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Baptized Like Jesus

John the Baptist, with his camel-hair coat and wild honey, prepares people for Jesus, and then baptizes Jesus in the Jordan River. The Holy Ghost comes like a dove, and Heavenly Father’s voice says He is pleased with His Son. For kids who are getting close to baptism, or were just baptized, this is a week to see how their baptism follows Jesus’s example.

  • Week 4
  • 📅 Jan 18–24, 2027
  • 📖 Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3
Start with Monday
Read it togetherMatthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualNew Testament 2027, week 4

What your kids learn in class

Stories, verses and games for the week come from each child’s own Primary or youth lesson, so home matches Sunday.

Daily sparks

Five to ten minutes a day, Monday to Sunday, with everyday things you already have. Grown-ups lead; kids act, play and answer. Where a step says to tap something, that’s in the Gospel Sparks app; on the web, use the “Play along” links.

Monday · 8 min · Cozy story time

Couch Story: At the Jordan River

🌊 Story time at the Jordan River!Snuggle up.Watch for the dove.Listen for the voice.

✋ Grab: a blanket

⏱ Only 10 minutes?

💡 Jesus was baptized to show us the way, and Heavenly Father was pleased.

  1. Read Matthew 3:13–17 together.
  2. Ask: “Why do you think Jesus was baptized?”
  3. SAY“Jesus did what Heavenly Father asked. We can follow Him.”

😄 Coo like a gentle dove as quietly as you can. The quietest cooer wins.

📖 Read together: Matthew 3:1–6, 13–17 ↗

  1. Grab a blanket and snuggle up on the couch.
  2. Tap Story. Read each scene out loud and look at the pictures together.
  3. At the first scene, ask: “Would you eat locusts and wild honey?”
  4. At the dove scene, stop and ask: “Who came down like a dove?”
  5. Read Matthew 3:17 slowly and quietly together.
  6. SAY“Heavenly Father was pleased with Jesus. He’s pleased when you follow Jesus too.”

🎭 Play along: scenes 1–7 (from the Valiant 7–8 lesson; pick your kid’s class above for theirs)

Talk about it
  • Why did Jesus want to be baptized, even though He never sinned?
  • Where was Jesus baptized?
🧸 Little ones (2–5)Let your little one tap to the next scene. At the dove scene, hook your thumbs together and flutter your fingers like wings.
📚 Big kids (10–13)At the fourth scene, have your older kid read Matthew 3:13–15. Ask why John thought Jesus should be the one baptizing him.
🧑 Teens (14–18)Ask your teen to read Matthew 3:13–15 and 2 Nephi 31:5–9. Then have them explain to the family why Jesus, who never sinned, still needed to be baptized.
☕️ For grown-upsJohn tried to talk Jesus out of it. He felt unworthy even to baptize Him. Jesus answered gently and did it anyway. Humility went both ways at the Jordan River.

Sticker for today: 🌊

Tuesday · 7 min · Scripture detective

Find All Three

🔍 Verse detectives: find all three!Find Jesus.Find the dove.Find the voice!

✅ Nothing to prep. Just start!

⏱ Only 10 minutes?

💡 Heavenly Father, Jesus and the Holy Ghost are three separate beings.

  1. Read Matthew 3:16–17 together.
  2. Ask: “Where was Jesus? What came down like a dove? Whose voice spoke from heaven?”
  3. SAY“Heavenly Father loves Jesus. He loves you too.”

😄 Thumbs-up quiz. A grown-up says true or false facts about the story. Thumbs up for true, down for false.

📖 Read together: Matthew 3:16–17 ↗

  1. Read Matthew 3:16–17 together, slowly.
  2. SAY“Detectives, three members of the Godhead are in these verses. Can you find all three?”
  3. Give everyone a minute to hunt. Jesus comes up out of the water.
  4. The Spirit of God comes down like a dove. Heavenly Father’s voice speaks from heaven.
  5. Tap Key Verse. Say it quiet as a dove, then slow as a river, then fast as a waterfall.
  6. SAY“Heavenly Father loves Jesus. He loves you too, and He knows your name.”

📖 Play along: the key verse (from the Valiant 7–8 lesson; pick your kid’s class above for theirs)

Talk about it
  • Who were the three members of the Godhead at Jesus’s baptism?
  • How can you tell that Heavenly Father loves you?
🧸 Little ones (2–5)Give your little one a big hug every time you say the word “beloved.”
📚 Big kids (10–13)Ask your older kid to say the verse from memory, then teach it to a younger sibling or to you.
🧑 Teens (14–18)The Father spoke these words before Jesus had done a single recorded miracle. Ask your teen what it means to be loved before accomplishing anything, and what they’d most want to hear from Heavenly Father.
☕️ For grown-upsThe Father’s approval came at the start of the Savior’s ministry, not after it. Your children need to hear your love and delight before they achieve anything too.

Sticker for today: 💙

Wednesday · 8 min · Activity

All the Way Under

🥣 All the way under, just like Jesus!Halfway? Nope!All the way under!Back up again!

✋ Grab: a bowl of water · a small toy

⏱ Only 10 minutes?

💡 Baptism is a promise to follow Jesus, and we go all the way under like He did.

  1. Read Matthew 3:16 together.
  2. SAY“Jesus went all the way under the water. That’s how we’re baptized too.”
  3. A grown-up shares one memory from their own baptism.

😄 Duck down low, then pop up tall like coming out of the water. Do it three times, faster each time!

📖 Read together: Matthew 3:16 ↗

  1. At the sink, fill a bowl with water. Grab any small toy.
  2. Read Matthew 3:16 together. Jesus went up straightway out of the water.
  3. Let each child dip the toy only halfway. Ask: “Is it all the way under?”
  4. Now dip it all the way under and back up. That’s how Jesus was baptized, and how we are too.
  5. Tell the story of your own baptism. Who baptized you? Where was it? How did you feel?
  6. SAY“At baptism, we promise to follow Jesus. Heavenly Father promises us the Holy Ghost.”
Talk about it
  • How is your baptism, or your future baptism, like Jesus’s baptism?
  • What do we promise when we’re baptized?
🧸 Little ones (2–5)Let your little one splash the toy in and out and cheer “All the way under!”
📚 Big kids (10–13)Your older kid can read Mosiah 18:8–10, list the promises made at baptism, and teach them to the family.
🧑 Teens (14–18)Have your teen read Romans 6:3–5 and explain how going all the way under the water and coming back up is a picture of burial and new life. Then invite them to share how they try to keep their baptism covenant now.
☕️ For grown-upsBaptism is a covenant that keeps going. The sacrament renews it every week. Which of the promises in Mosiah 18:8–10 are you living naturally right now, and which one needs attention?

Sticker for today: 🥣

Thursday · 8 min · Game

Wild Honey Game Night

🍯 Locusts and wild honey? Game on!Pick a team.Answer the quiz.Winners pick breakfast!

✅ Nothing to prep. Just start!

⏱ Only 10 minutes?

💡 John the Baptist helped people get ready for Jesus.

  1. Read Matthew 3:1–4 together.
  2. Ask: “How can our family get ready for Jesus?”
  3. Each person shares one idea.

😄 John ate locusts, and locusts are grasshoppers. Everyone does five big grasshopper hops!

📖 Read together: Matthew 3:4 ↗

  1. Read Matthew 3:4 together. John ate locusts and wild honey. Locusts are grasshoppers!
  2. Snack on honey and crackers while you play, if you have them. No honey for babies under one. Check for allergies.
  3. Split into two teams. Tap Quiz and read each question out loud.
  4. The winning team picks tomorrow’s breakfast.
  5. SAY“John’s big job was getting people ready for Jesus. You can help people get ready too.”

🏆 Play along: Scripture Showdown (from the Valiant 7–8 lesson; pick your kid’s class above for theirs)

Talk about it
  • Would you have liked to eat John’s food? Why do you think he lived in the wilderness?
🧸 Little ones (2–5)Your little one can be the team cheerleader and do a grasshopper hop for every right answer.
📚 Big kids (10–13)Let your older kid be the quiz host and add one bonus question of their own.
🧑 Teens (14–18)Invite your teen to read Luke 3:10–14 and tell the family what John told each group: the people, the tax collectors and the soldiers. Then have them write a modern version for students, athletes and people with jobs.
☕️ For grown-upsWhen people asked “What shall we do?”, John gave each group something practical that fit their work. Repentance often looks less like a grand gesture and more like doing ordinary work honestly and kindly.

Sticker for today: 🍯

Friday · 8 min · Service

The Two-Coat Mission

🧥 Got two? Share one!Find something you’ve outgrown.Put it in the bag.Share it!

✋ Grab: a bag

⏱ Only 10 minutes?

💡 Getting ready for Jesus means sharing with people who need help.

  1. Read Luke 3:10–11 together.
  2. Ask: “What’s one thing we could share this week?”
  3. SAY“Sharing is a great way to get ready for Jesus.”

😄 30-second challenge. A grown-up counts to 30 while everyone names as many ways to share as they can.

📖 Read together: Luke 3:10–11 ↗

  1. Read Luke 3:10–11 together. John said if you have two coats, share one!
  2. Head to the closets. Each child finds a coat, sweater or pair of shoes they’ve outgrown.
  3. Check that each thing is still in good shape.
  4. Put everything in a bag by the door. Drop it at a donation spot next time you’re out.
  5. SAY“Getting ready for Jesus means changing how we treat people. Sharing is a great start.”
Talk about it
  • Who might need a warm coat this winter?
  • How do you feel when you share something?
🧸 Little ones (2–5)Let your little one pick a toy or shirt and put it in the bag themselves.
📚 Big kids (10–13)Ask your older kid to find where the family can donate, and to help drop it off.
🧑 Teens (14–18)Let your teen run the donation. They can find a shelter or food bank near you, check what it needs most, and invite a friend to help.
☕️ For grown-upsJohn’s standard was simple: if you have two, share one. Take a quiet look this week at what you have two of, whether it’s coats, time or patience.

Sticker for today: 🧥

Saturday · 8 min · Music

Listen for the Holy Ghost

🎵 Dance, freeze and listen!Sing a song.Dance, then freeze!Listen for the quiet.

✅ Nothing to prep. Just start!

⏱ Only 10 minutes?

💡 After baptism, we get the gift of the Holy Ghost, who speaks in a quiet way.

  1. Read Matthew 3:11 together.
  2. SAY“The Holy Ghost speaks softly. We hear Him best when we’re still.”
  3. Ask: “When have you felt calm and happy inside?”

😄 Play Quiet Mouse. Everyone freezes and stays silent. The first one to giggle gives everyone a high five.

📖 Read together: Matthew 3:11 ↗

  1. Read Matthew 3:11 together. After baptism, we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
  2. Sing or listen to “The Holy Ghost” from the Children’s Songbook.
  3. Tap Freeze Dance. Dance until the music stops, then freeze perfectly still.
  4. While everyone is frozen, whisper: “Listen. Can you hear how quiet it is?”
  5. SAY“The Holy Ghost speaks in a quiet way. We hear Him best when we’re still.”
  6. Lay out Sunday clothes and put scriptures by the door.

🧊 Freeze Dance (in the Gospel Sparks app)

Talk about it
  • When have you felt calm, happy or safe inside? That can be the Holy Ghost.
🧸 Little ones (2–5)Let your little one pick the silliest freeze pose. Then whisper together, “Shh, listen.”
📚 Big kids (10–13)Ask your older kid to share a time they felt the Holy Ghost help them make a choice.
🧑 Teens (14–18)Have your teen read Matthew 3:11 and 2 Nephi 31:17. Then list what fire does: it lights, warms and purifies. Ask for an example of how the Holy Ghost does each one.
☕️ For grown-upsReceiving the Holy Ghost is called a baptism of fire. Fire changes things slowly from the inside. Where have you noticed the Spirit quietly changing what you want?

Sticker for today: 🎵

Sunday · 7 min · Sabbath

John Came Back!

✨ What did you learn in Primary today?Teach your family one thing.John the Baptist came back!Tell about baptism.

✅ Nothing to prep. Just start!

⏱ Only 10 minutes?

💡 John the Baptist came back and gave the priesthood that baptizes today.

  1. Read Doctrine and Covenants 13 together.
  2. Ask: “Who did John the Baptist give the priesthood to?”
  3. A grown-up shares why they’re thankful for baptism.

😄 High-five chain. Each person high-fives the next and names someone they know who’s been baptized.

📖 Read together: Doctrine and Covenants 13 ↗

  1. After church, ask: “What did you learn in Primary today?” Let each child teach you one thing.
  2. SAY“Guess what? In 1829, John the Baptist came back as an angel!”
  3. Read Doctrine and Covenants 13 together. John gave the Aaronic Priesthood to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery.
  4. SAY“That’s the priesthood that baptizes. It’s why people can be baptized with God’s authority today.”
  5. Close to baptism? Count the months left. Already baptized? Tell about that day.
  6. Sit quietly for a moment. A parent shares why they’re thankful they were baptized.
Talk about it
  • What are you most excited about for your baptism, or what do you remember about it?
  • How can you keep your baptism promises this week?
🧸 Little ones (2–5)Show your little one a baptism photo on your phone and say, “One day you can be baptized like Jesus.”
📚 Big kids (10–13)Invite your older kid to read Doctrine and Covenants 13 aloud and share what John gave to Joseph and Oliver.
🧑 Teens (14–18)Ask your teen to read Joseph Smith—History 1:68–72 and tell how John the Baptist restored the Aaronic Priesthood. Then invite them to share how priesthood ordinances have blessed them.
☕️ For grown-upsYour children will remember your baptism story longer than any lesson. Tell it honestly, including what you understood then and what you understand now.

Sticker for today: ✨

Family challenge

Baptism Promise Keepers

Each day this week, catch each other keeping a baptism promise: remembering Jesus, keeping a commandment or helping someone. Say “I saw you!” and give them a dove-wing high five. Hook your thumbs together and flutter your fingers. At dinner, count how many you caught.

Parent Corner

John the Baptist’s whole message can be summed up as “make room.” Quoting Isaiah, he promised that valleys would be filled, mountains lowered and crooked roads made straight (Luke 3:4–5; Isaiah 40:3–4). That is a picture of repentance, not as a single apology but as roadwork: clearing out what sits between us and the Savior. Then Jesus Himself came down into the water. The One who needed no repentance chose the same ordinance He asks of us, and at that moment the Father spoke and the Spirit descended, three distinct members of the Godhead present at once (Matthew 3:16–17). For parents, the week is a reminder that the covenant our children are preparing for is one we keep renewing ourselves, one Sunday at a time.

  • Ponder: What is one crooked path in our home, a pattern we’ve simply gotten used to, that the Savior could straighten if we let Him?
  • Try this: Before the sacrament this Sunday, choose one specific change you want to make and bring it to the sacrament as your own renewal of your baptismal covenant.

Dinner-table questions

  • If you lived in the wilderness like John, what would you miss most?
  • Why do you think Jesus walked all the way to the Jordan River to be baptized?
  • What’s one promise you make (or will make) at baptism?
  • How can the Holy Ghost help you at school?
  • Who gets to baptize people today?

Sources

Scripture quotations are from the King James Version, the Bible used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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