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Daniel and the Lions

Daniel keeps praying when it’s against the law, and God sends an angel to shut the lions’ mouths

  • 🛡️ CTR 4–6
  • Week 46
  • 📅 Sunday, November 15, 2026
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Like Daniel, I can pray to Heavenly Father every day and choose the right even when it’s hard, and He will help me.

I can pray every day and choose the right, even when it’s hard, like Daniel.

Study it yourself firstRead Daniel 1–7 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Daniel 1–7)
Know the chapters

Daniel was a young man from Jerusalem who was taken far away to Babylon. Three friends went with him. They were given the names Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. In Daniel 1 they turned down the king’s rich food and wine. They asked for simple vegetables and water instead. After ten days they looked healthier than everyone else, and God gave them knowledge and wisdom, in 1:15–17. Today Heavenly Father gives us the Word of Wisdom, His law of health. Its promises in Doctrine and Covenants 89:18–21 are a lot like those.

In Daniel 3, the three friends refused to bow to a golden statue. The king threatened to throw them into a fiery furnace. God kept them safe in the fire, and they came out without even the smell of smoke. In Daniel 2, the king dreamed of a little stone “cut out without hands.” It grew into a mountain that filled the whole earth. Latter-day prophets teach that it stands for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It’s God’s kingdom, and 2:44 says it will never be destroyed.

This lesson’s story is Daniel 6. Jealous leaders tricked King Darius into making a law. For thirty days, no one could pray to anyone but the king. Daniel went home and opened his windows toward Jerusalem. In 6:10 he knelt and prayed three times a day, just as he always had. He was put in the lions’ den. The king loved Daniel and couldn’t sleep all night. In the morning, Daniel called out that God had sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, in 6:22. Skip the ending where the accusers are punished. This age doesn’t need it.

For 4- to 6-year-olds, make the lions exciting, not scary. They roar, then shut their mouths like sleepy kitties. You tell the story with pictures, and everyone joins in from their seats. Keep coming back to prayer. We can pray anytime, anywhere, and Heavenly Father always hears us. Kids getting ready for baptism can connect Daniel’s brave choices to their own promise to keep the commandments. The Holy Ghost will help them choose the right.

Only have 5 minutes?

Read Daniel 6. Grab any stuffed animal to be the lion. Tell the story in Teach Mode. Say Daniel 6:22 with motions and play Pass the Lion. Close by kneeling at Daniel’s Window. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing.” Your hand becomes the lion puppet, and you pass your phone or tablet instead.

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 Daniel 6 so you can tell the story in your own words.
  2. Set the toy lion by your chair, fast asleep.
  3. Practice the clap once. A “Roar!”, then one clap: “Shut!”

If your class is wild

  • Lions roar only when the screen says so, and a clap means mouths shut. Practice it once before the story. It doubles as your quiet signal.
  • Give your wiggliest kid the Lion Keeper job. They hold the toy lion during the story and wake it up at the end.
  • If anyone looks worried about the lions, have everyone do a silly kitty “mew.” Keep the lions exciting, not scary.
  • Kneeling like Daniel is a great calm-down move. When the room gets loud, say, “Daniel’s window!” Everyone folds their arms quietly.
  • Seat each 4- or 5-year-old by a 6-year-old buddy. Little ones copy the motions, and big kids love to help.

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

The Sleepy Lion

3 min

A toy lion sparks excitement, and the clap doubles as a quiet signal.

  1. SAY“Shh! I brought a lion to class. He’s sleeping. Should we wake him up?”
  2. Hold up the toy lion and make it yawn. Then hand it to your Lion Keeper.
  3. Teach the clap. Claw hands: “Roar!” Then clap once: “Shut!” The clap closes every lion mouth.
  4. Practice a “Roar!” then clap: “Shut!” Do it three times, quieter each time.
  5. SAY“When I clap, every lion is quiet. Today we meet a man who was put in with real lions, because he prayed.”

Class screen: 🦁 Shh! A sleepy lion! · 🦁 Roar! · 👏 Shut!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A stuffed lion, cat or any soft toy (the lion)

The Hand Lion

  1. SAY“Shh! I brought a lion to class.”
  2. Make a lion puppet with your hand, fingers on top and thumb below. It yawns a big lion yawn.
  3. Teach the clap. Claw hands: “Roar!” Then clap once: “Shut!” The clap closes every lion mouth.
  4. Practice a “Roar!” then clap: “Shut!” Do it three times, quieter each time.
  5. SAY“When I clap, every lion is quiet. Today we meet a man who was put in with real lions, because he prayed.”

Class screen: 🦁 Shh! A sleepy lion! · 🦁 Roar! · 👏 Shut!

2. Story

Story: Daniel in the Lions’ Den

7 min

Daniel keeps praying when it’s hard, and God protects him.

  1. SAY“This is a true story from the Bible. Sometimes I’ll say a line, and you say it back to me.”
  2. Open the story in Teach Mode. When a line shows at the bottom, say it first. Then the class says it back.
  3. After scene 3, ask, “Why did Daniel keep praying?” He loved Heavenly Father and knew God would help him.
  4. After scene 6, ask, “Who shut the lions’ mouths?” God sent His angel!
🌪️ If the lions get loud, clap once: “Shut!” It’s part of the story, so kids love to obey it.

Class screen: 🦁 Daniel in the Lions’ Den · 🔁 Say it back! · 🦁 Roar! · 👏 Shut!

3. Wiggle break

Lions’ Den Freeze Dance

2 min

A quick burst of movement before the verse.

  1. SAY“Everyone stand up. When the music plays, prowl in place like a soft, quiet lion.”
  2. Tap Freeze Dance. When the music stops, freeze with your mouth shut tight and both hands over it. Play a few rounds.
  3. SAY“God shut the lions’ mouths! Now sit down, like a sleepy kitty.”
🧊 Freeze Dance (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🦁 Prowl… FREEZE! Mouths shut!

4. Scripture

Key Verse: Daniel 6:22

3 min

Motions help every age remember that God helped Daniel.

  1. SAY“Here are Daniel’s happy words from the lions’ den.”
  2. Show the verse on your phone or tablet. Let a big kid read it.
  3. Teach the motions one part at a time. Say it three ways: a big lion voice, a sleepy kitty voice, then a happy king voice.
  4. SAY“God doesn’t always stop hard things. But He’s always with us, and He helps us, just like He helped Daniel.”

Class screen: 😇 My God hath sent his angel!

5. Game

Pass the Lion

7 min

Kids practice when to pray and how to choose the right when it’s hard, like Daniel.

  1. SAY“Let’s pass the lion! When the music stops, you get a Daniel question.”
  2. Sit in a circle and tap Hot Potato. At the buzz, the holder answers a question. Buddies can help little ones. Play until everyone has held the lion.
  3. Ask prayer questions: “When can you pray?” “What can you thank Heavenly Father for?” “You feel scared at night. What can you do?”
  4. Mix in brave choices: “A friend says a mean word. What do you do?” “Mom needs help, but you want to play.” After each, clap: “Shut!”
  5. SAY“The lion stays quiet when we’re brave like Daniel!”
🌪️ Pass it, don’t throw it. Anyone who tosses the lion claps “Shut!” and sits out one pass.
🥔 Hot Potato (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🦁 Pass the lion! Answer a Daniel question! · 🙏 When can you pray? · 💪 What’s the brave choice? · 👏 Shut!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A stuffed lion, cat or any soft toy (the lion)

Pass your phone or tablet Lion

  1. SAY“Let’s pass your phone or tablet like a lion! When the music stops, you get a Daniel question.”
  2. Sit in a circle, tap Hot Potato and pass gently. At the buzz, the holder answers a question. Buddies can help little ones.
  3. Ask prayer questions: “When can you pray?” “What can you thank Heavenly Father for?” “You feel scared at night. What can you do?”
  4. Mix in brave choices: “A friend says a mean word. What do you do?” “Mom needs help, but you want to play.” After each, clap: “Shut!”
  5. SAY“The lion stays quiet when we’re brave like Daniel!”

Class screen: 📱 Pass your phone or tablet! Answer a Daniel question! · 🙏 When can you pray? · 💪 What’s the brave choice? · 👏 Shut!

6. Testimony

Daniel’s Window

3 min

End quietly with prayer, the heart of Daniel’s story.

  1. SAY“Daniel opened his windows and knelt to pray. Let’s make a window with our fingers. Now fold your arms.”
  2. SAY“We can pray anytime and anywhere. At home, at school, in the car, even in our hearts. Heavenly Father always hears us.”
  3. Share a short testimony about prayer. Then show the Three Times a Day challenge on the screen.
  4. Invite a child to say the closing prayer. Kids who want to can kneel like Daniel.

Class screen: 🪟 I can pray anytime, anywhere. · Morning · Mealtime · Bedtime

7. Game

Forehead Guess: Daniel 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 Lions versus Team Angels!”
  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

Daniel in the Lions’ Den

Daniel 6 ↗

Optional helpers

  • Lion KeeperHolds the toy lion during the story. Starts the “Roar!” from their seat.
  • Sound HelperSits next to you and taps each scene’s sound on your phone or tablet.

Scenes

  1. 👑🧔 The king’s best helper

    Daniel worked for King Darius. Daniel was good and wise, and he loved Heavenly Father. Every day, he prayed. The king liked Daniel so much! He wanted to put him in charge of the whole kingdom.

    🙌

  2. 😠📜 A sneaky new law

    Some other leaders were jealous. They tricked the king into making a law. For thirty days, nobody could pray to anyone but the king. Anyone who did would go into the lions’ den!

    🙌

  3. 🪟🙏 Daniel prays anyway

    Daniel knew about the law. But he went home and opened his windows. He knelt down and prayed to Heavenly Father, just like always. He prayed three times a day. And he gave thanks too!

    🙌 Fold your arms and say it back: “Daniel prays, three times a day!”

  4. 👀🦁 Into the lions’ den!

    The jealous leaders saw Daniel praying, and they told the king. The king was very sad, because he loved Daniel. But the law couldn’t be changed. So Daniel was put into the den of lions.

    🙌 Claw hands: “Roar!”

  5. 🪨🌙 The king can’t sleep

    A big stone was rolled over the door. The king went back to his palace. He didn’t eat. He didn’t want any music. He couldn’t sleep all night long!

    🙌

  6. 😇🦁 “My God hath sent his angel!”

    Early in the morning, the king ran to the den. “Daniel! Was your God able to save you?” Then a voice called back. It was Daniel! “My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths!”

    🙌 Say it back: “My God hath sent his angel!”

  7. 👑🙌 Daniel’s God saves!

    Daniel didn’t have a single scratch! The king was so happy! He pulled Daniel out of the den. He told everyone in the kingdom about Daniel’s God. He is the living God, who saves His people.

    🙌 Clap once: “Shut!” Then cheer!

Key verse

Daniel 6:22 ↗
“My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths”
In kid words: Daniel said, “God sent His angel to keep the lions’ mouths shut!”
🙌 “My God” = point up · “hath sent his angel” = flap your arms softly like wings · “and hath shut” = clap your hands together once · “the lions’ mouths” = make a big roaring lion mouth with your hands, then close it tight.

More verses

Daniel 6:10 ↗
“he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God”
In kid words: Daniel knelt and prayed three times every day, and he said thank you to God.
Daniel 1:8 ↗
“Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself”
In kid words: Daniel decided in his heart that he would keep God’s rules.
Daniel 3:17 ↗
“our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace”
In kid words: Daniel’s three friends said, “Our God can save us from the fire!”

Forehead Guess words16 words

  • 🧔 Daniel
  • 🦁 Lion
  • 👑 King
  • 😇 Angel
  • 🙏 Pray
  • 🪟 Window
  • 🧎 Kneel
  • 🪨 Rock
  • 🌙 Moon
  • 😴 Sleep
  • 🥕 Carrot
  • 💧 Water
  • 🔥 Fire
  • 💪 Muscles
  • 🐈 Cat
  • 🦸 Brave
Clues for each word
  • Daniel: He prayed and was safe with the lions
  • Lion: Roar! A big cat with a mane
  • King: He wears a crown
  • Angel: God sent one to help Daniel
  • Pray: Talking to Heavenly Father
  • Window: Daniel opened it to pray
  • Kneel: Get down on your knees
  • Rock: Big and heavy, it covered the den
  • Moon: You see it at night
  • Sleep: The king couldn’t do this all night
  • Carrot: An orange vegetable. Crunch!
  • Water: Daniel drank this instead of the king’s drinks
  • Fire: Hot! Daniel’s friends were safe in it
  • Muscles: Show how strong you are
  • Cat: Meow! A small pet
  • Brave: Doing right even when it’s hard
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown8 questions

  1. What did Daniel keep doing even when it was against the law?
    • A. Playing ball ⚽
    • B. Sleeping 😴
    • C. Praying 🙏
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Praying 🙏 He knelt and prayed three times a day, just like always.

  2. Where was Daniel put because he prayed?
    • A. A lions’ den 🦁
    • B. A swimming pool 🏊
    • C. A toy store 🧸
    Show answer

    ✅ A. A lions’ den 🦁 The jealous leaders tricked the king, but God was with Daniel.

  3. How did the king feel all night?
    • A. Sleepy and happy 😊
    • B. Worried and awake 😟
    • C. Hungry for pizza 🍕
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Worried and awake 😟 He loved Daniel. He couldn’t eat or sleep at all.

  4. Who did God send to shut the lions’ mouths?
    • A. A dog 🐕
    • B. The king 👑
    • C. An angel 😇
    Show answer

    ✅ C. An angel 😇 “My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths.”

  5. What did Daniel and his friends eat instead of the king’s food?
    • A. Vegetables 🥕
    • B. Candy 🍬
    • C. Nothing at all 🚫
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Vegetables 🥕 Vegetables and water, and they grew healthier than everyone!

  6. How many times a day did Daniel pray?
    • A. One time ☝️
    • B. Three times 🙏
    • C. Never 🚫
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Three times 🙏 Three times a day, and he gave thanks too (Daniel 6:10).

  7. Where did God keep Daniel’s three friends safe?
    • A. In a snowstorm ❄️
    • B. In a fiery furnace 🔥
    • C. In a tree 🌳
    Show answer

    ✅ B. In a fiery furnace 🔥 They came out without even smelling like smoke!

  8. When can you pray to Heavenly Father?
    • A. Anytime, anywhere 🌎
    • B. Only at church ⛪
    • C. Only on Sunday 📅
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Anytime, anywhere 🌎 Heavenly Father always hears you, wherever you are.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • A Child’s Prayer Children’s Songbook, p. 12

    Daniel knew Heavenly Father was there and listening. So can we. Find it ↗

  • Choose the Right Hymns, no. 239

    Daniel chose the right even when it was hard. Find it ↗

  • The Word of Wisdom Children’s Songbook, p. 154

    Goes with the Daniel’s Veggie Test extra and the law of health. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Three Times a Day

Pray three times a day this week, like Daniel. Pray in the morning, at a meal and at bedtime. Say thank you for one thing each time.

Text the parents

Today in Primary we heard the story of Daniel in the lions’ den. Daniel kept praying when it was against the law. In Daniel 6:22, God sent an angel to shut the lions’ mouths. We passed a lion around and practiced times to pray and brave, right choices. Ask your child, “How many times a day did Daniel pray? Where can you pray?”

📝 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?

🔥 Three Friends in the Fire · 4 min

  1. Tell Daniel 3 in your own words. Three friends wouldn’t bow to a golden statue. So the king threw them into a fiery furnace.
  2. Everyone wiggles fingers like flames. Hold up three fingers for the friends. Then add a fourth. The king saw a fourth person in the fire, and God kept them safe.
  3. SAY“They walked out, and they didn’t even smell like smoke!”
  4. Everyone sniffs: “No smoke smell at all!”

🪨 The Little Stone That Grew · 3 min

  1. Hold up a small rock.
  2. SAY“The king dreamed about a little stone. It rolled and grew into a mountain. It filled the whole earth!”
  3. Everyone curls up small as a stone. Then slowly grow into a giant mountain with arms high.
  4. SAY“The stone is like Jesus Christ’s Church. It started small. Now it’s growing all over the world.”

🥕 Daniel’s Veggie Test · 3 min

  1. Hold up a carrot or apple and a cup of water. Show Daniel 1:12 on your phone or tablet.
  2. SAY“The king gave Daniel fancy food. But Daniel asked for vegetables and water instead.”
  3. SAY“After ten days, Daniel and his friends looked healthier than everyone else. And God made them wise.”
  4. Everyone makes a strong-muscles pose.
  5. SAY“Heavenly Father gave us the Word of Wisdom. It tells us to eat good foods and stay away from things that hurt our bodies.”

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