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The Biggest Trip Ever

I lived with Heavenly Father, I came to earth to grow, and Jesus shows me the way home

  • 🛡️ CTR 4–6
  • ⚡ Fast Sunday
  • 📅 Sunday, January 3, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

I lived with Heavenly Father before I was born, He sent me to earth to learn and grow, and Jesus Christ shows me the way back home to Him.

I can follow Jesus, just like Jesus followed Heavenly Father’s plan.

Study it yourself firstRead Abraham 3:24–26; Moses 4:2; Alma 34:32; John 6:38; 14:6; 3 Nephi 27:19–20; Revelation 21:3–4 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this fast-Sunday lesson (Abraham 3:24–26; Moses 4:2; Alma 34:32; John 6:38; 14:6; 3 Nephi 27:19–20; Revelation 21:3–4)
Know the chapters

This is the January fast-Sunday lesson from Appendix B of the 2027 manual. On fast Sunday it replaces the regular Come, Follow Me lesson. It starts at the very beginning: Heavenly Father’s plan for His children. Some kids may be hungry today, or trying to fast with their families. Children don’t have to fast. Keep the room cheerful and skip food rewards. Use the Goal Jar or high-fives instead.

Here’s the plan in kid words. Before we were born, we lived with Heavenly Father as His spirit children. He knew and loved each of us. He made a plan so we could come to earth and get a body. Here we learn to choose the right and show we’ll follow Him. That’s Abraham 3:24–26. Job 38:7 says His children “shouted for joy.” We’d need a Savior. In Moses 4:2, Jesus Christ offered to do what His Father wanted and give Him the glory. If a child asks about Satan, one calm sentence is enough. He wanted to force everyone, but Heavenly Father’s plan lets us choose.

Earth is where we learn and grow. Alma 34:32 teaches that this life is the time to get ready to meet God. Heavenly Father doesn’t send us alone. He gives us families, prayer, scriptures, prophets and the Holy Ghost. Above all, He gives us Jesus Christ, who said, “I am the way.” That’s John 14:6. In 3 Nephi 27:19–20, Jesus invites everyone to repent, be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost. That’s how we become clean and come home. Revelation 21:3–4 promises that someday God will wipe away every tear.

Mixed ages? Let your 6- and 7-year-olds read the captions and call a few rounds of Before, Earth or Home. Your 4- and 5-year-olds will love the hand motions. Your 7-year-olds are getting close to baptism, the next big step on their own trip. Point it out whenever it fits. Be gentle if death comes up. A child may have lost someone they love. Everyone keeps living as a spirit. And because of Jesus, everyone will live again.

Only have 5 minutes?

Read Abraham 3:24–26 and John 14:6. Pack a backpack with a flashlight, your scriptures and a family photo. Open the Mystery Backpack. Tell the story in Teach Mode. Do Grow, Grow, Grow and say John 14:6 with motions. Play Before, Earth or Home, then close with your testimony. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing” and the backpack becomes an invisible one.

What to bring4 items

Tick what you have. Forgot something? Every step that needs a supply has a no-supplies version in the plan below.

Before class

  1. Read Abraham 3:24–26 and John 14:6. Put the flashlight, your scriptures and the family photo in the backpack. Zip it up.
  2. Practice the hand signs once. Twinkle fingers for “Before!”, round arms for “Earth!”, a roof with your hands for “Home!”
  3. Think of one simple, true sentence about how you know Heavenly Father loves you. You’ll share it at the end.

If your class is wild

  • It’s fast Sunday, and a hungry kid can be a grumpy kid. Give your grumpiest one the Trip Leader job right away. Use high-fives instead of treats.
  • The hand signs double as a reset. When the room drifts, call “Before! Earth! Home!” and wait for every pair of hands.
  • A silent cheer with jazz hands is your reset signal. Use it any time the room gets loud.
  • If death comes up, be gentle. Everyone keeps living as a spirit, and because of Jesus everyone will live again.

The 25-minute plan24 min + bonus

Bonus steps are for when you have extra time. Steps that mention Teach Mode, the Sound Board or other class games refer to the Gospel Sparks app; on the web you can play Forehead Guess and Scripture Showdown from this page.

1. Hook

The Mystery Backpack

3 min

A packed backpack gets everyone curious about the biggest trip ever.

  1. SAY“I’m getting ready for a trip. What do you think I packed?”
  2. Shake the zipped backpack and take three quick guesses. Unzip it slowly. Pull out the flashlight, scriptures and family photo one at a time.
  3. Ask: “Why would these help on a trip?”
  4. Teach the hand signs from your seats. Twinkle fingers up high for “Before!” Round arms like a globe for “Earth!” A roof over your head for “Home!”
  5. SAY“Guess what? Every one of you already took the biggest trip ever. You came all the way from heaven to earth!”

Class screen: 🎒 What’s in the mystery backpack? · ✨ Before! · 🌍 Earth! · 🏠 Home!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A backpack or tote bag, A flashlight, Your scriptures (or any book), A printed family photo

The Invisible Backpack

  1. SAY“I’m getting ready for a trip. Guess what I’m packing!”
  2. Heave a big invisible backpack onto your shoulders. Pack with motions: click a flashlight, open the scriptures, hug a family photo. Kids guess each one.
  3. Teach the hand signs from your seats. Twinkle fingers up high for “Before!” Round arms like a globe for “Earth!” A roof over your head for “Home!”
  4. SAY“Guess what? Every one of you already took the biggest trip ever. You came all the way from heaven to earth!”

Class screen: 🎒 Guess what I’m packing! · ✨ Before! · 🌍 Earth! · 🏠 Home!

2. Story

Story: The Biggest Trip Ever

7 min

The story of Heavenly Father’s plan shows kids where they came from and why they’re here. Jesus leads them home.

  1. SAY“This is a true story. Watch the pictures, and show me the hand signs when they pop up.”
  2. Open the story in Teach Mode. A big-kid reader can read each caption. You read the scene. Do a hand sign only when it shows.
  3. After scene 5, ask: “Which gift helps you the most? Your family, prayer, the scriptures or the Holy Ghost?”
  4. After scene 7, ask: “Who shows us the way home?” Jesus! Read Heavenly Father’s and Jesus’s parts yourself. Nobody plays Them.
🌪️ If the room drifts, do all three hand signs in a row: “Before! Earth! Home!”

Class screen: 🌍 The Biggest Trip Ever · ✨ Before! · 🌍 Earth! · 🏠 Home!

3. Wiggle break

Grow, Grow, Grow!

2 min

Growing from a baby to a grown-up gets the wiggles out and shows that earth is where we grow.

  1. SAY“Stand up by your chair. Earth is where we grow. Jesus grew up too!”
  2. Call each stage with a move. Tiny baby: curl up and cry “waaah!” Wobbly toddler: wobble. Big kid: jump five times. Grown-up: stand super tall.
  3. Go faster each round. Last round, call “Baptism day!” Everyone stands tall, folds their arms and smiles. Then sit down.

Class screen: 🌱 Grow, grow, grow! · 👶 Baby · 🧒 Kid · 🧍 Grown-up

4. Scripture

Key Verse: John 14:6

3 min

Motions help kids remember that Jesus is the way home.

  1. SAY“Jesus told us exactly how to get home.”
  2. Show the verse on your phone or tablet. A big-kid reader reads it, and everyone repeats after you.
  3. Teach the three motions. Say it three ways: regular voice, tiny mouse voice, and big happy voice.
  4. Spin around once and say, “Oh no, I’m lost! Which way is home?” Everyone does the path motion: “Jesus is the way!”

Class screen: 🛤️ Jesus is the way home! · John 14:6

5. Game

Before, Earth or Home?

6 min

Kids sort parts of Heavenly Father’s plan with hand signs and find where they are right now.

  1. SAY“I’ll name something from Heavenly Father’s plan. You show me where it happens. Before, Earth or Home?”
  2. Call: Cheering for the plan ➜ Before. Getting a body ➜ Earth. Jesus says He’ll be our Savior ➜ Before. Learning to share ➜ Earth.
  3. Call: Being baptized ➜ Earth. No more tears ➜ Home. Saying sorry ➜ Earth. Living with Heavenly Father again ➜ Home. Let a big kid call a few.
  4. Last one: “Where are you right now?” Everyone makes globe arms: “Earth!” Say: “You’re right here on earth. This is where we learn, choose and follow Jesus.”
  5. Ask: “What’s one way you can follow Jesus this week?” Take three answers.
🌪️ Hands only, from your seats. The first kid to show the right sign gets to call the next one.

Class screen: 🗺️ Before, Earth or Home? · ✨ Before! · 🌍 Earth! · 🏠 Home!

6. Testimony

You Are on the Trip Right Now

3 min

End calm and reverent, knowing Heavenly Father is watching over each child on the trip.

  1. SAY“Right now you’re on the Earth part of your trip. Heavenly Father is watching over you. And Jesus is showing you the way home.”
  2. Share your one sentence about how you know Heavenly Father loves you.
  3. SAY“It’s fast Sunday. Some grown-ups skip a meal and pray extra hard. Kids don’t have to fast. But we can all say a thank-you prayer today.”
  4. Share the Thank-You Trip challenge, then ask a child to say the closing prayer.

Class screen: 🏡 Jesus shows me the way home · This week: a thank-you prayer every night!

7. Game

Forehead Guess: Big Trip Edition

4 minBONUS

A picture guessing game reviews the plan, and the pictures let non-readers give clues too.

  1. SAY“Let’s see what you remember! Give clues, but don’t say the word.”
  2. Tap Forehead Guess. One kid holds your phone or tablet on their forehead, screen facing the class. Everyone else gives clues from their seats.
  3. Little ones can do a motion or a sound for the picture. Pair each little guesser with a big-kid buddy.
  4. Tilt down for “got it,” up to pass. Each turn is 30 seconds, then your phone or tablet moves to the next kid.
🌪️ Go around the room: each kid gives one clue, then it’s the next kid’s turn, so nobody shouts over anybody.
▶ Play Forehead Guess on the web

Class screen: 🤔 Forehead Guess! · Give clues, don’t say the word!

8. Game

Scripture Showdown

5 minBONUS

A fast team picture quiz reviews everything they learned.

  1. SAY“It’s Team Before against Team Home!”
  2. Split the class in two, mixing big and little kids, and tap Scripture Showdown.
  3. Read each question aloud. Teams whisper together, then point to an answer.
  4. Tap the team that got it right to give them a point. Cheer for both teams.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🏆 Scripture Showdown!

The story

The Biggest Trip Ever

Abraham 3:22–26; Job 38:7; Moses 4:2; Alma 34:32; John 14:6; 3 Nephi 27:19–20; Revelation 21:3–4 ↗

Optional helpers

  • Trip LeaderLeads the Before, Earth and Home hand signs from their seat. A good job for a 6-year-old.
  • Sound HelperSits next to you and taps each scene’s sound on your phone or tablet.

Scenes

  1. 🌟🏠 Before you were born…

    Before you were a baby, you were already alive! You lived with Heavenly Father as His spirit child. He knew your name. He loved you so much.

    🙌 Twinkle your fingers up high: “Before!”

  2. 📋🎉 A happy plan, and a big cheer!

    Heavenly Father made a plan. You’d go to earth and get a body. You’d learn to choose the right. Then you’d come home to Him. The Bible says His children shouted for joy. You were cheering too!

    🙌

  3. 💛🙏 Jesus chose to help us!

    On earth we’d make mistakes. We’d need help to come home. Jesus Christ said He’d be our Savior. He’d do what Heavenly Father wanted. Jesus loves us that much!

    🙌

  4. 👶🌍 Hello, earth! A brand-new baby!

    Then it was your turn! You came to earth as a tiny baby and got a body. A body that can wiggle, jump, hug and giggle! Your family was so happy to meet you.

    🙌 Arms round like a big globe: “Earth!”

  5. 🧸🎒 Earth is where we learn

    The baby grew and grew. Every day there are choices. When we make a wrong choice, we can say sorry and try again. That’s called repenting. Heavenly Father gave us gifts to help: family, prayer, scriptures and the Holy Ghost.

    🙌

  6. 💧🕊️ Jesus shows the way

    The best gift of all is Jesus. He shows us the way home. Jesus was baptized. He invites us to be baptized when we’re eight, and to receive the Holy Ghost. Jesus said, “I am the way.”

    🙌

  7. 🏡🤗 Welcome home!

    If we follow Jesus, someday we can go home and live with Heavenly Father again. He will wipe away every tear. What a happy day that will be!

    🙌 Hands make a roof over your head: “Home!”

Key verse

John 14:6 ↗
“I am the way, the truth, and the life”
In kid words: Jesus is the way home. He is true, and He gives us life.
🙌 “I am the way” = walk two fingers along your arm like a little path · “the truth” = hand on your heart · “and the life” = spring your arms up high like a sunrise

More verses

Job 38:7 ↗
“all the sons of God shouted for joy”
In kid words: Before we came to earth, all of Heavenly Father’s children cheered for His plan.
John 6:38 ↗
“For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me”
In kid words: Jesus came to earth to do what Heavenly Father wants.
Luke 2:52 ↗
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man”
In kid words: Jesus grew up too! He got bigger, smarter and closer to Heavenly Father.
Revelation 21:4 ↗
“God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes”
In kid words: When we go home, Heavenly Father will wipe away every tear.

Forehead Guess words16 words

  • 👶 Baby
  • 🎒 Backpack
  • 🌍 Earth
  • 🏡 Home
  • 👨‍👩‍👧 Family
  • 🔦 Flashlight
  • 📖 Scriptures
  • 🙏 Prayer
  • 🕊️ Holy Ghost
  • 💧 Baptism
  • 🎉 Cheer
  • ❤️ Heart
  • 🌱 Seed
  • ⭐ Stars
  • 🧸 Toy
  • 🤗 Hug
Clues for each word
  • Baby: How everyone arrives on earth. Waaah!
  • Backpack: You pack it for a trip
  • Earth: Where we live now and learn to choose
  • Home: Where we go back to Heavenly Father
  • Family: The people who love you and help you grow
  • Flashlight: Click! It helps you see in the dark
  • Scriptures: Holy books that teach us about Jesus
  • Prayer: Talking to Heavenly Father
  • Holy Ghost: A quiet helper you get after baptism
  • Baptism: A big step you can take at 8
  • Cheer: What we did when we heard the plan
  • Heart: Put your hand on it and say “Thank You, Jesus”
  • Seed: Tiny now, but it grows and grows
  • Stars: They twinkle in the sky at night
  • Toy: Share it, don’t grab it!
  • Hug: Welcome home! Arms open wide
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown8 questions

  1. Where did we live before we were born?
    • A. 🌙 On the moon
    • B. 🌟 With Heavenly Father
    • C. 🐠 In a fish tank
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🌟 With Heavenly Father We lived with Heavenly Father, and He knew each one of us.

  2. What did we do when we heard Heavenly Father’s plan?
    • A. 🎉 Shouted for joy
    • B. 😴 Fell asleep
    • C. 😭 Cried and cried
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🎉 Shouted for joy Job 38:7 says God’s children shouted for joy. You were cheering too!

  3. What did we get when we came to earth?
    • A. 🚀 A rocket
    • B. 🪽 Wings
    • C. 💪 A body
    Show answer

    ✅ C. 💪 A body We got bodies that can jump, hug and giggle!

  4. Who said He would be our Savior?
    • A. 👑 A king
    • B. 💛 Jesus Christ
    • C. 🐑 A sheep
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 💛 Jesus Christ Jesus said He would do whatever Heavenly Father wanted.

  5. What do we do after a wrong choice?
    • A. 🙈 Hide
    • B. 😠 Get mad
    • C. 🤗 Say sorry and try again
    Show answer

    ✅ C. 🤗 Say sorry and try again That’s called repenting. Jesus makes it possible!

  6. Which gift helps us talk to Heavenly Father?
    • A. 🙏 Prayer
    • B. 📺 TV
    • C. 🧦 A sock
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🙏 Prayer We can pray to Him anytime, anywhere.

  7. Jesus said, “I am the…”
    • A. 🚗 car
    • B. 🗺️ map
    • C. 🛤️ way
    Show answer

    ✅ C. 🛤️ way John 14:6. Jesus is the way home to Heavenly Father.

  8. What big step can you take when you turn 8?
    • A. 🏍️ Ride a motorcycle
    • B. 💧 Be baptized
    • C. 🏠 Buy a house
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 💧 Be baptized Baptism is a big step on the way home, just like Jesus showed us.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • I Lived in Heaven Children’s Songbook, p. 4

    It tells the very first part of the trip: life with Heavenly Father and His plan. Find it ↗

  • I Am a Child of God Children’s Songbook, p. 2

    A song they already know about who they are and where they’re going. Find it ↗

  • Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes Children’s Songbook, p. 275

    A wiggly way to say thank you for the body we got when we came to earth. Find it ↗

  • I’m Trying to Be like Jesus Children’s Songbook, p. 78

    Jesus shows the way, and we follow Him. Perfect for the calm ending. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Thank-You Trip

Every night this week, say a prayer. Thank Heavenly Father for one gift: your body, your family, the scriptures, prayer, the Holy Ghost or Jesus. On Saturday, tell your family which gift you’re most thankful for.

Text the parents

Today in Primary we learned Heavenly Father’s plan. We lived with Him before we were born. We came to earth to get a body and learn to choose the right. Jesus Christ shows us the way home, as He says in John 14:6. We heard it as the story of the biggest trip ever, then sorted the plan into Before, Earth and Home. Ask your child: what gifts did Heavenly Father give you for your trip?

📝 After class

What worked? Who needs a check-in this week? Jot it here on a printed copy, or in the app’s private class notes.

Got extra time?

🧦 Sock Buddy: Spirit and Body · 3 min

  1. Lay a clean sock on the table. Say, “Sock, wave hello!” Nothing happens. Let them giggle.
  2. Hold up your hand. Say, “My hand is like my spirit, the real me that lived with Heavenly Father.”
  3. Slide your hand into the sock and make it wave. Say, “When I was born, my spirit came into a body.”
  4. SAY“Now my spirit and body work together, and I can learn and grow. Because Jesus rose again, someday everyone’s spirit and body will be together forever.”

🖍️ My Trip Picture · 5 min

  1. Give each child a paper and crayons. Help them fold it into three parts.
  2. Part 1: a star for heaven. Part 2: themselves on earth with their family. Part 3: a house for home with Heavenly Father.
  3. Readers can write “Jesus is the way” across the bottom. Little ones can draw a path connecting the pictures.

💛 Jesus Did What Heavenly Father Wanted · 3 min

  1. Read John 6:38 from the screen.
  2. Name things Jesus did because Heavenly Father wanted Him to. He was baptized, prayed, healed people and loved children. Kids give a thumbs-up for each.
  3. Ask: “What is one thing you can do this week that Heavenly Father wants?”

Sources

Scripture quotations are from the King James Version, the Bible used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tap or click a reference to open it in Gospel Library. Start with the official Come, Follow Me manual; these ideas are here to help it come alive.

All CTR 4–6 lessons