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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. 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 · 10 min · Story

At the Jordan River

🌊 Who will be John the Baptist? Grab a bathrobe!Make a river with a blanket.Make dove wings with your hands.Listen for Heavenly Father’s words.

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

  1. Open the story scenes and read them together.
  2. Spread a blue blanket or towel on the floor for the Jordan River. One child is John the Baptist (a bathrobe or towel makes a great camel-hair coat). Everyone else is the crowd coming to be baptized.
  3. Read Matthew 3:1–6 while John calls out, “Repent! Get ready for Jesus!” and the crowd lines up at the river.
  4. Set a picture of Jesus by the river and read Matthew 3:13–16. When the Holy Ghost comes like a dove, everyone hooks their thumbs together and flutters their fingers like wings.
  5. Read verse 17 slowly and quietly together. Say: “Heavenly Father was pleased. He’s pleased when you follow Jesus too.”

🎭 Play along: the story scenes (from the CTR 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 be the dove, making hand wings and flying gently over the river.
📚 Big kids (10–13)Ask your 10–13-year-old to find how Heavenly Father, Jesus and the Holy Ghost all show up in Matthew 3:16–17, and what that teaches about the Godhead.
🧑 Teens (14–18)Ask your teen to read Matthew 3:13–15 and 2 Nephi 31:5–9, then explain to the family why Jesus, who never sinned, still needed to be baptized.
☕️ For grown-upsJohn tried to talk Jesus out of it and felt unworthy even to baptize Him (Matthew 3:14). Jesus answered gently and did it anyway. Humility went both ways at the Jordan River.

Sticker for today: 🌊

Tuesday · 6 min · Verse

My Beloved Son

💙 Heavenly Father was pleased with His Son!Point up.Big hug.Thumbs up and smile!

📖 Read together: Matthew 3:17 ↗

  1. Open the key verse screen and read it together.
  2. Add the same motions your kids learn in Primary: cup your hands around your mouth and point up for the voice from heaven, give yourself a big hug for beloved Son, and two thumbs up with your biggest smile for well pleased.
  3. Say it three ways: as quiet as a dove, as slow as a river, and then fast as a waterfall.
  4. SAY“Heavenly Father loves Jesus. He loves you too, and He knows your name.”

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

Talk about it
  • 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 10–13-year-old to say the verse from memory and then write it on a sticky note for the bathroom mirror.
🧑 Teens (14–18)The Father spoke these words before Jesus had performed a single recorded miracle. Ask your teen what it means to be loved before accomplishing anything, and what they would 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

🥣 Halfway or all the way? Try it!Jesus went all the way under.Then He came up out of the water.We do it the same way!

📖 Read together: Matthew 3:16 ↗

  1. Fill a bowl with water and grab a small plastic toy. Read Matthew 3:16: Jesus came up out of the water.
  2. Let each child dip the toy only halfway. Ask: “Is it baptized?” Now all the way under and back up! Say: “We’re baptized the way Jesus was: all the way under, by someone with priesthood authority.”
  3. Show a photo or tell the story of your own baptism: who baptized you, where it was and how you felt.
  4. SAY“When we’re baptized, we promise to remember Jesus, keep His commandments and help others. Heavenly Father promises the Holy Ghost to be with us.”
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 10–13-year-old can read Mosiah 18:8–10 and list the promises made at baptism, then 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 · 10 min · Game

Wild Honey Game Night

🍯 Grasshoppers for dinner? Let’s play instead!John ate locusts and wild honey.We’ll just have the honey.Quiz time!

📖 Read together: Matthew 3:4 ↗

  1. Read Matthew 3:4 and laugh together: John the Baptist ate locusts (grasshoppers!) and wild honey.
  2. Make a John the Baptist snack: honey or jam on crackers. (Skip the locusts!) Honey is not safe for babies under one, so give them jam, and swap in any snack that fits your family’s food allergies.
  3. Play the quiz while you munch. Split into two teams, and the team that wins picks tomorrow’s breakfast.
  4. SAY“John had a big job: getting people ready for Jesus. You help people get ready for Jesus when you’re kind and share what you know.”

🏆 Play along: Scripture Showdown (from the CTR 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 help stir the honey.
📚 Big kids (10–13)Let your 10–13-year-old 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, 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 (Luke 3:10–14). 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 coats? Share one!Find something you’ve outgrown.Fill the share bag.Warm someone up!

📖 Read together: Luke 3:10–11 ↗

  1. Read Luke 3:10–11. The people asked John what they should do, and he said: if you have two coats, share one!
  2. Head to the closets together. Each child finds a coat, sweater or pair of shoes they’ve outgrown but that’s still in good shape.
  3. Put everything in a bag to donate, or pick a canned food each to share with a food bank or neighbor.
  4. SAY“John taught that getting ready for Jesus means changing how we treat people. Sharing is a way to follow Jesus.”
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 10–13-year-old to find where the family can donate, and to help drop it off.
🧑 Teens (14–18)Let your teen run the donation: find a shelter or food bank near you, check what they need most, and invite a friend to help collect or deliver.
☕️ For grown-upsJohn’s standard was simple: if you have two, share one (Luke 3:11). Take a quiet inventory this week of what you have “two of,” whether it’s coats, time or patience.

Sticker for today: 🧥

Saturday · 8 min · Activity

Listen for the Holy Ghost

🎵 Dance, then freeze and listen quietly!🧸 Comfort🔦 Guide🖼️ Jesus is realShhh… listen!

📖 Read together: Matthew 3:11 ↗

  1. Read Matthew 3:11. After we are baptized, we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
  2. Hide three things around the room: a soft blanket (the Holy Ghost comforts us), a flashlight or map (He guides us) and a picture of Jesus (He helps us know Jesus is real). Kids find them and guess what each one means.
  3. Play Freeze Dance. When the music stops, freeze and stay perfectly still. Say: “The Holy Ghost speaks in a quiet way. We hear Him best when we’re still.”
  4. Get ready for church: lay out 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 wrap up in the comfort blanket and do the silliest freeze pose.
📚 Big kids (10–13)Ask your 10–13-year-old 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) and give an example of how the Holy Ghost does each one.
☕️ For grown-upsReceiving the Holy Ghost is called a baptism of fire (Matthew 3:11). Fire changes things slowly from the inside. Where have you noticed the Spirit quietly changing what you want?

Sticker for today: 🎵

Sunday · 6 min · Sabbath

John Came Back!

✨ What did you learn in Primary today?Teach your family one thing.John the Baptist came back to restore the priesthood!

📖 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 and gave the Aaronic Priesthood to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. That’s the priesthood that baptizes, and it’s why people can be baptized with God’s authority today.”
  3. If someone in your family is getting close to baptism, count together how many months are left. If someone was baptized, let them tell about that day.
  4. Sit quietly for a moment. A parent shares why they are 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 and say, “One day you can be baptized like Jesus.”
📚 Big kids (10–13)Invite your 10–13-year-old 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 the story of John the Baptist restoring the Aaronic Priesthood, then 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 add a paper dove to the fridge.

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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