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Open the Windows of Heaven

Malachi teaches that the Lord loves us, pours out blessings when we pay tithing, and sent Elijah so families can be together forever

  • 🛡️ CTR 4–7
  • Week 51
  • 📅 Sunday, December 20, 2026
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Heavenly Father loves me: He blesses me when I pay my tithing, and He made a way for families to be together forever.

I can pay my tithing and show love to my family.

Come, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Malachi)
Know the chapters

Malachi is the last book in the Old Testament, written a few hundred years before Jesus was born. It opens with the Lord’s tender words, “I have loved you” (Malachi 1:2). But the people had grown careless. Instead of offering their best animals, some brought blind, lame or sick ones and kept the best for themselves (Malachi 1:8). The Lord wanted their best, and their whole hearts.

In Malachi 3:8–12 the Lord asks His people to bring their tithes, one tenth, and promises to “open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing.” For young children, keep it concrete: out of every 10 coins, 1 goes to Heavenly Father. Families pay tithing with a donation slip given to a member of the bishopric, or online. The Church uses tithing to build and care for temples and meetinghouses, share the gospel, and much more. Blessings don’t always come as money. They can be help, peace, a happy home, and feeling the Holy Ghost. Children of any age can pay tithing on money they receive. Some children don’t receive money yet, and some families are going through hard times: never ask who pays, and remember that tithing is paid on money we actually receive.

Malachi ends with a promise: the Lord would send Elijah the prophet to “turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers” (Malachi 4:5–6). The angel Moroni quoted this promise to Joseph Smith (Joseph Smith—History 1:36–39), and in 1836 Elijah came to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple and gave them priesthood keys (Doctrine and Covenants 110:13–16). Because of those keys, families can be sealed together forever in temples today.

For 4- to 7-year-olds, use three simple pictures: a heart (the Lord loves me), ten fingers (tithing) and a family holding hands (Elijah). Readers can read Malachi’s lines; little ones can count, rain down blessings and be the lamb. Your 7-year-olds will soon be baptized. Many families help their newly baptized children start paying tithing on their own money. Be gentle about families: some children’s families aren’t sealed, and some are going through hard things. Every child belongs to Heavenly Father’s family.

Only have 5 minutes?

Read Malachi 1:2, Malachi 3:10 and Malachi 4:5–6. You don’t need pennies: every child has ten fingers for the tithing lesson. Let Teach Mode carry the Story Drama, teach the Malachi 3:10 motions, and play Forehead Guess. End with a big circle holding hands: “Families can be together forever!”

What to bring5 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. Put the broken crayon in the gift bag. Hide the new crayon or sticker in your pocket.
  2. Count out 10 pennies (or buttons or paper circles) and put them in a cup. Draw a heart on the small envelope.
  3. Cut out one paper heart, any size.
  4. Pick a 6- or 7-year-old reader to be Malachi and show them his big line: “I have loved you, saith the LORD.”
  5. Add your kids’ names in the My Class tab so you can hand out story parts with one tap.

If your class is wild

  • The Lamb role is a favorite for 4-year-olds. The Lamb crawls gently and baas. No bumping!
  • Use a countdown attention signal: hold up ten fingers and fold them down one at a time. By “one,” everyone is quiet.
  • Blessing Rain can get loud. When you say “Windows closed!” everyone shuts the shutters and freezes.
  • Pennies go in hands, not mouths. With lots of 4-year-olds, use paper circles or just use fingers.
  • If the room gets wild, jump to the Together Forever circle and swing arms slowly to settle down.

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 Leftover Present

3 min

A funny, disappointing “gift” opens the big question: what kind of gift shows love?

  1. Hold up the gift bag. Say: “I brought a present for my very best friend! Want to see?”
  2. Slowly pull out the broken crayon. Ask: “Thumbs up or thumbs down? Would my friend feel loved?”
  3. Pull the new crayon or sticker from your pocket. Ask: “Which gift is better? Why?”
  4. SAY“Long ago, some people gave God their leftovers instead of their best. Today a prophet named Malachi teaches us what Heavenly Father asked for, and how much He loves us.”
🌪️ Thumbs only, no shouting. The quietest thumbs get to peek in the bag first.

Class screen: 🎁 Thumbs up or thumbs down? · 👍 👎

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A gift bag with a broken crayon (or a sock with a hole) inside, and a brand-new crayon or nice sticker hidden in your pocket

Pretend Presents

  1. Hold out an invisible gift bag. Say: “I brought presents for my very best friend! Want to see?”
  2. Pretend to pull out a squished old sandwich (“Ew!”), a sock with a hole in it, and a broken crayon. After each one, kids show thumbs up or thumbs down.
  3. Then pretend to pull out something wonderful, like a shiny new bike. Everyone gasps! Ask: “Which gift shows more love? Why?”
  4. SAY“Long ago, some people gave God their leftovers instead of their best. Today a prophet named Malachi teaches us what Heavenly Father asked for, and how much He loves us.”
2. Story

Story Drama: Malachi’s Promises

6 min

Acting out Malachi’s messages lets every child move while they learn about love, tithing and families.

  1. Hand out the roles (tap Roles in Teach Mode). Give Elijah the white towel.
  2. Everyone without a role is on the Family Crew.
  3. Read each scene aloud and pause for the action cue.
  4. At scene 3, count to ten slowly together so the littlest kids can keep up.
  5. End in the big circle at scene 8. Ask: “Who is someone in your family you love?”
🌪️ When you hold up one finger, everyone freezes. It’s the “one for the Lord” freeze.

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

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A white towel or scarf for Elijah

  1. Hand out the roles (tap Roles in Teach Mode). Elijah stands extra tall and holds his arms out bright and wide instead of wearing a towel.
  2. Everyone without a role is on the Family Crew.
  3. Read each scene aloud and pause for the action cue.
  4. At scene 3, count to ten slowly together so the littlest kids can keep up.
  5. End in the big circle at scene 8. Ask: “Who is someone in your family you love?”
3. Wiggle break

Blessing Rain

2 min

Opening pretend windows and catching blessings gets everyone moving and thinking about what Heavenly Father gives them.

  1. Everyone crouches down low under the “window.” Say: “Heavenly Father promised to open the windows of heaven!”
  2. Tap rain on the Sound Board. Everyone springs up, pushes open the shutters and wiggles fingers down like rain.
  3. SAY“Catch a blessing!” Everyone jumps and catches one, then you call on a child to name it (family, food, a warm bed, friends, the scriptures).
  4. SAY“Windows closed!” Everyone freezes. Play 3 or 4 rounds.
🌪️ Catch blessings in your own space. Arms go up, not out, so nobody bonks a neighbor.
🔊 Sound Board (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🌧️ Open the windows! Catch a blessing! · 🪟 Open · 🙌 Catch · 🥶 Freeze

4. Object lesson

Ten and One

3 min

Counting ten real things and setting one aside makes tithing simple enough for a 4-year-old to understand.

  1. Pour the 10 pennies into a helper’s hands. Everyone counts them out loud together: 1, 2, 3… 10!
  2. SAY“Tithing means one out of ten goes to Heavenly Father.” Let a 4- or 5-year-old put one penny into the heart envelope.
  3. Ask: “How many are left for you?” Count them together: 9! Say: “Heavenly Father gives us everything, and He only asks for one.”
  4. SAY“Families give tithing to the bishopric on a donation slip. It helps build temples and churches and share the gospel around the world.” Show the slip if you brought one.
  5. Ask a 6- or 7-year-old: “If Grandma gave you 10 dollars for your birthday, how much would be tithing?” (1 dollar!)
🌪️ Only the helper holds the pennies. Everyone else counts with their fingers in the air.

Class screen: 🔟 One out of ten for Heavenly Father · 🪙🪙🪙🪙🪙🪙🪙🪙🪙 for me · 🪙 for the Lord

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: 10 pennies, buttons or paper circles, and a small envelope marked with a heart

Ten Fingers

  1. Everyone holds up ten fingers. Say: “Pretend every finger is a coin. Let’s count them!” Count together: 1, 2, 3… 10!
  2. SAY“Tithing means one out of ten goes to Heavenly Father.” Everyone folds down one pinky and pretends to drop it into a pretend envelope. “Plink!”
  3. Ask: “How many are left for you?” Count them together: 9! Say: “Heavenly Father gives us everything, and He only asks for one.”
  4. SAY“Families give tithing to the bishopric on a donation slip. It helps build temples and churches and share the gospel around the world.”
  5. Ask a 6- or 7-year-old: “If Grandma gave you 10 dollars for your birthday, how much would be tithing?” (1 dollar!)

Class screen: 🖐️ Ten fingers. One for Heavenly Father! · 9 for me · 1 for the Lord

5. Scripture

Windows of Heaven: Malachi 3:10

3 min

Big motions help them remember the Lord’s tithing promise.

  1. SAY“The Lord made a promise to everyone who pays tithing. Listen!”
  2. Show the verse and read it slowly. Then let a reader read it too.
  3. Teach the motions one phrase at a time. If there’s a real window, everyone can face it for “windows of heaven.”
  4. Say it three ways: in a whisper, like a gentle rainstorm, then like a giant downpour.
  5. Ask: “What blessings has Heavenly Father poured out on you?”

Class screen: 🪟 Open the windows of heaven, pour out a blessing! · Malachi 3:10

6. Game

Forehead Guess: Windows of Heaven Edition

4 min

A Heads Up–style game reviews the story, and the pictures let pre-readers play too.

  1. Tap Forehead Guess. The guesser holds your phone or tablet on their forehead, screen facing the class.
  2. The class gives clues without saying the word, or acts it out: baa for Lamb, finger rain for Rain, a big hug for Family.
  3. The guesser tilts your phone or tablet down for “got it” and up to pass. Each turn lasts about 45 seconds.
  4. When a 4- or 5-year-old guesses, give them a big buddy who stands beside them and helps.
🌪️ Clue-givers stay sitting on their spot. Use the Name Spinner to pick each new guesser.
▶ Play Forehead Guess on the web

Class screen: 🤔 Forehead Guess! · Give clues. Don’t say the word!

7. Game

Scripture Showdown

5 minBONUS

A fast team quiz reviews everything they learned.

  1. Split into two teams, mixing big kids and little kids on each team. Tap Scripture Showdown to start.
  2. Read each question and the picture choices aloud. Teams whisper together, then point to an answer.
  3. Tap the team that got it right to give them a point.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🏆 Scripture Showdown!

8. Talk it over

Pass the Heart

2 min

Children say out loud how they know Heavenly Father loves them and how they can love their families.

  1. Sit in a circle. Pass the paper heart to whoever answers next.
  2. Ask one question at a time. Little ones can answer with one word. Share your own answer too.
💬 Ask the class
  • How do you know Heavenly Father loves you?
  • If you had 10 pennies, how many would you give as tithing?
  • What blessings has Heavenly Father poured out on your family?
  • What is one way you can show love to someone in your family this week?

Class screen: ❤️ Pass the heart and share!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A paper heart cut from any paper, to pass during Talk It Over

  1. Sit in a circle. Make a heart with your hands and pretend to pass it to whoever answers next. They catch it with their own heart hands.
  2. Ask one question at a time. Little ones can answer with one word. Share your own answer too.
9. Testimony

Together Forever

2 min

End calm and reverent, feeling Heavenly Father’s love for them and their families.

  1. Stand in a circle and hold hands. Lower your voice.
  2. SAY“Heavenly Father loves each of you. He gave us tithing so we can help build His kingdom, and He sent Elijah so families can be together forever.” Add one sentence about your own family or the temple.
  3. Show the Heart-Turning Hug challenge on the screen.
  4. Ask a child to say the closing prayer.

Class screen: 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families can be together forever! · I have loved you, saith the LORD

Story drama

Malachi’s Promises

Malachi 1; 3–4; Joseph Smith—History 1:36–39; Doctrine and Covenants 110 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • MalachiA reader! The prophet who says, “I have loved you, saith the LORD.”
  • The FarmerBrings a tired, limping lamb to give to God, and keeps the best one for himself.
  • The LambCrawls slowly, limps, and gives a sad little “baa.”
  • Tithing HelperLeads everyone counting to ten, then holds up one finger: “One for the Lord!”
  • ElijahWears the white towel and hands Joseph and Oliver a pretend key.
  • Joseph SmithKneels in the Kirtland Temple and receives the key from Elijah.
  • Oliver CowderyKneels next to Joseph and receives the key too.
  • Family CrewEveryone else: hug, count, rain down blessings, tick like clocks and cheer.

Scenes

  1. ❤️📜 “I have loved you,” says the Lord

    The last prophet in the Old Testament was named Malachi. The very first thing the Lord told him to say was, “I have loved you.” But the people asked, “How do You love us?” They had forgotten all their blessings.

    🎬 Malachi says, “I have loved you, saith the LORD.” Everyone gives themselves a big hug.

  2. 🐑🩹 A tired lamb for God?

    People were supposed to give God their very best lamb. But some gave Him a sick, hurt lamb and kept the best one for themselves. Malachi asked, “Would you give a gift like that to your leader?”

    🎬 The Farmer leads the limping Lamb. Crew shakes their heads: “Not the best!”

  3. 🔟☝️ One out of ten for the Lord

    The Lord asked His people to give Him a tenth. That means for every ten things, give one to the Lord. It’s called tithing.

    🎬 Tithing Helper counts to ten on fingers with everyone, then holds up one finger: “One for the Lord!”

  4. 🪟🌧️ Open the windows of heaven!

    Then the Lord made a promise. “When you pay your tithing, I will open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings, so many you can’t hold them all!”

    🎬 Everyone pushes open pretend window shutters, then wiggles fingers down like rain: “Blessings!”

  5. 📜❤️ One more promise: Elijah will come

    At the very end of his book, Malachi wrote one more promise. The Lord would send the prophet Elijah to help children and parents love each other and be joined together.

    🎬 Malachi points far away: “Elijah will come!” Everyone turns to a neighbor and makes a heart with their hands.

  6. ⏳🕰️ Waiting a long, long time

    Years and years went by. Jesus was born, lived, died and rose again. Then many, many more years passed. The promise was still waiting.

    🎬 Everyone ticks like a clock: “Tick… tock… tick… tock…”

  7. ⛪✨ Elijah comes to the Kirtland Temple

    On Easter Sunday in 1836, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery knelt and prayed in the new Kirtland Temple. Jesus Christ appeared to them! Then heavenly messengers came, and one of them was Elijah! He gave them special priesthood keys from God.

    🎬 Joseph and Oliver kneel. Elijah stands tall in the white towel and hands them a pretend key. Everyone: “Oooh!”

  8. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🏛️ Families can be together forever!

    Because Elijah came, families can be sealed together in the temple forever. Malachi’s promise came true, and it can bless your family too!

    🎬 Everyone holds hands in a big circle and gently swings arms: “Together forever!”

Key verse

Malachi 3:10 ↗
“open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing”
In kid words: When I pay my tithing, Heavenly Father pours out blessings on me.
🙌 “open you the windows of heaven” = push two pretend shutters open above your head · “and pour you out” = tip a big pretend bucket · “a blessing” = wiggle your fingers down like rain, then catch it in a hug

More verses

Malachi 1:2 ↗
“I have loved you, saith the LORD.”
In kid words: The Lord says, “I love you!”
Malachi 4:5–6 ↗
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet … And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers”
In kid words: I will send Elijah. He will help parents and children love each other and be a family forever.

Forehead Guess words16 words

  • 📜 Malachi
  • 🐑 Lamb
  • 🔟 Ten
  • 🪙 Tithing
  • ✉️ Envelope
  • 🪟 Window
  • 🌧️ Rain
  • ❤️ Heart
  • 🧔 Elijah
  • 🔑 Key
  • 🏛️ Temple
  • 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family
  • 👵 Grandma
  • 👴 Grandpa
  • 🤗 Hug
  • 🕰️ Clock
Clues for each word
  • Malachi: The last prophet in the Old Testament
  • Lamb: Baa! God wanted the best one
  • Ten: Count all your fingers
  • Tithing: One out of ten for the Lord
  • Envelope: We put tithing in it to give to the bishop
  • Window: In heaven, these open and blessings pour out
  • Rain: Blessings pour down like it
  • Heart: Shape that means love
  • Elijah: Prophet who came to the Kirtland Temple
  • Key: Elijah gave Joseph Smith a special one
  • Temple: Families are sealed together there
  • Family: Can be together forever
  • Grandma: Your mom’s or dad’s mom
  • Grandpa: Your mom’s or dad’s dad
  • Hug: Squeeze someone you love
  • Clock: Tick, tock! Waiting for Elijah
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown8 questions

  1. What did the Lord tell Malachi first?
    • A. ❤️ “I have loved you”
    • B. 🛏️ “Go to bed”
    • C. 🚢 “Build a boat”
    Show answer

    ✅ A. ❤️ “I have loved you” Malachi 1:2. The Lord loves His people, and He loves you!

  2. Some people gave God a lamb that was…
    • A. ⭐ the very best
    • B. 🩹 sick or hurt
    • C. 🍫 made of chocolate
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🩹 sick or hurt They gave leftovers instead of their best (Malachi 1:8).

  3. Tithing means giving the Lord one out of every…
    • A. 2️⃣ two
    • B. 💯 hundred
    • C. 🔟 ten
    Show answer

    ✅ C. 🔟 ten One out of every ten!

  4. If you have 10 pennies, how many are tithing?
    • A. 1️⃣ One
    • B. 5️⃣ Five
    • C. 🔟 Ten
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 1️⃣ One One for the Lord, nine for you.

  5. The Lord promised to open the windows of…
    • A. 🚗 a car
    • B. ☁️ heaven
    • C. 🏫 the school
    Show answer

    ✅ B. ☁️ heaven He will “open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing” (Malachi 3:10).

  6. Which prophet did Malachi promise would come?
    • A. 🚢 Noah
    • B. 🐋 Jonah
    • C. 🧔 Elijah
    Show answer

    ✅ C. 🧔 Elijah “I will send you Elijah the prophet” (Malachi 4:5).

  7. Where did Elijah come to Joseph Smith?
    • A. ⛪ A temple
    • B. ⛵ A boat
    • C. 🌲 A forest
    Show answer

    ✅ A. ⛪ A temple Elijah came to the Kirtland Temple in 1836.

  8. Because Elijah came, families can be…
    • A. 📣 loud forever
    • B. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 together forever
    • C. 😴 sleepy forever
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 together forever Families can be sealed together forever in the temple.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • I Want to Give the Lord My Tenth Children’s Songbook, p. 150

    The tithing song! Sing it right after Ten and One. Find it ↗

  • Families Can Be Together Forever Children’s Songbook, p. 188

    Elijah came so this could be true. Sing it in the Together Forever circle. Find it ↗

  • My Heavenly Father Loves Me Children’s Songbook, p. 228

    Goes with the Lord’s first words to Malachi: “I have loved you.” Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Heart-Turning Hug

This week, ask a grandparent or parent to tell you one story about when they were little. Give them a big hug when they’re done. If you get any money, put one out of every ten aside for tithing.

Text the parents

Today in Primary we learned from the prophet Malachi that the Lord loves us (Malachi 1:2), that He opens the windows of heaven when we pay tithing (Malachi 3:10), and that He sent Elijah so families can be together forever (Malachi 4:5–6). We counted ten fingers and gave one to the Lord. Ask your child: how much of 10 pennies is tithing? And will you tell them a story from when you were little?

📝 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?

🥤 Overflowing Cup · 3 min

  1. Set a small cup in a baking dish. Read Malachi 3:10: “that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
  2. Let a helper slowly pour water into the cup until it spills over into the dish.
  3. SAY“Heavenly Father’s blessings are like this: more than we can hold!” Name blessings as the water overflows.

💕 My Family Heart · 5 min

  1. Give each child a paper heart. Little ones draw their family inside it; readers write the names.
  2. Add a grandma or grandpa at the edge of the heart.
  3. SAY“Elijah came so hearts can turn to our families, now and forever.”

🪟 Blessings Window · 5 min

  1. Fold a paper in half like two window shutters.
  2. Inside, kids draw blessings Heavenly Father has poured out on them.
  3. Open the “window” and share one blessing with a neighbor.

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