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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 4–6
  • 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 in Malachi 1:2: “I have loved you.” But the people had grown careless. In 1:8, some brought blind, lame or sick animals to offer. They kept the best for themselves. 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. He 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 online or with a donation slip given to a member of the bishopric. 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 get money yet, and some families are going through hard times. Never ask who pays. Tithing is paid on money we actually receive.

Malachi ends with a promise in 4:5–6. 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.” The angel Moroni quoted this promise to Joseph Smith, in Joseph Smith—History 1:36–39. In 1836, Elijah came to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple. He gave them priesthood keys, as Doctrine and Covenants 110:13–16 tells. Because of those keys, families can be sealed together forever in temples today.

For 4- to 7-year-olds, use three simple pictures. A hug means the Lord loves me. One finger up means one out of ten for tithing. Heart hands mean families forever. Readers can read Malachi’s words from the screen, and little ones count and lead the motions. Many families help their newly baptized children start paying tithing on their own money. Be gentle about families. Some 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, 3:10 and 4:5–6. You don’t need pennies, since every child has ten fingers. Tell the story in Teach Mode. Teach the Malachi 3:10 motions and do Ten and One. End with heart hands: “Families can be together forever!” Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing,” and the pennies become fingers.

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. Read Malachi 1:2, 3:8–10 and 4:5–6.
  2. Put the broken crayon in the gift bag and the new one in your pocket. Put the 10 pennies in a cup. Draw a heart on the envelope.

If your class is wild

  • Try a countdown attention signal. Hold up ten fingers and fold them down one at a time. By “one,” everyone’s quiet.
  • Give your wiggliest 6- or 7-year-old the Sound Helper job. Now their energy has a job.
  • 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 fingers.
  • Never ask who pays tithing. Talk about what we can do, not what anyone’s family does.

The 25-minute plan24 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 broken-crayon “gift” shows the difference between leftovers and our best.

  1. SAY“I brought a present for my very best friend! Want to see?”
  2. Slowly pull the broken crayon out of the bag. Ask, “Would my friend feel loved?” Kids show thumbs up or down.
  3. Pull the new crayon from your pocket. Ask, “Which gift is better?”
  4. SAY“Long ago, some people gave God their leftovers instead of their best. A prophet named Malachi teaches what Heavenly Father asked for.”
🌪️ 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 inside, and a brand-new crayon or nice sticker hidden in your pocket

Pretend Presents

  1. SAY“I brought presents for my very best friend! Want to see?”
  2. Pretend to pull a squished old sandwich out of an invisible bag: “Ew!” Then a sock with a hole. Then a shiny new bike!
  3. After each one, kids show thumbs up or down. Ask, “Which gift shows more love?”
  4. SAY“Long ago, some people gave God their leftovers instead of their best. A prophet named Malachi teaches what Heavenly Father asked for.”
2. Story

Story: Malachi’s Promises

7 min

You tell a true scripture story with pictures. The whole class joins in from their seats.

  1. SAY“This is a true story from the scriptures. Keep your eyes on the pictures. I’ll ask you to find things.”
  2. Open the story in Teach Mode. When the screen says “Find,” let kids point before you read on. Big kids can read the caption first.
  3. At scene 3, count to ten slowly together so the littlest kids can keep up.
  4. After scene 7, ask, “Who’s someone in your family you love?” Take two or three quick answers.
🌪️ If the room drifts, hold up ten fingers and fold them down one at a time. By “one,” everyone’s listening.

Class screen: 📜 Malachi’s Promises · 👀 Find it! · 🫶 Families forever!

3. Wiggle break

Blessing Rain

2 min

A quick up-and-down wiggle makes Malachi’s promise something kids can feel.

  1. SAY“Heavenly Father promised to open the windows of heaven! Crouch down low under the window.”
  2. Tap rain on the Sound Board. Everyone springs up, pushes open the shutters and wiggles fingers down like rain. Call, “Catch a blessing!” One child names it.
  3. Call “Windows closed!” and everyone freezes. Play three rounds, then sit down.
🌪️ 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. Scripture

Key Verse: Malachi 3:10

3 min

Window-and-rain motions help kids remember the Lord’s tithing promise.

  1. SAY“The Lord made a promise to everyone who pays tithing. Listen!”
  2. Show the verse on your phone or tablet and read it slowly. Let a reader read it too.
  3. Teach the motions one phrase at a time. Say it three ways: a whisper, a gentle rainstorm, then a giant downpour.
  4. Ask: “What blessings has Heavenly Father poured out on you?”

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

5. Object lesson

Ten and One

6 min

Counting real coins shows what tithing is, and kids practice figuring out one out of ten.

  1. SAY“Tithing means one out of ten goes to Heavenly Father. Let’s count coins!”
  2. Pour the 10 pennies into a helper’s hands and count to ten together. A 4- or 5-year-old puts one penny in the envelope. Everyone says, “One for the Lord!”
  3. Ask, “How many are left for you?” Count together: nine! Ask a 6- or 7-year-old, “If Grandma gave you ten dollars, how much is tithing?” One dollar!
  4. SAY“Heavenly Father gives us everything. And He only asks for one. Families give tithing to the bishopric. It helps build temples and churches around the world.”
  5. Show the tithing slip if you brought one.
🌪️ Only the helper holds the pennies. Everyone else counts on 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 with a heart drawn on it

Ten Fingers

  1. SAY“Tithing means one out of ten goes to Heavenly Father. Let’s pretend every finger is a coin!”
  2. Everyone holds up ten fingers and counts to ten. Then fold down one pinky and drop it in a pretend envelope: “One for the Lord!”
  3. Ask, “How many are left for you?” Count together: nine! Ask a 6- or 7-year-old, “If Grandma gave you ten dollars, how much is tithing?” One dollar!
  4. SAY“Heavenly Father gives us everything. And He only asks for one. Families give tithing to the bishopric. It helps build temples and churches around the world.”
6. Testimony

Together Forever

3 min

End calm, with the Lord’s love and the promise of forever families.

  1. SAY“Heavenly Father loves each of you. He sent Elijah so families can be together forever.”
  2. Everyone makes heart hands. Add a sentence or two about your own family, the temple or a blessing from paying tithing.
  3. Show the Heart-Turning Hug challenge on the screen. Then ask a child to say the closing prayer.

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

7. Game

Forehead Guess: Windows of Heaven Edition

4 minBONUS

A Heads Up–style review of today’s story. The picture shows with each word, so pre-readers can play too.

  1. SAY“Let’s see what you remember! Give clues, but don’t say the word.”
  2. Tap Forehead Guess. One kid holds your phone or tablet on their forehead, screen facing the class. Everyone else gives clues from their seats.
  3. Motions and sounds make great clues. Baa for Lamb, finger rain for Rain, heart hands for Family. Tilt down for “got it” and up to pass.
  4. Give each turn about 30 seconds. Pair a 4- or 5-year-old guesser with an older buddy who whispers help.
🌪️ Go around the circle with one clue each, so nobody shouts over anybody.
▶ 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 everything they learned.

  1. SAY“It’s Team Windows versus Team Hearts!”
  2. Split the class in two, mixing big and little kids. Tap Scripture Showdown.
  3. Read each question and the picture choices out loud. Teams whisper together, then point 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

Malachi’s Promises

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

Optional helpers

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

Scenes

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

    The last prophet in the Old Testament was named Malachi. The Lord gave Malachi a message. And the very first words were, “I have loved you.” But the people had forgotten all their blessings.

    🙌

  2. 🐑🩹 A tired lamb for God?

    People were supposed to give God their very best lamb. But some gave Him a sick, hurt lamb. They kept the best one for themselves. Would that make a good gift?

    🙌 Find the lamb. Is it the very best one? Thumbs up or down?

  3. 🔟☝️ One out of ten for the Lord

    The Lord asked His people to give Him one out of every ten things. That’s called tithing. Heavenly Father gives us everything. And He asks for just one out of ten.

    🙌 Count ten fingers together. Then hold up one: “One for the Lord!”

  4. 🪟🌧️ Open the windows of heaven!

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

    🙌 Find the window! Push it open, and wiggle your fingers down like rain.

  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. Elijah would turn the hearts of children and parents toward each other. Then people waited a long, long time.

    🙌

  6. ⛪✨ Elijah comes to the Kirtland Temple

    On Easter Sunday in eighteen thirty-six, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery knelt in the new Kirtland Temple. They prayed. Jesus Christ appeared to them! Then heavenly messengers came. One of them was Elijah! He gave them special priesthood keys.

    🙌

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

    Because Elijah came, families can be sealed together in the temple forever. Malachi’s promise came true! And the Lord still says to each of you, “I have loved you.”

    🙌 Heart hands: “Families 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 after the story, with heart hands. 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, set aside one out of every ten for tithing.

Text the parents

Today in Primary we learned three things from the prophet Malachi. The Lord loves us, in Malachi 1:2. He opens the windows of heaven when we pay tithing, in 3:10. And He sent Elijah so families can be together forever, in 4:5–6. We counted ten coins and gave one to the Lord. Ask your child, “How much of 10 pennies is tithing?” Then 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. They’re more than we can hold!”
  4. 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, and 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 4–6 lessons