding up their picture. Tell the children about ways you have seen them sharing the Saviorās light.
Ask the children what they do when they are in darkness and feel afraid. Testify that they can always turn to the Savior when they are afraid.
I can invite others to come to Jesus Christ and learn of Him.
John 1 contains accounts of disciples who invited people to ācome and seeā that Jesus is the Son of God. Even small children can follow this example.
Describe how Andrew learned about Jesus, and tell how Andrew in turn taught Peter (see John 1:35ā42). Share how you learned about the Church, or invite a new member to share how he or she learned about the Church.
Come and SeeStories
Friend November 2020 “For Older Kids” I recently invited a friend to a stake activity. She said she was pretty confused about most of it. But when she heard the missionariesā stories, she said she felt a warm, happy feeling inside. Then she said that she wanted to come again! I said I would invite her to more activities when I could. I really hope she studies the gospel more. Samantha T., age 9, Arizona, USA
Friend July 2019 “Will You Come to My Baptism” Oliver tells everyone about his upcoming baptism and invites them to it.
Friend December 2022 “Chieko Learns about Jesus” Chieko’s family were Buddhists and she had never heard of Jesus, but she was invited to be in a nativity play. Years later she met missionaries who asked if she would like to learn more about Jesus. She accepted and was later baptized.
Friend February 1985 “Best Friends”- Boy invites neighbor friend to Primary sacrament program
Friend May 1984 – “Grandpa’s Trunk” – Boy Shares gospel with his grandfather by inviting him to hear his Primary talk.
Share the story of Philip inviting Nathanael to ācome and seeā (John 1:43ā51). Hide a picture of Jesus in a box, and invite one child to ācome and seeā it and then tell the other children about what he or she saw.
Let the children color this weekās activity page, and encourage them to use it to invite someone to learn about Jesus.
Ask a child to tell about a time when he or she shared something, such as a toy or gift, with someone. How can we share the gospel? Tell a story of a child who shared the gospel with a friend, such as āA Friend and a Missionary,ā Friend, July 2018, 12ā13; Liahona, July 2018, 70ā71.
Friend July 2018 āA Friend and a Missionaryā Juan invited his best friend to lots of church activities and family dinner and family home evening. His friend sees the family praying and learning the gospel at these activities and starts to ask questions.
Help the children search John 1:35ā51 to find things that people said to invite others to learn about the Savior. Let them practice what they might say to invite a friend to learn about Him.
(For example: Have the children explain how the gospel of Jesus Christ has blessed their lives, such as how the teachings of the savior help with contention at home, or how prayer helped them in their lives, or how they are grateful to be able to repent of wrong things they have done, or how they are grateful they can live with their family again after death, etc. At the end they could say “Come and see.”)
Elder Neil L. Andersen taught:
Come Follow Me for Sunday School New Testament 2023 John 1 Elder Neil L. Andersen taught: “The Savior taught us how to share the gospel. I like the story of Andrew, who asked, āMaster, where dwellest thou?ā [John 1:38]. Jesus could have responded with the location of where He lived. But instead He said to Andrew, āCome and seeā [John 1:39]. I like to think that the Savior was saying, āCome and see not only where I live but how I live. Come and see who I am. Come and feel the Spirit.ā We donāt know everything about that day, but we do know that when Andrew found his brother Simon, he declared, āWe have found ā¦ the Christā [John 1:41].
Ask the children to use this weekās activity page to make an invitation they could use to invite a friend or family member to learn more about Jesus Christ. (Maybe include it in a Friend magazine or a Book of Mormon)
Give the children the opportunity to tell the class about something that they love. Help the children see how sharing the gospel can be like sharing other things we love (for an example, see the video āGood Things to Shareā on ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
Friend May 2016 “A Tower for King Benjamin” Brady tells his friend, Jamie, about Book of Mormon heroes as they play.
Friend September 1988 “Missionary Book Report” A boy gives a book report about the Book of Mormon.
Share Your Testimony
Friend November 2019 “Jesus is Real” Everyone at Ismay’s table at school were excitedly talking about Christmas and their favorite traditions such as going to a church service. Suddenly Charlotte spoke up and said, “Jesus isn’t even real.” Ismay was sad to hear this and she quietly bore her testimony to Charlotte that Jesus was real, and that she felt it in her heart. She was glad she had spoken up and planted a seed about Jesus.
Friend November 2019Friend November 2019Friend November 2019
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Friend July 2019 “Show and Tell” :Sometimes at school when I have no work to do, I read the Book of Mormon. When I read it while at school, many kids ask, āWhat is that?ā so I tell them what it is and a little about the gospel. It makes me feel good to share.” Will M., age 12, California, USA
Friend November 2018 āSharing Friendshipā Elenoaās parents buy extra copies of the Friend when they go to the temple and Elenoa and her sister share the Friend magazine with their friends. (Photos included in article.)
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.)
Help the children think of times when they made something by following another personās directions. For example, maybe they have made a recipe with a parent or sibling guiding them. WriteĀ Who created the earth?Ā on the board, and invite the children to find the answer inĀ Moses 2:1. Testify that Jesus Christ created the earth under the direction of Heavenly Father.
The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that to ācreate ā¦ does not mean to create out of nothing; it means to organize, the same as a man would organize materials and build a ship.ā1 The Hebrew word for ācreateā means to shape, fashion, organize, and form (see Genesis 1:1; Abraham 3:24).
āThe Earth, After It Was Formed, Was Empty and DesolateāThe Prophet Joseph Smith indicated that the translation āwithout form, and voidā (see Genesis 1:2 and Moses 2:2) should read āempty and desolateā (see Abraham 4:2;
Your children might also look at pictures of things Jesus created (see āThe Creation of the Earthā in Old Testament Stories, 8ā12). Then you and your children could talk about how you feel about Jesus Christ after reading about the Creation.
President Russell M. Nelson explained that āthe physical Creation itself was staged through ordered periods of time,ā not calendar days. Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915ā85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that a day in the Creation accounts āis a specified time period; it is an age, an eon, a division of eternity; it is the time between two identifiable events. And each day, of whatever length, has the duration needed for its purposes. ā¦
How will you make learning about the Creation fun for your children? You could take them on a search outside for the kinds of things that were made during each period of Creation.
Assign each child verses inĀ MosesĀ 2Ā related to one of the days of creation, and ask him or her to draw a picture of the things Heavenly Father and Jesus created on that day. Ask the children to hold their pictures and stand in the order of the days of Creation, and then invite each child to teach the rest of the children what happened on the day they were assigned. What do we learn about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ from the story of the Creation? (Come, Follow MeāFor Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Genesis 1ā2; Moses 2ā3; Abraham 4ā5” )
Friend March 2002 “For Little Friends” Place the correct picture and label on the chart according to which “day” it took place in the creation (one square will get two pictures). Check your answers in Genesis 1:1-27, and move pieces to their correct position as needed (Visuals: Black and white game board. Note: Color cardstock can be used for the game boards.)
Consider singing a song together about our beautiful world, such as āMy Heavenly Father Loves Meā (Childrenās Songbook, 228ā29). Maybe your children could add to the song other things God has created that help them feel His love.
One way to approach the Creation story is to invite your family to find how many times in Genesis 1 or Moses 2 God calls the things that he made āgood.ā What does this suggest about how we should treat Godās creationsāincluding ourselves? What do we learn from the way these events are worded in Abraham 4?
Activity: Now play a game! The first person says, āI am thankful for ā¦ā and then says something Heavenly Father and Jesus created. The next person repeats it and then adds something new. Keep going around in a circle as long as you can.
Stewards over the Earth: Moses 2:28 explains that humankind was given dominion over all living things. President Russell M. Nelson said, āWe should care for the earth, be wise stewards over it, and preserve it for future generationsā (āThe Creation,ā Liahona, July 2000, 104).
Discussion: In what ways do Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ take care of us? How can we follow Their examples as we take care of the living things around us? In what ways can our actions show our gratitude for Godās creations? (Submitted by Mitzi Schoneman)
Your children can develop a sense of reverence and respect for their own and othersā bodies as they learn that we were all created in Godās image. To help them understand what this means, you could let your children look at their image in a mirror or picture while you readĀ Moses 2:26ā27Ā to them.
You could also show them how baby animals are often in the ālikenessā of their parents (see the picture in this outline, for example). This could lead to a conversation about why itās important to you to know that you are created in your Heavenly Fatherās image.
You and your children might enjoy drawing a human body and cutting the drawings into puzzles. As your children put their puzzles together, they could talk about ways they can show Heavenly Father that they are thankful for their bodies. (or invite the children to choose a part of the body and write next to it why they are thankful for it.) Express your gratitude for your body, and testify that we were created in Godās image.
[Using the picture below, invite the children] 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 fromĀ Doctrine and Covenants 130:22: āThe Father has a body of flesh and bonesĀ ā¦Ā ; the Son also.ā Testify that our bodies are like Heavenly Fatherās and Jesusās bodies.
LessonPix “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” Song idea. Print the pictures, cut them apart into cards, and then use them to sing the song. To make the song more interesting, have the children mix up the pictures on the top two rows and/or the bottom two rows and then have them do the actions and sing the words in their mixed up order.
Read togetherĀ Moses 2:26ā27. What do these verses teach us about our bodies? Show the video āGodās Greatest Creationā (ChurchofJesusChrist.org), or play the game āYour Body Is a Templeā (Friend,Ā Aug. 2019, 24ā25). You could also read together related quotations from President RussellĀ M. Nelsonās message āYour Body: A Magnificent Gift to Cherishā (New Era,Ā Aug. 2019, 2ā7) that will help the children feel gratitude to Heavenly Father for their bodies.
Friend August 2019 “Your Body is a Temple” Activity comparing how the body is like a temple.
As you readĀ Moses 3:2ā3, ask your children to listen for what God did on the seventh day.
Help your children find or draw pictures of things they can do on Sunday to make it a holy day and different from other days. Share with each other why it is important to you to keep the Sabbath day holy.
Or,
Give the children a few minutes to write a list of as many things as they can think of that they can do to make the Sabbath a holy day. Invite the children to share their lists, and encourage them to add to their lists as others share suggestions they didnāt think of. Suggest that the children take the lists home with them and refer to them when they need ideas of good things to do on the Sabbath.
Children may have to explain to their friends why they treat Sunday different from other days.Ā Help your children role-play explaining to a friend why they choose to do things on Sunday that honor Heavenly Father and Jesus. Suggest that they useĀ Genesis 2:2ā3Ā in their explanations. How does keeping the Sabbath day holy show our love and respect for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
A few days before class, invite one of the children and his or her parents to come prepared to share things they do in their family to keep the Sabbath day holy. Invite the other children to share what their families do.
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.)
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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. 1:26ā27 (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 āAll Things Bright and Beautifulā (p. 231) or āThe World Is So Bigā (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 āfishingā out each otherās 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 Godās creations.
Teaching the Scripture Readers
Teaching the Scripture Readers
Friend September 1999 “The World Jesus Made” Poem about appreciating the wonderful things in the world
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 natureālike the trees, birds, wind, or sky. Let your children pick up rocks or smell flowers. Tell them, āJesus loves you and created this beautiful world for you.ā
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.
How will you make learning about the Creation fun for your children? You could take them on a search outside for the kinds of things that were made during each period of Creation. Your children might also look at pictures of things Jesus created (see āThe Creation of the Earthā in Old Testament Stories, 8ā12). Then you and your children could talk about how you feel about Jesus Christ after reading about the Creation.
Consider singing a song together about our beautiful world, such as āMy Heavenly Father Loves Meā (Childrenās Songbook, 228ā29). Maybe your children could add to the song other things God has created that help them feel His love.
Show the children pictures of things that represent different periods of the Creation (as described in Moses 2; see also āThe Creation of the Earthā in Old Testament Stories), and help the children think of actions to go along with the pictures. For instance, they could make a fist to represent dry land or wave their arms like waves of water (see Moses 2:9ā10). Share your testimony that Jesus Christ made these things because He and Heavenly Father love us.
How can you make learning about the Creation fun for your family? You could take your family on a search outside for the kinds of things that were made during each period of the Creation story, such as stars, trees, or animals. You might also show pictures of things created in each period and invite family members to put the pictures in order after reading one of the accounts of the Creation together. What do these creations teach us about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?Genesis 1; Moses 2; Abraham 4.
Sing a song about things Jesus Christ created for us, such as āThe World Is So Lovelyā (Childrenās Songbook, 233). Ask the children to draw pictures of the creations described in the song.
Help the children think of times when they made something by following another personās directions. For example, maybe they have made a recipe with a parent or sibling guiding them. Write Who created the earth? on the board, and invite the children to find the answer in Moses 2:1. Testify that Jesus Christ created the earth under the direction of Heavenly Father.
Assign each child verses in Moses 2 related to one of the days of creation, and ask him or her to draw a picture of the things Heavenly Father and Jesus created on that day. Ask the children to hold their pictures and stand in the order of the days of Creation, and then invite each child to teach the rest of the children what happened on the day they were assigned. What do we learn about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ from the story of the Creation?
Friend March 2002 “For Little Friends” Place the correct picture and label on the chart according to which “day” it took place in the creation (one square will get two pictures). Check your answers in Genesis 1:1-27, and move pieces to their correct position as needed (Visuals: Black and white game board. Note: Color cardstock can be used for the game boards.)
The earth was created by Jesus Christ under Heavenly Fatherās direction so that we could have a place to live, learn, and use our agency to make good choices (see Abraham 3:24ā26).
The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that to ācreate ā¦ does not mean to create out of nothing; it means to organize, the same as a man would organize materials and build a ship.ā1 The Hebrew word for ācreateā means to shape, fashion, organize, and form (see Genesis 1:1; Abraham 3:24).
President Russell M. Nelson explained that āthe physical Creation itself was staged through ordered periods of time,ā not calendar days. āWhether termed a day, a time, or an age, each phase [of the Creation] was a period between two identifiable eventsāa division of eternity.ā2
While thereās a lot we donāt know about exactly how the world was created, ponder what you learn about the Creation from what God has revealed in Genesis 1:1ā25; Moses 2:1ā25; and Abraham 4:1ā25. What do you notice in these accounts that is similar? What do you notice that is different?
One way to approach the Creation story is to invite your family to find how many times in Genesis 1 or Moses 2 God calls the things that he made āgood.ā What does this suggest about how we should treat Godās creationsāincluding ourselves? What do we learn from the way these events are worded in Abraham 4?
Story: Heavenly Father told Jesus Christ to create the earth for us to live on (see Genesis 1ā2). Jesus created plants and animals for us to take care of. We can be thankful for the earth.
Song: āMy Heavenly Father Loves Meā (Childrenās Songbook,228ā29)
Activity: Now play a game! The first person says, āI am thankful for ā¦ā and then says something Heavenly Father and Jesus created. The next person repeats it and then adds something new. Keep going around in a circle as long as you can.
Stewards over the Earth: Moses 2:28 explains that humankind was given dominion over all living things. President Russell M. Nelson said, āWe should care for the earth, be wise stewards over it, and preserve it for future generationsā (āThe Creation,ā Liahona, July 2000, 104).
Go on a short walk around the area you live in or look at pictures and videos of beautiful landscapes.
Point out different parts of the environment that you notice. This could be plants, animals, or landforms.
Notice each living thing and discuss specific ways we can take care of them and the environment around them.
Discussion: In what ways do Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ take care of us? How can we follow Their examples as we take care of the living things around us? In what ways can our actions show our gratitude for Godās creations? (Submitted by Mitzi Schoneman)
Creation Charades: President Russell M. Nelson taught: āGrand as it is, planet Earth is part of something even granderāthat great plan of God. Simply summarized, the earth was created that families might beā (āThe Creation,ā Liahona, July 2000, 104).
Study the days of Creation with your family (found in Genesis 1ā2; Moses 2ā3; or Abraham 4ā5). See āThe Creationā from this issue for a summary.
Each person can take a turn acting out a day or part of the Creation.
The rest of the family members guess the day or the part of Creation that was chosen.
Discussion: Follow up by reading Abraham 3:22ā27 together. How can knowing Godās purpose for creating the earth affect our daily lives? How can we better show appreciation for Godās creations?(Submitted by Brenda Slade)
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 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)
Friend June 2025 “For Little Ones” Heavenly Father gave us a beautiful world with many kinds of plants. How many cactus flowers can you count?
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 āfowlsā) mentioned during the Creation, in Genesis 1? ______. (6)
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 Fatherās creatures with respect.
Friend July 2025 “Come, Follow Me Activities: Animal Actions” Under Godās direction, Jesus Christ created every creature on earth (see Doctrine and Covenants 77:2). Play an animal guessing game! One person pretends to be a certain animal. Everyone else tries to guess what animal they are. Once you guess it right, say something you like about that animal.
For younger children: Go on a walk with your little ones and point out animals you see. Or look at pictures of animals. Teach them that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ created every creature on earth.
Your children can develop a sense of reverence and respect for their own and othersā bodies as they learn that we were all created in Godās image. To help them understand what this means, you could let your children look at their image in a mirror or picture while you read Moses 2:26ā27 to them.
You could also show them how baby animals are often in the ālikenessā of their parents (see the picture in this outline, for example). This could lead to a conversation about why itās important to you to know that you are created in your Heavenly Fatherās image.
You and your children might enjoy drawing a human body and cutting the drawings into puzzles. As your children put their puzzles together, they could talk about ways they can show Heavenly Father that they are thankful for their bodies. (or invite the children to choose a part of the body and write next to it why they are thankful for it.) Express your gratitude for your body, and testify that we were created in Godās image.
[Using the picture below, invite the children] 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: āThe Father has a body of flesh and bones ā¦ ; the Son also.ā Testify that our bodies are like Heavenly Fatherās and Jesusās bodies.
LessonPix “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” Song idea. Print the pictures, cut them apart into cards, and then use them to sing the song. To make the song more interesting, have the children mix up the pictures on the top two rows and/or the bottom two rows and then have them do the actions and sing the words in their mixed up order.
Read together Moses 2:26ā27. What do these verses teach us about our bodies? Show the video āGodās Greatest Creationā (ChurchofJesusChrist.org), or play the game āYour Body Is a Templeā (Friend, Aug. 2019, 24ā25). You could also read together related quotations from President Russell M. Nelsonās message āYour Body: A Magnificent Gift to Cherishā (New Era, Aug. 2019, 2ā7) that will help the children feel gratitude to Heavenly Father for their bodies.
Friend August 2019 “Your Body is a Temple” Activity comparing how the body is like a temple.
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 āHead, Shoulders, Knees, and Toesā (Childrenās Songbook, 275). Help the children talk about why they are grateful for different parts of their bodies.
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: āThe Father has a body of flesh and bones ā¦ ; the Son also.ā Testify that our bodies are like Heavenly Fatherās and Jesusās bodies.
Sing together a song about our bodies, such as āHead, Shoulders, Knees, and Toesā (Childrenās 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 Fatherās and Jesusās.
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.
Beautiful Creations of God: Read Doctrine and Covenants 20:17ā19 about how God created āheaven and earth, and all things which are in them.ā
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 ācreated man, male and female, after his own image and in his own likeness, created he them.ā We are some of Godās 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 ālove and serve him, the only living and true God.ā How can you use your talents to serve Him?
Show the children pictures of animals, including insects and birds. As you read the words ābeasts,ā ācreeping things,ā and āfowls of the airā 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 59:16ā20).
Friend July 2021 “Find It” Julia and Leo went on a nature walk with their dad and stepmom. They loved seeing all of Godās creations! Find the hidden objects below.
After reading this verse, family members could draw pictures of their favorite ābeasts, ā¦ creeping things, ā¦ [or] fowls of the airā created by God. What do we learn about Godās creations from this verse? (see also Doctrine and Covenants 59:16ā20). You could also sing a song about Godās creations, such as āMy Heavenly Father Loves Meā (Childrenās Songbook,228ā29), 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 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 Godās creations, such as āMy Heavenly Father Loves Meā (Childrenās Songbook,228ā29). Ask the children how the things they are singing about help them feel Godās love.
āThe earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.ā
PSALM 8 A messianic psalm of DavidāHe says that babes and children praise the LordāHe asks, What is man, that Thou art mindful of him?
Reading Psalms 8; 19; and 33 may inspire you to consider the Lordās many wonderful creations. Pay attention to your thoughts and feelings as you do. How do the Lordās creations ādeclare the glory of Godā to you? (Psalm 19:1).
āThe heavens declare the glory of God.ā
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 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 Godās 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 Fatherās creations. Read either Psalm 19:1 or 33:5, and ask the children how they feel about Heavenly Father when they see His creations.
Sing together a song about Godās creations, such as āThe World Is So Lovelyā (Childrenās 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 āThe Creationsā 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.
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 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 ābottles of love,ā 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 āFood and Funā Make paper using paper scraps -how recycling works.
Ensign March 2004 Read the section āAttendant Responsibilities.ā 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 earthās 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 59:20ā21 [D&C 59:20ā21]. How can we show our appreciation for the beauty of nature?
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 didnāt know how to make a friend. The class helped clean the ponds because they learned Itās 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 āCole Helps the Baby Birdsā When a wind storm knocks a blows a bird nest out of the tree, Cole helps put it back in.
Lesson 3: The Creation,ā Primary 6: Old Testament (1996), 9ā12 Purpose: To increase each childās appreciation for the earth that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ created for us.
Friend July 2025 “For Older Kids” Godās Colorful World: Heavenly Father gave us a beautiful world full of colors. Color the picture using the key below. Look up each scripture to know which number the color goes to.
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.
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.
Ā Print the visual aids. (Visual Aids are from the Primary One Manual cutouts and Microsoft Word clipart.) Ā Add felt or 60 grit sandpaper to the back of each item and cut the figures out.
Cut the brown felt 11 1/2″ x 28″ and the sea blue felt 15 1/2 ” x 28″.
Before teaching the lesson, attach each picture randomly to the small felt board.
Presentation
Open the Bible toĀ Genesis 1:1Ā and read, āIn the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.ā
Invite the children to repeat the scripture with you, a few words at a time. Explain that Heavenly Father had Jesus Christ make the world and everything in it.
Show the children the display boards.
Tell the children that Jesus made the light of day.
What gives light to our world? (The sun) Have a child find the sun and put it at the top of the board.
Jesus also made the night.
What we do we see in the sky at night time? (The moon and stars) Have a child find the moon and stars cutout and put it on the board.
Tell the children that Jesus made the waters in the sea and in theĀ sky. (Put on the large, blue felt piece. Have the children then find the water in the sky–the rain cloud. Ā Have a child stick the rain cloud to the sky area.)
Jesus also made the dry land. (Put the brown felt land piece on top of the sea, leaving some of the sea exposed on top.)
Jesus made all the plants. (Have the children find the plants and put them on the land.)
Jesus also made the fishes and other sea creatures. (Have the children find the fish and put them in the sea area.)
Jesus made the birds. (Have the children find the birds and put them in the sky area.)
Jesus also made all other animals. (Point to an animal and have the children say what it is or make the sound it makes, and then have a child put it on the land area. Continue until all the animals are on the board.)
Jesus also made people.
Who were the first people that lived on the earth? (Adam and Eve) Put Adam and Eve on the display board.
Heavenly Father and Jesus made the earth for us to live on because they love us.
Sing the song āMy Heavenly Father Loves Me.ā (Make the song visual aid, and then follow the singing instructions listed under junior primary.)
Items needed: a half sheet of poster board, glue, scissors, drawing compass or ruler, and one brad.
Print the visual aid items and assemble the activity using the following steps:
Cut out the earth pieces, and place the two pieces together, with the middle edges overlapping until the scenes on both side match in the middle. Glue the pieces together.
Place the earth on the half sheet of poster board and trace around the outside edge. After removing the earth, find the middle point on the earth picture and on the poster board using a compass or a ruler. (Note: it must be the exact middle in order for this activity to work)
Cut out the triangle pieces inside the blue lines. Place the blank triangle on the earth just left of the top middle, making sure the tip is at the center mark. Trace around the triangle with a pencil and then cut out the piece from the earth.
Place each triangle on the poster board circle outline in the correct order (see above picture). They will overlap each other in order for them to all fit, but the points of all the triangles need to be circling the center mark. Once all the parts are situated, lightly glue down each piece. Place the earth on top of the circle and check to make sure that the opening on the earth shows each picture correctly as you turn it. Cut out the poster board circle, trimming off any parts of the triangles around the edges. Laminate both the earth and the poster board circle. (UPS stores have laminators. They also can enlarge the images and print them bigger if needed.) Cut off the excess laminating around the edges, but do not cut out the laminate on the cut out slice of the earth.)
Place the earth on top of the circle cutout. With a thick needle, poke a hole through the center mark on both items leaving the needle in place. Turn the earth and make sure everything is lined up. If both circles are lined up, put the brad through both holes, opening up the arms in the back. Note:Ā The visual aids were found on Microsoft Word clipart and in the Friend magazine. The idea for this visual aid was posted on Sugardoodle from “The Choristers Corner,” but it didn’t include printable images.
Be prepared to attach the back circle to the board with strong magnets or sticky tack. IfĀ you plan on having Ā the children help with the wheel turning, a tab can be added to the front circle edge to help the younger children turn it. If this song idea is used for family home evening, sing the song with the children throughout the week to help the children remember it.
Presentation
Remind the children that our Heavenly Father loves us, so he had Jesus make this beautiful world for us to live on. Explain that this song reminds us of many of the wonderful things we are blessed with on the earth.
Show the children the earth visual aid.
Senior primary:
Have the children listen for what word each pictures stands for as you sing the song for the children while turning the top circle on the earth visual aid. (See the underlined words below). Make sure the pictures are always at the top of the world. Sing the song again using the visual aid, and stop at each picture and have the children say the word. Sing the song again, two lines at a time, and have the children echo you. Then have them sing the whole song with you using the visual aids as clues.
After the children learn the song, you can use the actions to help remind them of the words instead of using the visual aid.
Whenever I hear the song of a bird
Or look at the blue, blue sky,
Whenever I feel the rain on my face
Or the wind as it rushes by,
Whenever I touch a velvet rose
Or walk by our lilac tree,
I’m glad that I live in this beautiful world
Heav’nly Father created for me.
Junior Primary
Sing a line while showing the visual aid. But before singing, tell the children to listen for the word each picture stands for. Sing that line again with the visual aid, but stop at the word and have the children say the word. Sing the line again in parts and have them echo you. Then have them sing the whole line with you. Do the same with the other lines. After they learn a new line, have the children sing it with previously learned lines.
After the children learn the song, you can use the following actions to help remind them of the words instead of using the visual aid.
Actions
Whenever I hear the song of a bird. (Cup hand around ear.)
Or look at the blue, blue sky, (Point at your eyes and then point at the sky.)
Whenever I feel the rain on my face (Stroke face, and then put hands up in front of you and wiggle your fingers as your hands move downward. )
Or the wind as it rushes by, (Wiggle your fingers as your hand move side to side.)
Whenever I touch a velvet rose. (Put finger out as if to touch something.)
Or walk by our lilac tree, (Make two fingers move as if walking.)
I’m glad that I live in this beautiful world. (Point to your smiling face, and then hold arms out with palms up.)
Heav’nly Father created for me.
Note: Accompaniment can be found at http://www.lds.org/music/library/childrens-songbook/my-heavenly-father-loves-me?lang=eng
Ā Visuals:Ā Cut out the game cards and the picture of Moses. (Optional: color cardstock can be used for the game boards.)Ā
Game Instructions
Place the correct picture and label on the chart according to which “day” it took place in the creation (one square will get two pictures). Check your answers in Genesis 1:1-27, and move pieces to their correct position as needed.
Team Instructions
This game can be played individually or as a group. If played as a group, divide group members into teams. (More copies of the gameĀ board and creation pictures will be needed if playing with teams, one set per team.)
Give each team a game board and a set of creation pictures and labels.
Have each team place the correct picture and label on their chart according to which “day” it took place in the creation (one square will get two pictures). After they are done, have them look in Genesis 1:1-27 to check their answers.
