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Jesus Took Her Hand

A sleepy teddy, a squishy crowd, and a little girl who gets up when Jesus takes her hand

  • 🧸 Nursery
  • Week 10
  • 📅 Sunday, March 7, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Jesus loves me and can help me.

I can put my hand on my heart and say, “I believe in Jesus!”

Study it yourself firstRead Matthew 9–10; Mark 5; Luke 9 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Matthew 9–10; Mark 5; Luke 9)
Know the chapters

This week Jesus heals again and again, calls twelve Apostles and teaches that Heavenly Father notices every sparrow and knows the very hairs on our heads (Matthew 9–10; Luke 9). In Mark 5:22–43, a father named Jairus begs Jesus to help his very sick little girl. On the way, a woman reaches through the crowd, touches Jesus’s clothes and is healed. Then news comes that the girl has died. Jesus tells Jairus, “Be not afraid, only believe,” goes to the house, takes her by the hand and tells her to get up, and she gets up and walks. He even tells her parents to give her something to eat (Mark 5:43).

For toddlers, keep it gentle and joyful: the little girl was so sick she couldn’t wake up, and Jesus took her hand and she got up. (Jesus Himself said she was sleeping, Mark 5:39.) The feeling to share is that Jesus loves us and can help. Sleeping and popping up is a game toddlers already love, and holding hands is something they do all day, so both carry the story.

If a child in your nursery has a sick family member, say simply that Jesus loves their family and helps in many ways. Don’t expect sitting, sharing or answers; a toddler who wanders off while you talk is still listening. Nobody plays Jesus: you tell what He did, and everyone pops up together. The lesson is six minutes; the play-time ideas below repeat the same idea for the rest of nursery.

Only have 5 minutes?

Grab a teddy, a small blanket and a picture of Jesus. Tuck teddy in and wake him up for peekaboo, swipe through the six-picture story on your phone or tablet, do the sleepy-pop-up wiggle, put your hand on your heart while you say “I believe in Jesus!” and end with “I know Jesus loves you.” For play time, pick three ideas below. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing”: you become the sleepy one, and your phone or tablet shows the pictures.

What to bring6 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. Tuck the teddy under the blanket in your bag until the hook.
  2. Open the Sound Board on your phone or tablet and find the magic, cheer and bells buttons. Turn the volume low.
  3. Sweep the floor with your eyes and hands for anything small. Quick test: if it fits through a toilet-paper tube, it’s a choking hazard and goes up high or away.
  4. Check the cloth basket: no buttons, beads, tassels or long strings, and nothing that could wrap around a neck.
  5. Decide with the other adult who leads the lesson and who greets and comforts at the door. Practice the key motion: hand on your heart, then point up, and say “I believe in Jesus!”

If your class is wild

  • Tears at drop-off are normal and usually pass in a few minutes. Let the other adult hold the crying child near the fun, and say softly, “Mommy will come back. Let’s hold hands.” A quick, happy goodbye is easier than sneaking parents out.
  • Pretend sleeping is a toddler favorite, but some children don’t like lying down in a new place. Hands under the cheek counts as sleeping; nobody has to lie on the floor.
  • Nobody has to sit. Lead from the floor at their level and keep going; toddlers who wander still hear you and often copy the motions from across the room.
  • Follow your ward’s policy for diapers and potty trips, and never leave one adult alone with the class or go off alone with one child.

The 25-minute plan6 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

Wake Up, Teddy!

1 min

A sleeping teddy who pops up is a peekaboo toddlers can’t resist, and it gets them ready for a story about waking up.

  1. Sit on the floor. Pull out the teddy tucked in its blanket. Whisper: “Shhh… Teddy is sleeping.” Snore softly together.
  2. SAY“Is Teddy still sleeping?” Peek under the blanket: “Yes! Shhh…”
  3. Pull the blanket off: “Peekaboo! Teddy, get up!” Bounce teddy up high. Let little hands give teddy a pat.
  4. SAY“Today we learn how Jesus helped a little girl get up!” Put teddy on your lap to listen too.
🌪️ If everyone wants a turn, let each child say “Up!” while you bounce teddy. It only takes a few seconds each.
🔊 Sound Board (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🧸 Peekaboo! Get up, Teddy!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A teddy bear, doll or stuffed animal and a small blanket (a dish towel works)

Peekaboo Wake-Up

  1. Sit on the floor. Put your hands under your cheek and close your eyes. Snore softly: “Zzz…”
  2. Peek out with one eye. Whisper: “Is everyone here?”
  3. Pop up with your arms wide: “Peekaboo! I’m awake!” Do it again and let them copy you.
  4. SAY“Today we learn how Jesus helped a little girl get up!”

Class screen: 😴 Zzz… Peekaboo! Awake!

2. Story

Picture Story: Jesus Took Her Hand

2 min

Six pictures with one sentence and one action each let toddlers hurry, squish, rest and pop up while they hear that Jesus can help.

  1. Hold your phone or tablet up at their eye level. Everyone is the Squishy Crowd, a Sleepy Little One and a Happy Family.
  2. Read the one sentence, then do the action big so they can copy you. Don’t wait for everyone to join; the joiners will come.
  3. On the hand picture, reach out your hand to the children near you and pop up together: “Up!”
  4. If attention is gone before the end, jump to the last picture: “Hooray! Jesus can help!”
🌪️ Let a child who won’t stop moving tap your phone or tablet to change the picture (with your hand on it too). A job beats a battle.

Class screen: 🤝 Shhh… then pop up!

3. Wiggle break

Sleepy, Sleepy, Pop Up!

1 min

Toddlers need to move after two minutes of anything, and rest-then-pop is the story in their bodies.

  1. SAY“Hands under your cheek. Sleepy, sleepy… shhh.” Crouch down low and be very still.
  2. SAY“Take my hand… up!” Pop up high with your arms wide.
  3. Pat your head gently: “Heavenly Father knows every hair on your head!” Wiggle your fingers in your hair.
  4. Do it again: sleepy, sleepy… up! Three or four times while they giggle.
  5. End with hand on heart, then point up: “I believe in Jesus!” Sit down together.

Class screen: 🙌 Sleepy, sleepy… UP! · 😴 Shhh · 🤝 Take a hand · 🙌 Up!

4. Scripture

Our Little Verse: Mark 5:36

1 min

Four words and one motion, said many times, is how a toddler carries a scripture home.

  1. Hold up your scriptures. Say: “This is the Bible. It tells about Jesus.”
  2. Read slowly: “Be not afraid, only believe.” Say: “That means, don’t be scared. Believe in Jesus!”
  3. Hand on your heart, then point up, and say it together: “I believe in Jesus!” Say it three times: a tiny whisper, a regular voice, a happy voice.
  4. Kneel by each child, gently take their hand and say, “Ella, Jesus loves you.”

Class screen: ❤️ I believe in Jesus! · ❤️ Hand on heart · ☝️ Point up

5. Testimony

I Know Jesus Loves You

1 min

A quiet moment with a picture of the Savior helps each child feel that He loves them and can help.

  1. Lower your voice to a whisper. Hold up the picture of Jesus Christ. Say: “This is Jesus.”
  2. Let each child look closely, point or gently pat the picture.
  3. SAY“I know Jesus loves you. He can help you, and He helps your family too.”
  4. If your nursery has a prayer now, fold arms together while a grown-up says a short one.

Class screen: ❤️ Jesus loves you!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A picture of Jesus Christ (from your meetinghouse library, a Friend magazine, or home)

  1. Lower your voice to a whisper. Put your hand on your heart and say: “Let’s think about Jesus.”
  2. Whisper: “Jesus loves you,” as you touch each child’s hand or wave to them.
  3. SAY“I know Jesus loves you. He can help you, and He helps your family too.”
  4. If your nursery has a prayer now, fold arms together while a grown-up says a short one.
6. Song

Head-to-Toes Song

2 minBONUS

If they’re still with you, a touch-your-body song celebrates that Heavenly Father knows every part of them, down to each hair.

  1. Stand up. Say: “Heavenly Father knows all of you!”
  2. Sing “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” (Children’s Songbook, 275) slowly, touching each part. Sing it again a little faster.
  3. End by patting your hair: “Heavenly Father knows every hair!”

Class screen: 🙆 Head, shoulders, knees, toes!

Story drama

Jesus Helps a Little Girl

Mark 5:22–43 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • Squishy CrowdEveryone! Walk in place and squish close together.
  • Sleepy Little OnesEveryone! Hands under your cheek, very still… then pop up!
  • Happy FamiliesEveryone! Clap and cheer: hooray!

Scenes

  1. 👨‍👧 Jairus’s little girl was very sick.

    A daddy named Jairus had a little girl who was very, very sick.

    🎬 Hug yourself and make a sad face. Grown-ups do it too, so little ones can copy.

  2. 🏃 Her daddy ran to Jesus for help.

    Her daddy ran to Jesus and asked Him to please help his little girl.

    🎬 Run in place, then press your hands together: “Please!”

  3. 👣 Lots of people walked with Jesus.

    Jesus went with him, and lots and lots of people squished all around.

    🎬 Walk in place and scoot close together: “Squish, squish!”

  4. 😴 She was so still. Shhh…

    At the house, the little girl lay very still and could not wake up.

    🎬 Hands under your cheek. Be very still and whisper, “Shhh…”

  5. 🤝 Jesus took her hand. Up!

    Jesus took her by the hand and told her to get up.

    🎬 Everyone pops up! Say: “Up!” Grown-ups reach out a hand to any child who wants help up.

  6. 🎉 She got up! Hooray!

    She got right up and walked, and her mommy and daddy were so happy!

    🎬 Clap and cheer: “Hooray! Jesus can help!”

Key verse

Mark 5:36 ↗
“Be not afraid, only believe”
In kid words: I believe in Jesus!
🙌 Put your hand on your heart, then point up high while you say all four words.

More verses

Mark 5:41 ↗
“he took the damsel by the hand”
In kid words: Jesus took the little girl by the hand.
Mark 5:43 ↗
“commanded that something should be given her to eat”
In kid words: Jesus said, “Give her something to eat!”
Matthew 10:30 ↗
“the very hairs of your head are all numbered”
In kid words: Heavenly Father knows every hair on your head!

Forehead Guess words8 words

  • 👨 Daddy
  • 👧 Girl
  • ✋ Hand
  • 🛏️ Bed
  • 👣 Crowd
  • 🐦 Bird
  • 💇 Hair
  • 🍞 Bread
Clues for each word
  • Daddy: Jairus was a daddy who loved his girl
  • Girl: Jesus took her hand. Up!
  • Hand: Hold hands with a friend
  • Bed: Shhh… sleepy time
  • Crowd: Lots of people. Squish, squish!
  • Bird: Heavenly Father knows every little bird
  • Hair: Heavenly Father knows every one!
  • Bread: Something good to eat
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown5 questions

  1. Who helped the little girl get up?
    • A. ❤️ Jesus
    • B. 🐻 Bear
    Show answer

    ✅ A. ❤️ Jesus Jesus took her hand, and up she got!

  2. Which one is sleeping?
    • A. 🏃 Running
    • B. 😴 Sleeping
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 😴 Sleeping Shhh… hands under your cheek. Now pop up!

  3. What did Jesus take?
    • A. 🤝 Her hand
    • B. 🚗 A car
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🤝 Her hand Jesus took the little girl by the hand.

  4. Who knows every hair on your head?
    • A. 🐟 Fish
    • B. ❤️ Heavenly Father
    Show answer

    ✅ B. ❤️ Heavenly Father Pat your hair! Heavenly Father knows you.

  5. What did she get after she woke up?
    • A. 🧦 Socks
    • B. 🍞 Something to eat
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🍞 Something to eat Yum! Jesus said to give her something to eat.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes Children’s Songbook, p. 275

    Touch every part of you: Heavenly Father knows it all, even every hair. Find it ↗

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

    Hum it softly during Hold-My-Hand Rest. Find it ↗

  • Faith Children’s Songbook, p. 96

    Sing it during Follow the Crowd; Jesus told Jairus to believe. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Take My Hand

When you wake your little one up this week, take their hand and say, “Up! Jesus loves you.” At bedtime, put a hand on their heart and say together, “I believe in Jesus.”

Text the parents

Today in nursery we heard how Jesus took a little girl by the hand and helped her get up (Mark 5:22–43). We walked in a squishy crowd, pretended to sleep and popped up, and put our hands on our hearts to say, “I believe in Jesus!” Try it at home: when your child wakes up, take their hand and say, “Up! Jesus loves you.”

📝 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.

Nursery play time

The lesson is short on purpose. Fill the rest of nursery with these: pick what fits your little ones today.

🧸 Teddy, Get Up! · 10 min

  1. Set out the nursery’s dolls and stuffed animals with small blankets or dish towels. Let children play however they like.
  2. Every few minutes, say: “Uh-oh, Teddy doesn’t feel well.” Help a child tuck teddy in and pat him gently: “Pat, pat. We’re kind to Teddy.”
  3. SAY“Jesus loves people who are sick.” Take teddy’s paw: “Teddy, get up!” Bounce him up. Cheer: “Hooray!”
  4. SAY“Jesus helps us, and moms, dads and doctors help us too.”
  5. Safety: skip toy doctor kits with small parts and skip adhesive bandages, which are choking hazards. Blankets are for tucking in, never around a neck.

👣 Follow the Crowd · 5 min

  1. Hold the picture of Jesus and say: “Let’s walk with the crowd to Jairus’s house!” Have the other adult walk at the back.
  2. Walk slowly around the room in a squishy line. Sing “Faith” (Children’s Songbook, 96) or chant “Walk, walk, walk with Jesus.”
  3. Stop at a blanket on the floor: “Here’s the house! Shhh… sleepy time.” Everyone puts hands under their cheek.
  4. SAY“Jesus took her hand… up!” Pop up and cheer, then walk again.
  5. No picture? Just lead the walk yourself and point up: “We’re following Jesus!” Nobody plays Jesus; you’re the leader of the crowd.

🍌 Something to Eat · 10 min

  1. Today is fast Sunday: check allergies, your ward’s snack policy and each parent’s wishes first. Wipe every child’s hands, and yours, before snack.
  2. Everyone sits to eat, with an adult watching. Skip choking foods for this age: no popcorn, nuts, whole grapes, hard candy or chunks of raw carrot.
  3. Fold arms. A grown-up says a short blessing: “Thank you for our snack.”
  4. SAY“When the little girl got up, Jesus said to give her something to eat (Mark 5:43). We get something to eat too!” Let them say “Yum!”
  5. Talk while they munch. Say: “Who gives you food at home? Mommy! Daddy! Heavenly Father gives us good food and families who love us.”
  6. No snack today? Have a pretend picnic: tuck teddy in, wake him up, pretend to give him a bite, and say thank you to Heavenly Father.

🖍️ Get-Well Pictures · 8 min

  1. Tape a big sheet of paper to the table or floor. Draw a big heart in the middle and say: “We can make a happy picture for someone who needs a hug.”
  2. Give each child one chunky washable crayon. Every scribble is love! Say: “Jesus loves people who are sick. We can be kind too.”
  3. Write each child’s name by their scribbles. Hang it by the door for parents, or ask your leader about sharing it with a ward member who is sick.
  4. Safety: chunky crayons only; skip stickers, glitter and marker caps (small parts). Count the crayons back into the box.
  5. No paper or crayons? Open Draw & Guess on your phone or tablet and let each child finger-paint hearts while you hold your phone or tablet.

🧺 Touch-and-Feel Cloth Basket · 5 min

  1. Sit on the floor with the cloth basket. Pull out one piece at a time: “Peekaboo! Soft!” “Bumpy!” “Smooth!”
  2. Let each child touch and squeeze the cloth. Say: “A woman touched Jesus’s clothes, and Jesus made her better” (Mark 5:27–29).
  3. Gently touch each child’s sleeve: “Here’s Sam’s shirt! Jesus loves Sam.”
  4. Safety: a grown-up stays with the basket the whole time. Never tie or wrap cloth on anyone, and put the basket up high when you’re done.
  5. No cloth basket? Touch your own sleeves, socks and the nursery blanket together, and name each one: “Soft!”

🪞 Mirror, Mirror: Heavenly Father Knows Me · 5 min

  1. Sit with a child or two in your lap and hold the mirror so you can both see. Say: “Who’s that? It’s Ella!”
  2. Point and name: “Eyes! Nose! Hair!” Gently touch the hair: “Heavenly Father knows every hair on your head” (Matthew 10:30).
  3. Walk to the window together and look for birds. Say: “Heavenly Father knows every little bird too” (Matthew 10:29). “And He knows you!”
  4. No mirror? Point to eyes, nose and hair on yourself, then on a teddy, and let them copy. Don’t use your device’s camera; keep children’s pictures off devices.
  5. Stay in the nursery room with both adults. If a child drifts off, let them go; this is for whoever wants to come.

😴 Hold-My-Hand Rest · 4 min

  1. Spread out a blanket. Children may lie down, sit or climb into a lap. Nobody has to.
  2. Play soft bells on the Sound Board with the volume low, or no sound at all.
  3. Hum “My Heavenly Father Loves Me” (Children’s Songbook, 228) softly. Hold a little hand or pat a back gently.
  4. When the song ends, whisper each child’s name and softly say: “Take my hand… up!” Help them sit up slowly.
  5. Upset child? Hold them, rock side to side and walk to the window together. Calm comes before learning.

👋 Take-My-Hand Goodbye · 5 min

  1. Five minutes before the end, say: “Toys are sleepy! Let’s tuck them into their bins.” Clean up together.
  2. Sit in a circle and hold hands. Say together, hand on heart, then point up: “I believe in Jesus!”
  3. When a parent comes, take the child’s hand and walk them to the door: “Jesus took her hand, and I’ll take yours!”
  4. Hand each child only to their own parent or guardian, as your ward’s policy says. Share today’s family note from the app and one happy moment about their child.
  5. Kids still waiting? Play Sleepy, Sleepy, Pop Up or feel the cloth basket. Both adults stay until every child is picked up.

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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