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Ye Are the Light of the World

Jesus’s surprising secret list for real happiness, and how one kid can light up a whole room

  • 💧 Valiant 7–8
  • Week 7
  • 📅 Sunday, February 14, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

When I live the way Jesus taught on the mountain, I find real happiness, and my light helps other people find Him.

I can let my light shine by being gentle, kind and a peacemaker like Jesus.

Study it yourself firstRead Matthew 5; Luke 6 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Matthew 5; Luke 6)
Know the chapters

Early in His ministry, huge crowds followed Jesus from Galilee, Jerusalem and beyond. He went up on a mountain and sat down to teach. Teachers in those days often seem to have sat to teach. Compare Luke 4:20. Then He gave the sermon we call the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 5–7. Luke 6 records a very similar sermon. This week covers Matthew 5. It has the Beatitudes, salt and light, and a higher way to live. That means no staying angry, making peace fast, and loving even enemies. It ends with the invitation to become perfect.

The Beatitudes are in Matthew 5:3–12. Each one starts with “Blessed,” which means deeply happy and favored by God. Jesus turned the world’s idea of happiness upside down. It’s not the richest, loudest or most popular. It’s the humble, the gentle, the merciful, the pure in heart and the peacemakers. Every quality comes with a promise. For eight-year-olds, focus on a few they can practice this week. Try meek, which means gentle, not bossy. Try merciful, which means forgiving. Then pure in heart, and peacemaker. Jesus gave this same sermon to the people in the Americas. He began by blessing those who believe in Him, are baptized, and receive the Holy Ghost, in 3 Nephi 12:1–2. Most of your class just did exactly that.

Salt and light are in Matthew 5:13–16. In Jesus’s day, salt kept food from spoiling and made it taste good. It was also part of covenant offerings in ancient Israel. A “bushel” was a basket or bowl for measuring grain. So hiding a lamp under one would be silly. Jesus is the Light of the World, in John 8:12. Our light is His light shining through our good works. The goal is that people “glorify your Father which is in heaven,” not us.

“Be ye therefore perfect,” in Matthew 5:48, can scare careful kids. The Greek word points to being complete or whole. It’s a goal we grow toward over a lifetime with Jesus’s help. It’s not a rule that we must never make mistakes. Repentance and the sacrament are part of the plan.

Only have 5 minutes?

Read Matthew 5:1–16. Grab a flashlight and a mixing bowl. Do the Top Secret whisper and tell the story from Teach Mode. Say Matthew 5:16 with motions, do Light Under a Bowl, and close with your testimony. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing.” The kids become the candles.

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 Matthew 5:1–16.
  2. Tape a picture of Jesus low on the far wall, or stand your open scriptures there. Check that your flashlight reaches it with the lights off.

If your class is wild

  • Lights out is huge excitement. The lights go off only when everyone’s frozen and silent. One shriek and they come back on.
  • Pointing at the screen pulls every eye to the front. Use it anytime you lose the room.
  • Make your most dramatic kid the Light Leader. They lead “Let it shine!” at the big moment.
  • Give the flashlight to the kid who most needs a job. Holding the light is a big honor, and it keeps busy hands busy.
  • When two kids start bickering, call “Peacemaker moment!” They shake hands and each say one nice thing. Then keep going.

The 25-minute plan23 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

Top Secret: Jesus’s Happy List

3 min

A quick body vote and a whispered secret get everyone curious.

  1. SAY“Stand up if this would make you the happiest kid alive. A million dollars? Winning every game? A mountain of ice cream?”
  2. SAY“Jesus gave a giant crowd His secret list for real happiness. I’ll whisper its name to one person.”
  3. Whisper “Be-Attitudes” to one kid and pass it around the circle. The last kid says it out loud.
  4. SAY“Not things to HAVE. Ways to BE. Let’s go up the mountain and hear them.”
🌪️ Voters stand and sit in their own spot. Bump a neighbor and you vote sitting down.

Class screen: 🤫 TOP SECRET: Jesus’s list for REAL happiness · 🤫 Pass it on…

2. Story

Story: The Sermon on the Mountain

7 min

Jesus’s own words show kids His surprising way to real happiness and how their light can point to Him.

  1. SAY“This is a true story from the Bible. 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.
  3. After scene 4, ask, “Two friends grab the same ball at recess. What would a peacemaker do?”
  4. After scene 6, ask, “Who’s hard to be kind to?” Then ask what they could do for that person this week.
🌪️ If the room drifts, ask everyone to point to something on the screen. Then read on.

Class screen: ⛰️ The Sermon on the Mountain · 👀 Look closely! · 💡 Let it shine!

3. Scripture

Key Verse: Matthew 5:16

4 min

Motions help active kids memorize Jesus’s invitation to shine.

  1. SAY“Here is Jesus’s invitation to shine.”
  2. Show the verse on your phone or tablet and read it slowly.
  3. SAY“‘Good works’ are the kind, good things we do. ‘Glorify’ means to praise and honor.”
  4. Teach the motions one phrase at a time. Say it twice, first as a tiny candle whisper, then as a proud lighthouse voice.
  5. Ask, “Who gets the praise when we let our light shine?” Heavenly Father!

Class screen: 💡 Let your light so shine!

4. Object lesson

Light Under a Bowl

6 min

A flashlight hidden and then lifted shows that our light is meant to shine and point to Jesus.

  1. SAY“When everyone is frozen and silent, the lights go off.”
  2. A helper turns off the lights. Turn on the flashlight and cover it with the bowl. Ask, “Can anybody find the picture of Jesus?”
  3. The light’s hidden! Lift the bowl and shine it across the room until it lands on Jesus. Everyone whispers, “There He is!”
  4. SAY“When we do good works, Jesus’s light shines through us. And it helps people find Him.”
  5. Pass the flashlight to three or four kids. Each names a good work for this week and shines the light on Jesus. Lights on.
🌪️ Lights go back on the second anyone runs or shrieks. They’ll be very still.

Class screen: 🔦 Don’t hide your light! · Under a bowl? 🙈 · Up high! 💡

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A flashlight, A big mixing bowl or small laundry basket (the “bushel”)

Human Candles

  1. SAY“You are the candles!”
  2. Everyone holds one arm up, fingertips together like a flame. Tap each candle to light it. Lit candles flicker their fingertips.
  3. Dim the lights if you can. Call “Bushel!” and everyone covers their flame. Call “Candlestick!” and flames go up high.
  4. SAY“When we do good works, Jesus’s light shines through us. And it helps people find Him.”
  5. Everyone points their flame up toward heaven. Each candle quickly names a good work for this week. Lights on.

Class screen: 🕯️ You are the candles! Don’t hide your flame! · Bushel = hide 🙈 · Candlestick = shine! 💡

5. Testimony

Testimony & Light Spotters

3 min

End calm and reverent, with a way to shine at home.

  1. SAY“When you were baptized, you promised to follow Jesus. Letting your light shine is how we keep that promise every day.”
  2. Briefly share about someone whose light helped you come closer to Jesus. Or share how living His way made you happy.
  3. Show the Light Spotter challenge on the screen. Then invite a child to say the closing prayer.

Class screen: 🔦 This week: be a Light Spotter! · Do one secret good work each day · Spot someone else shining

6. Game

Forehead Guess: Mountain Edition

4 minBONUS

A quick Heads Up–style review of the people, pictures and Beatitudes from today.

  1. SAY“Let’s see what you remember! Give clues, but don’t say the word.”
  2. Tap Forehead Guess.
  3. One kid holds your phone or tablet on their forehead, screen facing the class. Everyone else gives clues from their seats.
  4. Tilt down for “got it” and up to pass. Each turn is 45 seconds. Then pass your phone or tablet to the next kid.
🌪️ Go around the room one clue at a time. That way nobody shouts over anybody.
▶ 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. SAY“Team Salt versus Team Light!”
  2. Split the class in two and tap Scripture Showdown.
  3. Read each question out loud. Teams whisper together, then point to an answer.
  4. Tap the team that got it right to give them a point.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🏆 Scripture Showdown!

The story

The Sermon on the Mountain

Matthew 5:1–16, 43–45 ↗

Optional helpers

  • Light LeaderLeads the cupped-hands “Let it shine!” from their seat at the big moment.
  • Sound HelperSits next to you and taps each scene’s sound on your phone or tablet.

Scenes

  1. 🚶‍♀️⛰️ Crowds follow Jesus up a mountain

    News about Jesus spread everywhere. Huge crowds came from Galilee, Jerusalem and beyond. When Jesus saw them, He went up on a mountain and sat down to teach. His disciples came close, and everyone got quiet to listen.

    🙌 Find the mountain on the screen. Point to the very top!

  2. 😢🤗 “Blessed are they that mourn”

    Jesus said, “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” What does blessed mean? Truly happy, blessed by God. Even sad people? Yes! Jesus promised that God would comfort them.

    🙌

  3. 🐑💛 Gentle people are blessed

    Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Meek means gentle and humble. Strong, but never bossy. The world says be loud and pushy to win. Jesus said the gentle way is the happy way.

    🙌

  4. 🤝🕊️ “Blessed are the peacemakers”

    Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Who are peacemakers? They help people stop fighting. They share, say sorry and forgive.

    🙌 Find the dove on the screen. It means peace. Shake a neighbor’s hand!

  5. 🧂🕯️ Salt and light

    Jesus said, “Ye are the salt of the earth.” Salt makes food better. Then He said, “Ye are the light of the world.” Would you hide a lamp under a basket? No! You put it up high to light the whole house.

    🙌 Find the candle. Cup your hands, then burst them open: “Let it shine!”

  6. 😠👋 Love even your enemies

    Then Jesus said something surprising. Love your enemies, and pray for people who are mean to you. Heavenly Father sends sunshine and rain on everyone. When we love like that, we act like His children.

    🙌

  7. 🏙️💡 A city on a hill shines

    Jesus said a city on a hill can’t be hidden. When we live His way, people see our good works and praise Heavenly Father. His light shines through us!

    🙌

Key verse

Matthew 5:16 ↗
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”
In kid words: Be so kind and good that people notice, and it makes them think of Heavenly Father.
🙌 “Let your light” = cup hands at your chest like a lamp · “so shine” = burst fingers up and out · “before men” = point around the room · “see your good works” = binoculars, then a high five in the air · “glorify your Father which is in heaven” = both arms reach up high

More verses

Matthew 5:9 ↗
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
In kid words: People who help others stop fighting are truly happy, and God calls them His children.
Matthew 5:14 ↗
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”
In kid words: You are a light for the whole world, like a city on a hill that everyone can see.
Matthew 5:13 ↗
“Ye are the salt of the earth”
In kid words: You make the world better, the way salt makes food taste good.
Matthew 5:44 ↗
“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you”
In kid words: Love people who are mean to you, say kind things back, and do good things for them.

Forehead Guess words18 words

  • ⛰️ Mountain
  • 😊 Beatitudes
  • 🙌 Blessed
  • 🧂 Salt
  • 💡 Light
  • 🕯️ Candle
  • 🧺 Basket
  • 🏙️ City on a Hill
  • 🤝 Peacemaker
  • 🐑 Gentle
  • 💗 Merciful
  • 💖 Pure in Heart
  • 😠 Enemy
  • 👥 Crowd
  • 🎣 Disciples
  • 🤗 Comfort
  • 🙋 Good Works
  • 🙏 Pray
Clues for each word
  • Mountain: Jesus climbed one and sat down to teach
  • Beatitudes: Jesus’s list of ways to BE truly happy
  • Blessed: Truly happy, with God’s help
  • Salt: Sprinkle it on fries to make them taste good
  • Light: Flip the switch and the dark goes away
  • Candle: It has a tiny flame and a wick
  • Basket: Don’t hide your light under one!
  • City on a Hill: Lots of buildings up high that can’t be hidden
  • Peacemaker: Someone who helps people stop fighting
  • Gentle: Soft and kind, like holding a baby lamb
  • Merciful: You forgive someone even when they mess up
  • Pure in Heart: Jesus said these people shall see God
  • Enemy: Someone who is mean to you. Jesus said love them!
  • Crowd: A huge group of people all together
  • Disciples: Jesus’s followers, and some were fishermen
  • Comfort: What God gives people who are sad
  • Good Works: Kind things you do that let your light shine
  • Pray: Jesus said do this even for people who are mean
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown8 questions

  1. Where did Jesus sit down to teach this famous sermon?
    • A. On a boat
    • B. On a mountain
    • C. In a palace
    Show answer

    ✅ B. On a mountain That’s why we call it the Sermon on the Mount!

  2. What does “blessed” mean in the Beatitudes?
    • A. Truly happy, with God’s help
    • B. Sneezing a lot
    • C. Being the richest person
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Truly happy, with God’s help Jesus taught that real happiness comes from living His way.

  3. What did Jesus promise to the peacemakers?
    • A. A big prize
    • B. A trip to the beach
    • C. They shall be called the children of God
    Show answer

    ✅ C. They shall be called the children of God Matthew 5:9. Peacemakers act just like Heavenly Father’s children.

  4. Jesus said, “Ye are the ___ of the earth.”
    • A. Pepper
    • B. Salt
    • C. Sugar
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Salt Salt makes food better, and so do kind kids!

  5. Where should you NOT put a lit candle?
    • A. On a candlestick
    • B. Up high so everyone can see
    • C. Under a basket
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Under a basket Hiding a light is silly. Jesus wants our light to shine!

  6. When people see our good works, who should they praise?
    • A. Our Father which is in heaven
    • B. Us, because we’re awesome
    • C. Nobody
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Our Father which is in heaven Matthew 5:16. Our light points people to Heavenly Father and Jesus.

  7. What did Jesus say to do for people who are mean to you?
    • A. Be mean back
    • B. Love them and pray for them
    • C. Never talk to them again
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Love them and pray for them Matthew 5:44. It’s hard, but Jesus will help us do it.

  8. What does “meek” mean?
    • A. Squeaky like a mouse
    • B. Loud and bossy
    • C. Gentle and humble
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Gentle and humble Meek people are strong enough to be gentle, like Jesus.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • Jesus Said Love Everyone Children’s Songbook, p. 61

    Sing it after scene 6 of the story. Jesus said to love even our enemies. Find it ↗

  • Love One Another Children’s Songbook, p. 136

    Peacemakers love one another the way Jesus loves us. Find it ↗

  • I’m Trying to Be like Jesus Children’s Songbook, p. 78

    Letting our light shine means trying to be like Him every day. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Light Spotter

Do one secret good work every day this week, like making your sibling’s bed or sharing a snack. Then spot someone else letting their light shine. Tell your family about it at dinner.

Text the parents

Today in Primary we heard how Jesus taught the Beatitudes on a mountain. Blessed are the meek, the merciful, the pure in heart and the peacemakers. We learned that we’re the salt of the earth and the light of the world. That’s Matthew 5:13–16. Ask your child what secret good work they can do this week to let their light shine.

📝 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?

🏃 Mercy Tag · 4 min

  1. Play freeze tag in a safe space. When you’re tagged, you freeze.
  2. A friend can unfreeze you by walking over, saying something kind, and giving a high five.
  3. Afterward, ask, “Jesus said the merciful will obtain mercy. How did it feel when someone rescued you?”

🔦 Hidden Light Hunt · 4 min

  1. While kids cover their eyes, hide the lit flashlight under a coat or a bowl.
  2. Turn off the lights. Kids tiptoe to find the glow.
  3. Ask, “Was it easy or hard to find?” Then ask what happens when we hide our light.

🌱 Be Ye Therefore Perfect? · 3 min

  1. Read Matthew 5:48. Ask, “Does anybody here never make mistakes?” Nope!
  2. Walk two fingers across your palm like a baby learning to walk. Crawl, wobble, fall, get up, step. Kids copy you.
  3. Say, “Becoming perfect is like learning to walk. Jesus helps every step. When we fall, we repent and get back up.”

🧂 Salt Taste Test · 3 min

  1. Bring plain unsalted crackers and regular salted crackers. Check food allergies and your ward’s food policy first.
  2. Give each kid a piece of unsalted cracker. Ask, “How does it taste?” Blah!
  3. Now give each kid a salted one. Ask, “Which one is better? What made the difference?”
  4. Say, “A little salt changes everything. Jesus said YOU are the salt of the earth. One kind kid makes everything better.”
  5. Ask, “Where could you be the salt this week?”

🤝 Peacemaker or Troublemaker? · 3 min

  1. Read each situation. Kids with a peacemaker idea raise a hand. Praise each good idea with “Children of God!”
  2. Ask, “Your little brother knocks over your LEGO tower. What would a peacemaker do?”
  3. Ask, “Two friends both grab the same ball and start yelling. How could you help make peace?”
  4. Ask, “Someone says something mean to you. Jesus said to pray for them. What could you pray?”
  5. Ask which Be-Attitude they want to practice this week. Gentle, merciful, pure in heart, or peacemaker?

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 Valiant 7–8 lessons