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I Will Give You Rest

A rock in a lunch bag, a man who stretched out his hand, and a Savior who helps carry our heavy loads

  • 💧 CTR 8
  • Week 11
  • 📅 Sunday, March 14, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

When I come to Jesus Christ, He helps me carry what feels heavy, and the Sabbath is a special day to come to Him and do good.

I can come to Jesus when something feels heavy, and I can do good on the Sabbath.

Study it yourself firstRead Matthew 11–12; Luke 11 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Matthew 11–12; Luke 11)
Know the chapters

In Matthew 11:28–30 Jesus gives one of His most tender invitations: come to Him when you are tired and weighed down, take His yoke, and find rest. A yoke is a wooden beam that joins two oxen so they pull a load together. When we make covenants with Jesus, like the children did at baptism, it is as if we are yoked to Him. He does not always take our burdens away, but He pulls with us, and the load becomes lighter.

Matthew 12 shows what Jesus’s “rest” is not. The Pharisees had piled so many extra rules onto the Sabbath that it felt like a burden. When hungry disciples picked some grain (the King James Version calls it “corn”), the Pharisees complained. In the synagogue they pointed to a man with a withered hand and asked if healing on the Sabbath was allowed, hoping to trap Jesus. He asked who wouldn’t lift their one sheep out of a pit on the Sabbath, and taught that a person matters much more than a sheep, so it is right to do good on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:11–12). Then He told the man to stretch out his hand, and it was healed.

Luke 11 adds how we come to Him: prayer. Jesus teaches His disciples to pray, then asks what father would hand his hungry child a stone instead of bread, or a snake instead of a fish. If earthly parents know how to give good gifts, Heavenly Father will surely give the Holy Spirit to those who ask (Luke 11:11–13).

For eight-year-olds, keep it concrete. Their burdens are real: a friend who was mean at recess, a hard spelling test, missing a grandparent, a mistake they feel bad about. The message is simple: bring it to Jesus. Pray, read about Him, take the sacrament, and do good on His day, and He will help carry it.

Only have 5 minutes?

Read Matthew 11:28–30 and Matthew 12:9–13. Drop a slice of bread and a rock in a lunch bag for the hook. Open Teach Mode for the story drama, teach Matthew 11:28 with the motions, then play Forehead Guess. No backpack? The Tug of War trick on your phone or tablet teaches the yoke without any supplies.

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. Put the bread and the rock in the lunch bag and fold the top closed.
  2. Load the books next to the backpack (not inside it yet).
  3. Read Matthew 12:1–13 once so you can tell the story drama with confidence.
  4. Think of one ‘heavy’ time Jesus helped you. You’ll share it at the end.
  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

  • Give the Pharisee roles to your class clowns. Wagging fingers and sneaky “hehehe” laughs are a great outlet, and they get to stomp off at the end.
  • The Sheep falls into the pit by sitting down gently, not diving. Show them once before scene 6.
  • In the backpack lesson, only kids sitting ready get to name a burden and drop a book in.
  • In Do-Good Charades, actors must stay inside an invisible stage square. Step out and your team loses the turn.
  • If energy is sky-high, do the Sheep in a Pit wiggle right after the hook.

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 Rock Sandwich

2 min

A silly surprise gets giggles and opens the door to how good Heavenly Father is.

  1. Hold up the lunch bag. Say: “Pretend you just got home from school and you’re STARVING. You ask your dad for a sandwich, and he hands you…”
  2. Reach in and pull out the rock. Look at it. Pretend to take a bite. “CRUNCH! Ow!”
  3. Ask: “Would a dad who loves you do that?” (No!) Pull out the bread: “A good dad gives bread.”
  4. SAY“Jesus asked that exact question (Luke 11:11). Heavenly Father is even better than the best dad. When we come to Him, He gives good gifts: help, rest, and the Holy Ghost. Today we’ll find out how Jesus helps with heavy things.”
🌪️ Let a kid who is sitting ready knock on the rock to prove it’s real.

Class screen: 🪨 You asked for a sandwich… and got a ROCK?! · 🍞 or 🪨?

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A paper lunch bag with a slice of bread and a clean rock inside (the bread is just for show; nobody eats it)

The Invisible Rock Sandwich

  1. Hold up an invisible lunch bag. Say: “Pretend you just got home from school and you’re STARVING. You ask your dad for a sandwich, and he hands you…”
  2. Pull out an invisible rock with both hands like it weighs a ton. Tap the crash sound on the Sound Board and let it “drop” on the floor.
  3. Pretend to bite it: “CRUNCH! Ow!” Ask: “Would a dad who loves you do that?” (No!) “A good dad gives bread.” Everyone mimes eating the yummiest sandwich ever.
  4. SAY“Jesus asked that exact question (Luke 11:11). Heavenly Father is even better than the best dad. When we come to Him, He gives good gifts: help, rest, and the Holy Ghost. Today we’ll find out how Jesus helps with heavy things.”
2. Story

Story Drama: Stretch Out Your Hand!

6 min

Acting out Matthew 12 shows that Jesus’s day is a day for doing good, not a day for grumpy rules.

  1. Hand out the roles (tap Roles in Teach Mode to assign them from your class list). Everyone without a role is the Synagogue Crowd & Sound Crew.
  2. SAY“Nobody plays Jesus. I’ll read His words.”
  3. Read each scene aloud and pause for the action cue.
  4. Before scene 6, show the Sheep how to fall into the pit safely: sit down slowly.
  5. At the end, ask: “Were the Pharisees resting on the Sabbath, or grumbling? What did Jesus do on the Sabbath?” (He did good. He healed.)
🌪️ If the Pharisees get too loud, hold up a “mute” hand: their next lines must be whispered.

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

3. Wiggle break

Sheep in a Pit

2 min

The story becomes a quick call-and-move game that burns energy.

  1. Everyone stands. Say: “Graze!” Kids bend over and munch pretend grass: “Baa!”
  2. SAY“Pit!” Everyone crouches low and bleats sadly.
  3. SAY“Lift!” Everyone jumps up as high as they can.
  4. SAY“Stretch forth!” Everyone stretches both arms wide and wiggles all ten fingers.
  5. Mix up the calls faster and faster, then end on “Rest!”: everyone sits, hands under cheek.

Class screen: 🐑 Graze! Pit! Lift! Stretch forth! · Listen closely… · End on “Rest!”

4. Object lesson

The Heavy Backpack

3 min

A backpack full of books shows what a yoke is and how Jesus helps carry our loads.

  1. A volunteer puts on the empty backpack. Ask the class: “What feels heavy for kids?” (A hard test, a fight with a friend, a mistake, missing someone, being new.) For each one, drop a book into the backpack.
  2. The volunteer walks one lap around the chairs. Ask: “How does it feel?”
  3. SAY“In Jesus’s time, farmers put a wooden yoke across two oxen so they could pull together. Being yoked to Jesus is like being yoked to the strongest ox ever!”
  4. Slip one strap onto your own shoulder so you share the backpack. Walk a lap together. Ask: “Now how does it feel?”
  5. SAY“Jesus said, ‘Take my yoke upon you.’ When you were baptized, you promised to follow Him. He promised to pull with you. He may not take the backpack away, but He makes it lighter when we pray, read about Him and take the sacrament.”
🌪️ Only one volunteer wears the pack. Everyone else helps by naming burdens from their seats.
🪢 Tug of War (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🐂🐂 Pulling together makes the load light! · Alone = heavy · With Jesus = light

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A backpack and 5 or 6 books (heavy ones!)

The Tug of War Trick

  1. Tap Tug of War. Put one volunteer on one side of your phone or tablet and three or four kids on the other side. Say: “This side has lots of heavy things pulling against you: a hard test, a fight with a friend, a mistake.”
  2. Play one round. The lone kid will almost surely lose. Ask: “How did that feel?”
  3. SAY“In Jesus’s time, farmers put a wooden yoke across two oxen so they could pull together. Being yoked to Jesus is like being yoked to the strongest ox ever!”
  4. Play again, but this time YOU join the volunteer’s side and tap as fast as you can. Cheer when you win together.
  5. SAY“Jesus said, ‘Take my yoke upon you.’ When you were baptized, you promised to follow Him, and He promised to pull with you. When we pray, read about Him and take the sacrament, our heavy things get lighter.”

Class screen: 🐂🐂 Alone vs. together. Who wins? · Alone = heavy · With Jesus = light

5. Scripture

Scripture Spotlight: Matthew 11:28

2 min

Motions help active kids remember Jesus’s invitation.

  1. Show the verse on your phone or tablet and read it slowly.
  2. Teach the motions one phrase at a time.
  3. Say it three ways: a tired, droopy voice; a normal voice; then a happy, rested voice.
  4. Ask: “What are some ways we can ‘come unto’ Jesus?” (Pray, read scriptures, go to church, take the sacrament, keep our baptism promises.)

Class screen: 🛌 Come unto me… and I will give you rest

6. Game

Do-Good Charades

3 min

Kids act out ways to do good on the Sabbath and fill the Goal Jar together.

  1. SAY“Jesus said it’s right to do good on the Sabbath. Sunday isn’t a ‘no-no day.’ It’s a ‘do-good day’!”
  2. Tap Goal Jar. Whisper a Sunday do-good idea to one actor: write a thank-you note, visit Grandma, help set the table, read a scripture story to a little sibling, take a family walk, call a cousin, draw a picture for a sick neighbor, sing Primary songs.
  3. The actor acts it out with no words. When someone guesses it, add a marble to the jar and pick the next actor.
  4. SAY“Every one of these is a way to come to Jesus on His day.”
🌪️ Guessers raise a hand; shout-outs don’t count. Give your wiggliest kids the first acting turns.
🫙 Goal Jar (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🫙 Act out a do-good Sunday idea! · No talking! · Fill the jar!

7. Game

Forehead Guess: Heavy & Light Edition

3 min

A Heads Up–style guessing game that reviews the story and the yoke.

  1. Tap Forehead Guess. One kid holds your phone or tablet on their forehead, screen facing the class.
  2. The class gives clues without saying the word. The hint under each word helps if they get stuck.
  3. Tilt down for “got it,” up to pass. Each turn is 45 seconds.
  4. For Sheep, Snake and Ox, clue-givers can only make the animal sound. No words!
🌪️ Clue-givers stay in their seats. Anyone who shouts the word loses their next clue turn.
▶ Play Forehead Guess on the web

Class screen: 🤔 Forehead Guess! · Give clues, don’t say the word!

8. Talk it over

Talk It Over

2 min

Help kids name their own heavy things and plan how to bring them to Jesus.

  1. Sit in a circle. Pick two of these questions; share your own answer first.
💬 Ask the class
  • What is something that can feel heavy for a kid your age?
  • When you pray about something hard, what can you ask Heavenly Father for?
  • What is one do-good thing you could do next Sunday?
  • Why do you think Jesus wants us to rest from everyday work on the Sabbath?

Class screen: 💬 Let’s talk!

9. Testimony

Testimony & Do-Good Sunday

2 min

End calm and reverent, with a plan for next Sunday.

  1. Lower your voice. Share one or two sentences about a time something felt heavy and Jesus helped you carry it.
  2. Say Matthew 11:28 together one last time, in a whisper, with the motions.
  3. Introduce the Do-Good Sunday challenge on the screen, then ask a child to say the closing prayer.

Class screen: ☀️ This week: plan a Do-Good Sunday! · Heavy day? Pray and ask Jesus to help · Next Sunday: do one good thing

10. Game

Scripture Showdown

5 minBONUS

A fast team quiz reviews everything they learned.

  1. Split into two teams. Tap Scripture Showdown to start.
  2. Read each question 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!

Story drama

Stretch Out Your Hand!

Matthew 12:1–14 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • Man with the Hurt HandHolds one hand curled up tight, then slowly stretches it out when the teacher reads “Stretch forth thine hand.”
  • Pharisee 1Folds arms, wags a finger and says, “Not allowed on the Sabbath!”
  • Pharisee 2Rubs hands together sneakily and asks the trick question.
  • Hungry DisciplesTwo kids who pick grain, rub it in their hands and munch loudly.
  • The SheepGrazes, then “falls” into the pit (sits down gently) and baas until the crowd lifts it out.
  • Synagogue Crowd & Sound CrewEveryone else: gasp, whisper, cheer and help lift the sheep.

Scenes

  1. 🌾🚶 A Sabbath walk through the grain

    One Sabbath day, Jesus and His disciples walked through a field of grain. The disciples were hungry, so they picked some heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands and ate them.

    🎬 Disciples pick, rub and munch loudly: “Crunch, crunch!”

  2. 🧐☝️ “Not allowed!” say the Pharisees

    Some Pharisees were watching. They had made lots of extra rules about the Sabbath. They told Jesus His disciples were breaking the Sabbath rules.

    🎬 Pharisees fold their arms and wag their fingers: “Tsk, tsk, tsk!”

  3. 💛📜 Jesus teaches about mercy

    Jesus told them God wants people to be kind and merciful, not just to follow rules for show. And He said that He is Lord of the Sabbath. It is His day, and He knows what it’s really for.

    🎬 Everyone points up and says, “Lord of the Sabbath!”

  4. 🏛️✋ A man with a hurt hand

    Then Jesus went into the synagogue, their church building. A man was there whose hand was withered. It was shriveled up and he couldn’t use it.

    🎬 The Man curls one hand against his chest. The crowd whispers: “Look…”

  5. 🕵️❓ A sneaky trick question

    The Pharisees wanted to catch Jesus doing something wrong. They asked, “Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days?” (That means, “Is healing allowed on the Sabbath?”)

    🎬 Pharisee 2 rubs his hands and asks the question. Both Pharisees: “Hehehe…”

  6. 🐑🕳️ What about a sheep in a pit?

    Jesus answered with a question: if you had just one sheep, and it fell into a pit on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you grab it and lift it out? Of course they would!

    🎬 The Sheep sits down gently: “Baaa!” The crowd reaches down and helps it up.

  7. ❤️🧍 A person matters more than a sheep

    Jesus said, “How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.” A person is worth much more than a sheep, so it is right to do good on the Sabbath.

    🎬 Everyone together: “Do good on the Sabbath!”

  8. 🖐️✨ “Stretch forth thine hand!”

    Jesus said to the man, “Stretch forth thine hand.” The man stretched it out, and it was completely healed, just like his other hand!

    🎬 The Man slowly opens his hand and wiggles every finger. Crowd: “Hooray!”

  9. 😠👋 Grumpy Pharisees, one happy man

    The Pharisees stomped off, angry, to make plans against Jesus. But the man went home with two strong hands and a Sabbath day he would never forget.

    🎬 Pharisees stomp out of the room zone. The Man waves with both hands.

Key verse

Matthew 11:28 ↗
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”
In kid words: Jesus said, “Come to Me when you’re tired and your load feels heavy, and I will help you rest.”
🙌 “Come unto me” = wave someone toward you · “all ye that labour” = wipe your forehead · “and are heavy laden” = slump your shoulders like you’re carrying rocks · “and I will give you rest” = hands under your cheek like a pillow, then a big relieved “Ahhh”

More verses

Matthew 11:29–30 ↗
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me … For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”
In kid words: Let Me pull with you and learn from Me. When we pull together, the load gets light.
Matthew 12:12 ↗
“it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days”
In kid words: It is right to do good things on Sunday.
Luke 11:13 ↗
“how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him”
In kid words: Heavenly Father is so happy to give the Holy Ghost to everyone who asks Him.

Forehead Guess words18 words

  • 🪵 Yoke
  • 🐂 Ox
  • 🎒 Backpack
  • 😌 Rest
  • ⛪ Sabbath
  • 🧐 Pharisees
  • 🖐️ Hand
  • 🐑 Sheep
  • 🕳️ Pit
  • 🌾 Grain
  • 🏛️ Synagogue
  • 🪨 Rock
  • 🍞 Bread
  • 🐍 Snake
  • 🕊️ Holy Ghost
  • 🙏 Prayer
  • 🍞💧 Sacrament
  • 🚪 Knock
Clues for each word
  • Yoke: A wooden bar that joins two oxen
  • Ox: A big, strong animal that pulls a plow
  • Backpack: Fill it with books and it gets heavy
  • Rest: Jesus gives this to tired people who come to Him
  • Sabbath: The Lord’s day: Sunday!
  • Pharisees: They made lots of extra rules and tried to trick Jesus
  • Hand: Jesus said, “Stretch it forth!”
  • Sheep: You’d lift it out of a pit
  • Pit: A deep hole an animal could fall into
  • Grain: The hungry disciples picked it and ate it
  • Synagogue: The building where people went to worship
  • Rock: A good dad would never give this instead of bread
  • Bread: What a hungry kid asks for
  • Snake: A good dad would never give this instead of a fish
  • Holy Ghost: Heavenly Father gives this gift to those who ask
  • Prayer: The disciples said, “Teach us to ___”
  • Sacrament: Bread and water we take on Sunday
  • Knock: Ask, seek, and ___
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown8 questions

  1. Jesus said, “Come unto me … and I will give you” what?
    • A. Rest
    • B. Homework
    • C. A trophy
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Rest Matthew 11:28. Jesus helps tired, heavy-hearted people feel peace.

  2. What does a yoke do?
    • A. Makes eggs
    • B. Joins two animals so they pull together
    • C. Rings like a bell
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Joins two animals so they pull together When we’re yoked with Jesus, He pulls with us and the load gets lighter.

  3. What was wrong with the man in the synagogue?
    • A. He had a cold
    • B. He was lost
    • C. His hand was withered
    Show answer

    ✅ C. His hand was withered His hand was shriveled, but Jesus healed it on the Sabbath.

  4. What animal did Jesus say you’d lift out of a pit on the Sabbath?
    • A. A sheep
    • B. A camel
    • C. A fish
    Show answer

    ✅ A. A sheep And Jesus said a person is worth much more than a sheep!

  5. Jesus taught that on the Sabbath it is right to…
    • A. Stay grumpy all day
    • B. Do good
    • C. Do all your chores
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Do good Matthew 12:12: “it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.”

  6. What did Jesus tell the man to do with his hand?
    • A. Wash it
    • B. Hide it
    • C. Stretch it out
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Stretch it out When he stretched it out, it was healed, just like his other hand.

  7. A loving dad would never give his hungry child a…
    • A. Stone
    • B. Sandwich
    • C. Hug
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Stone Luke 11:11. Heavenly Father gives even better gifts than the best dad.

  8. What gift will Heavenly Father give to those who ask Him?
    • A. A pony
    • B. The Holy Spirit
    • C. A new bike
    Show answer

    ✅ B. The Holy Spirit Luke 11:13. The Holy Ghost comforts us and helps us when life feels heavy.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • I Feel My Savior’s Love Children’s Songbook, p. 74

    Jesus invites us to come to Him and feel His love and rest. Find it ↗

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

    Luke 11: Heavenly Father hears and answers when we ask. Find it ↗

  • Kindness Begins with Me Children’s Songbook, p. 145

    Doing good for others is a great way to spend the Sabbath. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Do-Good Sunday

When something feels heavy this week, pray and ask Jesus to help you carry it. Then plan one do-good thing for next Sunday, like a note, a visit, or helping at home, and do it!

Text the parents

Today in Primary we learned that Jesus said, “Come unto me … and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). We carried a heavy backpack alone and then together to learn what a yoke is, and we acted out Jesus healing a man’s hand on the Sabbath. Ask your child: what feels heavy for you right now, and what is one do-good thing our family could do next Sunday?

📝 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?

🚪 Ask, Seek, Knock · 4 min

  1. Read Luke 11:9. Hide a small “gift” (a sticker or a paper heart) somewhere in the room.
  2. One kid ASKS for a hint, SEEKS around the room, and KNOCKS on three spots to check. Classmates say “Warmer!” or “Colder!”
  3. SAY“Heavenly Father wants us to ask, seek and knock in prayer. He always answers in His way and time.”

🙏 Teach Us to Pray · 3 min

  1. Read Luke 11:1. The disciples asked Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray.”
  2. Talk through the four parts of a prayer with hand signals: open (hand up), thank (hand on heart), ask (open palms), close (fold arms).
  3. Let a volunteer say the closing prayer using the four parts.

🥤 Clean Inside and Out · 3 min

  1. Show a cup that is clean on the outside but has a smudge of dirt or crumbs inside. Ask: “Would you drink from it?”
  2. Read Luke 11:39–41. Jesus said the Pharisees cleaned the outside but not the inside.
  3. Ask: “How can we be good on the inside, not just look good on the outside?”

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.

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