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 February 2019 “What’s in the Box” Ava was excited to see what was in the shiny wrapped box that her Primary teacher had brought. She was even more curious when her teacher said, “Inside this box is one of Heavenly Father’s greatest creations.” When it was her turn to look inside the box, she lifted the lid and found a mirrror. She saw her own face looking back. She realized that she was one of God’s greatest creations and he loved her. She felt warm and happy inside.
Friend November 2022 “Just the Right Size” Kids at school tease Trina because she is so small. Josie, from her Primary class, was kind and made her feel better. Then on Sunday her class decorated a board with hearts that said things they love about her, like her smile and her big heart. Then her teacher told her, “Heavenly Father loves each one of us. Short. Tall. Big. Small. That doesn’t matter to Him. We are all His children, and He loves every single one.”
Friend March 2018 “Heavenly Father Listens” Elder Clayton felt the love of God as a teen when he prayed about some worries. Heavenly Father loves us and is interested in our lives just like a parent would be. (Activity page included: Find the hearts in the room of the girl who is praying.)
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.
Friend January 2019 “Something Special to Share” Diego wants to take something special to share for Show and Tell. He decides to take a picture of Jesus and tell them that Jesus loves everyone.
Friend April 2022 “Somebody Loves You” When Sister Susan H. Porter, First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency, was on her way to a new job, she started worrying that she wasn’t good enough. Then she had a clear feeling to try her best and remember that even if it doesn’t go well, there’s somebody who loves her.
Friend August 2022 “The 15-Minute Miracle” Sasha and her mom were on vacation and found out they needed to catch a bus quickly to make it to a place they had tickets for. Sasha said a prayer and little miracles happened on their way to the bus. Her mom said, “Sometimes we have little miracles that remind us how much 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)
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?
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).
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.
Invite family members to sit in a circle.
Each person will take a turn standing in the middle of the circle.
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.
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.
Make a paper lily to remind you of Heavenly Father’s love and care. Trace your hand on a piece of paper and cut it out. Roll the hand shape into a cone. Then roll each “finger” around a pencil to curl the paper outward for the petals. If you want, you can tape your flower to a stick to make a stem.
Friend June 2024 “The Scripture Hunt” Calan’s Mom and Dad always told him that Heavenly Father loved him. His parents showed him love in lots of ways, like giving him hugs. But he had never gotten a hug from Heavenly Father, so how did he know it was true. His Mom and Dad said the Book of Mormon told about things Heavenly Father wants us to know, so he decided to search there to find the answer to his question. After many searches in the Book of Mormon he found a scripture that Nephi said, “I know that he loveth his children” (1 Nephi 11:17). Calan felt a powerful feeling in his heart as he read it. It felt like a big hug. Heavenly Father did love him!
Ensign October 2017 When we read the scriptures or pray, we can feel how much Heavenly Father and Jesus love us. Color in a heart each time you pray or read your scriptures. What else can you do to feel close to Heavenly Father and Jesus?
William E. McLellin had five specific questions for the Lord. Joseph Smith received answers to them in a revelation even though he did not know what William’s questions were. This experience could help you teach the children that God is aware of them and can answer their questions.
Tell about how the Lord answered William E. McLellin’s questions through a revelation from the Prophet Joseph Smith (see Doctrine and Covenants 66, section heading). Testify that Heavenly Father knows us and wants to help us. Ask the children to share how they know that God loves them.
Read to the children Doctrine and Covenants 66:4. Tell the children about a time when the Lord showed you what He wanted you to do. Read the verse again, this time inserting the name of one of the children. Repeat for each of the children.
Friend March 2018 “Heavenly Father Listens” Elder Clayton felt the love of God as a teen when he prayed about some worries. Heavenly Father loves us and is interested in our lives just like a parent would be. (Activity page included: Find the hearts in the room of the girl who is praying.)
Show a picture of Zacchaeus in the Sycamore Tree (in this outline or at ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Help the children find Zacchaeus and say his name. Create actions for the children to do as you tell the story of Zacchaeus and Jesus—for example, standing on their toes to see over a crowd or pretending to climb a tree. Explain that the Savior saw Zacchaeus and called him by name. Testify that the Savior also knows each of the children and their names.
Bring an empty picture frame to class, or make one out of paper. Invite each child to take a turn holding the frame around his or her face while the rest of the class says, “Heavenly Father and Jesus know [child’s name].”
Sing together a song about Heavenly Father’s love, such as “I Am a Child of God” (Children’s Songbook, 2–3). Help the children listen for things that help them know Heavenly Father loves them.
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know me and love me.
Make short lists of things you know about each child. As you read the lists one at a time, ask the children to guess who you are describing. Read Psalm 139:1–3, and help the children understand words they might not know. Testify that Heavenly Father and Jesus know them very well—They know their names, what makes them happy and sad, and things they do well.
Song: “I Feel My Savior’s Love” (Children’s Songbook, 74–75)
Activity: Write each person’s name on a small piece of paper and put it in a box or bowl. One person pulls out a name. Each person takes a turn to ask yes or no questions until someone guesses the name. Talk about how our Heavenly Father knows us—our name, what we like to do, and everything about us.
“Heavenly Father Loves Me, and He Has a Plan for Me” (January 2013 Liahona and Friend)Nathaniel knows his grandma loves him because she knew the things he liked. His grandma explained that was someone else who had known him and loved him longer than anyone, before he even came to earth. Heavenly Father
Read Psalm 139:23, and invite the children to put their hands on their hearts when you say “heart” and to touch their heads when you say “thoughts.” Share a time when you felt God knew your heart and your thoughts.
Friend April 2016 “Your Future Home” Story of President Eyring’s desire for a home full of charity that he wanted for his family when he grew up. He didn’t talk to anyone about those feelings, but when he got his patriarchal blessing the patriarch described what he had been yearning for. It was not secret, because God knew.
Feeling the “everlasting love” of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will help the children you teach draw nearer to Them.
Show the children some objects (or pictures of objects) that last a long time and some that do not, such as a metal coin and a piece of fruit. Ask the children which one will last longer, and discuss why some things last longer than others. Read Jeremiah 31:3, and help the children understand that the love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have for them is “everlasting.”
Ask the children to share how Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ show Their “lovingkindness” for them (Jeremiah 31:3). To give the children ideas, sing a song about Their love for us, such as “I Feel My Savior’s Love” or “My Heavenly Father Loves Me” (Children’s Songbook, 74–75, 228–29). If possible, show pictures of things mentioned in the song. How do we feel when we think about the love of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then of the First Presidency, testified of the Savior’s power to heal spiritual illness.
Sometimes spiritual illness comes as a result of sin or emotional wounds. …Even the deepest spiritual wounds—yes, even those that may appear to be incurable—can be healed.
My dear friends, the healing power of Jesus Christ is not absent in our day. The Savior’s healing touch can transform lives in our day just as it did in His. If we will but have faith, He can take our hands, fill our souls with heavenly light and healing, and speak to us the blessed words, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk” [ John 5:8 ].
Write How does Jesus feel about sin? and How does Jesus feel about us when we sin? on the board. Ask the children to think about these questions as they read together Mark 2:15–17 and then share their answers. (You may want to read together “Publican” in Guide to the Scriptures [scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org].–In ancient Rome, a collector of taxes for the government. Publicans were generally hated by the Jews. Some publicans readily accepted the gospel) Why is it important to know that Jesus loves us, even though we aren’t perfect? How can knowing this help us when we need to repent?
Show a picture of the Savior (such as one in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families), and ask the children what words they would use to describe Him. Invite them to find words that describe Him in Psalm 86:5, 13, 15. If needed, help them define these words. What could we say to a friend who feels that God is angry at them when they sin?
Sing with the children a song that you feel will help them understand the Savior’s forgiving nature, such as “I Stand All Amazed” (Hymns, no. 193). Share your testimony that Jesus Christ wants to forgive us.
Friend January 2023 “What’s on Your Mind?” Jesus Christ loves you perfectly. If you make a wrong choice, He still loves you. And He can help you repent and make things right again. He is always waiting for you to follow Him. He believes in you! (See more at link.)
If someone were to stray off a path, fall, and become injured, what would be some of the possible symptoms and effects of being injured? Answers might include: pain, shock, bruises, scrapes, cuts, bleeding, broken bones, sprain, concussion, etc.
Just like a person would suffer the effects of being injured, a person who had sinned would also suffer the consequences and results of that sin. What are some of the consequences that can occur because of sin? Answers might include: guilt, loss of the Spirit’s help and guidance, possible loss of freedom, loss of other’s trust, damaged relationships, possible loss of good health, loss of inheritance in the kingdom of God, etc.
Show the children some medical items and ask what they are used for. (To help treat and heal physical injuries and sickness.)
Who is the master physician that can heal our spiritual wounds, small or large? (Jesus Christ) The Savior said: ‘Will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you? … If ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life.’”
A few days before class, invite one of the children and a family member to come to class prepared to share the account in Luke 7:36–50. They could draw pictures depicting parts of the story to show the class. Discuss with the children what the Lord might want us to learn from this story.
Friend October 2023 “I Feel My Savior’s Love” A girl feels the Savior’s love during singing time. Her mother tells her that the warmth and love she feels in her heart is the Holy Ghost helping her feel the Savior’s love.
Friend January 2023 “What’s on Your Mind?” Jesus Christ loves you perfectly. If you make a wrong choice, He still loves you. And He can help you repent and make things right again. He is always waiting for you to follow Him. He believes in you! And so do we.
In your own words, share the account in Mark 10:13–16. You might also show the video “Suffer the Little Children to Come unto Me” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Help the children think of times when they have felt Jesus’s love for them. Bear your testimony to the children that Jesus loves them and wants to bless them.
Display the picture Christ and the Children (Gospel Art Book, no. 47). Help the children imagine what it might be like to be one of the children sitting next to Jesus in the picture. Invite the children to share how they feel about Jesus.
Let the children draw pictures of themselves being blessed by Jesus (see Mark 10:16 and this week’s activity page).
How can you help the children know that the Savior loves us even more than a dear friend does?
Display a picture of the Savior as you read Doctrine and Covenants 84:77. Invite the children to point to the picture of the Savior every time they hear the word “friends.” Explain that when we try to keep the commandments, we show Jesus that we love Him. Share what it means to you to have Jesus as your friend.
Help the children list some things they can do to show their friends that they love them. What did Jesus do to show us that He is our friend? What can we do to show the Savior that we are His friends? Sing together a song about Jesus, such as “Jesus Is Our Loving Friend” (Children’s Songbook, 58).
Come Follow Me Kids “I Will Prepare the Way Before You” I Have Graven Thee Upon the Palms of My Hands – Review who Nephi was. Explain that Nephi shared a scripture about Jesus’s hands. Show picture of the mark in His hands after He was crucified (below). Read 1 Nephi 21:15-16. To help them visualize that we are graven on the palms of Christ’s hands, have each person write their names on the hand in the picture below. You can either give each person their own small picture or print up the big one for everyone to write on together. Remind them that Heavenly Father and Jesus love us, remember us, and want to help us in life. They want to lead us to good things.
Heavenly Father sent Jesus Christ to earth because He loves me.
Singing a song like “He Sent His Son” (Children’s Songbook, 34–35) could help your children feel God’s love. After you sing, ask your children what they learn from the song. What else do we learn about God’s love from 1 Nephi 11:22–23?
“Condescension” means the voluntary descent from a position of rank or dignity. One truth we can learn is that the condescension of God demonstrates His love for us. (Book of Mormon Seminary Student Manual (2024))
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “1 Nephi 11-15” Tell the children about some of the things Nephi learned that Jesus Christ would do during His life (see 1 Nephi 11:16–33), and show them pictures of some of these events (see, for instance, Gospel Art Book, nos. 41, 46, 47, 49, 56, 57, 58, 59). Share what the Savior has done for you. Show pictures to help the children think of ways we can share God’s love (see Gospel Art Book, nos. 109, 110, 115).
Friend January 2020 “Come, Follow Me for Little Ones” Read 1 Nephi 11:24 together and help your little ones say, “Jesus came to earth because He loves me.” Help your little one flip through copies of the Friend and draw a heart next to each picture of Jesus. This would be a great time to share your feelings about the Savior.
Ask the children to complete sentences like this one: “Because my parents love me, they …” Read John 3:16. Then help each child repeat John 3:16, replacing the words “the world” with his or her own name. Help the children notice what this verse says Heavenly Father did because He loves us. Invite the children to draw a picture of Jesus. Let them share their drawings with each other and express their love for the Savior.
Sing together a song about Jesus, such as “He Sent His Son” (Children’s Songbook, 34–35). Let the children hold up a picture of Jesus every time they sing a word like “Son,” “Jesus,” or “Savior.”
Ask the children to draw a picture of their favorite gift and the person who gave them that gift. Then ask a child to read John 3:16. What gift did Heavenly Father give us? How does this gift show His love?
Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, “There is no greater evidence of the infinite power and perfection of God’s love than is declared by the Apostle John [in John 3:16]. … Think how it must have grieved our Heavenly Father to send His Son to endure incomprehensible suffering for our sins. That is the greatest evidence of His love for each of us!” (“Love and Law,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 26).
Ask the children to find answers to the question “Why did Heavenly Father send us Jesus Christ?” as they read John 3:16–17 or sing or listen to “He Sent His Son” (Children’s Songbook, 34–35).
If we believe in Jesus Christ, which includes repenting of our sins and obeying His word, we can have everlasting life through His Atonement
Friend April 2017 “Family Night Fun” Object lesson to explain the Atonement.
Pour some salt onto a plate. This represents us before we sin.
Now sprinkle pepper on the salt. The pepper is like sin. It keeps us away from Heavenly Father.
Rub the spoon on a towel. Then move it slowly above the salt and pepper. The pepper will stick to the spoon. Jesus’s Atonement lets us repent and get rid of our sins
Show the picture Christ and Children from around the World (Gospel Art Book, no. 116) as you read Acts 10:34–35. Explain that in Peter’s time some people believed that the blessings of the gospel were not for everyone. But Peter learned that God loves all of His children and He wants all of them to learn the gospel.
Friend May 2022 “Gathering Israel”Gathering Israel means helping bring God’s children back to Him. How can you help people come closer to God? Cut out the pieces, Glue to heavy paper or craft sticks, and put the puzzle together.
Invite the children to draw a picture of themselves. As they share their pictures, talk about something you love about each child. Share your testimony that Heavenly Father loves each of them and all of His children, no matter what they look like or where they are from.
Friend July 2023 “Come, Follow Me Activities for Little Ones”With your little ones, look at pictures of children with different skin colors, body types, and physical abilities. Explain that Heavenly Father loves all His children. Help your little ones make a heart with their hands and hold it next to the pictures.
Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: New Testament 2023 “Acts 10-15”For generations, the Jews had believed that being of “the seed of Abraham,” or a literal descendant of Abraham, meant that a person was accepted and chosen by God (see Luke 3:8). They considered anyone else an “unclean” Gentile who was not accepted by God. In Acts 10, what did the Lord teach Peter about who “is accepted with him”? (Acts 10:35). What evidence do you find in this chapter that Cornelius’s life was acceptable to the Lord? Ponder what is meant by the statement “God is no respecter of persons” (verse 34; see also 1 Nephi 17:35). Why is it important to you to know this truth?
Ask the children if they can tell what someone is like just by looking at them or guessing where they are from. According to Acts 10:35, how does God determine if someone is “accepted with him”?
Read Acts 10:34–35; 15:6–11 with the children. Explain that in Peter’s time, Jews believed that God did not accept people who weren’t Jews (these people were called Gentiles). But God taught Peter that God loves all of His children, both Jews and Gentiles. Sing together “I Am a Child of God” (Children’s Songbook, 2–3). Invite the children to substitute each other’s names for words like I or me.
Invite the children to share something unique about someone else in the class. Explain that the statement “God is no respecter of persons” means that Heavenly Father loves all His children, and because He loves them, He wants all of His children to hear the gospel.
Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: New Testament 2023 “Acts 10-15”Like the Jews who looked down on those who were not of the seed of Abraham, do you ever catch yourself making unkind or uninformed assumptions about someone who is different from you? How can you overcome this tendency? It might be interesting to try a simple activity for the next few days: Whenever you interact with someone, try to think to yourself, “This person is a child of God.” As you do this, what changes do you notice in the way you think about and interact with others?
Liahona July 2023 “God Loves All His Children”General Authorities come from different lands. About half come from the United States. Others come from Central and South America, Asia, Europe, Africa, Oceania, Mexico, and Canada.
Can you name an Apostle who was born in Europe?
Can you name an Apostle from South America?
Can you name an Apostle whose parents came from Sweden and Finland?
Can you name an Apostle whose family originally came from China?
We may come from different places, but God loves us all.
Discussion: In what ways might we be the same or different from other people? Does God love us based on what we look like or where we come from? Review the story of Peter and Cornelius found in Acts 10. What did they learn about judging others? What characteristics are important to the Lord?
Activity: Find the Favorites All of us are different. We have different talents, likes, and dislikes. But we are all children of God!
Use the clues to fill out the chart and find what each of these friends is interested in. Hint: Put an X by what you know is not true. The first one is done for you. When you’re done, each column should have one empty square!
Kai is the only one who likes basketball. The piano player is not Amara or Jade. Max doesn’t like math. None of the boys play an instrument or do karate. The girl who likes animals is not Amara.
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.
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?
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.
(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)
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” ().
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.
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)
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. .
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?
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).
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.
Invite family members to sit in a circle.
Each person will take a turn standing in the middle of the circle.
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.
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.
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.
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 languages, but they are rich in their faith and their knowledge that they are children of God.
Friend August 2024 “A Worldwide Family” Elder William K. Jackson tells of a time when his parents did volunteer work in different countries. He wanted to help people around the world too, so he became a doctor. He has worked in many different countries helping people. He tells Primary children that they are part of a special world-wide family with a Father in Heaven that loves them. We are all brothers and sisters, children of God.
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.
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.
Read Doctrine and Covenants 93:23, 29, 38 together, and invite the children to look for a truth about themselves that is repeated in these verses. Ask the children to share anything they know about our life with Heavenly Father before we were born. Give each child one of the following scripture references, and help them find something these scriptures teach about life before we came to earth: Jeremiah 1:5; Doctrine and Covenants 138:53–56; Moses 3:5; Abraham 3:22–26.
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?
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.
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
Show the children a stone, and explain that in Paul’s day, people worshipped gods they made out of stone and other materials.
Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: New Testament 2023 “Acts 16-21” In Athens, Paul found people with diverse opinions and religious views. They were always seeking “to hear some new thing,” and what Paul had to offer was definitely new to them (see Acts 17:19–21). They worshipped many gods, including one they called “the unknown God” (Acts 17:23), but they believed that gods were powers or forces, not living, personal beings, and certainly not our Father.
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 PrayerGordon 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 CommandmentsWhen 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.
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”)
