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Let Your Light Shine

Jesus teaches on a mountain: be gentle, make peace, and don’t hide your light

  • 🛡️ CTR 4–7
  • Week 7
  • 📅 Sunday, February 14, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

When I am kind, gentle and a peacemaker like Jesus taught, I am happy, and my light helps others see Him.

I can let my light shine by being kind and making peace.

Study it yourself firstRead Matthew 5; Luke 6 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Matthew 5; Luke 6)
Know the chapters

Big crowds were following Jesus, so He went up on a mountain, sat down, and taught His disciples. We call it the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7); Luke 6 records a similar sermon. This week covers Matthew 5: the Beatitudes, salt and light, and loving everyone, even people who are unkind.

The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3–12) each begin with “Blessed,” which means truly happy and loved by God. Jesus said the gentle (meek), the merciful (forgiving), the pure in heart, and the peacemakers are blessed, and He gave each one a promise. For ages 4–7, choose three or four and turn each into an action they can do this week: be gentle, forgive, keep a clean heart, help stop a fight.

Jesus said His followers are like salt, which makes food taste better, and like a light, which should never be hidden under a basket (Matthew 5:13–16). Jesus is the Light of the World; our light is His goodness shining through what we do, so that people think of Heavenly Father. Children can shine by sharing, helping, smiling at someone alone, and being reverent.

Jesus also taught us to love our enemies and to be kind to people who are unkind to us (Matthew 5:44). That’s hard, even for grown-ups! Keep it practical: use kind words back, walk away and tell a grown-up if someone is hurting you, and pray for them. For your 7-year-olds: when Jesus visited the people in the Americas, He began this same sermon by blessing those who believe in Him, are baptized, and receive the Holy Ghost (3 Nephi 12:1–2).

Only have 5 minutes?

Grab a flashlight and a bowl. Start with The Hidden Light, let your phone or tablet run the Story Drama, do Happy Moves, teach “Ye are the light of the world” with motions, and play Forehead Guess. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing” and the kids become the lights, hiding and shining with their own hands.

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. Check that the flashlight works. Set it and the bowl near your chair.
  2. Add your kids’ names in the My Class tab so you can hand out story roles with one tap.
  3. Choose a 6- or 7-year-old reader to be the Lamp Holder. They read “Don’t hide your light!” from the screen.
  4. For the bonus taste test, ask parents or your Primary presidency about allergies and your ward’s food policy, and keep the snacks covered until then.

If your class is wild

  • Turning the lights off is exciting, so set the rule first: “When the lights go off, we freeze like statues.” Then dim them for only a few seconds.
  • Give the Peacemakers role to two kids who might actually squabble. Practicing a pretend handshake is great rehearsal for the real thing.
  • Happy Moves has an action for every blessing. If the room gets wild, switch to the slow ones: pure in heart and gentle.
  • Pair little ones with big-kid buddies for Forehead Guess.

The 25-minute plan23 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 Hidden Light

3 min

A flashlight hidden under a bowl makes Jesus’s teaching about light easy to see and remember.

  1. Say the rule: “When the lights go off, we freeze like statues.” Dim the room lights (or just close the blinds).
  2. Turn on the flashlight and quickly cover it with the bowl. Ask: “Can you see the light? Does it help us?” (No!)
  3. Lift the bowl and hold the light up high. Ask: “Now can you see?” (Yes!) Shine it gently around the room.
  4. Turn the room lights back on. Say: “Jesus said we are like lights. He doesn’t want us to hide our light. Let’s find out how we can shine!”
🌪️ Never point the flashlight in eyes. Let one still-sitting child lift the bowl on “3, 2, 1, shine!”

Class screen: 🔦 Hidden light… or shining light? · Freeze when the lights go off!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A flashlight (or a battery candle) and a bowl or basket big enough to cover it

Hands of Light

  1. SAY“Everyone make a tiny light in your hands.” Kids cup their hands together like they’re holding something glowing.
  2. SAY“Now hide it under a basket!” Everyone puts their cupped hands behind their back. Ask: “Can anyone see your light? Does it help?” (No!)
  3. SAY“3, 2, 1, shine!” Everyone throws their hands up high and opens their fingers wide, making a “whoosh” sound.
  4. SAY“Jesus said we are like lights. He doesn’t want us to hide our light. Let’s find out how we can shine!”

Class screen: ✋ Hide your light… 3, 2, 1, SHINE! · ✨

2. Story

Story Drama: The Sermon on the Mountain

6 min

Acting out Jesus’s sermon turns each teaching into something the children can see and do.

  1. Hand out the roles (tap Roles in Teach Mode to assign them from your class list). Everyone left over is the Crowd. Say: “I’ll read what Jesus teaches. You do the actions.”
  2. Big-kid readers: let a 6- or 7-year-old read the caption on each screen before you read the scene.
  3. Read each scene and pause for the action. The Crowd joins in on every blessing.
  4. At scene 5, ask: “Have you ever helped two people stop fighting? What did you do?”
  5. At the last scene, ask: “What could you do if someone is unkind to you at school?”
🌪️ The mountain is the rug. Everyone climbs in place and stays on their spot, so nobody actually climbs furniture.

Class screen: 🎭 Story Drama time! · Everyone gets a part

3. Wiggle break

Happy Moves

2 min

A quick action for each blessing helps little bodies remember how Jesus said to be truly happy.

  1. Everyone stands. Say: “Jesus taught how to be truly happy. Let’s do the happy moves!”
  2. Gentle: pet a pretend kitten softly. Forgiving: give yourself a hug. Clean heart: draw a heart in the air. Peacemaker: shake hands with a neighbor.
  3. Call them out faster and faster in a mixed-up order. Kids do the move you call.
  4. End with the slowest one: “Clean heart.” Everyone draws a heart, then sits down.

Class screen: 😊 Gentle! Forgiving! Clean heart! Peacemaker! · 🐱 💗 🤝

4. Scripture

Scripture Spotlight: Matthew 5:14

3 min

A short verse with motions lets even the youngest children say Jesus’s words by heart.

  1. Show the verse on your phone or tablet. Ask a big-kid Reading Helper to read it out loud. Say: “Ye means you!”
  2. Teach the motions. Say it three ways: a whisper, a normal voice, and a big, bright voice.
  3. Go around the circle. Point to each child and have the class say, “[Name], you are the light of the world!”
  4. Ask: “How can you shine your light at home this week?” (Help Mom, share with a brother, say sorry, smile.)

Class screen: ✨ “Ye are the light of the world.” · Matthew 5:14

5. Game

Forehead Guess: On the Mountain

4 min

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

  1. Tap Forehead Guess. A guesser holds your phone or tablet on their forehead, screen facing the class.
  2. Everyone else looks at the picture and gives clues without saying the word. Little ones can act it out: shake for salt, climb for mountain.
  3. Big kids can read the hint under the picture if the class gets stuck.
  4. Tilt down for “got it,” up to pass. Give each guesser about 30 seconds. Pair a little one with a big-kid buddy on their turn.
🌪️ Clue-givers stay on their bottoms and raise a hand. Shouting the word means you act out the next clue with no sound.
▶ Play Forehead Guess on the web

Class screen: 🤔 Forehead Guess! · Act it out or give a clue · Don’t say the word!

6. Talk it over

Peacemaker Choices

3 min

Real-life situations help children practice being peacemakers, even with people who aren’t kind.

  1. Sit close in a circle. Show one question at a time. Let two or three kids answer each.
  2. Little ones can show a peacemaker move instead of talking: a handshake, a hug, or sharing a pretend toy.
  3. After each answer, say: “That’s a peacemaker! That’s your light shining!”
💬 Ask the class
  • Your little brother knocks over your block tower. What can a peacemaker do?
  • Two friends are fighting over the swing. How can you help?
  • Someone at school says something mean to you. What would Jesus want you to do?
  • What’s one way you can shine your light at church today?

Class screen: 🕊️ What would a peacemaker do?

7. Testimony

Light Spotters

2 min

End calm and reverent by noticing each child’s light.

  1. Lower your voice. Everyone folds their arms.
  2. Say one short, true light you’ve seen in each child today: “Mia, I saw you help Sam find his spot. That’s your light!”
  3. Share one or two sentences about how Jesus is the Light of the World and how you feel happy when you follow Him.
  4. SAY“When you’re baptized, you promise to follow Jesus. Every good thing you do lets His light shine.” Introduce the Light Spotter challenge, and ask a child to say the closing prayer.

Class screen: 🌟 I can let my light shine. · Be gentle · Forgive · Make peace

8. Object lesson

Salt Taste Test

3 minBONUS

Tasting plain and salted snacks shows why Jesus said His followers are the salt of the earth.

  1. Check allergies first. Give each child one plain piece to taste. Ask: “How does it taste?” (Plain, boring.)
  2. Give each child one salted piece. Ask: “What’s different?” (Yummy!)
  3. SAY“Jesus said, ‘Ye are the salt of the earth.’ Salt makes food better. When we’re kind and good, we make the world better!”
  4. Ask: “How can you make your family better this week, like salt?”

Class screen: 🧂 Plain… or salty? Which is better? · You make the world better!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: Two small bowls of plain crackers, one salted and one unsalted (for the bonus Salt Taste Test; check for allergies and your ward’s food policy; skip popcorn, a choking risk for little ones)

Pretend Taste Test

  1. SAY“Pretend you’re eating a plain, boring cracker.” Everyone chews slowly with a bored face: “Blah.”
  2. SAY“Now shake on some salt!” Everyone shakes a pretend salt shaker and takes another bite: “Mmm, yummy!”
  3. SAY“Jesus said, ‘Ye are the salt of the earth.’ Salt makes food better. When we’re kind and good, we make the world better!”
  4. Ask: “How can you make your family better this week, like salt?”

Class screen: 🧂 Blah… shake, shake… YUM! · You make the world better!

9. Game

Scripture Showdown

5 minBONUS

A team picture quiz reviews the lesson.

  1. Split into two teams, each with big kids and little kids mixed.
  2. Tap Scripture Showdown. A big kid on each team reads the question out loud; the whole team whispers and points to an answer.
  3. 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!

Story drama

The Sermon on the Mountain

Matthew 5:1–16, 43–45 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • DisciplesSit closest to Jesus and listen with hands cupped behind their ears.
  • PeacemakersTwo kids who pretend to argue over a toy, then stop, say sorry, and shake hands.
  • Salt ShakerShakes pretend salt over everyone: “Shake, shake!” and then says, “Yum!”
  • Lamp HolderHides a pretend lamp under a basket, then holds it up high. A good part for a 6- or 7-year-old reader.
  • City on a HillThree or four kids stand close on tiptoe with arms up like tall towers that shine.
  • The CrowdEveryone else. Climbs the mountain, listens, and does the actions for each blessing.

Scenes

  1. 👥⛰️ Crowds climb a mountain

    So many people wanted to hear Jesus! They came from towns near and far. Jesus went up a mountain, and everyone climbed up after Him.

    🎬 Everyone climbs in place, knees high, puffing: “Huff, puff, huff, puff!”

  2. 🪨👂 Jesus sits down to teach

    Jesus sat down on the mountain. His disciples came close. Everyone got very quiet to hear what He would say.

    🎬 Everyone sits down. The Disciples cup their ears. The whole room gets silent for three seconds.

  3. 😊🐑 The gentle are blessed

    Jesus taught how to be truly happy. He said people who are gentle and humble are blessed. Blessed means truly happy, and loved by God.

    🎬 Everyone pets a pretend kitten very gently and says, “Soft and kind.”

  4. 💗🙌 Forgiving hearts and clean hearts

    Jesus said people who forgive are blessed, and they will be forgiven too. People with pure, clean hearts will see God.

    🎬 Everyone gives themselves a big hug for forgiving, then draws a heart in the air for a clean heart.

  5. 🤝🕊️ Peacemakers are God’s children

    Jesus said peacemakers are blessed. A peacemaker helps people stop fighting and be friends. Jesus said they will be called the children of God.

    🎬 The Peacemakers pretend to tug a toy: “Mine!” “No, mine!” Then they stop, say, “Sorry,” and shake hands. Everyone cheers.

  6. 🧂😋 “Ye are the salt of the earth”

    Jesus said, “Ye are the salt of the earth.” Ye means you! Salt makes food taste good. When we are kind, we make the whole world better!

    🎬 The Salt Shaker shakes pretend salt over everyone. Everyone licks their lips: “Yum!”

  7. 🧺🪔 Don’t hide your light!

    Jesus said nobody lights a lamp and then hides it under a basket. That would be silly! You put it up high so it lights the whole house.

    🎬 The Lamp Holder hides a pretend lamp behind their back, then reads from the screen: “Don’t hide your light!” and holds it up high.

  8. 🏙️✨ A city on a hill shines

    Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” When we do good things, people see our light and think of Heavenly Father.

    🎬 The City on a Hill stands on tiptoe and wiggles its fingers like sparkling lights. Everyone says, “Shine!”

  9. 💛😠 Love even people who are unkind

    Then Jesus taught something hard: love people who are unkind to you. Say kind words, do good things for them, and pray for them.

    🎬 Everyone makes a grumpy face, then turns it into a big smile and waves. Then fold arms quietly.

Key verse

Matthew 5:14 ↗
“Ye are the light of the world.”
In kid words: Jesus said that you are a light for the whole world!
🙌 “Ye are” = point to a friend · “the light” = open your fists like a light turning on · “of the world” = draw a big circle in the air with both arms

More verses

Matthew 5:16 ↗
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
In kid words: Be so kind and good that people notice, and it helps them think of Heavenly Father.
Matthew 5:9 ↗
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
In kid words: People who help others stop fighting are happy, and God calls them His children.
Matthew 5:13 ↗
“Ye are the salt of the earth”
In kid words: You make the world better, like salt makes food taste good.
Matthew 5:44 ↗
“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you”
In kid words: Love people who are mean to you, say kind things, and do nice things for them.

Forehead Guess words16 words

  • ⛰️ Mountain
  • 🧂 Salt
  • 💡 Light
  • 🕯️ Candle
  • 🔦 Flashlight
  • 🧺 Basket
  • 🏙️ City
  • ☀️ Sun
  • ⭐ Star
  • 🐱 Kitten
  • 🤗 Hug
  • ❤️ Heart
  • 🤝 Handshake
  • 🕊️ Dove
  • 😊 Smile
  • 👥 Crowd
Clues for each word
  • Mountain: Jesus taught on top of one
  • Salt: Shake it on food to make it taste good
  • Light: It helps you see in the dark
  • Candle: It has a little flame on top
  • Flashlight: Click it on in the dark
  • Basket: Don’t hide your light under this!
  • City: Lots of tall buildings. One on a hill can’t hide
  • Sun: The biggest light in the sky
  • Star: Twinkles at night
  • Kitten: Pet it gently. Gentle people are blessed
  • Hug: Wrap your arms around someone
  • Heart: Jesus said the pure in this will see God
  • Handshake: Peacemakers do this to be friends again
  • Dove: A white bird that means peace
  • Smile: Show your happy face
  • Crowd: Lots of people climbed up to hear Jesus
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown8 questions

  1. Where did Jesus teach this big sermon?
    • A. On a boat 🚤
    • B. On a mountain ⛰️
    • C. In a cave
    Show answer

    ✅ B. On a mountain ⛰️ Matthew 5:1. That’s why we call it the Sermon on the Mount.

  2. “Blessed” means…
    • A. Truly happy and loved by God
    • B. Sneezing 🤧
    • C. Very sleepy 😴
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Truly happy and loved by God Jesus taught many ways to be truly happy.

  3. What does a peacemaker do?
    • A. Starts fights 😠
    • B. Takes the toys
    • C. Helps people be friends 🤝
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Helps people be friends 🤝 Matthew 5:9. Jesus said peacemakers are called the children of God.

  4. Jesus said, “Ye are the salt of the…”
    • A. Earth 🌍
    • B. Sea 🌊
    • C. Kitchen
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Earth 🌍 Matthew 5:13. Salt makes food better, and we make the world better.

  5. Where should you NOT put a lamp?
    • A. Up high
    • B. On a table
    • C. Under a basket 🧺
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Under a basket 🧺 Matthew 5:15. A hidden light doesn’t help anyone!

  6. Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the…”
    • A. Party 🎉
    • B. World 🌍
    • C. Moon 🌙
    Show answer

    ✅ B. World 🌍 Matthew 5:14. Your good choices help others see Jesus.

  7. What should we do when someone is unkind to us?
    • A. Be mean back
    • B. Love them and pray for them 🙏
    • C. Hide forever
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Love them and pray for them 🙏 Matthew 5:44. It’s hard, but Jesus can help us.

  8. When people see our good works, they think of…
    • A. Heavenly Father 💛
    • B. Pizza 🍕
    • C. Dinosaurs 🦖
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Heavenly Father 💛 Matthew 5:16. Our light helps people remember Him.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • Jesus Said Love Everyone Children’s Songbook, p. 61

    Goes with Matthew 5:44: love everyone, even people who are unkind. Find it ↗

  • Kindness Begins with Me Children’s Songbook, p. 145

    Pairs with Peacemaker Choices: every child can start being kind. Find it ↗

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

    Sing it after Light Spotters: Jesus is the Light, and we try to shine like Him. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Light Spotter

This week, do one kind thing every day to let your light shine. Then spot someone else’s light and tell them: “I saw your light!”

Text the parents

This week we learned about Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount. He taught that gentle, forgiving peacemakers are truly happy, that we are the salt of the earth, and that we shouldn’t hide our light (Matthew 5:14–16). We practiced being peacemakers and found out how to love even people who are unkind. Ask your child: where should you never hide a light, and how can you let yours shine?

📝 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?

🧩 Blessing Match · 4 min

  1. Say a Beatitude and let kids guess the promise: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall…” (obtain mercy). “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called…” (the children of God).
  2. Read Matthew 5:7–9 together to check.
  3. SAY“Every time Jesus asks us to do something good, He promises a blessing.”

🕯️ Pass the Light · 3 min

  1. Sit in a circle. The first child cups their hands like holding a light and says one kind thing they will do this week.
  2. They “pass” the light into the next child’s hands, who shares their own kind thing.
  3. SAY“When we share our light, it doesn’t get smaller. It fills the whole room!”

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