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Known Before I Was Born

A prophet who felt too young, a potter who remakes ruined pots, and gifts from before you were born

  • 💧 Valiant 7–8
  • Week 43
  • 📅 Sunday, October 25, 2026
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Heavenly Father knew me before I was born, and when I keep my heart soft, He can shape me like a potter shapes clay.

I can keep my heart soft like clay so Heavenly Father can shape me and help me gather others to Jesus.

Study it yourself firstRead Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20)
Know the chapters

Jeremiah was a prophet in Jerusalem for about 40 years. He started roughly 600 years before Jesus was born. He lived at the same time as Lehi. Some of his prophecies were on the brass plates Nephi brought from Jerusalem, in 1 Nephi 5:13. The people of Judah were worshipping idols and ignoring the poor. Jeremiah warned them again and again that Babylon would destroy Jerusalem if they didn’t turn back to the Lord. Most people didn’t listen. In chapter 20 a priest named Pashur has him beaten and locked in the stocks overnight.

The star verse is Jeremiah 1:5. Before Jeremiah was born, the Lord knew him and chose him to be a prophet. It teaches a truth that’s precious to children. We lived with Heavenly Father as His spirit children before we came to earth. He knows each of us personally, and He sent us here with gifts and good work to do. Latter-day scripture teaches that many were chosen for important callings before they were born. See Abraham 3:22–23 and Alma 13:3. We still choose whether to follow Him.

Jeremiah’s first answer, “I am a child,” is a gift to an eight-year-old. The Lord didn’t tell him he was big enough. He said, “Be not afraid… for I am with thee.” Later the Lord sent Jeremiah to watch a potter whose pot was ruined on the wheel. The potter didn’t throw the clay away. He made it again, in 18:1–6. That’s what Jesus Christ does when we repent. He doesn’t throw us away. He makes us new. Soft clay can be shaped, but dried-out clay cracks. A humble, willing heart is soft clay.

A few more pictures from these chapters. The Lord is “the fountain of living waters,” but His people dug “broken cisterns, that can hold no water.” That’s 2:13. They traded Him for things that leak away. The Lord promised to send “many fishers” and “hunters” to gather His scattered children, in 16:14–16. That promise is coming true today through missionaries, temple and family history work, and every child who invites a friend. A person who trusts the Lord is like a tree by the river that stays green in a drought, in 17:7–8. And when Jeremiah felt like quitting, God’s word burned inside him “as a burning fire shut up in my bones,” in 20:9.

Only have 5 minutes?

Read Jeremiah 1:4–8 and 18:1–6. Grab some play-dough. Play Guess the Mystery Kid and tell Jeremiah’s story from Teach Mode. Say Jeremiah 1:5 with motions and do the Potter’s Do-Over. No time for name notes? Give invisible gifts at the end instead. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing.” The kids become the clay.

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 Jeremiah 1:4–8 and 18:1–6.
  2. Write each child’s name on a folded sticky note. Inside, write a good thing you’ve noticed, like “You’re a brave friend.”

If your class is wild

  • Pointing at the screen pulls every eye to the front. Use it anytime you lose the room.
  • Give the Sound Helper job to a kid who could use a win. Tapping the sounds for everyone feels great.
  • Practice “Potters, go!” and “Pots down!” before you hand out dough. On “Pots down!” the dough goes back into a ball.
  • Mystery-kid clues work as a calm-down anytime. Try, “I’m thinking of someone who’s sitting really still…”
  • Slow way down for scene 7. Let the finger flames climb, then whisper, “Be not afraid.”

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

Guess the Mystery Kid!

3 min

A personal guessing game grabs attention and sets up “He knew me.”

  1. SAY“I’m thinking of someone in this room. Listen to my clues, and point when you know who it is!”
  2. Describe a child without saying their name, like “This person is a brave friend.” Then count, “Three, two, one… point!”
  3. The mystery kid waves while everyone cheers. Do two or three kids. Promise everyone else a turn before class ends.
  4. SAY“I noticed those things about you. But Heavenly Father knew you before you were even born!”
🌪️ Everyone sits on their hands until “point!” It stops early shouting and makes the reveal bigger.

Class screen: 🕵️ Who is the mystery kid? Guess! · 👉 Point when you know!

2. Story

Story: Jeremiah Won’t Quit

7 min

A prophet who felt too young learns that the Lord knew him, is with him, and can reshape His people like a potter.

  1. SAY“Today we meet a prophet who felt way too young. 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” or “Look,” let kids point before you read on.
  3. At scene 4, ask, “Did the potter throw the pot away?” No! He made it again. Jesus does that for us when we repent.
  4. After scene 7, ask, “Why didn’t Jeremiah quit?” The Lord was with him, and God’s word burned in his heart.
🌪️ If the room drifts, ask everyone to point to something on the screen. Pointing fingers aren’t poking fingers.

Class screen: 🏺 Jeremiah Won’t Quit · 👀 Look closely! · 👉 Point to it!

3. Scripture

Key Verse: Jeremiah 1:5

4 min

Motions help active kids memorize the truth that Heavenly Father knew them first.

  1. SAY“Here are the Lord’s words to Jeremiah. They’re true for you too.”
  2. Show the verse on your phone or tablet and read it slowly.
  3. Teach the motions one phrase at a time.
  4. Say it three ways: tiny baby voice, normal voice, then big brave prophet voice.
  5. Ask where we lived before we were born. With Heavenly Father! Then ask, “Does He still know you now?” Yes, every day.

Class screen: 👶 Before you were born, He knew you!

4. Object lesson

Potter’s Do-Over

7 min

Play-dough practices the big idea: when our hearts are soft, Heavenly Father can shape us and give us a fresh start.

  1. SAY“You’re all potters today! You’ll have one minute to make a little pot.”
  2. Give each child a ball of play-dough. Call out, “Potters, go!” When time’s up, poke a big dent in your own pot.
  3. Ask, “Oops! Should I throw it away?” No! Everyone squishes their pot and makes it again.
  4. SAY“When we make mistakes and repent, Jesus doesn’t throw us away. He helps us start over. That’s what the sacrament is for.”
  5. Ask what keeps our hearts soft like clay. Last round, shape a gift Heavenly Father gave you and share it.
🌪️ Dough stays on the table. Anyone who throws it becomes the Pot Inspector and holds their dough until next round.

Class screen: 🏺 Oops, it’s lumpy! Make it again! · Potters, go! · Squish it… · Make it again! · Pots down!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: Play-dough: a small ball for each child (store-bought play-dough contains wheat, so check for gluten allergies)

Pretend-Clay Potters

  1. SAY“Hold out your hands. You’re holding soft, pretend clay!”
  2. Everyone rolls it into a ball. Whirrr! Then call out shapes to make, like a bowl or a tall vase.
  3. Look at yours and say, “Oh no, it got lumpy!” Ask, “Should I throw it away?” No! Everyone makes it again.
  4. SAY“When we make mistakes and repent, Jesus doesn’t throw us away. He helps us start over. That’s what the sacrament is for.”
  5. Ask what keeps our hearts soft like clay. Last shape is a gift Heavenly Father gave you.

Class screen: 🟤 Oops, lumpy! Make it again! Whirrr… · Bowl! · Vase! · Oops, lumpy! · Brand new!

5. Testimony

Heaven-Sent Gifts

3 min

End calm and personal: each child hears one gift Heavenly Father gave them before they were born.

  1. SAY“Heavenly Father knew you before you were born. And He sent you here with gifts.”
  2. Hand each child their name note to read quietly. Kids who didn’t get a mystery-kid turn can read theirs out loud.
  3. Briefly share how you know Heavenly Father knows you. Or share a time Jesus helped you start over.
  4. Show the Heaven-Sent Gifts challenge on the screen. Then invite a child to say the closing prayer.

Class screen: 🎁 Find your heaven-sent gifts this week! · Ask your family · Use one gift to help someone

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: Sticky notes or small folded papers and a pen: one per child

Invisible Heaven-Sent Gifts

  1. SAY“Heavenly Father knew you before you were born. And He sent you here with gifts.”
  2. Everyone holds out their hands like they’re holding a present.
  3. Drop an invisible gift into each child’s hands. Name it, like kindness or courage. They hug it to their heart.
  4. Briefly share how you know Heavenly Father knows you. Or share a time Jesus helped you start over.
  5. Show the Heaven-Sent Gifts challenge on the screen. Then invite a child to say the closing prayer.
6. Game

Forehead Guess: Potter’s House Edition

4 minBONUS

A quick Heads Up–style review of today’s story and big idea.

  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 Potter versus Team Almond Tree!”
  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

Jeremiah Won’t Quit

Jeremiah 1:4–12; 7:1–7; 18:1–6; 20:1–9 ↗

Optional helpers

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

Scenes

  1. 👶✨ Known before he was born

    Long ago in Jerusalem, the Lord spoke to a young man named Jeremiah. Before Jeremiah was even a baby, Heavenly Father knew him. He even had a job ready for him. The Lord said, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee.”

    🙌 Point to someone Heavenly Father knew before they were born. Yes, everyone!

  2. 😰💪 “But I’m just a kid!”

    Jeremiah was scared. “I cannot speak: for I am a child,” he said. But the Lord said, “Say not, I am a child.” He promised Jeremiah, “Be not afraid… for I am with thee.”

    🙌

  3. 🌿🌸 The almond branch wakes up

    The Lord asked, “Jeremiah, what seest thou?” He saw an almond branch. Almond trees are the first to bloom after winter. The Lord said He would hurry to make His words come true, just like that!

    🙌

  4. 🏺🔄 Down to the potter’s house

    The Lord sent Jeremiah to watch a potter. The pot got lumpy and ruined. Did the potter throw it away? No! He squished it and made it again. The Lord said, “As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand.”

    🙌 Look at the pot on the screen. Ruined? Thumbs up or thumbs down?

  5. 🙌🟤 Soft clay can become anything

    Soft clay can be shaped. But dry, hard clay cracks. The Lord wanted His people to be soft clay. He wanted them willing to listen and change. Then He could make them beautiful again, no matter how lumpy they’d become.

    🙌

  6. 😠🔒 Locked in the stocks all night

    Jeremiah warned the people to stop worshipping idols. He told them to be kind to the poor. A priest named Pashur got so angry! He locked Jeremiah in the stocks all night long. The stocks were a heavy wooden frame.

    🙌

  7. 🔥📣 Fire in his bones: Jeremiah keeps going!

    Jeremiah felt like quitting. But God’s word felt like “a burning fire shut up in my bones.” He had to share it! So Jeremiah kept going, and the Lord was with him the whole way. He is with you too.

    🙌 Find the fire on the screen. Wiggle your fingers up like flames!

Key verse

Jeremiah 1:5 ↗
“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee”
In kid words: Heavenly Father says, “I knew you before you were even born.”
🙌 “Before” = point back over your shoulder · “I formed thee” = roll a ball of clay between your hands · “in the belly” = pat your tummy · “I knew thee” = point up to heaven, then put your hand on your heart.

More verses

Jeremiah 1:7–8 ↗
“Say not, I am a child… Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee”
In kid words: Don’t say, “I’m just a kid.” Don’t be scared. I am with you.
Jeremiah 18:6 ↗
“as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand”
In kid words: You are in God’s hands, like clay in a potter’s hands. He can shape you into something great.
Jeremiah 16:16 ↗
“Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them”
In kid words: The Lord will send lots of helpers to find His children and bring them home to Him.
Jeremiah 20:9 ↗
“his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones”
In kid words: God’s words felt like a warm fire inside me. I just had to share them!

Forehead Guess words18 words

  • 🧑 Jeremiah
  • 👶 Baby
  • ☁️ Heaven
  • 📣 Prophet
  • 👄 Mouth
  • 🦁 Brave
  • 🌸 Almond Tree
  • 🏛️ Temple
  • 🧑‍🎨 Potter
  • 🟤 Clay
  • 🏺 Pot
  • 🎣 Fisherman
  • 🐟 Fish
  • 🏹 Hunter
  • 📛 Missionary
  • 🔥 Fire
  • 🌳 Tree
  • ⛲ Fountain
Clues for each word
  • Jeremiah: Prophet who said, “I am a child!”
  • Baby: Heavenly Father knew you before you were one
  • Heaven: Where we lived with Heavenly Father before we were born
  • Prophet: Speaks for God. We have a living one today!
  • Mouth: The Lord touched Jeremiah’s and put His words there
  • Brave: Be not afraid! The Lord is with you
  • Almond Tree: The first tree to bloom after winter
  • Temple: Jeremiah stood at its gate to teach
  • Potter: Makes bowls and pots on a spinning wheel
  • Clay: Soft mud you can squish and shape
  • Pot: It got lumpy, so the potter made it again
  • Fisherman: Catches fish with a pole or a net
  • Fish: Swims in the sea and goes “blub blub”
  • Hunter: Searches every mountain, hill and rock
  • Missionary: Wears a name tag and teaches about Jesus
  • Fire: Jeremiah said God’s word felt like this in his bones
  • Tree: Planted by the river, it stays green when it’s hot
  • Fountain: The Lord is the one with living waters
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown8 questions

  1. Before Jeremiah was born, what did the Lord say?
    • A. “I knew thee”
    • B. “Who are you?”
    • C. “Come back later”
    Show answer

    ✅ A. “I knew thee” Jeremiah 1:5. Heavenly Father knew Jeremiah, and He knew you, before you were born.

  2. Why did Jeremiah think he couldn’t be a prophet?
    • A. He was too tall
    • B. He couldn’t swim
    • C. He felt like just a child
    Show answer

    ✅ C. He felt like just a child The Lord answered, “Be not afraid… for I am with thee.”

  3. What did the Lord touch to give Jeremiah His words?
    • A. His shoe
    • B. His mouth
    • C. His hat
    Show answer

    ✅ B. His mouth The Lord said, “I have put my words in thy mouth.”

  4. Where did the Lord send Jeremiah to learn a lesson about clay?
    • A. The potter’s house
    • B. The bakery
    • C. The beach
    Show answer

    ✅ A. The potter’s house He watched a potter spin clay on a wheel (Jeremiah 18:3).

  5. What did the potter do when his pot got ruined?
    • A. Threw it in the trash
    • B. Made it again into a new pot
    • C. Cried and went home
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Made it again into a new pot That’s what Jesus does for us when we repent: He makes us new.

  6. Jeremiah 16:16 says the Lord will send many fishers and many…
    • A. Pirates
    • B. Bakers
    • C. Hunters
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Hunters Fishers and hunters are like missionaries who gather God’s children.

  7. Jeremiah said God’s word felt like a burning fire in his…
    • A. Bones
    • B. Backpack
    • C. Shoes
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Bones He couldn’t keep it in. He had to share it (Jeremiah 20:9)!

  8. The Lord is the fountain of living…
    • A. Lemonade
    • B. Waters
    • C. Sand
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Waters Jeremiah 2:13. His love and help never run dry.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • I Lived in Heaven Children’s Songbook, p. 4

    Sing it right after the Jeremiah 1:5 key verse. It’s all about where we lived before we were born. Find it ↗

  • I Am a Child of God Children’s Songbook, p. 2

    Heavenly Father knows each of His children, and He sent us here with a purpose. Find it ↗

  • I Hope They Call Me on a Mission Children’s Songbook, p. 169

    Missionaries are the Lord’s fishers (Jeremiah 16:16). Sing it with the Slow-Mo Fishers extra. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Heaven-Sent Gifts

Show your family the note from class. Ask them, “What good gifts do you think Heavenly Father gave me before I was born?” Then use one of those gifts to help someone this week.

Text the parents

Today in Primary we learned from Jeremiah 1:5 that Heavenly Father knew each of us before we were born. We heard about the potter’s house. When a pot gets ruined, the potter doesn’t throw it away. He makes it again, and Jesus does that for us when we repent. We made play-dough pots and started over when they got lumpy. Your child brought home a note about one of their gifts. Ask them what the potter does with a ruined pot, and what Jesus does for us.

📝 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?

🥤 Leaky Cup vs. the Fountain · 4 min

  1. Poke 5 pencil holes in the bottom of a paper cup. Set a big bowl on a towel.
  2. Pour water into the leaky cup. Everyone counts how long it lasts. Not long!
  3. Read Jeremiah 2:13. Say, “Israel left the Lord, the fountain of living waters. They chose cups that leak.”
  4. Ask: “What are some ‘leaky cups’ today?”
  5. Pour into a good cup until it overflows. Say, “Jesus is the fountain. His love never runs out.”

🌳 The Tree by the River · 4 min

  1. The night before, stand a leafy celery stalk in colored water. Use 15 to 20 drops of blue or red food coloring.
  2. In class, read Jeremiah 17:7–8 about the tree planted by the waters.
  3. Show the celery. The color climbed right up into the leaves! Snap the stalk so kids can see the colored straws inside.
  4. Say, “Roots drink every day. When we pray and read every day, we stay green, even when life gets hard.”

🎣 Magnet Fishing Missions · 5 min

  1. Cut 10 paper fish and slide a paper clip onto each. Tie string to a ruler and tape a small magnet to the end.
  2. On each fish, write a way to help someone come to Jesus. Try inviting a friend or writing to a missionary.
  3. Spread the fish on a blue towel. Kids take turns fishing. Each reads their fish and names someone to help this week.
  4. Say, “The Lord said He’d send many fishers. You can be one this week!”

🎣 Slow-Mo Fishers · 4 min

  1. Read Jeremiah 16:16: “Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them.”
  2. Two kids link elbows to make a net. Everyone else is a fish. Everyone moves in slow motion only.
  3. When the net gently tags a fish, that fish links on. Keep going until every fish is gathered.
  4. Say, “Every fish that got caught became a fisher. People who come to Jesus help bring others too.”

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