Gospel Sparks Join the beta

Jesus Helps Carry Heavy Things

A heavy backpack, a chariot on a desert road, and a man who couldn’t wait to be baptized

  • 🛡️ CTR 4–7
  • Week 41
  • 📅 Sunday, October 11, 2026
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Jesus Christ carried our sins and our sad feelings, so He can help me when I feel sad and when I need to say sorry.

I can give my heavy feelings to Jesus by praying, saying sorry, and thinking about Him during the sacrament.

Study it yourself firstRead Isaiah 50–57 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Isaiah 50–57)
Know the chapters

Isaiah 53 is one of the clearest pictures of the Savior in the whole Old Testament, written about 700 years before Jesus was born. Isaiah describes Someone humble and gentle who would be rejected, who would carry “our griefs” and “our sorrows,” who would be wounded for our sins, and who would stay quiet “as a lamb” even when people were cruel. In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Abinadi quoted this chapter to wicked King Noah and taught that it is about Jesus Christ (Mosiah 14–15).

The New Testament tells a true story about this very chapter. An angel sent Philip to a desert road, where an important man from Ethiopia was riding home in his chariot, reading Isaiah 53. The Spirit told Philip to go near. Philip explained that Isaiah was writing about Jesus, and when they came to some water, the man asked to be baptized (Acts 8:26–39). That story is today’s drama, and it is a perfect fit for children looking forward to their own baptism.

For ages 4–7, make the Atonement concrete and gentle. Jesus carried two kinds of heavy things for us: our wrong choices (sins), which He helps take away when we repent, and our sad and hurting feelings, which He understands and helps us carry when we pray (Alma 7:11–12). He may not take every hard thing away right now, but He makes the load lighter (Mosiah 24:14–15). The sacrament each Sunday helps us remember what He carried. Keep the focus on His love and help rather than on details of His suffering.

Other bright spots this week: Isaiah calls, “Awake, awake; put on thy strength” (52:1), invites us to “seek ye the LORD” (55:6), and reminds us that the Lord’s ways are higher than ours, “as the heavens are higher than the earth” (55:9). These make great movement breaks for little bodies.

Only have 5 minutes?

Grab a backpack and stuff it with a few heavy books. Open with Awake, Awake!, let your phone or tablet run the story drama, do The Heavy Backpack, teach Isaiah 53:4 with motions, and play Forehead Guess. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing” and the backpack becomes an invisible one that everyone heaves onto their shoulders.

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. Fill the backpack with the heavy things so it’s heavy for a child but safe to lift. Set it by your chair.
  2. Put two chairs side by side at the front of the room for the chariot.
  3. Add your kids’ names in the My Class tab so you can hand out story roles with one tap.
  4. Pick a 6- or 7-year-old reader for the Treasurer. He gets to read a few words from the scroll and ask, “Can I be baptized?”

If your class is wild

  • Give the Horses to your wiggliest little ones. They get to clip-clop and say “Whoa!” but hooves stay on their spot.
  • The backpack is only lifted when you say so. Choose lifters who are sitting still, and your whole class will suddenly sit still.
  • Awake, Awake! works any time the room gets sleepy or silly. Everyone “falls asleep” and has to be perfectly quiet until the magic word.
  • Pair little ones with big-kid buddies for Forehead Guess. The big kid can whisper what the picture is if a little one gets stuck.

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

Awake, Awake!

2 min

A sleepy game gets every body moving and introduces Isaiah’s call to wake up and be strong.

  1. SAY“Everybody, go to sleep!” Kids lay their heads on their knees and snore softly.
  2. Whisper a few silly words: “Pancakes… Puppies… Pajamas…” Nobody moves. Then say, “AWAKE!” Everyone pops up and makes big muscles.
  3. Do it two more times. Say: “Isaiah wrote, ‘Awake, awake; put on thy strength.’ The Lord wants us wide awake and ready to learn about Jesus.”
  4. SAY“Today we’ll find out who Isaiah said would carry our heaviest things.”
🌪️ Anyone who wakes up early is a “sleepwalker” and has to tiptoe back to their spot. It keeps the game going instead of stopping it.

Class screen: 😴 Shhh… sleeping… AWAKE! Put on your strength! · 💪

2. Story

Story Drama: The Chariot on the Desert Road

6 min

Acting out Philip and the man from Ethiopia shows that Isaiah wrote about Jesus, and ties it to baptism.

  1. Hand out the roles (tap Roles in Teach Mode to assign them from your class list). Everyone left over is the Desert Wind.
  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. Let the Horses clip-clop between scenes.
  4. At scene 7, pause and ask: “How old will you be when you can be baptized?” (Eight!) “Who is getting close?”
🌪️ The chariot has only two seats. Everyone else stays on the road (their spot on the rug) and whooshes like wind.

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

3. Wiggle break

Higher, Higher!

2 min

Kids stretch from the ground to the sky to feel Isaiah 55:9: the Lord’s ways are higher than ours.

  1. Everyone crouches down low. Say: “You’re the ground. Low, low, low!”
  2. SAY“The sky is higher than the ground!” Everyone stretches up tall on tiptoe.
  3. SAY“Isaiah said the Lord’s ways are even higher than that!” Everyone jumps and reaches as high as they can.
  4. Repeat three times, faster each time. End by floating down slowly and sitting quietly.

Class screen: ☁️ Low like the ground. HIGH like the sky! · His ways are higher!

4. Object lesson

The Heavy Backpack

4 min

A backpack full of heavy things shows how sins and sad feelings weigh us down, and how Jesus helps carry them.

  1. Hold up the empty backpack. Ask: “What are some things that make us feel sad or heavy inside?” (Someone was mean to me. I fell and got hurt. I missed my grandma. I hit my brother.)
  2. For each answer, put one heavy thing into the backpack. Big kids can help name them.
  3. Let a still-sitting helper put it on and try to walk. Say: “Is it heavy? Could you carry this all day?”
  4. Lift it gently off their shoulders. Say: “Isaiah said Jesus carried our griefs and sorrows. When we pray, He helps our sad feelings get lighter. When we say sorry and repent, He takes away our wrong choices.”
  5. SAY“Every Sunday during the sacrament, we remember what Jesus carried for us.”
🌪️ Only children sitting still get picked to wear the backpack. Offer a turn to two or three kids so nobody feels left out.

Class screen: 🎒 So heavy! Who can help carry it? · Jesus can!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A backpack plus 4–5 heavy things to fill it (hardback books, canned food, full water bottles)

The Invisible Heavy Backpack

  1. SAY“Everyone put on your invisible backpack!” Kids pretend to swing a backpack onto their shoulders.
  2. Ask: “What are some things that make us feel sad or heavy inside?” (Someone was mean to me. I fell and got hurt. I hit my brother.) For each answer, everyone groans and sinks lower like the backpack got heavier.
  3. When they’re almost on the floor, ask: “Who can help us carry all this?” (Jesus!)
  4. On “3, 2, 1,” everyone takes off their backpack, sets it down, and stands up tall and light: “Ahhh!”
  5. SAY“Isaiah said Jesus carried our griefs and sorrows. When we pray and say sorry, He helps us feel light again. Every Sunday during the sacrament, we remember what He carried for us.”

Class screen: 🎒 Put on your invisible backpack. Ooof! So heavy! · Who can help? · Jesus can!

5. Scripture

Scripture Spotlight: Isaiah 53:4

3 min

Motions help every child, reader or not, remember that Jesus carried our heavy things.

  1. Show the verse on your phone or tablet. Ask a big-kid Reading Helper to read it out loud.
  2. SAY“Griefs and sorrows are old words for sad, hurting feelings. ‘Borne’ means carried.”
  3. Teach the motions one phrase at a time. Say it three ways: a whisper, a normal voice, and a strong, happy voice.
  4. Ask: “Who carried our heavy things?” (Jesus!) “What can you do when you feel sad?” (Pray, tell Mom or Dad, remember Jesus.)

Class screen: 💛 “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows” · Isaiah 53:4

6. Game

Forehead Guess: Chariot Edition

4 min

A picture guessing game reviews the story, 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: clip-clop for horse, “baa” for sheep.
  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 when it’s 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 at all.
▶ Play Forehead Guess on the web

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

7. Talk it over

Talk It Over

2 min

Connect Jesus’s help to their own sad and sorry moments.

  1. Sit close in a circle. Ask one question at a time. Let two or three kids answer each, and share your own answer too.
  2. Little ones can answer with their faces: “Show me a sad face. Now show me how you feel when someone helps you.”
💬 Ask the class
  • What makes you feel sad or heavy inside?
  • What can you do when you feel sad? Who can you talk to?
  • When you make a wrong choice, how can Jesus help you feel light again?

Class screen: 💬 Let’s talk!

8. Testimony

Lighter Hearts

2 min

End calm and reverent, with one thing to do when they feel heavy this week.

  1. Lower your voice. Everyone puts a hand on their heart and takes one slow, deep breath.
  2. Share one or two sentences about a time Jesus helped you feel lighter when you were sad or sorry.
  3. SAY“Next Sunday, when the sacrament bread and water come by, think about how Jesus carries your heavy things.”
  4. Introduce the Lighter Backpack challenge on the screen, and ask a child to say the closing prayer. Little ones can repeat a prayer after you, a few words at a time.

Class screen: 🙏 Jesus can make my heart feel light. · Pray · Say sorry · Remember Him

9. Game

Seek the Lord

4 minBONUS

A hide-and-find game teaches Isaiah 55:6: we can seek the Lord, and He is near.

  1. While kids hide their eyes, hide a picture of Jesus somewhere in the room.
  2. SAY“Isaiah said, ‘Seek ye the LORD while he may be found.’ Seek means look for. Let’s seek!” Kids look with walking feet.
  3. Whoever finds it names one way we can seek Jesus: pray, read scriptures, sing, go to church, take the sacrament, be kind.
  4. The finder hides it next. Play three or four rounds.

Class screen: 🔎 Seek! Find the picture of Jesus! · Walking feet only

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A picture of Jesus (from home, a Friend magazine, or printed) for the bonus Seek the Lord game

  1. While kids hide their eyes, hide your scriptures somewhere in the room.
  2. SAY“Isaiah said, ‘Seek ye the LORD while he may be found.’ Seek means look for. The scriptures teach us about Jesus. Let’s seek!” Kids look with walking feet.
  3. Whoever finds them names one way we can seek Jesus: pray, read scriptures, sing, go to church, take the sacrament, be kind.
  4. The finder hides them next. Play three or four rounds.

Class screen: 📖 Seek! Find the scriptures! · Walking feet only

10. 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 Chariot on the Desert Road

Acts 8:26–39; Isaiah 53:4–7 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • PhilipWalks down the road, runs to the chariot, and happily teaches about Jesus.
  • The TreasurerThe man from Ethiopia. Sits in the chariot reading a scroll and asks, “Can I be baptized?” A good part for a big-kid reader.
  • An AngelPoints the way and says, “Go south, Philip!”
  • HorsesThe littlest kids: clip-clop in place, pull the chariot, and say, “Whoa!” when they see water.
  • The WaterTwo kids crouch low and wiggle their fingers like sparkly ripples.
  • Desert WindEveryone else: whoosh like wind, baa like sheep, and cheer at the end.

Scenes

  1. 📜🐑 Isaiah writes about a gentle Lamb

    About 700 years before Jesus was born, Isaiah wrote about Him. He said the Savior would carry our sad feelings and our wrong choices. He said the Savior would be gentle and quiet, like a lamb.

    🎬 Everyone says a soft “Baa,” then pretends to lift something heavy onto their shoulders: “Ooof!”

  2. 👼🛣️ An angel sends Philip down the road

    After Jesus rose again, one of His disciples, Philip, was busy teaching about Him. An angel told Philip, “Get up and go south, to the desert road.” Philip didn’t know why, but he went right away.

    🎬 The Angel points. Philip jumps up and walks in place. Everyone: “Go, Philip, go!”

  3. 🐴📜 Clip-clop! Here comes a chariot

    Down the road came a chariot pulled by horses. Riding in it was an important man from Ethiopia who took care of his queen’s treasure. He was reading the words of Isaiah.

    🎬 The Horses clip-clop in place. The Treasurer sits on the chariot chairs and pretends to read his scroll.

  4. 🕊️🏃 “Go near that chariot!”

    The Holy Ghost whispered to Philip, “Go near the chariot.” So Philip ran! He ran right up beside the horses. The Holy Ghost helped Philip know what to do, and He can help you too.

    🎬 Everyone whispers, “Go near!” Philip runs in place super fast, then stops beside the chariot.

  5. 🤔📜 “Do you understand what you’re reading?”

    Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The man said, “How can I, unless someone helps me?” He invited Philip to climb up and sit beside him.

    🎬 The Treasurer scratches his head: “How can I?” Philip climbs up and sits on the other chariot chair.

  6. 💛🐑 “It’s about Jesus!”

    The man was reading about Someone who stayed quiet like a lamb, even when people were unkind to Him. “Who is this about?” he asked. Philip smiled. “It’s about Jesus!” He told him how Jesus suffered for everyone’s sins and sadness, died, and rose again.

    🎬 Everyone points up and says, “It’s about Jesus!” Then hands on hearts.

  7. 💧😃 “Look! Here is water!”

    As they rode along, they came to some water. The man said, “Look, here is water! Can I be baptized?” Philip said yes, if he believed with all his heart. The man said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

    🎬 The Water wiggles its fingers. The Horses: “Whoa!” The Treasurer reads from the screen: “Can I be baptized?”

  8. 🎉🏠 Baptized, and happy all the way home

    Philip baptized him in the water, the same way you will be baptized when you are eight. The man rode home so happy! Jesus had carried his heavy things, and now he had a brand-new start.

    🎬 Everyone gives a big happy cheer, then quietly folds their arms.

Key verse

Isaiah 53:4 ↗
“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows”
In kid words: Jesus carried our sad feelings and our hurts, so we never have to carry them alone.
🙌 “Surely” = nod a big yes · “he hath borne our griefs” = lift a heavy pretend bag onto your shoulders · “and carried our sorrows” = walk in place slowly, bent over · then set it down, stand up tall, and say, “Thank you, Jesus!”

More verses

Isaiah 53:6 ↗
“All we like sheep have gone astray”
In kid words: Sometimes we all wander off like little sheep and make wrong choices. Jesus helps us come back.
Isaiah 55:8–9 ↗
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways”
In kid words: Heavenly Father’s ways are higher and better than ours, like the sky is higher than the ground.
Isaiah 52:7 ↗
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings”
In kid words: People who share the good news about Jesus, like Philip, have beautiful feet!

Forehead Guess words18 words

  • 🐴 Horse
  • 🛞 Wheel
  • 👼 Angel
  • 🛣️ Road
  • 🏜️ Desert
  • 📜 Scroll
  • 🐑 Sheep
  • 💧 Water
  • 🎒 Backpack
  • 🪨 Rock
  • 💰 Treasure
  • 👸 Queen
  • 🏃 Run
  • 😴 Sleep
  • 💪 Muscles
  • 🍞 Bread
  • 🙏 Pray
  • ☁️ Sky
Clues for each word
  • Horse: Clip-clop! It pulled the chariot
  • Wheel: Round and rolls. A chariot has two
  • Angel: A messenger from God who told Philip where to go
  • Road: Philip walked down one in the desert
  • Desert: Hot and sandy
  • Scroll: The man read Isaiah on a rolled-up paper
  • Sheep: Fluffy animal that says “baa”
  • Water: Where the man was baptized
  • Backpack: You carry it on your back to school
  • Rock: Hard and heavy. Can you lift it?
  • Treasure: The man took care of his queen’s
  • Queen: Wears a crown, like a king
  • Run: Philip did this to catch the chariot
  • Sleep: Close your eyes and snore. Awake!
  • Muscles: Put on thy strength!
  • Bread: We eat a piece at the sacrament
  • Pray: Fold your arms and talk to Heavenly Father
  • Sky: Way up high, higher than the ground
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown8 questions

  1. Isaiah said Jesus would be gentle and quiet like a…
    • A. Lion 🦁
    • B. Lamb 🐑
    • C. Rooster 🐓
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Lamb 🐑 Isaiah 53:7. Jesus was gentle, even when people were unkind.

  2. Who told Philip to go to the desert road?
    • A. An angel 👼
    • B. A fish 🐟
    • C. A robot 🤖
    Show answer

    ✅ A. An angel 👼 Acts 8:26. Philip obeyed right away, even though he didn’t know why.

  3. What was the man in the chariot reading?
    • A. A comic book
    • B. A menu
    • C. The words of Isaiah 📜
    Show answer

    ✅ C. The words of Isaiah 📜 He was reading the part about the Savior being like a quiet lamb.

  4. Who whispered to Philip, “Go near the chariot”?
    • A. The Holy Ghost 🕊️
    • B. A horse
    • C. A bird
    Show answer

    ✅ A. The Holy Ghost 🕊️ The Holy Ghost helps us know what to do. You can have His help too.

  5. Who was Isaiah writing about?
    • A. A king
    • B. Jesus Christ
    • C. A soldier
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Jesus Christ Philip taught the man that Isaiah 53 is all about Jesus.

  6. When the man saw water, what did he want to do?
    • A. Go fishing 🎣
    • B. Have a splash fight
    • C. Be baptized
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Be baptized He believed in Jesus and wanted to be baptized right away!

  7. Jesus carried our sad feelings and our…
    • A. Shoes 👟
    • B. Snacks 🍪
    • C. Sins
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Sins When we repent, Jesus helps take our wrong choices away.

  8. How can we give our heavy feelings to Jesus?
    • A. Hide them
    • B. Pray and say sorry 🙏
    • C. Stomp our feet
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Pray and say sorry 🙏 He always hears us, and He helps our hearts feel lighter.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • Baptism Children’s Songbook, p. 100

    Sing it after the story. The man from Ethiopia couldn’t wait to be baptized. Find it ↗

  • To Think about Jesus Children’s Songbook, p. 71

    Pairs with Lighter Hearts: during the sacrament we remember what Jesus carried for us. Find it ↗

  • Seek the Lord Early Children’s Songbook, p. 108

    Goes with the Seek the Lord game and Isaiah 55:6. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Lighter Backpack

When you feel sad or make a wrong choice this week, say a prayer and ask Jesus to help. If you need to say sorry, say it! Then take a big stretch and notice how much lighter you feel.

Text the parents

This week we learned from Isaiah 53:4 that Jesus “carried our sorrows.” We acted out Philip meeting a man from Ethiopia who was reading Isaiah in his chariot. Philip taught him it was about Jesus, and the man asked to be baptized right away. We also felt how heavy a full backpack is and talked about how Jesus helps carry our sad feelings and our wrong choices. Ask your child: what did we put in the heavy backpack, and who helps us carry it?

📝 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?

🦶 Beautiful Feet · 4 min

  1. Read Isaiah 52:7: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings.”
  2. SAY“Philip’s feet ran to share the good news about Jesus. Missionaries’ feet do too!”
  3. Everyone marches in place with “beautiful feet.” Each time you call a name, that child shares one good thing about Jesus, and everyone marches faster.

🪜 Higher Lookout · 3 min

  1. Hold each child’s hand while they stand on a sturdy, low step or chair for a few seconds.
  2. Ask: “What can you see from up high that you couldn’t see from down low?”
  3. SAY“Heavenly Father sees everything from way up high. His ways are higher than ours, so we can trust Him even when we don’t understand.”

👂 Hearken Game · 3 min

  1. SAY“Isaiah said to hearken to the Lord. Hearken means listen and obey.”
  2. Play like Simon Says, but only obey when you say, “Hearken!” first: “Hearken: touch your nose!”
  3. SAY“When we listen to Jesus and do what He says, we’re hearkening.”

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