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Loved Forever and Ever

A stuck teddy, squishy mud stomps, a pull-pull-pull rescue, and a hug that goes round and round

  • 🧸 Nursery
  • Week 44
  • 📅 Sunday, November 1, 2026
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Heavenly Father loves me forever.

I can give myself a big hug and remember that Heavenly Father loves me forever.

Study it yourself firstRead Jeremiah 31–33; 36–39; Lamentations 1; 3 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Jeremiah 31–33; 36–39; Lamentations 1; 3)
Know the chapters

This week’s chapters tell of the last hard years before Babylon took Jerusalem. In the middle of it, the Lord told His people, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3). In Jeremiah 38, angry leaders let the prophet Jeremiah down on ropes into a dry pit, where he sank in the mud. A kind man named Ebed-melech spoke to the king, then let down old soft rags and ropes so the ropes wouldn’t hurt, and pulled Jeremiah out (Jeremiah 38:6–13). Lamentations 3:22–23 adds that the Lord’s mercies are “new every morning.”

For toddlers, keep only two things: Heavenly Father loves me forever, and helpers pull us up when we’re stuck. Being stuck and being lifted up are feelings little ones know well (think of a child stuck in a sweater, or reaching up to be picked up). Keep the pit squishy and silly, never scary.

“Forever” is a big word, so show it with a hug and a circle that goes round and round. The lesson is six minutes. Then the play-time ideas repeat “Heavenly Father loves you forever” in stomping, lifting, scribbling and snuggling for the rest of nursery, so the words sink in without anyone sitting still.

Only have 5 minutes?

Grab a teddy bear and a small blanket. Hide Teddy under the blanket and pull him out: “Up, up, up! Teddy is out!” Swipe through the five-picture story on your phone or tablet, stomp in pretend mud, hug yourself while you say “Heavenly Father loves me forever!” and end with “I know Heavenly Father loves you.” For play time, pick three ideas below. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing”: your hands become the stuck teddy, and your phone or tablet shows the pictures.

What to bring7 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, with one paw peeking out.
  2. Walk the room and check the floor for anything small, especially candy, wrappers and costume pieces from Halloween. Quick test: if it fits through a toilet-paper tube, it goes up high or away.
  3. Decide with the other adult who leads the lesson and who greets and comforts at the door. There are always two adults in nursery.
  4. Practice the motion: hug yourself tight and rock side to side while you say “Heavenly Father loves me forever!” That’s the whole key phrase.
  5. Open the Sound Board on your phone or tablet and find the magic and cheer buttons. Turn the volume low.

If your class is wild

  • Tears at drop-off are normal. Let the other adult hold the crying child near the fun and say softly, “Mommy will come back. Heavenly Father loves you.” A quick, happy goodbye is easier than sneaking out.
  • Nobody has to sit. Lead from the floor at their level; toddlers who wander still hear you and often copy the motions from across the room.
  • When the mud stomping gets wild, go into slow motion: “Suuuuper sticky mud…” Slow, big movements calm a room faster than “Stop!”
  • 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

Stuck Teddy!

1 min

A teddy stuck under a blanket is a tiny rescue toddlers can see, and pulling him out gets everyone to come close.

  1. Sit on the floor with the blanket in a lump and Teddy’s paw peeking out.
  2. SAY“Uh-oh! Teddy is stuck! Can you help?”
  3. Let children pat the blanket or tug the paw with you. Say: “Pull, pull, pull… up, up, up!”
  4. Pop Teddy out and give him a hug: “Teddy is out! Hooray!” Tap cheer on the Sound Board.
  5. SAY“Today a man got stuck in the mud, and a helper pulled him out.”
🌪️ If everyone grabs for Teddy at once, hold him up high, count “1, 2, 3, pull!” and let everyone pull the air together.
🔊 Sound Board (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🧸 Uh-oh! Teddy is stuck!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A teddy bear or other soft stuffed animal, plus a small blanket or towel to hide it under

Stuck Hands!

  1. Sit on the floor and tuck both hands behind your back.
  2. SAY“Uh-oh! My hands are stuck! Can you help?”
  3. Wiggle and pretend to pull: “Pull, pull, pull… up, up, up!”
  4. Pop your hands out and wave them high: “My hands are out! Hooray!” Tap cheer on the Sound Board.
  5. SAY“Today a man got stuck in the mud, and a helper pulled him out.”

Class screen: 👐 Uh-oh! My hands are stuck!

2. Story

Picture Story: Pulled Out of the Mud

2 min

Five pictures with one sentence and one action each let toddlers stomp in the mud, feel the soft clothes and pull Jeremiah up.

  1. Hold your phone or tablet up at their eye level. Everyone is a Mud Stomper and a Rope Puller.
  2. Read the one sentence, then do the action big so they can copy you. Don’t wait for everyone to join.
  3. On the pulling picture, pull slowly, then fast, then shout “Up!” Toddlers love doing it again.
  4. If attention is gone early, jump to the last picture: “Heavenly Father loves you forever!”
🌪️ 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: 🕳️ Squish, squish! Pull, pull!

3. Wiggle break

Mud Stomp

1 min

Toddlers need to move after two minutes, and stomping in pretend mud repeats the story with their whole bodies.

  1. SAY“Stand up! Let’s stomp in the mud!”
  2. Stomp slowly: “Squish… squish… sticky mud!” Then fast: “Squish-squish-squish!”
  3. SAY“Uh-oh, stuck!” Freeze with your feet still, and wiggle your arms.
  4. Reach up and pull: “Pull, pull, pull… up!” Stretch up tall. Do it again while they giggle.
  5. End with a hug: “Heavenly Father loves me forever!” and sit down together.

Class screen: 🥾 Squish! Stuck! Pull! Up! · 🥾 Stomp · 🧊 Stuck! · 💪 Pull · ⬆️ Up!

4. Scripture

Our Little Verse: Jeremiah 31:3

1 min

Five words and one hug, said many times, is how a toddler carries a scripture home.

  1. Hold up your scriptures. Say: “This is the Bible. It tells about Heavenly Father.”
  2. Read slowly: “an everlasting love.” Say: “That means Heavenly Father loves me forever!”
  3. Hug yourself and rock side to side. Say it together three times: a tiny whisper, a regular voice, a happy voice.
  4. Kneel by each child and say, “Heavenly Father loves Ella forever.” Offer a hug or a high five, whichever they like.

Class screen: 🤗 Heavenly Father loves me forever! · 🤗 Hug and rock!

5. Testimony

I Know He Loves You

1 min

A quiet moment with a picture helps each child feel loved, right after a big stompy story.

  1. Lower your voice to a whisper. Hold up the picture. Say: “Look! Heavenly Father loves this family.”
  2. Let each child look closely, point or gently pat the picture.
  3. SAY“I know Heavenly Father loves you. He loves you forever.”
  4. If your nursery has a prayer now, fold arms together while a grown-up says a short one.

Class screen: ❤️ He loves you forever!

No supplies? Do this instead

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

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

Round and Round Forever

2 minBONUS

If they’re still with you, a slow song with a never-ending circle shows “forever” without any big words.

  1. Sit close together. Say: “Let’s make a circle that never stops.”
  2. Sing “My Heavenly Father Loves Me” (Children’s Songbook, 228) slowly while you roll your hands around and around.
  3. At the end, wrap your arms into a hug: “Heavenly Father loves you forever!”

Class screen: ⭕ Round and round forever!

Story drama

Pulled Out of the Mud

Jeremiah 38:6–13 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • Mud StompersEveryone! Stomp slowly in place: squish, squish.
  • Rope PullersEveryone! Reach up and pull hand over hand: pull, pull, pull!

Scenes

  1. 🧔 This is Jeremiah. He loved Heavenly Father.

    This is Jeremiah, a prophet who loved Heavenly Father.

    🎬 Wave hello to Jeremiah on your phone or tablet: “Hi, Jeremiah!”

  2. 🕳️🥾 Squish, squish! Jeremiah is stuck in mud!

    Uh-oh! Jeremiah is down in a hole, stuck in squishy mud.

    🎬 Everyone stomps slowly in place: “Squish, squish!” Grown-ups stomp too, so little ones can copy.

  3. 🧑🏾👕 A kind helper brings ropes and soft clothes.

    A kind helper named Ebed-melech brings ropes and soft clothes.

    🎬 Pat your arms softly: “Soft, soft.” Say: “A helper!”

  4. 💪⬆️ Pull, pull, pull! Up comes Jeremiah!

    Everyone pulls, and up comes Jeremiah, out of the mud!

    🎬 Reach up and pull hand over hand: “Pull, pull, pull!” Then jump or stretch up high: “Up!”

  5. 🤗❤️ Heavenly Father loves you forever!

    Heavenly Father loved Jeremiah, and He loves you forever and ever!

    🎬 Hug yourselves and rock side to side. Point gently to each child and say their name: “Heavenly Father loves Ella!”

Key verse

Jeremiah 31:3 ↗
“an everlasting love”
In kid words: Heavenly Father loves me forever!
🙌 Hug yourself tight and rock side to side the whole time you say it.

More verses

Jeremiah 38:13 ↗
“So they drew up Jeremiah with cords”
In kid words: They pulled Jeremiah up with ropes!
Lamentations 3:22–23 ↗
“his compassions fail not. They are new every morning”
In kid words: Heavenly Father loves me every morning.

Forehead Guess words8 words

  • 🟤 Mud
  • 🪢 Rope
  • 🤗 Hug
  • 🧸 Teddy Bear
  • 👕 Shirt
  • 🥾 Boots
  • ☀️ Sun
  • ❤️ Heart
Clues for each word
  • Mud: Squish, squish! Stomp your feet.
  • Rope: Pull, pull, pull!
  • Hug: Squeeze someone you love
  • Teddy Bear: Soft, and we pulled him out
  • Shirt: Soft clothes, pat pat
  • Boots: Stomp in the mud
  • Sun: Good morning! It comes up every day.
  • Heart: Love that lasts forever
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown5 questions

  1. Which one goes squish, squish?
    • A. 🟤 Mud
    • B. 🍪 Cookie
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🟤 Mud Squish, squish! Jeremiah was stuck in the mud.

  2. What pulled Jeremiah up?
    • A. 🦆 Duck
    • B. 🪢 Rope
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🪢 Rope Pull, pull, pull! A kind helper used ropes.

  3. Which one is soft?
    • A. 👕 Shirt
    • B. 🪨 Rock
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 👕 Shirt Pat pat! Soft clothes kept the ropes from hurting Jeremiah.

  4. Who loves me forever?
    • A. 🐸 Frog
    • B. ❤️ Heavenly Father
    Show answer

    ✅ B. ❤️ Heavenly Father Hug and rock: Heavenly Father loves me forever!

  5. Which one is a hug?
    • A. 🤗 Hug
    • B. 🚂 Train
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🤗 Hug Squeeze! Give yourself a big hug.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

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

    Sing it slowly with rolling hands, or hum it during the Forever Rock. Find it ↗

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

    Sing it in slow, sticky-mud motion, then quick once you’re pulled out. Find it ↗

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

    Ebed-melech was a kind helper, and toddlers can be helpers too. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Forever Hugs

Each morning this week, give your little one a big rocking hug and say, “Heavenly Father loves you forever!” See if they hug and rock back.

Text the parents

Today in nursery we learned about Jeremiah, who got stuck in the mud until a kind helper pulled him out with ropes and soft clothes (Jeremiah 38). We stomped, pulled and hugged while we said, “Heavenly Father loves me forever!” (Jeremiah 31:3). Try it at home: give your child a rocking hug and see if they say it with 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.

🧺 Stuck Teddy Rescue · 10 min

  1. Put the nursery’s soft toys in a laundry basket (the “muddy hole”) and set out other toys nearby. Let children play however they like.
  2. Every few minutes say: “Uh-oh! Teddy is stuck in the mud!” Help children lift toys out of the basket: “Pull, pull… up!”
  3. Cheer for each helper: “You’re a kind helper, like Ebed-melech!”
  4. Hug the rescued toy: “Heavenly Father loves Teddy forever, and He loves you forever too!”
  5. No basket? A pile of pillows or a low table works as the hole. Keep the basket on the floor; toddlers should never climb into it or stand on it.

🎵 Sticky Mud Songs · 5 min

  1. Stand up and sing “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” (Children’s Songbook, 275) in slow, sticky-mud motion. Then say “Pull, pull… up!” and sing it quickly.
  2. Sing “Kindness Begins with Me” (Children’s Songbook, 145). Pat a friend’s back gently or wave: “Kind helpers!”
  3. Tap Freeze Dance on your phone or tablet. When the music stops, everyone hugs themselves: “Heavenly Father loves me forever!”
  4. Don’t know a tune? Play it once in the Gospel Library app, or just chant “Squish, squish, pull, pull” while you move.

🍎 New-Every-Morning Snack · 10 min

  1. Check allergies and your ward’s snack policy first. Wipe every child’s hands, and yours, before snack. Skip Halloween candy today.
  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. Talk while they munch. Stretch and yawn: “Good morning! What do you eat for breakfast?” Say: “Every morning, Heavenly Father loves you (Lamentations 3:22–23).”
  5. No snack today? Have a pretend breakfast: pretend to wake up, stretch, munch toast and sip juice, and say thank you to Heavenly Father.

🖍️ Round-and-Round Forever Art · 8 min

  1. Tape a big sheet of paper to the table or floor. Draw one big circle and trace it around and around: “This circle never stops. That’s forever!”
  2. Give each child one chunky washable crayon. Every scribble counts! Say: “Round and round, Heavenly Father loves you forever.”
  3. Write each child’s name by their scribbles and hang the picture by the door for parents to see.
  4. Safety: chunky crayons only. Skip stickers, glitter, pom-poms 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 help each child finger-draw circles while you hold your phone or tablet.

👕 Soft Clothes Basket · 6 min

  1. Set out a basket of big, soft clothes and towels: an old sweatshirt, a fleece, a fluffy towel. Let children dig in and touch.
  2. SAY“Ebed-melech brought soft old clothes, so the ropes wouldn’t hurt Jeremiah. Soft, soft!” Rub a towel gently on your arm.
  3. Wrap a stuffed animal gently in a towel: “Teddy feels safe and loved.”
  4. Safety: check for loose buttons, strings and drawstrings before class. An adult sits with the basket; never wrap anything around a child’s head or neck.
  5. No basket? Pat your own soft sleeves and a child’s sleeves (only if they like it): “Soft, soft! Heavenly Father loves you.”

🫧 Bubbles Pop, Love Stays · 5 min

  1. A grown-up blows bubbles up high, away from faces. Children reach and pop them: “Pop! Pop!”
  2. SAY“Bubbles go away. Pop! But Heavenly Father’s love never goes away. It’s forever!” Hug yourself.
  3. Blow a few more and let everyone pop. Then give a big rocking hug: “Forever and ever!”
  4. Safety: the bottle and wand stay in grown-up hands. Blow bubbles over carpet, not a slick floor, and wipe up drips.
  5. No bubbles? Blow pretend bubbles with your cheeks and clap them away: “Pop!” Then hug: “His love stays forever!”

🖼️ Picture Walk: Helpers Everywhere · 5 min

  1. Sit on the floor with a child or two in your lap. Swipe back through today’s story pictures on your phone or tablet, or open a picture book about families or helpers.
  2. Point and name one thing on each picture: “Mud! Squish.” Ask: “Where’s the rope?” and let them point.
  3. Walk around the room together and point out helpers: “Sister Lee helps you. Mommy helps you. You help pick up toys!”
  4. Finish with a hug: “Heavenly Father sends helpers because He loves you.”
  5. Stay in the nursery room with both adults. Picture walks are for whoever wants to come; let others keep playing.

😴 Forever Rock · 4 min

  1. Spread out a blanket or sit on the carpet. Children may lie down, sit or climb into a lap. Nobody has to.
  2. Rock gently side to side and hum “My Heavenly Father Loves Me” (Children’s Songbook, 228) softly.
  3. Draw slow circles on backs with one finger, only for children who like it. Whisper: “Round and round, forever.”
  4. Whisper each child’s name: “Heavenly Father loves you forever, Ella.”
  5. Upset child? Hold them, rock side to side and walk to the window together. Calm comes before learning.

👋 Up You Come! Goodbye · 5 min

  1. Five minutes before the end, say: “Helpers, help! Toys are stuck on the floor!” Put the toys in their bins together.
  2. Sit together one more time. Hold out your hands to each child and help them stand: “Pull, pull… up you come!”
  3. Hug and rock together once more: “Heavenly Father loves me forever!”
  4. Hand each child only to their own parent or guardian, as your ward’s policy says. Share the family note from the app and one happy moment about their child.
  5. Kids still waiting? Keep them busy with the Soft Clothes Basket or a picture book. 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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