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Before I Was a Baby

A young prophet who felt too small, an almond branch that wakes up, and a potter who makes a lumpy pot new

  • 🛡️ CTR 4–6
  • Week 43
  • 📅 Sunday, October 25, 2026
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Heavenly Father knew me before I was born, and when my heart is soft like clay, He can help me become my best self.

I can remember that Heavenly Father knows me, and I can keep my heart soft so He can shape me.

Study it yourself firstRead Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20)
Know the chapters

Jeremiah was a prophet in Jerusalem for about 40 years. He started around 600 years before Jesus was born, at the same time as Lehi. The people were worshipping idols and ignoring the poor. Jeremiah warned them again and again to come back to the Lord. Many didn’t listen, and some treated him cruelly. In chapter 20, a priest named Pashur had him beaten and locked in the stocks. Even when he felt like quitting, the Lord’s word burned inside him. In 20:9 he says it was “as a burning fire shut up in my bones.” So he kept going.

The star verse is Jeremiah 1:5. Before Jeremiah was born, the Lord knew him and chose him. This is a precious truth for young children. We lived with Heavenly Father as His spirit children before we came to earth. He knows each of us, and He sent us here with gifts and good things to do. When Jeremiah said, “I am a child,” the Lord didn’t tell him he was big enough. In 1:7–8 He said, “Be not afraid… for I am with thee.”

Later the Lord sent Jeremiah to watch a potter, in 18:1–6. When a pot got ruined on the wheel, the potter didn’t throw the clay away. He made it again into a new pot. The Lord said we’re like clay in His hands. Soft clay can be shaped, but hard, dried-out clay cracks. A soft heart is willing to listen, say sorry and try again. Then Heavenly Father and Jesus can help us change and grow. That’s what repentance is, and the sacrament helps us do it every week. Jeremiah 16:16 also promises “many fishers” to gather God’s children. It’s a picture of missionaries.

For ages 4–6, keep it simple. Heavenly Father knew you before you were a baby. He’s with you when you feel small. And He can shape you like soft clay. You tell the story with pictures, and everyone joins in from their seats. Big kids can read captions and the verse. Keep the stocks and the beating offstage. The story just says some people were unkind to Jeremiah.

Only have 5 minutes?

Pull up a baby picture of yourself on your phone and grab some play dough. Tell Jeremiah’s story in Teach Mode, stopping for guesses. Say Jeremiah 1:5 with motions and do Potter’s Do-Over. Close by naming a gift in each child. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing.” The baby picture becomes Baby Faces, and the play dough becomes Hand Clay.

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. Find a baby picture of yourself. Don’t tell the kids who it is!
  2. Roll a small ball of play dough for each child and one for you. Keep them in a zip bag so they stay soft.

If your class is wild

  • Take guesses from raised hands. Every guess gets a “Great guess!”
  • Give your wiggliest kid the Sound Helper job. Tapping the sounds keeps their hands busy.
  • Seat each 4- or 5-year-old by a 6-year-old buddy. Little ones copy the motions, and big kids love to help.
  • Hand out play dough only after everyone is sitting. Collect it in the zip bag before the testimony, or it’ll get squished during the prayer.
  • In the testimony, look each child in the eye as you name their gift. It calms the room like magic.

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

Guess the Baby!

3 min

A baby picture sparks giggles and the big question of where we were before we were born.

  1. SAY“Who is this cute baby? Can you guess?”
  2. Hold up your baby picture and take a few guesses. Then reveal: “It’s me!” Ask, “Where were you before you were a baby?”
  3. SAY“We lived with Heavenly Father! He knew you then.”
  4. SAY“Let’s meet a prophet who learned that God knew him!”

Class screen: 👶 Who is this cute baby? · 👶 Who is it?

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A baby picture of yourself (printed, or on your phone)

Baby Faces

  1. SAY“Show me your best baby face! Now a baby giggle! Now a tiny baby yawn!”
  2. Do each one with them. Then ask, “You were all babies once. Where were you before you were a baby?”
  3. SAY“We lived with Heavenly Father! He knew you then.”
  4. SAY“Let’s meet a prophet who learned that God knew him!”

Class screen: 👶 Show me your best baby face! · 👶 Baby face!

2. Story

Story: Jeremiah, Don’t Be Afraid!

7 min

Jeremiah learns that the Lord knew him, is with him, and can shape His people like clay.

  1. SAY“This is a true story about a prophet who felt too small. I’ll stop so you can guess what happens next.”
  2. Open the story in Teach Mode. At each “Guess!”, take a few guesses, then read on. Big kids can read the caption first.
  3. After scene 2, ask, “When do you feel too little to do something?” Take two answers. Then flex together: “Be not afraid!”
  4. After scene 6, ask, “What did the potter do with the lumpy pot?” He made it again!
🌪️ If the room drifts, stop and whisper, “Guess what happens next?” Everyone leans in.

Class screen: 🏺 Jeremiah, Don’t Be Afraid! · 🤔 Guess! · 💪 Be not afraid!

3. Wiggle break

Grow Up Brave

2 min

A quick stretch that repeats Jeremiah’s brave promise.

  1. SAY“Everyone stand up and curl up tiny, like a baby.”
  2. Everyone squeaks, “I’m just a child!” Grow up slowly, taller and taller. Then flex: “Be not afraid!”
  3. Do it three times, faster each time. The last time, grow very slowly and sit down tall and brave.

Class screen: 💪 Tiny baby… grow up brave!

4. Scripture

Key Verse: Jeremiah 1:5

3 min

Motions help every age remember that Heavenly Father knew them before they were born.

  1. SAY“Here’s what the Lord told Jeremiah. And it’s true for you too.”
  2. Show the verse on your phone or tablet. Let a big kid read it.
  3. SAY“Formed means made. Belly means tummy. He’s saying, ‘I knew you before you were even born.’”
  4. Teach the motions one phrase at a time. Say it three ways: a tiny baby voice, a normal voice, then a big, brave prophet voice.
  5. Ask, “Where did we live before we were born?” With Heavenly Father. Then ask, “Does He still know you now?” Yes!

Class screen: 👶 Before I formed thee… I knew thee.

5. Object lesson

Potter’s Do-Over

7 min

Squishing and remaking clay shows how Heavenly Father helps soft hearts start over and grow.

  1. SAY“You’re potters! You have one minute to make a little bowl.”
  2. Hand out play dough and tap the Big Timer. Poke a dent in your own bowl. Ask, “Should I throw it away?” No! Squish it and start again.
  3. SAY“When we make a wrong choice, Heavenly Father doesn’t throw us away. Jesus helps us say sorry and start over. That’s repenting.”
  4. Ask, “Is soft clay or hard clay easier to shape?” Soft! Let kids name ways to keep a soft heart. Then everyone makes something new.
  5. SAY“A soft heart listens and tries again. At baptism, and every Sunday at the sacrament, we get a fresh start.”
🌪️ Anyone who throws play dough gives it back for one round. Squishing is fine. Throwing isn’t.

Class screen: 🏺 Lumpy? Squish it and start again! · Soft heart · Try again

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: Play dough: a small ball for each child (store-bought play dough contains wheat, so check for gluten allergies)

Hand Clay

  1. SAY“Your hands are soft clay, and you’re the potter!”
  2. Everyone squishes their hands into a ball and shapes a bowl. Wobble it: “Uh-oh, it’s lumpy! Should I throw it away?” No! Make it again.
  3. SAY“When we make a wrong choice, Heavenly Father doesn’t throw us away. Jesus helps us say sorry and start over. That’s repenting.”
  4. Call out, “Hard clay!” Everyone makes stiff fists. Can they change shape? No!
  5. SAY“Soft clay can be shaped. A soft heart listens and tries again.”

Class screen: 🙌 Your hands are the clay! What will you make? · Soft heart · Try again

6. Testimony

Heaven-Sent Gifts

3 min

Each child hears a gift Heavenly Father gave them, and leaves knowing He knows them.

  1. SAY“Hold out your hands like you’re holding a present.”
  2. Wait until the room is still. Name one gift you see in each child, like kindness or being brave. They hug the gift to their heart.
  3. SAY“Heavenly Father knew you before you were born. And He gave you those gifts.”
  4. Share one sentence about how you know He knows you. Then show the Heaven-Sent Gifts challenge on the screen.
  5. Ask a child to say the closing prayer.

Class screen: 🎁 Heavenly Father knew me and gave me gifts. · Hold out your hands · Hug your gift

7. Game

Forehead Guess: Potter’s House Edition

4 minBONUS

A quick Heads Up–style review of the story words.

  1. SAY“Let’s see what you remember! Give clues, but don’t say the word.”
  2. Tap Forehead Guess. The guesser holds your phone or tablet on their forehead. Everyone gives clues from their seats. Little ones can show a motion.
  3. Tilt down for “got it” and up to pass. Give each guesser about 30 seconds. Pair a little one with a big-kid buddy.
▶ 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 the lesson.

  1. SAY“It’s Team Potters versus Team Almonds!”
  2. Split into two teams, mixing big and little kids. Tap Scripture Showdown.
  3. A big kid on each team reads the question out loud. The team whispers, then points 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

Jeremiah, Don’t Be Afraid!

Jeremiah 1:4–12; 7:1–7; 18:1–6; 20:9 ↗

Optional helpers

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

Scenes

  1. 👶✨ Known before he was born

    Long ago, the Lord spoke to a young man named Jeremiah. He said, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee.” Do you know what that means? God knew Jeremiah before he was even a baby!

    🙌

  2. 😰🙋 “But I’m just a child!”

    The Lord had a big job for Jeremiah. He wanted him to be a prophet! But Jeremiah was scared. “I cannot speak,” he said, “for I am a child.” He felt too young and too small.

    🙌 Guess! What will the Lord say to scared Jeremiah?

  3. 👄💪 “Be not afraid… I am with thee”

    The Lord said, “Be not afraid.” He promised, “I am with thee.” And the Lord touched Jeremiah’s mouth. He had put His words there!

    🙌

  4. 🌿🌸 The almond branch wakes up

    The Lord asked, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” He saw an almond branch. Almond trees are some of the first to bloom after winter. The Lord said He would make His words come true.

    🙌 Make fists like closed buds. Pop your fingers open: “Pop, pop, pop!”

  5. 🏺🌀 Down to the potter’s house

    Next the Lord sent Jeremiah to watch a potter. The potter spun soft clay on a wheel. Round and round it went! He shaped a pot with his hands.

    🙌 Guess! What will the potter do if the pot gets lumpy?

  6. 🔄🙌 A lumpy pot made new

    Uh-oh! The pot got lumpy. Did the potter throw it away? No! He squished it into a ball and made it again. The Lord said we are like clay in His hands. He can help us start over.

    🙌

  7. 🔥❤️ Jeremiah keeps going!

    Jeremiah told the people to come back to the Lord. Some were unkind, and he felt like giving up. But God’s words felt like a warm fire inside him. So he kept going. The Lord was with him.

    🙌 Rub your hands warm like a fire. Then flex: “Be not afraid!”

Key verse

Jeremiah 1:5 ↗
“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee”
In kid words: Heavenly Father says, “I knew you before you were even a baby.”
🙌 “Before” = point back over your shoulder · “I formed thee” = roll a ball of clay between your hands · “in the belly” = pat your tummy · “I knew thee” = point up to heaven, then put your hand on your heart.

More verses

Jeremiah 1:7–8 ↗
“Say not, I am a child… for I am with thee”
In kid words: Don’t say, “I’m too little.” I am with you.
Jeremiah 18:6 ↗
“as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand”
In kid words: You are in God’s hands, like soft clay in a potter’s hands.
Jeremiah 16:16 ↗
“Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD”
In kid words: The Lord will send lots of helpers to find His children and bring them to Him.

Forehead Guess words17 words

  • 👶 Baby
  • ☁️ Heaven
  • 📣 Prophet
  • 👄 Mouth
  • 🦁 Brave
  • 🌸 Almond Tree
  • 🧑‍🎨 Potter
  • 🟤 Clay
  • 🏺 Pot
  • 🛞 Wheel
  • 🐟 Fish
  • 🎣 Fisherman
  • ⛰️ Mountain
  • 🔥 Fire
  • 📛 Missionary
  • 🎁 Gift
  • 🏛️ Temple
Clues for each word
  • Baby: Heavenly Father knew you before you were one
  • Heaven: Where we lived before we were born
  • Prophet: Speaks for God. Jeremiah was one
  • Mouth: The Lord touched Jeremiah’s
  • Brave: Be not afraid! The Lord is with you
  • Almond Tree: Blooms early, after winter
  • Potter: Makes bowls and pots on a spinning wheel
  • Clay: Soft mud you can squish and shape
  • Pot: It got lumpy, so the potter made it again
  • Wheel: Round and spins around
  • Fish: Swims and goes “blub blub”
  • Fisherman: Catches fish with a pole
  • Mountain: Very big and tall. Hunters search there
  • Fire: Warm and bright. Jeremiah felt God’s word like this
  • Missionary: Wears a name tag and teaches about Jesus
  • Gift: A present with a bow on top
  • Temple: The house of the Lord. Jeremiah stood at its gate
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown8 questions

  1. When did Heavenly Father know Jeremiah?
    • A. Before he was born 👶
    • B. When he turned ten
    • C. Never
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Before he was born 👶 Jeremiah 1:5. He knew you before you were born too!

  2. Why did Jeremiah think he couldn’t be a prophet?
    • A. He was too tall
    • B. He felt like just a child
    • C. He was too sleepy 😴
    Show answer

    ✅ B. He felt like just a child The Lord told him, “Be not afraid… for I am with thee.”

  3. The Lord said, “Be not afraid, for I am…”
    • A. At the store 🛒
    • B. Asleep 💤
    • C. With thee
    Show answer

    ✅ C. With thee Jeremiah 1:8. The Lord is with you when you feel small.

  4. What kind of tree did Jeremiah see?
    • A. An almond tree 🌸
    • B. A candy tree 🍭
    • C. A Christmas tree 🎄
    Show answer

    ✅ A. An almond tree 🌸 Almond trees are some of the first trees to bloom after winter.

  5. What did the potter do with his lumpy pot?
    • A. Threw it away 🗑️
    • B. Made it again ✨
    • C. Sat on it
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Made it again ✨ Jesus helps us start over too, when we repent.

  6. What kind of heart can Heavenly Father shape?
    • A. A hard, grumpy heart
    • B. A soft, willing heart ❤️
    • C. A heart made of rock 🪨
    Show answer

    ✅ B. A soft, willing heart ❤️ Soft clay can be shaped. So can a heart that listens and tries again.

  7. Jeremiah 16:16 says the Lord will send many…
    • A. Clowns 🤡
    • B. Dragons 🐉
    • C. Fishers 🎣
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Fishers 🎣 Missionaries are like fishers who help God’s children come to Jesus.

  8. Where did we live before we were born?
    • A. With Heavenly Father ☁️
    • B. On the moon 🌙
    • C. In a zoo 🦓
    Show answer

    ✅ A. With Heavenly Father ☁️ We lived with Heavenly Father as His spirit children.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • I Lived in Heaven Children’s Songbook, p. 4

    Sing it right after Jeremiah 1:5. It’s all about where we lived before we were born. Find it ↗

  • Follow the Prophet Children’s Songbook, p. 110

    Jeremiah was a prophet, and we have a living prophet today. Great with The Prophet Says extra. Find it ↗

  • I Hope They Call Me on a Mission Children’s Songbook, p. 169

    Goes with the Fishers and Hunters extra. Missionaries are the Lord’s fishers. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Heaven-Sent Gifts

Ask your family, “What good gifts do you think Heavenly Father gave me before I was born?” Then use one of those gifts to help someone this week.

Text the parents

This week we learned from Jeremiah 1:5 that Heavenly Father knew each of us before we were born. Jeremiah felt too young to be a prophet. But the Lord said, “Be not afraid… for I am with thee.” We also played with clay. When a pot gets lumpy, the potter doesn’t throw it away. He makes it again, just like Jesus helps us start over when we repent. Ask your child, “What did the potter do with the lumpy pot?” Then tell your child one gift you think Heavenly Father gave them.

📝 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?

🎣 Magnet Fishing · 5 min

  1. Cut 8 to 10 paper fish and slide a paper clip onto each. Tie a string to a pencil and tape a magnet to the end.
  2. On each fish, draw or write a way to help someone come to Jesus. Invite a friend, share a toy, pray for someone or sing to a neighbor.
  3. Kids take turns fishing. Big kids read their fish, and you read for little ones. Everyone gives a thumbs up for each way to help.

🍼 Baby Picture Parade · 4 min

  1. A week ahead, invite parents to send a baby picture of their child. A picture on a phone is fine. Don’t require it. Some children are adopted or in foster care and may not have one. Any child can show a picture of something they love instead.
  2. Show the pictures one at a time and let the class guess who each baby is.
  3. After each one, everyone says, “Heavenly Father knew you before you were born!”

🌳 Tree by the River · 3 min

  1. Read Jeremiah 17:8: a person who trusts the Lord “shall be as a tree planted by the waters.”
  2. Everyone stands like a tree with feet planted like roots. Make a pretend hot sun, then a windy storm. The trees wave but don’t fall over.
  3. SAY“When we pray and read about Jesus every day, we stay strong. We’re like a tree by the river.”

🎣 Fishers and Hunters · 2 min

  1. Read Jeremiah 16:16 from your phone or tablet: “Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD.”
  2. SAY“The Lord will send hunters too!”
  3. Say “Fishers!” and everyone casts a pretend line, waits and reels in a big one. Say “Hunters!” and everyone tiptoes and peeks under rocks.
  4. Switch back and forth, faster and faster.
  5. SAY“Missionaries are the Lord’s fishers and hunters. They help people find Jesus. You can help too!”

📣 The Prophet Says · 3 min

  1. If you have a picture of our living prophet, show it. Ask, “What does a prophet do?” He tells us what Heavenly Father and Jesus want us to know.
  2. Play Simon Says, but only obey “The prophet says…” Try, “The prophet says, fold your arms!” Then, “Jump!” Oops!
  3. SAY“The Lord put His words in Jeremiah’s mouth. He still speaks through a living prophet today. And we can follow him.”

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