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Jesus Was Baptized

John gets people ready, Jesus is baptized all the way under, the Holy Ghost comes like a dove, and we get ready too

  • 🛡️ CTR 4–6
  • Week 4
  • 📅 Sunday, January 24, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Jesus was baptized to show me the way, and I can follow Him by being baptized and listening to the Holy Ghost.

I can follow Jesus by getting ready to be baptized and listening to the Holy Ghost.

Study it yourself firstRead Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3)
Know the chapters

John the Baptist is the baby from week 1, the son of Zacharias and Elisabeth, all grown up. In Matthew 3:4, he lived in the wilderness, wore rough camel’s-hair clothes and ate locusts and wild honey. Long before, Isaiah had said a voice would call out, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” Matthew 3:3 repeats it. John’s job was to get people ready for Jesus. He taught them to repent, which means to turn away from wrong choices and back to God. He baptized them in the Jordan River. When people asked what they should do, he gave simple answers. In Luke 3:10–11 he says to share an extra coat and food with someone who has none.

Then Jesus came from Galilee to be baptized by John, in Matthew 3:13. Jesus never did anything wrong. But He was baptized to obey Heavenly Father and show all of us the way. See Matthew 3:15 and 2 Nephi 31:5–9. He went all the way under the water and came straight up out of it. The heavens opened, and the Holy Ghost came down with the sign of a dove. Heavenly Father’s voice said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” That’s Matthew 3:16–17. All three members of the Godhead were there at once. Jesus was in the water, the Holy Ghost came down, and Heavenly Father spoke from heaven. They are three separate beings.

This is the most important lesson of the month for your 7-year-olds, who’ll be baptized when they turn 8. Show them how their baptism will be like Jesus’s. Someone with priesthood authority will baptize them all the way under the water, and they’ll promise to follow Jesus. After baptism they’ll be confirmed and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. He comforts, guides and teaches. Your 4- and 5-year-olds can learn that the Holy Ghost is a gentle helper, like the gentle dove. They’re getting ready too.

One more wonderful fact. In 1829, John the Baptist came back as a resurrected being. He gave the Aaronic Priesthood to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, as Doctrine and Covenants 13 tells. That priesthood is used to baptize children today. Keep the doctrine simple and exact. You tell the story and read Jesus’s and Heavenly Father’s words. The class joins in from their seats.

Only have 5 minutes?

Read Matthew 3:1–17. Fill a clear cup with water and grab a small toy. Play Get Ready, Quick! Then tell the story in Teach Mode. Teach Matthew 3:17 with hug-and-thumbs-up motions and do All the Way Under. End by telling your 7-year-olds you can’t wait for their baptism. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing,” and the kids become the water.

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 Matthew 3:1–17 and Luke 3:10–11.
  2. Fill the cup about three-quarters full and set it on a paper towel by your chair. Find out which kids turn 8 this year.

If your class is wild

  • Dove wings are your quiet button. Link thumbs, float the wings down slowly and wait. The room follows.
  • Give your wiggliest 6- or 7-year-old the Sound Helper job. Now their energy has a job.
  • Keep John the Baptist’s grasshopper snack funny with one “Crunch!” Then move on quickly before it turns into gross-out jokes.
  • Cheer by name for each child who turns 8 this year. The little ones will want their turn to get ready too.

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

Get Ready, Quick!

3 min

A 30-second race to get the room ready sets up John’s job: getting people ready for Jesus.

  1. SAY“Someone very important is coming! We have to get ready, quick!”
  2. Whisper it with excitement. Start the Big Timer for 30 seconds. Give each child one job, like straightening a chair or picking up a paper.
  3. SAY“Great job! Long ago, God sent a man named John. He helped people get their hearts ready for someone very important.”
  4. Ask, “Who do you think it was?” Jesus!
🌪️ One job each, then back to your seat before the timer rings. It’s a race against the clock, not each other.
⏱️ Big Timer (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🧹 Get ready, quick! · Someone important is coming! ⏰

2. Story

Story: Down by the River

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. Keep your eyes on the pictures. I’ll ask you to find things.”
  2. Open the story in Teach Mode. When the screen says “Find,” let kids point before you read on. Big kids can read the caption first.
  3. Whisper scene 6 so the room gets quiet for the dove. Then ask, “Who was in the water?” “Who came like a dove?” “Who spoke?”
  4. After scene 7, cheer by name for every child who turns 8 this year.
🌪️ If the room drifts, make dove wings and float them down without a sound. Wait until everyone copies.

Class screen: 🏞️ Down by the river! · 👀 Find it! · 🕊️ Dove wings, silent

3. Wiggle break

John the Baptist Says

2 min

A quick “Simon Says” game lets out wiggles with John’s wilderness life.

  1. SAY“Stand up! Only do it if John the Baptist says!”
  2. Call out: scratch your camel-hair coat, crunch a grasshopper, lick honey. Then trick them: “Turn around!” Oops! Finish with, “John the Baptist says turn around and repent!”
  3. End with, “John the Baptist says float down like a gentle dove.” Everyone sits softly.
🌪️ Nobody’s out. If they move when John didn’t say, they do one silly wiggle and jump back in.

Class screen: 🦗 John the Baptist says… · Scratch! 🐫 · Crunch! 🦗 · Yum! 🍯

4. Scripture

Key Verse: Matthew 3:17

3 min

A hug and two thumbs up help kids remember Heavenly Father’s words at Jesus’s baptism.

  1. SAY“When Jesus came up out of the water, Heavenly Father spoke from heaven.”
  2. Show the verse and ask a reader to read it. Little ones echo.
  3. Teach the motions, a big hug and then two thumbs up. Say it softly, then louder, then softly again.
  4. SAY“Heavenly Father was happy when Jesus obeyed. He’s happy when you get ready for baptism and make good choices too.”

Class screen: 💛 This is my beloved Son, · in whom I am well pleased. · Matthew 3:17

5. Object lesson

All the Way Under

6 min

A toy and a cup of water show how baptism is done, and kids practice getting ready for their own.

  1. SAY“When Jesus was baptized, did He just get His toes wet?”
  2. Dip just the toy’s feet. Ask, “All the way?” No! Dip it halfway. No! Then dip it all the way under and bring it straight back up.
  3. Everyone does the motion: “All the way under… and up!”
  4. Hold up three fingers. One is someone with priesthood authority. Two is all the way under the water. Three is a promise to follow Jesus.
  5. Show a baptism photo if you have one. Ask, “What can you do now to get ready?” Listen for praying, choosing the right, sharing and saying sorry.
🌪️ Keep the cup in your own hands on the paper towel. Kids can point, but not pour.

Class screen: 💧 All the way under, just like Jesus! · 1. Priesthood authority 🙌 · 2. All the way under 💧 · 3. A promise to follow Jesus 💛

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A clear cup of water and a small toy, rock or coin, on a paper towel

Be the Water

  1. SAY“When Jesus was baptized, did He just get His toes wet? Everyone stand up.”
  2. Call “Toes!” and touch toes. Ask, “All the way?” No! Call “Knees!” and bend halfway. Still no!
  3. Call “All the way under!” Everyone crouches all the way down, then pops straight up: “And up!” Then sit down.
  4. Hold up three fingers. One is someone with priesthood authority. Two is all the way under the water. Three is a promise to follow Jesus.
  5. Ask, “What can you do now to get ready?” Listen for praying, choosing the right, sharing and saying sorry.
6. Testimony

Getting Ready

3 min

End still and gentle like the dove, with a way to get ready this week.

  1. SAY“Let’s be as still and gentle as a dove. Float your dove wings down to your lap.”
  2. SAY“Jesus showed us the way. When you’re baptized, you follow Him. And the Holy Ghost can be with you.”
  3. Share a short testimony of Jesus Christ. Show the Getting Ready Week challenge. Then invite a child to say the closing prayer.

Class screen: 🕊️ I can follow Jesus. · Baptism 💧 · The Holy Ghost 🕊️

7. Game

Forehead Guess: River Round

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. Dove wings for Dove, a crunch for Grasshopper, hands down and up for Water. 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 River versus Team Dove!”
  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

Down by the River

Matthew 3:1–17; Luke 3:2–22 ↗

Optional helpers

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

Scenes

  1. 🏜️🍯 John lives in the wilderness

    Out in the hot, dry wilderness lived a man named John. His coat was made of scratchy camel hair. He ate wild honey and locusts. Locusts are like grasshoppers! God gave John a big job.

    🙌 Find the honey on the screen. Then crunch a pretend grasshopper!

  2. 🏞️🔄 People come to the river

    John told everyone to get their hearts ready for Jesus. He taught them to repent. That means to stop wrong choices and turn back to Heavenly Father. Then he baptized them in the Jordan River.

    🙌

  3. 🧥🤲 “Share your coat!”

    The people asked John, “What should we do?” And John told them. “If you have two coats, give one to someone who has none. If you have food, share it.”

    🙌

  4. 🚶🏞️ Jesus comes to the river

    One day Jesus came to the Jordan River. He asked John to baptize Him. John was surprised! Jesus never did anything wrong. But Jesus said it was right. He would obey Heavenly Father and show us the way.

    🙌

  5. 💧⬇️ All the way under the water

    John took Jesus into the river. He baptized Him all the way under the water. Then Jesus came straight up out of the water. That’s the same way you’ll be baptized!

    🙌 Hands down low, then up high: “All the way under… and up!”

  6. ☁️🕊️ The Holy Ghost comes like a dove

    Then the heavens opened! The Holy Ghost came down upon Jesus, with the sign of a gentle dove. And Heavenly Father’s voice said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

    🙌 Find the dove. Make dove wings and float them down, silent as a feather.

  7. 👧👦💧 Your turn is coming!

    When you’re eight, you can be baptized just like Jesus. Someone with priesthood authority will baptize you, all the way under the water. Then you’ll receive the gift of the Holy Ghost to help you always.

    🙌

Key verse

Matthew 3:17 ↗
“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
In kid words: Heavenly Father said, “This is My Son. I love Him, and I am happy with Him.”
🙌 “This is my beloved Son” = give yourself a big hug · “in whom I am well pleased” = two thumbs up and your biggest smile.

More verses

Matthew 3:13 ↗
“Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.”
In kid words: Jesus walked from Galilee to the Jordan River so John could baptize Him.
Matthew 3:16 ↗
“he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove”
In kid words: The Holy Ghost came down like a dove.
Matthew 3:3 ↗
“Prepare ye the way of the Lord”
In kid words: Get ready for Jesus!
Luke 3:11 ↗
“He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none”
In kid words: If you have two coats, share one with someone who has none.

Forehead Guess words15 words

  • 🏞️ River
  • 🕊️ Dove
  • 💧 Water
  • 🍯 Honey
  • 🦗 Grasshopper
  • 🐫 Camel
  • 🧥 Coat
  • 🛣️ Road
  • ☁️ Cloud
  • 💦 Splash
  • 👕 White Clothes
  • 8️⃣ Eight
  • 🏜️ Wilderness
  • 🗣️ Voice
  • 🤗 Hug
Clues for each word
  • River: Jesus was baptized in one
  • Dove: A gentle white bird
  • Water: You drink it and swim in it
  • Honey: Sticky and sweet. John ate it
  • Grasshopper: A hopping bug. John ate those too!
  • Camel: John’s coat was made of its hair
  • Coat: If you have two, share one
  • Road: Get it ready for the Lord!
  • Cloud: Fluffy and up in the sky
  • Splash: The sound of jumping in water
  • White Clothes: What you wear to be baptized
  • Eight: How old you are when you can be baptized
  • Wilderness: A hot, dry place where John lived
  • Voice: Heavenly Father spoke with one from heaven
  • Hug: Wrap your arms around someone you love
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown8 questions

  1. What did John the Baptist eat in the wilderness?
    • A. Pizza 🍕
    • B. Locusts and wild honey 🦗🍯
    • C. Ice cream 🍦
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Locusts and wild honey 🦗🍯 Crunchy bugs and sticky honey! He lived a simple life.

  2. What was John’s big job?
    • A. Get people ready for Jesus 🛣️
    • B. Build boats ⛵
    • C. Catch fish 🐟
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Get people ready for Jesus 🛣️ He helped people get their hearts ready for the Savior.

  3. John said if you have two coats, you should…
    • A. Hide one 🙈
    • B. Wear both 🥵
    • C. Share one 🧥
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Share one 🧥 Sharing with people in need is part of following Jesus.

  4. Where was Jesus baptized?
    • A. In a bathtub 🛁
    • B. In the Jordan River 🏞️
    • C. In the ocean 🌊
    Show answer

    ✅ B. In the Jordan River 🏞️ John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River.

  5. How was Jesus baptized?
    • A. All the way under the water 💧
    • B. Just His hands wet ✋
    • C. With a squirt bottle 🔫
    Show answer

    ✅ A. All the way under the water 💧 All the way under, just like you will be!

  6. The Holy Ghost came down like a…
    • A. Lion 🦁
    • B. Rocket 🚀
    • C. Dove 🕊️
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Dove 🕊️ A gentle dove was the sign of the Holy Ghost.

  7. Who said, “This is my beloved Son”?
    • A. John the Baptist 🧔
    • B. Heavenly Father 💛
    • C. The crowd 👥
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Heavenly Father 💛 Heavenly Father’s voice came from heaven. He loves His Son!

  8. How old are you when you can be baptized?
    • A. 8 🎂
    • B. 2 👶
    • C. 20 🧑
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 8 🎂 When you are 8, you can follow Jesus into the water too!

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • Baptism Children’s Songbook, p. 100

    It tells the story of Jesus being baptized by John in the river. Find it ↗

  • When I Am Baptized Children’s Songbook, p. 103

    For your 7-year-olds getting ready for their own baptism day. Find it ↗

  • The Holy Ghost Children’s Songbook, p. 105

    The Holy Ghost came like a dove, and He helps us too. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Getting Ready Week

This week, ask someone in your family about their baptism day. What did they wear? Who baptized them? How did they feel? And share something, like John taught. Share a toy, a snack or a turn.

Text the parents

Today in Primary we heard how Jesus was baptized, in Matthew 3. John the Baptist baptized Him all the way under the water in the Jordan River. The Holy Ghost came like a dove. And Heavenly Father said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Ask your child, “How will your baptism be like Jesus’s?” If you have baptism photos, this is a great week to look at them together.

📝 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?

✨ John Came Back! · 3 min

  1. SAY“Guess what? John the Baptist came back to the earth a long time later. He came as a resurrected person.”
  2. Tell how he appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in 1829. He gave them the Aaronic Priesthood, the power to baptize. It’s in Doctrine and Covenants 13.
  3. SAY“That same priesthood is used to baptize children today. Maybe your dad will baptize you. Or a brother, a bishop or another priesthood holder!”

📷 Baptism Photo Show · 4 min

  1. Before class, ask a few parents to send a photo from their own baptism day or an older sibling’s.
  2. Show each photo. Kids point out the white clothes, the font of water and the family there to watch.
  3. SAY“Your day is coming! Every good choice now helps you get ready.”

🔄 Turn Around Game · 3 min

  1. Name a choice. If it’s a wrong choice, like grabbing a toy or telling a fib, everyone turns all the way around.
  2. If it’s a right choice, like sharing, saying sorry or helping, everyone gives a thumbs up.
  3. SAY“Repenting means turning around, back to Heavenly Father. Jesus makes it possible.”

🪶 Dove Feather · 3 min

  1. Hold up a feather or a small piece of tissue.
  2. SAY“The Holy Ghost came down like a dove. Doves are gentle and quiet.”
  3. Drop the feather and let everyone watch it float down. Ask, “Did it make a sound?” No!
  4. SAY“The Holy Ghost usually helps us with quiet, peaceful feelings and thoughts. We have to be still to notice.”
  5. Ask two or three kids to name a time they felt happy and peaceful, like at church, praying or with family.

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