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Mary Said Yes!

An angel, two surprise babies, a dad who couldn’t talk, and Mary’s trusting “yes”

  • 🛡️ CTR 4–6
  • Week 1
  • 📅 Sunday, January 3, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Heavenly Father can do anything, He hears my prayers, and I can say “yes” to Him like Mary did.

I can pray to Heavenly Father, trust Him while I wait, and say “yes” when He asks me to help.

Study it yourself firstRead Matthew 1; Luke 1 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Matthew 1; Luke 1)
Know the chapters

Welcome to the New Testament! Luke 1 tells about two babies everyone thought were impossible. Zacharias and Elisabeth loved God and had prayed for a child for many years. Now they were very old. While Zacharias was serving in the temple, the angel Gabriel came. He said Elisabeth would have a son named John. Zacharias wondered how that could be, and he couldn’t speak until the baby was born. Six months later, Gabriel visited Mary in Nazareth. He told her she’d be the mother of Jesus, the Son of God. Mary visited Elisabeth, and the unborn John leaped for joy. When John was born, Zacharias wrote, “His name is John.” Right away he could talk and praise God. Matthew 1 adds Joseph’s part. An angel spoke to him in a dream, and he obeyed.

For 4- to 7-year-olds, keep three simple truths in front of them. First, Heavenly Father hears every prayer. Sometimes the answer comes later, like it did for Zacharias and Elisabeth. Second, Luke 1:37 says with God nothing is impossible. Third, in Luke 1:38, Mary said yes to Heavenly Father without knowing everything that would happen. Little ones understand “yes” and “wait” very well. They hear both at home every day.

Your 7-year-olds will be baptized this year. They’ll promise to follow Jesus Christ, which is a lot like Mary’s trusting yes. Point that out often. Joseph shows the same kind of obedience. In Matthew 1:24, he woke from his dream and did what the angel said right away.

Keep the doctrine simple and true. Jesus Christ is the Son of Heavenly Father and of Mary, as Luke 1:31–35 teaches. If a child asks how, say, “Heavenly Father made it happen by His power,” and leave it there. In Matthew 1:21, God chose the name Jesus because He would save His people from their sins. Baby John will grow up to be John the Baptist, who gets people ready for Jesus. You’ll meet him again in a few weeks.

Only have 5 minutes?

Read Luke 1:5–64 once so you can tell it in your own words. Play Possible or Impossible? Tell the story in Teach Mode while kids listen for the word “baby.” Teach the Luke 1:37 superhero motions and do Seeds Take Time. Finish with a quiet yes and your testimony. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing,” and the kids become the seeds.

What to bring2 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 Luke 1:5–64 and Matthew 1:18–25 once so you can tell them in your own words.
  2. Put the seed in your pocket. Put the fruit or plant in a bag so no one can see it yet.

If your class is wild

  • Zacharias’s silent scene is a built-in quiet moment. If the room gets rowdy, say, “Everybody is Zacharias now!” Then zip your lips.
  • Give your wiggliest 6- or 7-year-old the Sound Helper job. Now their energy has a job.
  • Let your 6- and 7-year-olds read the captions and the verse. Let your 4- and 5-year-olds lead the flexing and the thumbs up.
  • Kids just up from Sunbeams may be shy. Seat each one by an older buddy who does the motions with them.

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

Possible or Impossible?

3 min

A silly thumbs-up game gets everyone thinking about impossible things.

  1. SAY“If you can do it, thumbs up! If it’s impossible, thumbs down!”
  2. Try these. Touch your nose. Lick your elbow. Jump to the moon.
  3. Ask, “Here’s a hard one. Can a very, very old grandma and grandpa have a brand-new baby?” Let them vote.
  4. SAY“Most people would say impossible. But today we’ll learn that with God, nothing is impossible!”
🌪️ Keep it quick and silly. If they get loud, make the next challenge “Whisper your name.” That one’s possible!

Class screen: 🤔 Possible or impossible? · 👍 I can do it! · 👎 Impossible!

2. Story

Story: Two Surprise Babies

7 min

You tell a true scripture story with pictures. The whole class joins in from their seats.

  1. SAY“This is a true story from the scriptures. Listen for the word ‘baby.’ Rock your arms each time you hear it!”
  2. Open the story in Teach Mode. Read each scene, and watch for rocking arms. Big kids can read the caption first.
  3. At scene 5, ask, “What did Mary say?” Yes!
  4. SAY“She trusted Heavenly Father, even though she didn’t know everything.”
  5. After scene 7, ask, “Who prayed a long, long time?” Zacharias and Elisabeth. Then ask, “Did Heavenly Father hear them?” Yes!
🌪️ If the room drifts, zip your lips like Zacharias and wait. Everyone copies, and the room goes quiet.

Class screen: 👼 Two surprise babies! · 👂 Listen for “baby” · 👶 Rock your arms!

3. Wiggle break

Zip It, Zacharias!

2 min

A silent wiggle lets kids move while they remember Zacharias.

  1. SAY“Zacharias couldn’t talk until the baby came. Stand up and zip your lips! No sounds at all.”
  2. Open the Noise Meter. Call silent moves: jump, tiptoe in place, wave hello, stretch up high, touch your toes.
  3. SAY“His name is John!”
  4. Everyone unzips, cheers once and sits down.
🌪️ Anyone who makes a sound just zips again and keeps playing. Nobody’s out.
🐭 Noise Meter (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🤐 Zip it! No sounds! · Jump 🦘 · Tiptoe 🐭 · Wave 👋

4. Scripture

Key Verse: Luke 1:37

3 min

Superhero motions help kids remember the angel’s promise to Mary.

  1. SAY“The angel Gabriel said this to Mary.”
  2. Show the verse on your phone or tablet. Ask a reader to read it slowly while little ones echo. Teach the motions one part at a time.
  3. Say it three ways: a whisper, a regular voice, then a strong superhero voice. No screaming!
  4. Ask, “Who can say it all by themselves?” Let a 7-year-old try first. Then the whole class says it one last time.

Class screen: 🦸 For with God nothing shall be impossible. · Luke 1:37

5. Object lesson

Seeds Take Time

6 min

A seed shows that Heavenly Father hears every prayer, even when the answer takes time, and kids practice trusting Him.

  1. SAY“Look at this seed! What will it grow into?”
  2. Take answers, then pull out the fruit or plant. Ask, “Will it be a tree by tomorrow?” No!
  3. SAY“Zacharias and Elisabeth prayed for years. Heavenly Father heard them the whole time. The answer came at just the right time.”
  4. Everyone crouches like a seed. Call “Pray!” and fold arms. Call “Wait…” and grow very slowly. Call “Answer!” and burst up tall. Play three times.
  5. SAY“Sometimes Heavenly Father says yes. Sometimes He says wait. Sometimes He has something better. But He always hears you, and you can trust Him.”
🌪️ Growing slowly is hard for wiggly kids. Make it a contest. Who can grow the slowest?

Class screen: 🌱 Heavenly Father always hears me. · Pray 🙏 · Wait ⏳ · Answer! 🌳

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A seed (a bean, an apple seed or a popcorn kernel) and something it grows into (a piece of fruit, a plant or a picture of one)

Be the Seed

  1. SAY“You are all tiny seeds. Curl up small in your spot.”
  2. Ask, “Can a seed become a tree in one second?” No!
  3. SAY“Zacharias and Elisabeth prayed for years. Heavenly Father heard them the whole time. The answer came at just the right time.”
  4. Call “Pray!” and fold arms. Call “Wait…” and grow slowly while the Big Timer counts 20 seconds. Call “Answer!” and burst up tall. Play three times.
  5. SAY“Sometimes Heavenly Father says yes. Sometimes He says wait. Sometimes He has something better. But He always hears you, and you can trust Him.”
6. Testimony

My Yes

3 min

End quiet, with each child giving Heavenly Father their own “yes.”

  1. SAY“Mary said yes to Heavenly Father. You can say yes too. You can pray, be kind, and obey.”
  2. Everyone sits very still. Ask, “What can you pray about this week?” Take a few quiet answers.
  3. Invite each child to give a quiet thumbs-up yes. Then testify that Heavenly Father hears every prayer and Jesus is His Son.
  4. Show the Yes Week challenge on the screen. Then invite a child to say the closing prayer.

Class screen: 🙏 Yes, Heavenly Father! · He hears me 🙏 · Nothing is impossible 💛

7. Game

Forehead Guess: Surprise Babies

4 minBONUS

A Heads Up–style review of today’s story. The picture shows with each word, so pre-readers can play 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. Motions make great clues. Fold arms for Pray, zipped lips for Quiet, a thumbs up for Yes. Tilt down for “got it” and up to pass.
  4. Give each turn about 30 seconds. Pair a 4- or 5-year-old guesser with an older buddy who whispers help.
🌪️ Go around the circle with one clue each, 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 quiz reviews everything they learned.

  1. SAY“It’s Team Zacharias versus Team Elisabeth!”
  2. Split the class in two, mixing big and little kids. Tap Scripture Showdown.
  3. Read each question and the picture choices out loud. 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

Two Surprise Babies

Luke 1:5–64; Matthew 1:18–25 ↗

Optional helpers

  • Sound HelperSits next to you and taps each scene’s sound on your phone or tablet.

Scenes

  1. 👵🙏👴 Zacharias and Elisabeth pray for a baby

    Zacharias and Elisabeth loved Heavenly Father. They were very old, as old as a grandma and grandpa. For years and years, they prayed for a baby. No baby came. But they kept on praying.

    🙌

  2. 🏛️👼 An angel in the temple!

    One day Zacharias was serving in the temple. Suddenly the angel Gabriel was standing there! He said, “Don’t be afraid. Heavenly Father heard your prayer. You will have a baby boy named John.”

    🙌

  3. 🤐 Zacharias can’t say a word!

    Zacharias wasn’t sure. He asked, “How can I know? I’m so old!” So the angel said he wouldn’t be able to talk until the baby came. Now he could only talk with his hands.

    🙌 Zip your lips and talk with your hands. No sounds!

  4. 👼👩 Gabriel visits Mary

    Six months later, Gabriel visited a young woman named Mary. She would be the mother of Jesus, the Son of God! And her old cousin Elisabeth was having a baby too. With God, nothing is impossible!

    🙌 Flex your arms like a superhero: “Nothing is impossible!”

  5. 👍👩 Mary says yes!

    Mary didn’t know everything that would happen. But she trusted Heavenly Father. She said, “Be it unto me according to thy word.” That means, “Yes. I will do what Heavenly Father wants.”

    🙌 Thumbs up: “Yes!”

  6. ✍️👶 “His name is John!”

    Elisabeth’s baby was born! Everyone thought he should be named Zacharias, like his dad. But Zacharias wrote, “His name is John.” Right away, he could talk again! And he praised God.

    🙌

  7. 💤👼 Joseph obeys right away

    An angel came to Joseph in a dream. He said, “Mary’s baby is the Son of God. Name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” Joseph woke up. And he obeyed right away.

    🙌

Key verse

Luke 1:37 ↗
“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
In kid words: Heavenly Father can do anything!
🙌 “For with God” = point up · “nothing” = make a big zero with both hands · “shall be” = shake your head no · “impossible” = flex both arms like a superhero.

More verses

Luke 1:13 ↗
“Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard”
In kid words: Don’t be afraid. Heavenly Father heard your prayer.
Luke 1:38 ↗
“Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.”
In kid words: Mary said, “Yes. I will do what Heavenly Father wants.”
Luke 1:44 ↗
“the babe leaped in my womb for joy”
In kid words: Baby John jumped for joy!
Matthew 1:21 ↗
“thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins”
In kid words: His name will be Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.

Forehead Guess words14 words

  • 👼 Angel
  • 👶 Baby
  • 👩 Mary
  • 🧔 Joseph
  • 👴 Zacharias
  • 👵 Elisabeth
  • 🏛️ Temple
  • 🙏 Pray
  • 💤 Dream
  • 🦘 Jump
  • ✍️ Write
  • 🤫 Quiet
  • 👍 Yes
  • 🌱 Seed
Clues for each word
  • Angel: Gabriel was one. He brought good news.
  • Baby: A tiny new person in the family
  • Mary: She said yes and became the mother of Jesus
  • Joseph: An angel talked to him in a dream
  • Zacharias: The grandpa who couldn’t talk
  • Elisabeth: Baby John’s mom
  • Temple: The angel came to Zacharias here
  • Pray: Fold your arms and talk to Heavenly Father
  • Dream: Something you see when you’re asleep
  • Jump: Baby John did this for joy
  • Write: Zacharias did this: “His name is John”
  • Quiet: Shhh! No talking
  • Yes: What Mary said to Heavenly Father
  • Seed: It takes time to grow
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown8 questions

  1. What did Zacharias and Elisabeth pray for?
    • A. A baby 👶
    • B. A puppy 🐶
    • C. A new house 🏠
    Show answer

    ✅ A. A baby 👶 They prayed for years and years, and Heavenly Father heard them.

  2. Who visited Zacharias in the temple?
    • A. A lion 🦁
    • B. The angel Gabriel 👼
    • C. A king 👑
    Show answer

    ✅ B. The angel Gabriel 👼 Gabriel said, “Don’t be afraid. Your prayer is heard!”

  3. What couldn’t Zacharias do until the baby was born?
    • A. Walk 🚶
    • B. Eat 🍎
    • C. Talk 🤐
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Talk 🤐 He could only talk with his hands until John was born.

  4. What did Mary say to Heavenly Father?
    • A. Yes! 👍
    • B. No way! 🙅
    • C. Maybe later ⏰
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Yes! 👍 Mary trusted Heavenly Father and said yes.

  5. What did Baby John do when Mary said hello?
    • A. Fell asleep 😴
    • B. Jumped for joy 🦘
    • C. Cried 😢
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Jumped for joy 🦘 He jumped for joy inside Elisabeth!

  6. Zacharias wrote, “His name is…”
    • A. Bob 🙂
    • B. Zacharias 👴
    • C. John 👶
    Show answer

    ✅ C. John 👶 Then he could talk again, and he praised God!

  7. Where did an angel talk to Joseph?
    • A. In a dream 💤
    • B. At the store 🏪
    • C. On a boat ⛵
    Show answer

    ✅ A. In a dream 💤 Joseph woke up and obeyed right away.

  8. With God, what is impossible?
    • A. Lots of things 📚
    • B. Nothing! 🦸
    • C. Only big things 🏔️
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Nothing! 🦸 “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” (Luke 1:37)

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • A Child’s Prayer Children’s Songbook, p. 12

    Zacharias and Elisabeth prayed and were heard. Heavenly Father hears children too. Find it ↗

  • He Sent His Son Children’s Songbook, p. 34

    Heavenly Father sent Jesus, the baby the angel told Mary about. Find it ↗

  • Quickly I’ll Obey Children’s Songbook, p. 197

    Joseph woke up and obeyed right away, and Mary said yes. Sing it after the story. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Yes Week

This week, say a prayer every morning and every night. When Mom or Dad asks for help, try saying yes the very first time, just like Mary. Tell your family, “With God nothing is impossible!”

Text the parents

Today in Primary we heard Luke 1. An angel told old Zacharias and Elisabeth they’d have a baby. Baby John jumped for joy. And Mary said yes to being the mother of Jesus. We learned Luke 1:37: “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” Ask your child, “What couldn’t Zacharias do until John was born? What did Mary say to the angel?”

📝 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?

✍️ Zacharias’s Writing Tablet · 3 min

  1. Give a reader paper and a marker. They’re Zacharias, and they can’t talk!
  2. Whisper a classmate’s name to them. They write it, or just the first letter, and hold it up.
  3. Everyone reads it together and cheers for that child: “Her name is Ava!”

👼 Angel Message Pass · 3 min

  1. Sit in a circle. Whisper a short message into one child’s ear: “Don’t be afraid. Heavenly Father heard your prayer.”
  2. They whisper it to the next child, all the way around the circle.
  3. The last child says it out loud. Did it stay the same?
  4. SAY“Angels bring Heavenly Father’s messages exactly right.”

✋ Yes Hands · 5 min

  1. Each child traces their hand on paper and writes or draws “Yes!” in the middle.
  2. On each finger, draw one way to say yes to Heavenly Father, like pray, help, share, obey or be kind.
  3. Take them home and put them on the fridge.

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