Gospel Sparks Get the app

Thankful Inside the Fish

Jonah ran from the Lord, landed inside a great fish, and prayed a prayer full of thanksgiving (Jonah 2:9). Then the Lord gave him, and the whole city of Nineveh, a second chance. It’s Thanksgiving week, so your family will sail a couch-cushion ship, pass along a secret plan the way prophets pass along the Lord’s (Amos 3:7), play thank-you hot seat at dinner, and give each other second chances.

  • Week 48
  • 📅 Nov 23–29, 2026
  • 📖 Amos; Obadiah; Jonah
Start with Monday
Come, Follow Me manualOld Testament 2026, week 48

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 · 10 min · Story

All Aboard the Couch Ship!

🌊 Hold on! The storm is coming!Rock the ship!Hide inside the great fish!Count to three… Bleh!

✋ Grab: couch cushions · a big blanket

⏱ Only 10 minutes?

💡 Jonah prayed inside the fish, and the Lord heard him and gave him a second chance.

  1. Read Jonah 2:1–2 together.
  2. Read Jonah 2:10 to find out what happened next.
  3. Ask: “How did the Lord give Jonah a second chance?”

😄 Count to three together, one for each day in the fish. Then everyone shouts “Bleh!” and tumbles onto the floor.

📖 Read together: Jonah 1–3 ↗

  1. Build a ship from couch cushions and climb aboard. Tap Story.
  2. Read each scene out loud together.
  3. In the storm, rock the ship and make wind and wave sounds.
  4. At the fish scene, hold a blanket up like a tent over the kids. Never wrap anyone in it.
  5. Count slowly to three, one for each day inside the fish. Then shout “Bleh!” and tumble out onto the carpet beach.
  6. SAY“Jonah got a second chance, and so did Nineveh. The Lord gives us second chances too.”

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

Talk about it
  • Why do you think Jonah ran away?
  • What did Jonah do when he was inside the fish?
  • How did the Lord show love to Jonah and to Nineveh?
🧸 Little ones (2–5)Let your little one help hold up the blanket fish and shout the loudest “Bleh!”
📚 Big kids (10–13)Have your older kid read the captain’s words in Jonah 1:6 in their best captain voice.
🧑 Teens (14–18)Ask your teen to read Jonah 1:3–5 and count how many times Jonah goes down. Down to Joppa, into the ship, into the sides of the ship. Running from the Lord usually feels like a slow slide down, not one big leap.
☕️ For grown-upsIn Jonah 1 the sailors pray and try hard to save Jonah’s life, while the prophet sleeps below deck. Sometimes people outside our faith show more goodness than we do in the moment. Jonah’s story leaves room for that humility.

Sticker for today: 🐋

Tuesday · 7 min · Verse

The Secret Plan

🤫 Shh! The messenger knows the secret plan!The messenger knows the plan!Heavenly Father tells His prophets first.Then they tell us!

✅ Nothing to prep. Just start!

⏱ Only 10 minutes?

💡 Heavenly Father tells His prophets His plans, so they can teach us.

  1. Read Amos 3:7 together.
  2. Ask: “What’s something our prophet has taught lately?”
  3. Pick one way your family can follow it this week.

😄 Play a whisper chain. Whisper one word from the verse down the line and see if it arrives right.

📖 Read together: Amos 3:7 ↗

  1. Think of a fun plan you can do right now, like a two-minute dance party. Don’t tell anyone!
  2. Pick one kid to be your messenger. Whisper the secret plan only to them.
  3. The messenger tells everyone the plan. Then do it right away!
  4. Tap Key Verse and read Amos 3:7 together.
  5. SAY“Heavenly Father tells His prophets what He’s going to do. Then they tell us.”
  6. Talk about something the prophet has taught lately. How can your family follow it?

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

Talk about it
  • How did you find out about the secret plan?
  • Why is it a blessing to have a prophet today?
🧸 Little ones (2–5)Let your little one shout “Listen, everybody!” before the plan, then “Hooray!” after.
📚 Big kids (10–13)Ask your older kid to find a short message from the prophet in the Gospel Library app. They can share one sentence at dinner.
🧑 Teens (14–18)Let your teen pick a recent conference talk by an Apostle. They listen for five minutes and teach the family one invitation from it. What would change at school if they really did it?
☕️ For grown-upsAmos wasn’t a professional prophet. He called himself a herdman who took care of fruit trees (Amos 7:14–15). The Lord often speaks through ordinary people. That’s worth remembering when His counsel comes from someone who doesn’t impress us.

Sticker for today: 📣

Wednesday · 8 min · Dinner table

Thank-You Hot Seat

🪑 Hot seat! Why are we thankful for you?Sit in the thank-you seat.Hear why we love you!

✅ Nothing to prep. Just start!

⏱ Only 10 minutes?

💡 Jonah remembered the Lord and prayed, even while he was stuck inside a fish.

  1. Read Jonah 2:7 together.
  2. Ask: “What can we be thankful for, even on a hard day?”
  3. Everyone names one thing they’re thankful for.

😄 Thirty-second challenge! A grown-up counts to thirty. How many thank-yous can the family name before time’s up?

📖 Read together: Jonah 2:9 ↗

  1. At dinner, read Jonah 2:9 together.
  2. SAY“Jonah was stuck inside a fish, and he still thanked the Lord! Let’s warm up our thank-yous.”
  3. Pick one chair as the hot seat. Take turns sitting in it.
  4. Everyone tells the person in the hot seat one thing they love about them.
  5. Each kid picks someone they’ll see on Thanksgiving. Decide what thank-you you’ll say to them.
  6. End with a prayer that thanks Heavenly Father for each person by name.
Talk about it
  • What’s something hard that you can still be thankful in, like Jonah?
  • Who are you most excited to see this Thanksgiving?
🧸 Little ones (2–5)Your little one can take the hot seat first, on your lap. Then help them say one thank-you for someone else.
📚 Big kids (10–13)Have your older kid plan a short thank-you prayer for the Thanksgiving meal.
🧑 Teens (14–18)Have your teen read Jonah 2. Jonah gives thanks in verse 9, before he’s out of the fish. When the person they struggle with most is in the hot seat, challenge them to give one real, specific thank-you.
☕️ For grown-upsJonah’s prayer echoes the Psalms. Compare Jonah 2:3 with Psalm 42:7. He prayed with words he had stored up. The scriptures you learn now become the prayers you’ll have in your own dark places later.

Sticker for today: 🦃

Thursday · 10 min · Game

Thanksgiving Table Game

🥧 Happy Thanksgiving! Who can guess Great Fish?Say your thank-you out loud.Then play Forehead Guess with everyone!

✅ Nothing to prep. Just start!

⏱ Only 10 minutes?

💡 Like Jonah, we can thank the Lord for every blessing, big and small.

  1. Read Jonah 2:9 together.
  2. Go around the table. Each person thanks someone there by name.
  3. SAY“Every good thing we have comes from Heavenly Father.”

😄 Quick guess game! One person describes a blessing without naming it. Everyone else guesses.

  1. Before the meal, each kid says their thank-you out loud to the person they picked.
  2. Invite someone to bless the food and give thanks to Heavenly Father.
  3. After dessert, tap Forehead Guess. Cousins, grandparents and guests can play too.
  4. The guesser holds your phone or tablet on their forehead. Everyone else gives clues.
  5. End by going around the table. Everyone names one blessing they didn’t notice until this week.

🤔 Play along: Forehead Guess (from the Valiant 7–8 lesson; pick your kid’s class above for theirs)

Talk about it
  • What’s one blessing you didn’t notice until this week?
  • Which part of the Jonah story is your favorite?
🧸 Little ones (2–5)Your little one can be Grandma or Grandpa’s helper. They whisper clues and cheer when they guess.
📚 Big kids (10–13)Let your older kid tell the Jonah story to any guest who doesn’t know it, in under one minute.
🧑 Teens (14–18)Ask your teen to interview one older guest: “What’s a hard time you were thankful through?” They can share the best answer at dessert.
☕️ For grown-upsHoliday tables can be tender places, with someone missing or someone struggling. Jonah gave thanks from inside the problem, not after it was solved. Give yourself permission to feel thankful and sad at the same time.

Sticker for today: 🥧

Friday · 10 min · Service

Second-Chance Friday

🔁 Give someone a second chance today!Say sorry or forgive fast.Say a big thank-you!

✅ Nothing to prep. Just start!

⏱ Only 10 minutes?

💡 The Lord is slow to anger and gives everyone a second chance.

  1. Read Jonah 4:2 together.
  2. Ask: “Who might need a second chance from us?”
  3. Make it right today with a hug or a sorry.

😄 Everyone makes their grumpiest Jonah face. On three, switch to your biggest smile!

📖 Read together: Jonah 3:10; 4:2 ↗

  1. Read Jonah 4:2 together.
  2. SAY“Jonah knew the Lord is kind, slow to anger and full of mercy. He gives everyone a second chance.”
  3. Ask: “Have we been grumpy with anyone, like Jonah was?”
  4. Make it right with a hug, a note or a sorry.
  5. Pick someone who serves your family, like a Primary teacher or a neighbor. Thank them today.
  6. Say it in person, or send a quick message together.
Talk about it
  • How does it feel when someone forgives you quickly?
  • Why do you think Jonah was upset when Nineveh was forgiven?
🧸 Little ones (2–5)Let your little one say “Thank you!” with you, or give a big wave at the door.
📚 Big kids (10–13)Ask your older kid to think of a friend at school who could use a second chance. They can quietly give it next week.
🧑 Teens (14–18)Have your teen read Jonah 4. The book ends with a question from the Lord that Jonah never answers, in verse 11. How would they answer it? Who is their Nineveh, someone they’d rather not see get a second chance?
☕️ For grown-upsJonah wasn’t angry because God was harsh. He was angry because God was merciful to people Jonah thought didn’t deserve it (Jonah 4:1–2). Whose repentance have you quietly refused to believe in? Include your own.

Sticker for today: 💝

Saturday · 8 min · Scripture detective

Hungry-for-Words Detectives

🍽️ An empty plate… fill it with God’s words!Find the clue.Fill the plate.Quiz time!

✋ Grab: an empty plate

⏱ Only 10 minutes?

💡 Hearing the Lord’s words feeds our spirits, like food feeds our bodies.

  1. Read Amos 8:11 together.
  2. Ask: “What are the people hungry for in this verse?”
  3. SAY“We have scriptures and prophets. We don’t have to be hungry!”

😄 Read the verse once more. Growl like a hungry tummy at famine. Rub your tummy and say “Yum!” at words of the Lord.

📖 Read together: Amos 8:11; Obadiah 1:21 ↗

  1. Set an empty plate on the table.
  2. Read Amos 8:11 together.
  3. SAY“Detectives, what are the people hungry for in this verse? Find the clue!”
  4. The answer is hearing the words of the Lord. Bonus clue: how many times does it say famine? Two!
  5. Set your scriptures on the plate. Then tap Quiz and play it together.
  6. Lay out Sunday clothes, and put the scriptures by the door.

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

Talk about it
  • What would it be like to have no scriptures and no prophets?
  • What is one thing you want to learn more about tomorrow?
🧸 Little ones (2–5)Let your little one carry the scriptures to the plate to fill it up.
📚 Big kids (10–13)Have your older kid read Obadiah 1:21. How can temple and family history work make us “saviours … on mount Zion”?
🧑 Teens (14–18)Have your teen read Obadiah 1:21 and do one real piece of family history this week. They can find a relative on FamilySearch who needs temple ordinances. If they have a recommend, help them plan a baptism trip for that name.
☕️ For grown-upsAmos 8:11–12 describes people running from sea to sea looking for the word of the Lord and not finding it. We have the opposite problem, with scriptures on every phone. The risk now is less a famine than a full plate we never eat from.

Sticker for today: 📖

Sunday · 7 min · Sabbath

Three Days, Then Out!

🙏 Tell us your favorite part of Primary!Lights off. Quiet minute.Lights on. Share one thank-you.

✅ Nothing to prep. Just start!

⏱ Only 10 minutes?

💡 The Lord hears our prayers from anywhere, even inside a fish.

  1. Ask: “What did you learn in Primary today?”
  2. Read Jonah 2:2 together.
  3. Share a time the Lord heard your prayer.

😄 Take turns naming the silliest place someone could pray. Everyone answers, “He hears you there!”

📖 Read together: Jonah 2:1–2, 9 ↗

  1. Ask: “What did you learn in Primary today?”
  2. Read Jonah 2:2 together.
  3. SAY“Jonah prayed from the darkest place, and the Lord heard him. He hears us anywhere.”
  4. Turn off the lights and sit together for one quiet minute. Think of something you’re thankful for.
  5. Turn the lights back on. Anyone who wants to can share a thank-you or a testimony.
  6. Go last and share yours.
Talk about it
  • What did you learn in Primary today?
  • Where is a place you could pray when you need help?
🧸 Little ones (2–5)Hold your little one on your lap in the dark and whisper a thank-you together.
📚 Big kids (10–13)Invite your older kid to share a time they felt a prayer was heard, or to say the closing prayer.
🧑 Teens (14–18)Invite your teen to share a time a prayer felt answered, or a time it didn’t. Both are honest answers. Thank them for either one.
☕️ For grown-upsJonah 2:2 says he cried “out of the belly of hell” and was heard. Your kids need to know prayer works from the bottom too. They’ll believe it most when they hear that yours has.

Sticker for today: 🌅

Family challenge

Thanks Like Jonah

Every day this week, before bed, each person says one thank-you out loud, even on a hard day, just like Jonah did inside the fish. On Thanksgiving, add up how many thank-yous your family said all week.

Parent Corner

Jonah is usually told as a fish story, but the fish is only the middle. The real drama is between a merciful God and a prophet who resents that mercy. Jonah runs because he already knows what the Lord is like, a “gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness” (Jonah 4:2), and he would rather Nineveh, Israel’s brutal enemy, not get the benefit. The Lord answers Jonah the way He often answers us: patiently, with a storm, a fish, a plant, a worm and finally a question. Amos adds that the Lord reveals His purposes to His prophets (Amos 3:7), and Obadiah glimpses “saviours … on mount Zion” (Obadiah 1:21). The thread through all three books is that the Lord wants to save, and He invites us to join Him instead of sitting outside the city waiting to see what happens (Jonah 4:5).

  • Ponder: Is there a person or group whose change you’d find hard to celebrate? What would it take for you to rejoice if the Lord forgave them?
  • Try this: Read all four short chapters of Jonah in one sitting this week (about ten minutes). Then write your own answer to the question the Lord asks in Jonah 4:11.

From general conference

“Having prophets is a sign of God’s love for His children. They make known the promises and the true nature of God and of Jesus Christ to Their people.”

— Elder Ulisses Soares, “Prophets Speak by the Power of the Holy Spirit,” April 2018

Share on Tuesday after the Secret Plan and Amos 3:7, as a reason prophets matter to your family.

Read the talk ↗

Dinner-table questions

  • If you were swallowed by a great fish, what would you want to have in your pocket?
  • What’s the best second chance anyone ever gave you?
  • What are three things you’re thankful for that start with the letter T?
  • Why do you think Heavenly Father speaks through prophets instead of just yelling from the sky?
  • Who is someone who might feel like Nineveh and need our kindness?

Sources

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

All family weeks