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Mary Said Yes!

An angel surprise, a grandpa who can’t talk, a baby who jumps for joy, and Mary’s brave “yes”

  • 🛡️ CTR 4–7
  • 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 that everyone thought were impossible. Zacharias and Elisabeth loved God and had prayed for a child for many years, but now they were very old. While Zacharias was serving in the temple, the angel Gabriel came and told him Elisabeth would have a son named John. Zacharias wondered how that could be, and he was not able to speak until the baby was born. Six months later Gabriel visited Mary in Nazareth and told her she would 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,” and 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. Heavenly Father hears every prayer, and sometimes the answer comes later, like it did for Zacharias and Elisabeth. With God nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37). And Mary said “yes” to Heavenly Father even though she didn’t know everything that would happen (Luke 1:38). Little ones understand “yes” and “wait” very well, because they hear both at home every day.

Your 7-year-olds will be baptized this year. When they are baptized, they will 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: when he woke from his dream, he did what the angel said right away (Matthew 1:24).

Keep the doctrine simple and true: Jesus Christ is the Son of Heavenly Father and of Mary (Luke 1:31–35). If a child asks how, you can say, “Heavenly Father made it happen by His power,” and leave it there. The name Jesus was chosen by God because He would save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). Baby John will grow up to be John the Baptist, who gets people ready for Jesus. You will 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. In class, play Possible or Impossible?, then run the Story Drama from your phone or tablet with every child in a part. Teach the Luke 1:37 superhero motions and finish with Forehead Guess and your testimony. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing” and the kids become the seeds.

What to bring3 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. Put the seed in your pocket and the fruit or plant in a bag so the kids can’t see it yet.
  2. Clear a space where the whole class can stand and act out the story.
  3. Add your kids’ names in the My Class tab so you can hand out roles and spin names with one tap. January means new 4-year-olds from Sunbeams: learn their names first.
  4. Decide which readers will read the scene captions, and which 4-year-olds will be Baby John and the angel (they love those parts).

If your class is wild

  • The Zip It, Zacharias! wiggle is magic for a loud room. Being silent is the game, and the reward is one big cheer at the end.
  • Give every child a part in the story. Anyone without a named role is one of the Neighbors, who gasp, cheer and wave.
  • Let your 6- and 7-year-olds read the big captions. Let your 4- and 5-year-olds do the jumping, zipping and flexing.
  • New kids may be shy after moving up from Sunbeams. Pair each one with an older buddy for the drama and the games.

The 25-minute plan25 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, thumbs-down game gets everyone thinking about the word “impossible.”

  1. SAY“I’ll say something. If you can do it, thumbs up! If it’s impossible, thumbs down!”
  2. Try: “Touch your nose.” (Up!) “Lick your elbow.” (Let them try. Down!) “Jump.” (Up!) “Jump to the moon.” (Down!) “Clap with your feet.” (Let them try!)
  3. Let a 6- or 7-year-old make up one challenge for the class.
  4. SAY“Here’s a hard one. Can a grandma and grandpa who are very, very old have a brand-new baby?” Let them vote.
  5. SAY“Most people would say impossible. But today we’ll learn about two babies that everyone thought were impossible, and a verse that says with God nothing is impossible!”
🌪️ Keep it quick and silly. If they get loud, the next challenge is “Whisper your name.” (Possible!)

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

2. Story

Story Drama: Two Surprise Babies

7 min

Acting out Luke 1 helps kids feel how Heavenly Father heard a long, long prayer and how Mary said yes.

  1. Hand out the roles (tap Roles in Teach Mode). Everyone without a named part is a Neighbor.
  2. Read each scene and pause for the action. Let a reader read each big caption out loud.
  3. You read the angel’s long lines. The child playing Gabriel says, “Don’t be afraid!”
  4. In scene 5, stop and ask: “What did Mary say?” (Yes!) “She trusted Heavenly Father even though she didn’t know everything.”
  5. In the last scene, Mary rocks the doll or blanket as Baby Jesus. No child plays Jesus.
  6. Ask: “Who prayed a long, long time? Did Heavenly Father hear them?” (Yes!)
🌪️ Zacharias’s silent scene is a built-in quiet moment. If the room gets rowdy, say, “Everybody is Zacharias now!” and zip lips.

Class screen: 👼 Two surprise babies! · Baby John 👶 · Baby Jesus 💛

3. Wiggle break

Zip It, Zacharias!

2 min

A silent action game gets wiggles out and reminds kids how Zacharias couldn’t talk until John was born.

  1. SAY“Zacharias couldn’t talk until the baby came. Let’s all be Zacharias! Zip your lips.”
  2. Call out actions to do with no sounds at all: “Jump like Baby John!” “Tiptoe!” “Wave hello like Mary!” “Flap like an angel!” “Rock a baby!”
  3. Anyone who makes a sound just zips again and keeps playing.
  4. End with: “His name is John!” Now everyone can unzip and cheer as loud as a friendly cheer can be.
🌪️ Open the Noise Meter during the silent part. Can the class keep it as quiet as a mouse?
🐭 Noise Meter (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

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

4. Scripture

Superhero Verse: Luke 1:37

3 min

A short verse with strong motions gives kids the big idea to carry home.

  1. Show the verse on your phone or tablet. Ask a reader to read it slowly. Little ones echo each part.
  2. Teach the motions one part at a time.
  3. Say it together three ways: whisper voice, regular voice, then superhero voice (strong, not screaming).
  4. SAY“Gabriel said this to Mary. Heavenly Father can do anything. He heard Zacharias and Elisabeth, and He hears you too.”
  5. Ask a 7-year-old: “Who can say it all by themselves?” Then the whole class one last time.

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

5. Object lesson

Seeds Take Time

3 min

A seed that takes time to grow shows that Heavenly Father always hears us, even when His answer is “wait.”

  1. Hold up the seed. Ask: “What will this grow into?” Then pull out the fruit or plant.
  2. Ask: “Will it be a tree by tomorrow?” (No!) “Seeds take time to grow.”
  3. SAY“Zacharias and Elisabeth prayed for a baby for years and years. Heavenly Father heard them the whole time. The answer came at just the right time.”
  4. Everyone crouches like a seed. Say: “Pray!” (fold arms). “Wait…” (grow up very slowly). “Answer!” (burst up tall with jazz hands).
  5. SAY“Sometimes Heavenly Father says yes, sometimes wait, sometimes He has something better. He always hears you.”
🌪️ 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 on the floor.” Ask: “Can a seed become a tree in one second?” (No!)
  2. Set the Big Timer for 20 seconds. Everyone grows up very slowly until the timer ends, then bursts up into a tall tree with jazz hands.
  3. SAY“Zacharias and Elisabeth prayed for a baby for years and years. Heavenly Father heard them the whole time. The answer came at just the right time.”
  4. Play once more: “Pray!” (fold arms). “Wait…” (grow slowly). “Answer!” (burst up tall).
  5. SAY“Sometimes Heavenly Father says yes, sometimes wait, sometimes He has something better. He always hears you.”

Class screen: 🌱 Grow slowly, little seeds!

6. Game

Forehead Guess: Surprise Babies

3 min

A Heads Up–style game reviews the people and pictures from the story.

  1. Tap Forehead Guess. One child holds your phone or tablet on their forehead with the screen facing the class.
  2. Classmates give clues or act it out without saying the word. The picture helps pre-readers know what it is.
  3. Tilt down for “got it,” up to pass. About 30 seconds per guesser.
  4. Pair a 4- or 5-year-old guesser with an older buddy who whispers help.
🌪️ Clue-givers raise a hand and wait to be called on. Acting is always allowed: jumping for Baby John, snoring for Joseph’s dream.
▶ Play Forehead Guess on the web

Class screen: 🤔 Forehead Guess! · Give clues. Don’t say the word!

7. Talk it over

Talk It Over

2 min

Kids connect Mary’s “yes” and answered prayers to their own lives.

  1. Tap Name Spinner to pick who answers each question.
  2. Little ones can point, act or show with their hands.
  3. Share your own short answer to one question.
💬 Ask the class
  • What is something you can pray to Heavenly Father about?
  • What did Mary say when the angel told her about Jesus?
  • What is one way you can say “yes” to Heavenly Father this week?
  • When you are baptized, you promise to follow Jesus. How is that like Mary’s “yes”?
🎡 Name Spinner (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 💬 Let’s talk!

8. Testimony

My Yes

2 min

End calm and reverent with a quiet promise to trust Heavenly Father.

  1. Everyone sits very still. Say: “Mary said yes to Heavenly Father. You can say yes too, by praying, being kind and obeying.”
  2. Invite each child to give a quiet thumbs up and whisper, “Yes.”
  3. Share a short testimony: Heavenly Father hears every prayer, and Jesus Christ is His Son. Nothing is impossible for Him.
  4. Hum “A Child’s Prayer” (Children’s Songbook, 12) softly, then invite a child to say the closing prayer.

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

9. Game

Scripture Showdown

5 minBONUS

A team quiz reviews the lesson if you have extra time.

  1. Split into two teams, each with some readers and some little ones. Tap Scripture Showdown.
  2. Read every question and choice out loud for the pre-readers.
  3. Teams whisper together, then point to an answer. Tap the team that got it right.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🏆 Scripture Showdown!

10. Game

Prayer Charades

4 minBONUS

Acting out things we can pray about shows that we can talk to Heavenly Father about anything.

  1. Whisper an idea to a child: a sick pet, a new baby brother, a scary dream, a lost toy, being thankful for food, a friend at school.
  2. The child acts it out with no words. The class guesses.
  3. After each guess, say: “You can pray about that!” and everyone folds their arms for one second.
  4. Let 6- and 7-year-olds think up their own ideas.

Class screen: 🎭 What can we pray about? · Anything! 🙏

Story drama

Two Surprise Babies

Luke 1:5–64; Matthew 1:18–25 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • ZachariasThe grandpa-age priest. Prays, gets a big surprise, can’t talk, then writes “His name is John!”
  • ElisabethHis wife. Prays for a baby, then hugs Mary and smiles big.
  • Angel GabrielSpreads arms wide and says, “Don’t be afraid!” The teacher reads the angel’s longer words.
  • MaryListens to the angel, then nods and says, “Yes, I will do what Heavenly Father wants.”
  • JosephSnores, wakes up from his dream, and marches off to obey right away.
  • Baby JohnCrouches next to Elisabeth and jumps for joy when Mary says hello.
  • NeighborsEveryone else! Gasp, wonder, cheer, and shout, “His name is John!”

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.

    🎬 Zacharias and Elisabeth kneel and fold their arms. Everyone folds arms and whispers, “Please, Heavenly Father.”

  2. 🏛️👼 An angel in the temple!

    One day Zacharias was helping in the temple. Suddenly an angel was standing right there! It was Gabriel. He said, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias. Heavenly Father heard your prayer. You and Elisabeth will have a baby boy, and you will name him John.”

    🎬 Gabriel spreads arms wide: “Don’t be afraid!” Zacharias jumps back in surprise. The Neighbors gasp.

  3. 🤐 Zacharias can’t say a word!

    Zacharias wasn’t sure. He asked, “How can I know? I’m so old!” The angel said he would not be able to talk until the baby came. When Zacharias came out of the temple, he could only talk with his hands.

    🎬 Everyone zips their lips and tries to “talk” with only their hands. No sounds allowed!

  4. 👼👩 Gabriel visits Mary

    Six months later, Gabriel visited a young woman named Mary in the town of Nazareth. He told her she would be the mother of Jesus, the Son of God. He said her old cousin Elisabeth was going to have a baby too, because with God nothing is impossible!

    🎬 Everyone flexes superhero arms and shouts, “Nothing is impossible!”

  5. 👍👩 Mary says yes!

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

    🎬 Mary nods and gives a thumbs up. Everyone gives a thumbs up and says, “Yes!”

  6. 👋🦘 Baby John jumps for joy!

    Mary hurried to visit Elisabeth. The moment Elisabeth heard Mary say hello, baby John jumped for joy inside her! Elisabeth felt the Holy Ghost, and she knew Mary’s baby would be the Lord.

    🎬 Mary waves: “Hello!” Baby John jumps up high. Everyone does one happy hop.

  7. ✍️👶 “His name is John!”

    Elisabeth’s baby was born! The neighbors wanted to name him Zacharias, like his dad. Zacharias asked for something to write on, and he wrote, “His name is John.” Right away he could talk again, and the first thing he did was praise God!

    🎬 Zacharias pretends to write (or writes on the paper). Everyone shouts, “His name is John!” and cheers.

  8. 💤👼 An angel visits Joseph in a dream

    Joseph was going to marry Mary, and he was worried. An angel came to him in a dream and said, “Don’t be afraid. Mary’s baby is the Son of God. Name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” Joseph woke up and obeyed right away.

    🎬 Joseph snores, then pops up and marches in place: “I will obey!”

  9. 👶💛 Every promise came true!

    Zacharias and Elisabeth got the baby they had prayed for. And soon Baby Jesus would be born. Heavenly Father always keeps His promises, and with Him nothing is impossible!

    🎬 Mary gently rocks the doll or blanket (Baby Jesus). Everyone rocks a pretend baby and whispers, “Nothing is impossible.”

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. Great after the drama. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Yes Week

This week, say a prayer every morning and every night. When Mom or Dad asks you to 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 acted out Luke 1: an angel told old Zacharias and Elisabeth they would have a baby, baby John jumped for joy, and Mary said “yes” to being the mother of Jesus. We learned “For with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37). Ask your child: what couldn’t Zacharias do until John was born, and 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 are Zacharias and can’t talk!
  2. Whisper a classmate’s name to them. They write it (or 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.
  3. The last child says it out loud. Did it stay the same? 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: pray, help, share, obey, 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 4–7 lessons